Hiring the right motor vehicle accident attorney is critical to your financial recovery after a car crash. Without an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, the negligent driver who hit you may not be held accountable for the harm that was done. As a result, you could be left to foot the bill for your car accident injuries.
As one of the most successful personal injury law firms in Las Vegas, Blackburn Wirth Injury Lawyers has obtained several multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of accident victims. Our experienced car accident attorneys have earned a reputation for providing our clients with personalized legal services that get results.
Call Blackburn Wirth Injury Lawyers now at (702) 472-7000. Let’s get started with your recovery.
When Should You Hire a Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney?
If you were involved in a car accident in Las Vegas, you should contact an auto accident attorney for a free consultation right away. The sooner you contact our Las Vegas motor vehicle accident attorneys, the better your chances of recovering full compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Here’s why.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Obtain Medical Treatment After a Crash
It’s important to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible after a car accident, even if you think you weren’t seriously injured. Some types of serious injuries are not evident in the moments immediately after a car accident. In fact, sometimes, symptoms can take days, or even weeks to appear.
Contacting a Las Vegas car accident attorney soon after your car crash helps ensure that you have access to top medical professionals who can diagnose your condition and make sure you get the treatment you need. Additionally, seeing a doctor will document the severity of your injuries for when you file a claim with the insurance company.
A Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Will Help Preserve Evidence After an Automobile Accident
Getting a car accident attorney involved in your case from the start enables your legal team to fully participate in the crash investigation, hire an accident reconstructionist if necessary, and speak with eyewitnesses to obtain information about how the car crash occurred.
If you wait too long to hire a car accident lawyer, important evidence, like video footage of the accident scene, may be destroyed, or witnesses’ memories may fade.
An Auto Accident Attorney Will Protect Your Rights After a Las Vegas Car Accident
With an experienced car accident lawyer to guide you, you are less likely to say or do something that could jeopardize your right to recover compensation from the at-fault driver.
The insurance company will most likely contact you right away after your Las Vegas car accident. The insurance company’s representatives will pretend that they are your friends, and that they are looking out for your best interests. They’re not.
Insurance investigators will try to get you to make a statement about what happened or unintentionally admit fault for the auto accident. Don’t talk to them.
Insurance companies often strike while victims are still in shock from a car wreck. It isn’t uncommon for insurance representatives to contact car accident victims while they’re still in the hospital, before they have the chance to realize the extent of their losses. If the insurer offers you a settlement, don’t accept it without speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
How Much Is a Car Accident Claim Worth?
No car accident lawyer can guarantee how much money you will receive for your car accident injuries. The value of auto accident cases varies significantly depending on several factors, These include, but are not limited to, the severity of your injuries, your role in causing the accident, and the sources of recovery that are available.
How the Courts Will Evaluate the Severity of Your Car Accident Injuries
When you work with a car accident lawyer, he or she will prepare a report that includes various types of documentation to demonstrate the severity of your injuries. This report will be included with the demand letter that is sent to the insurance company. It will include your medical bills, statements from your doctors, your treatment plan and prognosis, and your medical records.
If your case goes to trial, the courts will use this information, along with the testimony of medical experts, to evaluate how your accident injuries impacted your financial condition, your ability to earn an income now and in the future, and your daily life.
For instance, if the car accident caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury or another permanent disability, you will most likely recover more than an accident victim who suffered a broken ankle that is anticipated to heal completely.
How Comparative Negligence Impacts Your Automobile Accident Settlement
Nevada is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents. The state follows a modified comparative negligence rule that allows car accident victims to recover compensation even if they were partially at fault for the crash. Since Nevada is a 51% bar state, you can still file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the other driver as long as you were less than 51% responsible for causing the car accident.
If the courts determine that you played a role in causing the car wreck, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if your car accident case is worth $100,000, and you are found to have been 40% at fault for the crash, your award will be reduced by $40,000.
Who Can Personal Injury Victims Sue After a Las Vegas Car Accident?
Various sources of recovery may be available in Las Vegas car accident claims. While the liability insurance policy maintained by the negligent driver will usually be the primary source of recovery, that isn’t always the case, and it may not be the only compensation you are entitled to receive.
The personal injury attorneys at Blackburn Wirth Injury Lawyers will identify all sources of financial compensation to help you make the most of your Las Vegas insurance claim.
For instance, if:
- You were involved in a multi-car accident, several negligent drivers may share responsibility for your injuries.
- Defective vehicle parts, like faulty brakes or tires, contributed to causing your crash, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a negligent manufacturer.
- The at-fault driver’s liability insurance is not enough to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, you may be able to file an underinsured motorist claim against your own insurance company.
- Your Las Vegas car accident resulted in significant medical bills that were not covered by another insurance company, you may be able to recover compensation through your MedPay insurance policy, your health insurance company, or another insurance policy.
