Personal Injury in Las Vegas
Car Accidents
In correlation with its growing population, Las Vegas sees an increased amount of car accidents each year. It is important for every person using the roads in Las Vegas, either as a driver or passenger, to know what to do when involved in an accident. The first thing you should do when another driver hits you is to stop your vehicle and move it safely out of harm’s way. NRS 484E.020. You should also call the police immediately. NRS 484E.050. If the police do not come, you need to file a Report of Traffic Crash with the DMV within 10 days of the accident if the accident results in bodily injury, death, or damage to property of $750 or more. NRS 484E.070. You will also need to exchange information with the other driver. NRS 484E.030. This will include getting a copy of the other driver’s license, registration, and insurance. You should take photos of the other driver’s license plate, damages to the vehicles, and the area of the road where the accident occurred. The accident may leave you injured and with damages to your vehicle by no fault of your own. It is important to immediately contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to arrange for the other driver’s insurance company to be responsible for the repairs to your vehicle, pay for your medical bills, and compensate you for your pain and suffering without any increase to your insurance rates.
Wrongful Death
A death of a loved one is always a very troubling event, but when the death is caused by the acts of someone else, it can be even more difficult as the decedent’s life was cut short. If the decedent dies from the intentional, reckless, or negligent conduct of another party, the decedent has a claim for wrongful death against that party.
In these types of cases, an heir of the decedent or personal representative may bring a lawsuit on the decedent’s behalf. Heirs often include the decedent’s spouse, children, parents, or other relatives. NRS 41.085. The heirs can bring a claim on the decedent’s behalf to recover monetary damages, such as medical bills, lost income, funeral expenses, loss of consortium, loss of benefits, and punitive damages.
The statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim in Nevada is two years from the person’s death, so it is very important to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to preserve your rights.
Slip And Fall
There are various ways in which someone can be injured during a slip and fall accident, such as slipping on a wet floor, defective stairs, an uneven surface, or an item on the ground. A property owner is not always liable for slip and fall accidents, and liability is specific to the facts and circumstances surrounding each case. It will be necessary for an experienced attorney to investigate the details surrounding the slip and fall. If the owner of the premises knew or should have known of the issue that caused your fall, it will be more likely that the owner will be liable for its negligence. For example, if the area was wet for a long time, if other people have slipped in the same area, or if there was inadequate lighting, the owner should have corrected the issue. Because each slip and fall case is largely dependent on the specific facts involved, you should contact an experienced attorney to assist you in examining the facts surrounding your case.
Premises Liability
Premises liability cases typically involve an owner’s negligence while you are on the owner’s property. These include instances such as slip and falls, inadequate security, falling objects, dog bites, open swimming pools, and elevator accidents. The owner of the property has a duty of reasonable care to make sure that its premises is safe from dangers to people entering the premises. If you are seriously injured in a business and need medical attention, call the police right away. You should also consider requesting an incident report, giving a written statement to the manager, and collecting the names and contact information of any witnesses. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, you should consult with an experienced personal injury as soon as possible because evidence regarding your case may be lost or destroyed if the owner is not put on immediate notice to preserve the evidence, including video surveillance.
Uber and Lyft Accidents
Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies transport thousands of people in Las Vegas daily. Occasionally, passengers in an Uber or Lyft are injured in a car accident. Fortunately, Uber and Lyft carry insurance coverage that will protect you.
You are covered as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft when your vehicle is involved in an accident, regardless of whether the accident was the Uber or Lyft driver’s fault or the fault of another driver. Uber and Lyft carry third-party liability insurance that covers up to $1 million per accident for personal injuries and property damage if the accident is the fault of the Uber or Lyft driver. If the accident is the fault of someone else, Uber and Lyft also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of up to $1 million, which protects you if the other driver does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance coverage to adequately compensate you for your injuries.
Catastrophic injury
Catastrophic injuries are personal injuries that result in long-term or permanent disability, disfigurement, or serious injuries to the head, neck, or spine. Catastrophic injuries are very serious as they affect the everyday life of the victim and the victim’s loved ones. Monetary damages are oftentimes inadequate to compensate the victim, especially in cases of disability or disfigurement. Unfortunately, monetary compensation is typically the only remedy available to make the victim as close to whole as possible as he or she was before the incident. Common examples of monetary compensation result from medical bills, lost income, property damage, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Victims may also recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Nevada is two years. So even though a victim may still be receiving medical care two years after the incident, it is extremely important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately to preserve the victim’s rights.
Product Liability
Product liability cases involve instances where a defective product from a manufacturer causes an injury. These can involve design defects, manufacturing defects, or marketing defects.
Design defects occur when the design of the product makes it inherently unsafe. Manufacturing defects occur when there is an error in the manufacturing of the product that makes it more dangerous than what is intended. Marketing defects occur through the marketing of the product, such as improper labeling or inadequate safety warnings.
There are many types of situations where a defective product can injure you through no fault of your own. If you have been injured by a defective product, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your potential claim.
Motorcycle Accidents
Whether you were injured on a motorcycle or injured by someone riding a motorcycle, it is important to understand your rights. Motorcycle accidents are fairly common due to the lack of visibility, high speeds, frequent lane changes of motorcyclists. Unfortunately, many motorcycle accidents can be fatal. If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are very common in Las Vegas due to the amount of people walking along the Strip and downtown. Pedestrians are often injured by vehicles while walking on the sidewalk, in a crosswalk, or in parking lots due to distracted or negligent drivers. You are only entitled to a recovery for your damages as long as you were not jaywalking, so it is important to be careful and only cross the street in a crosswalk when instructed by the traffic signal.
Dog Bites
If you are bitten by a dog and injured, you may have a claim for relief. This depends largely on whether the dog’s owner failed to use reasonable care, such as not having the dog on a leash. Additionally, if the dog has bitten someone before and the owner has not taken sufficient precautions to prevent another dog bite, the owner can then be liable.
If a dog has bitten you in Las Vegas, it should be reported to Animal Control and you should seek medical attention to confirm that the dog does not have rabies. The dog may also be subjected to a 10-day quarantine.
Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bites, so it is important to collect the information of the owner of the dog that bit you.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents involve commercial vehicles. These types of collisions often result in serious injuries due to the large size, weight, and power of commercial trucks. Truck accidents usually occur due to an unsafe lane change, reckless driving, or driving while fatigued. There are a variety of state and federal regulations that govern how long a driver can go without rest and how much weight the truck can haul.
If you are injured by a commercial truck, you may have a claim against the driver as well as the driver’s employer. Your claim depends largely on the set of facts surrounding your accident.