Free Consultation: (702) 444-5555

Vegas Valley Injury Law

What Happens After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Drunk driving is a huge issue in the Las Vegas area and beyond. Throughout 2021, Metro has made an average of 15 DUI arrests every day. Meanwhile, deadly crashes are also on the rise. We understand the impact of drunk driving accidents here at Vegas Valley.

Unfortunately, while you may behave responsibly, the same won’t necessarily be true of others who share the road with you. As such, it’s important to be prepared for every possible scenario — including the very real possibility of being hit by a drunk driver.

How you respond in the first few minutes, hours, and days after following a collision with a drunk driver could determine whether you’re able to get compensation for your suffering. To help, we’ve highlighted what happens after drunk driving accident from both the driver and the victim’s perspective. Follow these steps to stay safe and improve to outcome for your potential personal injury case:

Emphasize Personal Safety and Security

It’s natural to feel panicked after a crash, but calm action is required at this critical time. First, call 911 to get law enforcement officials involved as quickly as possible. If you or somebody else is injured, consider getting an ambulance on the scene as well.

When necessary, take extra steps to keep the scene safe as you await emergency personnel. Depending on the situation, this could mean moving your vehicle out of oncoming traffic or turning off the ignition to avoid fires. Keep in mind that, if the other driver is intoxicated, this person cannot be depended on to keep the scene of the accident safe or secure.

Seek Medical Attention

As you ponder what happens after drunk driving accident situations, you might think about the involvement of law enforcement officials or insurance companies. Don’t forget, however, that it’s important to address any injuries you may have suffered as a result of the crash. These may not initially seem serious, but remember: injuries that appear to be minor at the scene of the accident can cause considerable suffering later on.

Don’t hesitate to visit a hospital or clinic to get checked out. This will serve a dual purpose: receiving medical treatments, if necessary, and documenting your condition. Official documentation is essential, as it could demonstrate the severity of your injuries or be called upon to verify your need for compensation.

Get In Touch With a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer

Before you discuss your situation with police officers or insurance representatives, contact a trusted Las Vegas car accident lawyer. This is important even if you do not think you are at fault.

Regardless of your role in the crash, anything you say could potentially be used against you later on. The right attorney, however, can provide guidance as you move forward with an otherwise complicated process. Ideally, your attorney will have experience with cases involving drunk driving accidents — especially from the victim’s perspective.

What Happens to the Drunk Driver?

As you proceed with the personal injury process, it helps to know how the other driver involved in your case might fare. Assuming you’ve been injured, chances are that the other driver will not find it easy to secure release from jail. A lot depends, however, on whether this is the driver’s first offense.

In general, license suspension can be expected. This may eventually be followed by additional penalties ranging from probation to fines and even significant time in jail.

In addition to facing criminal charges, the intoxicated driver may be involved in a civil case. This is where you — the injured party — come into play. If the other driver is represented by a Nevada DUI lawyer, the personal injury process may involve collecting evidence, conducting depositions, or, eventually, appearing in court. As the victim, however, your goal is to secure maximum compensation, as the drunk driver’s negligence has caused you to suffer.

Vegas Valley Injury Law: Legal Help After Drunk Driving Accidents

Were you harmed in a drunk driving accident? Strong legal representation can make all the difference during this difficult time. Vegas Valley Injury Law can help you get the damages you deserve. Contact us today to get started.

Should I File a Claim With My Insurance Carrier After an Auto Accident in Nevada?

In the chaos after an auto accident in Nevada, it’s tough to know where to turn or how to find help. Recovering from physical injuries and emotional damage can be tough enough as is, but the economic impact is also worth considering.

Insurance may seem like a natural source of help, but often, conversations with carriers are downright frustrating. This is particularly true when you get in touch too soon after the accident. Interactions that seem harmless may ultimately lead to claim denials or reduced settlements.

As you determine next steps, you might be wondering: is it worth the time and effort to file a claim with an insurance provider after an auto accident in Nevada? The answer largely depends on how you go about this process. Keep reading to learn more:

How Compensation Works After An Auto Accident In Nevada

Before you can grasp the preferred timing for getting in touch with insurance carriers, it helps to understand how, exactly, compensation works after an auto accident in Nevada.

As a Nevada driver, you are subject to a fault-based system that typically holds the person who was responsible for the accident accountable. This usually means that the at-fault driver’s insurance provider steps in to process claims. The state’s system of modified comparative fault may sometimes reduce the amount the victim is able to recover.

Why Chatting With Insurance Providers Is Risky

Insurance carriers may initially seem helpful after a car crash, but it’s generally in their best interest to speed through the process — even when that means you get a low settlement, or worse, a claim denial. Many companies rely on bad faith tactics to deflect blame or otherwise discourage clients from seeking the full extent of the damages they deserve.

If you contact your insurance carrier without an attorney in your corner, you may face repeated efforts to get your claim denied. For example, insurance reps may ask for written or verbal statements about the accident.

Insurance providers may use nearly anything you say against you — even phrases that seem insignificant. The smallest mistakes could hold huge complications for your car accident case, so it’s not worth the risk to chat with an insurance carrier on your own.

Meet With an Auto Accident Attorney in Nevada First

Acting quickly is important when you’re involved in a car accident, but who you call matters. When in doubt, look to a trusted auto accident attorney for help. Your lawyer can handle all interactions with insurance on your behalf. If negligence played a role in the crash, your attorney can help you get damages for medical bills, lost wages, or emotional trauma.