What Damages Are Available in Las Vegas Car Accident Cases?
In Las Vegas car accident cases, three types of damages may be available to accident victims. Economic damages and non-economic damages are most common. If the at-fault party’s actions were especially egregious or intentional, however, punitive damages may be available as well.
Economic Damages in Las Vegas Car Accident Cases
In most motor vehicle accident cases, economic damages are the easiest to calculate. Car accident lawyers will add up your medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses to determine the value of your economic damages.
You can help your car accident attorneys determine the value of your economic losses by providing them with your medical bills, receipts for prescription medications, wage statements, and any other documentation that demonstrates your out-of-pocket expenses.
Non-Economic Losses in a Las Vegas Car Accident Case
Your non-economic damages include non-tangible losses, like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional trauma. Since these types of losses are not tied to a monetary value, they are more difficult to calculate.
Car accident attorneys in Las Vegas will use your economic damages as a basis for determining the value of your non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages in a Las Vegas Car Accident Claim
Punitive damages are not as common as the other types of damages available in Las Vegas car accidents. In fact, the jury will only award punitive damages for automobile accidents in which the at-fault driver was grossly negligent or acted intentionally.
Accident claims involving distracted driving, impaired driving, or reckless driving might include punitive damages.
What Are the Most Common Reasons Car Accidents Happen in Las Vegas?
Despite stricter traffic laws, increased enforcement, raising awareness about motor vehicle safety, and predictive technology to reduce car accidents, the number of crashes that cause bodily injury and fatality seem to keep going up. In 2020, 317 fatalities were caused by 293 motor vehicle accidents in Nevada. Of those, 123 fatal car accidents involved drunk or drugged driving, and 77 were speed-related.
Distracted driving, fatigued driving, and failing to yield the right-of-way are common causes of car accidents as well. Although most fatality automobile accidents happen when people are driving at high rates of speed, even minor car accidents can cause serious bodily injury and death.
Speeding Accidents
Speeding is the leading cause of car accidents in Las Vegas. When car accidents happen at a high rate of speed, the increased impact means they usually leave extensive bodily injury or death in their wake. The faster a car or truck is traveling, the longer it takes to slow down or stop. Additionally, driving faster makes it harder to maneuver around curves.
If you were injured in an auto accident and the other driver was speeding, your Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help you file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to recover compensation.
Distracted Driving Accidents
With so much going on along the Las Vegas Strip, it’s no wonder Las Vegas car accident lawyers see so many accident claims that involve distracted driving. When drivers disobey traffic laws and text, talk on the phone, sight see, eat, or perform other tasks when behind the wheel, auto accidents are bound to happen.
Distracted driving is often the culprit in rear-end accidents, T-bone accidents, and head-on collisions in Las Vegas. Injury attorneys see accident claims involving whiplash injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries as a result.
Auto Accidents Involving Drugged or Drunk Driving
Las Vegas car accident lawyers are not strangers to car accident cases involving drugged and drunk driving. In fact, drunk driving accidents caused 135 fatalities in Nevada in 2020 alone. Impaired driving was responsible for 50% of all fatality car accidents in the state between 2015 and 2020.
The auto accident attorneys at Blackburn Wirth Injury Lawyers have handled impaired driving accidents that were caused when negligent drivers hallucinated, fell asleep at the wheel, reacted too slowly, or otherwise drove recklessly.
Fatigued Driving Accidents
Injury attorneys also handle countless Las Vegas automobile accident cases that are caused by fatigued driving. Falling asleep at the wheel is not the only way an auto accident might be caused by a fatigued driver. Drivers who are fatigued often operate vehicles similarly to drivers who are drunk or under the influence of drugs. Their reaction times are slower. Their motor skills are impaired. Even their judgement may be off because of lack of rest.
If you were injured in an automobile accident that was caused by a fatigued truck driver, you may be able to file an auto accident claim against the driver’s insurance company, a trucking company, or both.
Where Do Motor Vehicle Crashes Happen in Nevada?
The majority of Nevada automobile accidents happen in densely-populated areas like Las Vegas, Carson City, and Reno. In Las Vegas, accidents usually occur at busy intersections like Charleston and Rainbow, or Sahara and Decatur, and on congested interstates like I-15 and the 215 Southern Beltway.
