The minutes and hours after a car accident can be confusing; you may not know what to do after a car accident in Las Vegas. You may be dealing with injuries, damaged vehicles, police officers, insurance companies, and questions about what happens next.
If you are involved in a car accident in Las Vegas, your first priorities should be safety, medical care, documenting what happened, and protecting your ability to pursue a claim if someone else’s negligence caused the crash.
Here are the steps to consider.
If the accident is minor and your vehicle can be moved safely, get out of active traffic when possible.
Turn on your hazard lights and remain aware of passing vehicles. Las Vegas highways and major streets can become dangerous very quickly after a collision, particularly on I-15, US-95/I-11, the 215 Beltway, and heavily traveled surface streets.
If someone is seriously injured or moving them could make an injury worse, wait for emergency personnel.
Call 911 when there are injuries, significant property damage, dangerous road conditions, or an immediate safety concern.
Police and emergency medical personnel can document the scene and provide assistance.
When officers arrive, answer factual questions but avoid guessing about details you do not know.
Do not assume you are uninjured simply because you feel relatively normal immediately after a crash.
Adrenaline can temporarily mask pain, and some injuries become more noticeable hours or days later.
Seek appropriate medical care if you are experiencing pain, dizziness, numbness, headaches, limited movement, confusion, or other symptoms following the collision.
Medical records also create important documentation connecting your injuries to the crash.
Obtain basic information from the other driver, including:
Avoid arguing about who caused the accident.
If it is safe to do so, use your phone to document the accident scene before vehicles or debris are moved.
Photograph:
Take more photographs than you think you need.
A photo that seems insignificant at the time may become important later.
If someone saw the accident, ask for their name and contact information.
Independent witnesses can be valuable when drivers disagree about what happened.
Do not assume police or insurance companies will automatically locate everyone who witnessed the collision.
It is natural to apologize after an accident, even when you did nothing wrong.
Try to avoid making statements about fault before all of the facts are known.
A collision can involve factors you may not immediately see, including another driver’s speed, distraction, impairment, failure to yield, or violation of traffic laws.
Stick to factual information.
Most auto insurance policies require policyholders to report accidents promptly.
Provide accurate information about the collision, but be cautious about speculation.
You should also understand that the other driver’s insurance company may contact you seeking a recorded statement.
You are not required to treat the opposing insurer as though it is working for you. Its job is to evaluate and manage the claim on behalf of its insured and the insurance company.
Create a file containing:
You may also want to keep notes describing your symptoms and how your injuries affect your daily activities.
An insurance company may make an early settlement offer.
That can be tempting when medical bills and vehicle expenses are accumulating.
But once a personal injury claim is fully settled and released, you generally cannot return later and ask for additional compensation because your injuries turned out to be more serious than expected.
Before agreeing to a settlement, make sure you understand the extent of your injuries, expected treatment, lost income, and other damages.
Not every minor collision requires an attorney.
However, you should strongly consider seeking legal advice when:
The more serious the accident, the more important it can be to preserve evidence early.
The damages available depend on the facts of the case.
A personal injury claim may potentially include compensation for losses such as:
There is no universal formula for determining what a car accident claim is worth.
The severity of the injuries, available insurance coverage, evidence of fault, medical treatment, and other circumstances can significantly affect the value of a claim.
Car accidents are not always entirely one driver’s fault.
Nevada uses a modified comparative negligence system. In appropriate cases, an injured person’s compensation may be reduced to reflect their percentage of responsibility for the accident, and their ability to recover can depend on the degree of fault assigned.
That makes evidence about how the crash occurred particularly important when liability is disputed.
Insurance companies and defense attorneys may review publicly available social media activity.
A photograph, check-in, workout post, or casual comment can be taken out of context and used to challenge an injury claim.
You do not necessarily need to disappear from social media, but avoid discussing the crash, your injuries, settlement negotiations, or legal strategy online.
Move to safety when possible, call for emergency help if needed, obtain medical attention, exchange information, photograph the scene, identify witnesses, and report the accident to your insurer.
If you develop pain or other symptoms, seek medical evaluation promptly. Some accident-related injuries are not immediately obvious.
You should understand why the statement is being requested and consider getting legal advice before providing a recorded statement to an opposing insurance company, particularly when injuries are significant.
Legal deadlines apply to personal injury claims, and exceptions can affect those deadlines. Because waiting can also make evidence harder to obtain, it is better to evaluate a potential claim promptly rather than relying on the maximum filing period.
Other sources of coverage may potentially apply, including uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage depending on your policy and the facts of the accident.
A serious crash can affect much more than your vehicle. Medical care, missed work, insurance disputes, and long-term injuries can quickly turn an accident into a significant financial and personal problem.
If you were injured because another driver caused a collision in Las Vegas, Henderson, or elsewhere in Southern Nevada, Dempsey, Roberts & Smith can help you understand your legal options and the next steps in pursuing a personal injury claim.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every accident and personal injury claim is different.