Car Accident Attorney Las Vegas

A car accident can leave you facing life-changing injuries, huge medical bills, and significant property damage. More than that, it also can cause physical and emotional suffering. In Las Vegas, an attorney at McDonald Worley can help you take on the car insurance companies and any other parties responsible for the accident. to ensure that you are compensated fairly for your damages.

By allowing our expert personal injury lawyers to deal with the details of your case, you can turn your attention to healing, meaning that you can get back on the road to recovery.

At McDonald Worley, we treat all of our clients the way we would treat our own family members, ensuring that they receive the most compensation possible for their medical expenses, damaged property, ongoing rehabilitation, or lost income. After a car accident in Las Vegas, Nevada, recovering money from an insurance company or the responsible driver can be an overwhelming challenge – particularly if you try to do it on your own.

Insurance companies have lawyers and advisers of their own who are always on the lookout for ways to deny claims so that they can increase their profits.. The best way to avoid getting taken advantage of is by working with a car accident lawyer who has plenty of experience.. You deserve compensation for the injuries you sustained. We will fight on your behalf to ensure that you get it, call us today at 877-721-3423 to schedule a free consultation.

How Much Compensation Can I Get For A Car Accident In Las Vegas?

The amount of money you are owed after an accident depends on how severe your injuries were. For instance, did you sustain major injuries that resulted in permanent disabilities or that limited your future ability to work? Did someone you care about die in the accident? The circumstances surrounding every accident vary, which means that the amount of compensation also varies from case to case. The best way to find out exactly how much money you could get in your case is to reach out to us today.

Is Hiring A Car Accident Lawyer In Las Vegas Necessary?

People sometimes make the mistake of thinking that they can represent themselves in their car accident cases.. We highly recommend against this. People who work with qualified lawyers typically receive much bigger settlements. An experienced personal injury attorney can negotiate with the insurer so that you get as much money as possible in your case. We deal with cases like these and know how to sidestep the underhanded techniques that insurance companies use to try to reduce the amount of money that they pay. They also are extremely skilled at putting together evidence and other types of documentation to support your claim.

Anyone who tries to take on the insurance company on their own will usually miss out on key information that could help them get more money. As a result, they often will accept less money than they deserve. Some cases are particularly complicated, especially when it comes to liability decisions. Hiring a lawyer to represent you in cases like these is essential if you suffered severe injuries or were permanently disfigured or disabled.

How Much Do Car Accident Attorneys In Las Vegas Charge?

One common concern that accident victims have is that they don’t have enough money to hire a lawyer. Luckily, a lack of money usually isn’t a problem, particularly here at McDonald Worley. We will meet with you for free to talk about your case and to determine how best to proceed. This meeting allows us to familiarize ourselves with the details of your case and also gives you a clearer picture of what you can expect in terms of compensation. If we accept your case, we work on contingency. That means that we don’t get paid ahead of time. Instead, our payment comes out of any money you are awarded after a settlement is reached.

What Are Some Of The Most Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Las Vegas?

Car accidents can be caused by many different factors.. Some of the most common issues that lead to accidents include the following:

Drivers Who Are Distracted

Today, more accidents than ever are caused by distracted driving. Although cell phones are usually to blame, accidents like these can also be caused by drivers who are changing the radio station, entering information into their GPS devices, or trying to find something in their car. Some people even get distracted by having discussions with other people in their vehicles or staring at something passing by on the edge of the road.

Unsafe Road Condition

Roads can quickly become unsafe due to changes in the weather. Issues like heavy traffic or road construction can also create safety issues that increase the likelihood of accidents occurring.

Driving While Intoxicated

Drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are a danger on the road. Substances like these interfere with their ability to make decisions and to respond quickly. They also can negatively impact judgment. Driving under the influence is one of the most common causes of accidents.

Driving Recklessly

Reckless actions while driving can easily lead to accidents. For instance, if a driver is darting in between other cars, traveling too fast for the conditions, or taking turns too quickly, it puts other drivers on the road at risk.

Equipment Failure

Accidents are sometimes caused by defective parts or mechanical issues.

No matter what caused the car accident that you were in, taking the right steps afterward is an important part of protecting your rights.

What Steps Should You Take Following A Car Accident?

Accidents can occur at any time, which is why it is important to always be prepared. In the city of Las Vegas, the police will only send officers to the scene if the accident results in injuries. That means that vehicle owners are responsible for gathering all of the essential information in accidents that are considered non-emergencies. To make the process easier, anyone who drives a vehicle in Las Vegas should keep these items in the glove box at all times:

• A pencil and a piece of paper
• A valid insurance card
• A copy of the current vehicle registration
• Contact information for emergency services
• The phone number of a local towing provider
• A copy of the protocol form used by the Las Vegas Police Department

If no one sustained injuries in the accident, you and the other driver should move your cars out of the way of other traffic as quickly as you can. Before you do that, however, take a few extra minutes to snap photos of the scene. Be careful if you are in an area where there is a lot of traffic. After your vehicles have been moved, you should then talk to the other driver to get their contact information and to give them yours. If you can’t move your vehicles, you should call the police. Other situations where the police should be contacted include:

• The other driver has been drinking or appears to be under the influence of drugs.
• The other driver doesn’t have a license, a valid insurance card, or proof of registration for their vehicle.
• The driver of the other car won’t give you their information, is acting aggressively, or won’t cooperate in some other way.