Although most automobile accident cases arise when drivers are in crashes during peak traveling times and within just a few miles from home, they can happen at any time, and anywhere, including:
- Back over accidents in parking lots and driveways
- Pedestrian accidents near crosswalks, school zones, and parks
- Head-on collisions on the interstate
- Sideswipe accidents in residential areas
- Rear-end accidents on the congested Las Vegas Strip
Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Cases Our Personal Injury Law Firm Handles
At Blackburn Wirth Injury Lawyers, our car accident attorneys have earned a reputation for successfully handling some of the most complicated auto accident and personal injury cases in Nevada. Some of the more common types of accident cases our personal injury law firm sees include:
Car Accidents
Las Vegas car accidents cause thousands of people to suffer serious injuries every year. In the best of cases, victims recover completely. More often, however, accident victims are left with mountains of medical expenses, the inability to work, and emotional trauma from the crash.
SUV Rollovers
SUVs are tall and narrow with a high center of gravity. They tend to roll over more frequently when involved in a motor vehicle crash. Because the roof often collapses when the vehicle flips, our law firm commonly sees serious head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities in SUV rollovers.
Rear-End Collisions
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 40% of motor vehicle accidents are rear-end collisions. When drivers and passengers are hit suddenly from behind, they often suffer severe head and neck injuries that can take months, or even years, to heal. Sometimes, rear-end accidents even cause permanent disabilities and deaths.
ATV Accidents
When ATVs like scooters, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and personal watercraft are involved in crashes, injuries can be life-altering. Since a rider’s body has little protection in a crash, accident victims often suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even death.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles offer minimal protection when riders collide with a car, truck, or fixed barrier. A personal injury attorney often sees riders with head and brain injuries, broken bones, neck and spinal cord injuries, and loss of limbs. Motorcyclists are approximately 26 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries when compared with passenger car occupants.
Truck Accidents
Fully-loaded commercial trucks weigh approximately 80,000 pounds. When a semi-truck collides with a passenger car at full speed, injuries are typically severe or fatal. Due to their size and weight, large trucks are unstable, so they can easily jack knife or swerve at high speeds or in high winds.
What Should You Do After an Automobile Accident in Las Vegas?
The actions you take after becoming involved in an auto accident in Las Vegas play a vital role in your well-being and your financial recovery. Make a wrong move or say the wrong thing, and you could jeopardize your health, or your right to recover compensation.
At Blackburn Wirth Injury Lawyers, our law firm wants to make sure that accident victims like you know what to do after an auto accident, and that you have the additional car accident resources you need to maximize your emotional, physical, and financial recovery. Our personal injury attorneys recommend taking the following steps after a motor vehicle crash in Nevada.
Check for Injuries After a Crash
The first thing you should do if you were involved in a crash is to check yourself, your passengers, occupants of the other vehicle(s), and anyone else at the scene for injuries. By quickly evaluating the severity of the accident, you’ll be able to tell the emergency dispatcher important details that could save your own life, or other victims’ lives.
Call 9-1-1 After a Las Vegas, NV Auto Accident
Call 9-1-1 and get emergency medical technicians on the way as soon as possible. You will need to tell the dispatcher where you are located, approximately how many people may be injured, and whether the injuries appear to be severe.
Remain at the Accident Scene
If you need to move yourself or your vehicle to a safer location nearby to avoid a secondary collision, it’s fine to do so, but do not leave the scene of the accident. If you leave the scene before the police arrive, or without exchanging contact information, you could be charged with a crime. If the other driver leaves the scene, your attorney can guide you through what to do after a hit-and-run accident in Las Vegas.
Cooperate with the Police
The police will need to gather information about the accident to create a police report. As a result, they will likely ask you questions about what happened and take a few pictures to include in the police report. While it is important to cooperate with law enforcement, you’ll need to be careful about what you say. Answer their questions if necessary, but do not offer additional information or say anything that could be interpreted as an apology.
Seek Medical Treatment
If you think you may have been injured in the accident, allow the paramedics to examine and treat you. If your injuries are severe, allow first responders to transport you to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, see your doctor as soon as possible after the crash for a medical evaluation. If you refuse medical treatment, and a healthcare provider does not document your injuries, it will be difficult for a car accident lawyer to prove that the crash caused you harm.
Gather Information and Evidence
If your injuries do not require immediate medical treatment, take the opportunity to gather information and evidence while you’re at the accident scene. Collect contact information from any witnesses who may have seen the accident. Take photos or videos of the crash site, and make sure to capture any property damage, skid marks, and anything else that may help your personal injury attorney prove fault for the accident. Footage from a dash cam could make or break your car accident case.
Contact a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer
Contact a Las Vegas car accident lawyer for a free consultation as soon as possible after the crash. Do not talk to the insurance company, make any statements about the accident, or accept a settlement offer without contacting a personal injury law firm for legal assistance.
Let Blackburn Wirth Injury Lawyers Help You Obtain Fair Compensation
Our law firm is dedicated to helping injured victims obtain fair compensation to pay for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. If you suffered injuries in a motor vehicle crash, our car accident attorneys will answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you file an insurance claim against the other driver and his or her insurer.