Our team at Vegas Valley Injury Law is happy to take on the burden of dealing with insurance after a car crash. Contact us today to learn more about our approach. We’d love to get you started with a case consultation, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

How Soon Should I Hire an Attorney After an Auto Accident?

You were recently involved in a car accident, and now, you’re dealing with both physical pain and emotional trauma. How you respond — and who you turn to for help — could determine how quickly you’re able to recover. The first step? Getting in touch with the best accident attorney in Las Vegas.

Many victims realize that they could benefit from skilled representation, but they neglect to reach out as quickly as needed. Such delays are understandable during the difficult recovery process, but they can also make it tough to secure personal injury damages. Below, we help by clarifying the need for prompt assistance after an auto accident in Las Vegas.

What is the Statue of Limitations in Nevada?

Before you understand the value of swift legal service, it helps to understand how the statute of limitations works in Nevada. There, as in many states, it is possible to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of the accident occurring.

This does not mean that you can afford to wait for nearly two years before you start thinking about filing with the civil court. While your case may take some time to bring to a close, it’s always in your best interest to get an attorney involved long before the statute of limitations becomes a concern.

Getting in Touch With an Accident Attorney in Las Vegas: Why Sooner is Better

In the immediate aftermath of an accident, it’s important to seek medical attention. Healthcare professionals can determine the extent of the damage and provide early treatments to limit your pain and suffering.

Once everyone is safe and your injuries have been addressed, it’s time to get in touch with an attorney. Your lawyer can help you gather time-sensitive evidence that could play a huge role in your case.

Additionally, a compassionate attorney can ease your stress by clarifying the legal process. The sooner you understand what, exactly, a personal injury lawsuit encompasses, the less anxious you’ll feel about your path to justice.

What Happens If I Wait Too Long?

With personal injury cases, the consequences of waiting for representation can be devastating. Potential problems caused by delays could include:

  • Limited access to important evidence. If contacted quickly enough, your attorney may be able to gather evidence from the scene of the accident. Your lawyer can also gather details from witnesses while their memories remain fresh.
  • Lowball offers from insurance companies. It’s important to speak with an attorney before chatting with insurance providers. Your attorney can handle ensuring insurance conversations on your behalf, removing a major source of stress from your shoulders. It’s easy to unintentionally downplay injuries or excuse the negligent party’s behavior — but this can lead to lowball offers. After all, it’s generally in the insurance company’s best interest to provide the lowest settlements possible.

Vegas Valley Injury Law: Prompt Service from an Accident Attorney in Las Vegas

Now that you understand the value of swift legal service, it’s time to get in touch with a trusted Las Vegas personal injury law firm. Vegas Valley Injury Law can be a wonderful resource during this difficult time. We offer empathetic, yet proactive service, with the goal of maximizing your personal injury compensation.

Don’t wait to get a passionate Las Vegas accident attorney on your side. Contact us today to get started with a case consultation.

What Qualifies as a Personal Injury

While injuries happen every day, a personal injury case has specific legal requirements that must be met. In Las Vegas, you may qualify for a personal injury claim if you were injured due to the negligence of someone else. That “someone” can also be a company or organization and doesn’t need to be an individual person. For example, slipping and falling on a wet floor in a retail store, or being struck by a public bus while driving your car may be grounds for a personal injury case.

What are the Most Common Types of Personal Injuries?

The most common types of personal injuries are car accidents, work-related accidents, and slip-and-fall types of injuries that happen in public places or private businesses. While these aren’t the only ways a person can have a personal injury claim, they’re the types of injuries that are most often seen. Other types may include harm that comes from faulty products or wrongful death claims. Understanding what qualifies as personal injury from a legal standpoint is important for fair compensation.

Sometimes, a person becomes injured but doesn’t realize that they may have a claim. What happens most often with issues such as slipping and falling in the grocery store, and similar kinds of injuries. If you’re injured in any way, make sure you document everything well. That includes taking pictures of the location and the injury, as well as keeping accurate records from doctor’s visits and other facets of the experience. Common injuries may lead to significant compensation, and proving liability is key.

What ISN’T Personal Injury?

There are some cases, even when a person is harmed, where they don’t have grounds to file a personal injury claim. For example, someone who witnessed the aftermath of a traumatic event will not have a personal injury claim. A family member who rushes to the scene of a car accident won’t be able to seek compensation for emotional distress because of what they see. It may be difficult and traumatizing, but it’s not personal injury for legal purposes.

A driver in a car accident will also not be able to seek personal injury compensation if they are found to be more than 50 percent liable in that accident. When people have significant liability in an accident where they were injured, they’ve contributed to that accident to a point that they’re not legally allowed to hold the other party liable for the harm that came to them. However, anyone whose liability is under 50 percent in a car accident may make a legal personal injury claim.

What Should You Do if You Sustain a Personal Injury?

Filing a personal injury case needs to be done correctly, and the way to make sure it’s handled properly is by working with a legal professional. A personal injury attorney can help you through the necessary steps to get your claim filed. They can also talk with you about the compensation you may be able to receive, and what would be considered fair and just in your particular case. There are often many details to a personal injury case, so choosing the right legal professional is an important way to increase your overall chances of a successful, satisfactory outcome.

5 Tips After You’ve Been Involved in a Hit and Run Accident

Hit and run accidents in Las Vegas aren’t always avoidable, but, as a responsible driver, you expect that anyone involved in an accident will stick around to make sure that others are safe. What happens, then, if the person responsible for the crash flees? This is infuriating, of course, but it can also complicate your efforts to get your medical expenses and lost wages covered via compensatory damages.

[Read more…] about 5 Tips After You’ve Been Involved in a Hit and Run Accident