After an Accident, What Information Do You Need To Gather?

After an accident, getting the following information can make all the difference in your claim being denied or settled:

• The name and contact information of the other driver, including their phone number and physical address.
• The names and contact details of anyone riding in the vehicles or anyone who witnessed the accident.
• The driver’s license number of the other driver.
• Details about the other driver’s insurance, including the company that they are with, their policy number, and the phone number.
• The year, make, and model of the other vehicle.
• The other vehicle’s license plate number.
• The VIN of the other vehicle.

After you gather this information, you can then go home to finish filling out an accident report. Your insurance company will usually require you to submit an SR-1 form. After you finish filling out this form, reach out to your insurer to let them know about the accident.

What Steps Should You Take If You Are Injured In A Car Accident?

If you sustained injuries in an accident, don’t bother trying to collect any information from the other driver. Instead, take these steps:

• Dial 911 to alert emergency services. Let them know that you need medical assistance.
• See a doctor or qualified medical provider right away, even if you don’t think that your injuries are severe.
• Don’t provide any extra information to the police – just give them what they need to fill out their report. Even if you think you may have been at least partially at fault, never mention that to the police. Instead, the experts who re-create the accident will figure out exactly who was at fault.
• Don’t contact the insurance company until you talk to an attorney.

Never discuss the accident with the insurance company until you have a chance to talk to a lawyer near Las Vegas. Insurance providers often try to settle cases as quickly as possible, before the true nature of any injuries has been identified. To make sure the insurance company is treating you fairly, always discuss your case with a lawyer in advance. They can deal with the insurance company for you, helping to ensure that your rights are protected.

How Much Car Insurance Coverage Is Required Under Nevada State Law?

In Nevada, any vehicle that is registered in the state needs to have liability insurance, even if you don’t drive it. This law applies to cars and trucks as well as SUVs and other types of motorized vehicles..

The minimum coverage amounts required by the law include $25,000 of bodily injury coverage for a single person in an accident, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage for two or more people in an accident, and $20,000 to cover any property damage. Keep in mind, however, that these are just the minimum amounts. Most experts recommend increasing your coverage.

Imagine that you get into a large-scale car wreck where you sustained significant injuries. If you opt for the minimum, you may not have enough coverage for your medical expenses. For instance, imagine that you accumulate $100,000 worth of medical bills as a result of the accident. Both you and the driver who caused the accident only have the minimum bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000. You will only receive $25,000 from their insurance company and $25,000 from your insurance company, which won’t be enough to cover your bills.

For additional protection, consider purchasing coverage against uninsured or underinsured motorists. Anywhere between 10 and 15% of drivers only opt for the minimum level of coverage, which usually isn’t enough. If your medical expenses exceed the amount of coverage that the other driver has, you can file a claim with your own insurance company to cover the rest if you have this type of coverage.

How Do You File A Claim With The Insurance Company?

Our attorneys advise taking the following steps when you are involved in an accident:

• Contact the police for a copy of the police report if you are seeking damages.
• Get the contact details of the driver of the other vehicle and anyone who witnessed the accident. If you didn’t collect this information yourself at the scene, you can find it on the police report.
• Let your insurance company know that you got into an accident.
• Contact a lawyer to ensure that you are fairly compensated.

If you work with us, we will deal with your insurance company and the insurance company of the other driver for you. Thanks to our experience, we can gather detailed evidence, ask all of the right questions, and handle the insurance company the right way so that you don’t have to worry about making any mistakes.

Should You Contact The Insurance Company On Your Own After An Accident?

After an accident, you should call your insurance company right away to let them know about the accident or collision. Always write down the name of the person that you talk to and the time of the call. Don’t sign any documents provided by the insurance company until we have a chance to review them.

If The Insurance Company Offers A Settlement, Should You Take It?

Insurance companies like to make as much money as they can. To accomplish that, they often offer settlement amounts that are less than people deserve. By working with our lawyers, you can reduce the risk of your insurance company taking advantage of you.

Is A Police Report Required To File A Claim For An Auto Accident?

Any time you get into an auto accident, it is extremely important to file a claim for the accident with your insurance provider. If you don’t start the claim process, you may not be able to seek compensation. Always provide as much evidence as you can when you file your claim. The odds of the insurance company improving your claim increase significantly if you can provide detailed documentation. Although you may not be required to provide a police report, if you don’t submit one, the insurance company may question whether or not you have a valid claim. They may even doubt that an accident took place.

Even if your insurer thinks that your claim is valid, they may not be able to make a settlement offer without an adequate amount of documentation or evidence. Police reports provide essential information about the accident including who was at fault, when it took place, where it occurred, and what injuries or property damage resulted from the accident.

How Is Fault Handled By Insurance Companies In Nevada?

Some states have no-fault insurance laws, while others have at-fault insurance laws. Understanding the difference between the two is important.

In no-fault accidents, drivers submit a claim to their own insurance provider, regardless of who was to blame for the accident. Depending on the severity of the injuries or the level of damages, drivers in no-fault states can also sometimes file lawsuits against the driver responsible for the accident. To file a suit like this, however, certain requirements have to be met.

Nevada is considered an at-fault state for insurance purposes. That means the person responsible for the accident is required to pay for the resulting damage. After an accident occurs, the victim who was not at fault can seek compensation from the insurance company of the driver responsible for the accident. If you want to get compensation from the other driver, you need to prove that the accident was their fault. This requires a lot of documentation and evidence including statements from witnesses, physical evidence from the scene, and a copy of the police report.

The law in Nevada also includes contributory negligence, meaning that your compensation is affected by each driver’s percentage of fault. If your level of fault for the accident exceeds that of the other driver, you won’t be able to seek compensation for your damages. At-fault states often come under fire for requiring victims to prove that the other driver was at fault. Despite that, there are many advantages over no-fault systems. The primary benefit is that victims can pursue damages for noneconomic losses, which is something that is not allowed in no-fault states.

How Do They Determine Who Was at Fault In A Car Accident In Nevada?

From an insurance standpoint, Nevada is considered an at-fault state. That means that the person responsible for causing the accident has to pay for any resulting damages. That is why it is important to understand how they figure out who was at fault when a crash occurs. If you are unable to prove that the other person was at fault, your claim may be turned down or you may not get as much money as you are owed.

Negligence per se or negligence, recklessness, or carelessness are used when determining fault. The term “negligence per se” refers to situations where a driver violated a law or statute. “Negligence”, on the other hand, is used to describe situations where the driver didn’t exercise a reasonable amount of care when operating their vehicle. That means that a driver can be held responsible for an accident even if they didn’t break the law.

Proving fault usually requires an in-depth investigation. During this investigation, evidence supporting your claim is gathered. This includes photographs, debris, skid marks, statements from witnesses, pictures of any damage the vehicles sustained, a copy of the police report, a statement from the driver of the other vehicle, and any other information that may help.

Other information is gathered, as well, including the weather conditions when the accident occurred, the level of traffic, or the amount of lighting available in the area at the time of the crash. Specialists who focus on reconstructing accidents are sometimes called in to help determine fault.. Depending on the situation, both drivers may be assigned part of the blame for the accident. When this happens, the damages that you can claim are affected by the laws surrounding comparative negligence.

What If A Defective Part Or Mechanical Failure Caused The Accident?

If you are injured by a defective part in your own vehicle or the vehicle of another driver, you may be able to pursue compensation from the manufacturer of the part of the vehicle. For instance, injuries often occur as a direct result of airbags deploying. The tremendous force of the airbag sometimes causes shrapnel to fly into the area where passengers are seated, resulting in injuries.

In some cases, accidents are caused by faulty parts. For instance, if the accelerator sticks, the brakes fail, or the ignition switch disengages while the vehicle is moving, accidents can easily occur. Even if these parts or vehicles are subject to recall, the manufacturer is still responsible. Talk to a qualified attorney to figure out if your injuries were caused by a manufacturer defect. If so, they can help you pursue compensation.

After A Car Accident, What Are Some Of The Damages That You Can Pursue?

Drivers often neglect to claim all of the damages that they deserve after an accident. Damages fall into several different categories. The two main categories are economic and noneconomic damages. As you might guess, economic damages involve financial losses. Some examples include:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Repair bills for damaged property
• A loss of future income

Non-economic damages are problems caused by the accident that doesn’t have a monetary value. Some examples include:

• Pain
• Emotional distress or suffering
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of the ability to enjoy life

Coming up with a figure for non-economic damages is challenging. With the help of a lawyer, however, you can figure out how much money you are owed for both your financial losses and your noneconomic damages. You also may be able to pursue punitive damages in the state of Nevada. Damages like these are designed to punish drivers for behavior that is malicious or purposely reckless.

Set Up A Free Appointment With McDonald Worley Today

We treat all of our clients with compassion. At the same time, we also work hard on their behalf to ensure that they are compensated for their losses or injuries. We handle car accidents and wrongful death cases in the Las Vegas area as well as across the entire state of Nevada. Reach out to our Las Vegas personal injury firm right away. You can reach us by phone or through the contact form on our website.