Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer

Throughout the United States, car accidents consistently rank among the most common causes of accidental injuries and deaths each year. Every state has different statutes in place for resolving these incidents and helping victims recover from the negligent and sometimes illegal actions of other drivers. If you or a family member recently suffered injuries in a Las Vegas car accident, you could face a host of immediate and long-term damages that you will not know how to recover on your own.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton provide comprehensive and client-focused legal counsel for a wide range of personal injury claims, including those pertaining to motor vehicle accidents. Our team has assisted many past clients in their auto insurance claim processes and subsequent personal injury claims resulting from motor vehicle accidents. When you choose our firm to represent you after a motor vehicle accident, we will take time to listen to your story and help you understand the legal mechanisms you will need to navigate to secure compensation for your damages.

Some car accidents cause relatively moderate losses that those involved can address with minimal legal proceedings. Others result in extreme damages from which victims never fully recover. Regardless of what your car accident case entails in Las Vegas, state law allows you to seek accountability from the driver who caused the accident. The attorneys at Easton & Easton can guide you through this process, from filing an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver to preparing a robust personal injury claim that seeks full compensation for all the damages the at-fault driver caused.

There may not be any law requiring you to hire a lawyer to assist you with your recovery efforts after a car accident, but legal counsel you can trust is an invaluable asset in this situation. When you have an experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney representing you, you are far more likely to maximize the results of your recovery efforts. Many car accident victims are able to identify their immediately recognizable losses, such as the cost of repairing their vehicles and the costs of all the medical treatment they require for their injuries. However, state law permits the victim of a car accident to hold the at-fault driver accountable for future damages as well.

When you choose the attorneys at Easton & Easton to represent you in your car accident claim, you will have instant access to a dedicated and responsive legal advocate who is ready to answer your questions and address your concerns as they arise throughout your case. Our firm does not believe in one-size-fits-all legal strategies, instead taking the time required to get to know every client and listen to their story. We will help you identify every channel of compensation available after your car accident and guide you through the proceedings necessary for maximizing your recovery as much as state law allows.

The leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents in the United States is distracted driving. Any distraction behind the wheel is dangerous, even for a few seconds. Depending on the speed of the vehicle, a few seconds of distraction could amount to driving hundreds of yards driving blind. Cell phone use, eating, smoking, conversations with passengers, adjusting the car stereo or air, and anything else that distracts the driver’s hands, eyes, and/or mind away from the safe operation of their vehicle can potentially cause a devastating accident.

Proving fault is the first step in your recovery after any car accident in Las Vegas. When it comes to distracted driving, it may seem very difficult to prove, but the right attorney will know how to gather the evidence you need to substantiate your claim against the other driver. They may be able to secure traffic camera footage from the location of your accident to prove that the other driver was inattentively operating their vehicle. Cell phone records could be used to show they were texting at the moment the accident occurred.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have represented many plaintiffs in distracted driving cases and we know the evidence they often need to prove liability for these accidents. Our team will assist you in identifying the driver who caused your accident, guide you through the insurance claim process, and help you construct your personal injury case when insurance alone cannot compensate you for your damages.

It is illegal for any driver to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In Nevada, the penalties for a DUI conviction typically include a fine, a suspension of the defendant’s driver’s license, and possibly jail time. Penalties for DUI increase when a defendant has a prior DUI conviction on their record or if they cause severe bodily injury or death to someone due to their intoxicated driving.

Your Las Vegas car accident attorney can assist you in obtaining the police report from your accident and advise you as to how the illegal nature of the at-fault driver’s actions could influence your recovery efforts. While you file your insurance claim and subsequent personal injury suit against them, the state will be filing criminal charges. In addition, the judge handling their sentencing may include restitution to you as an element of their punishment, or your civil court judge may award you punitive damages. Ultimately, any time a driver causes a serious accident through intentional and illegal misconduct, it can influence the victim’s recovery efforts in various ways.

Posted speed limits are enforced throughout the state, and while it is relatively common for drivers to see others on the road driving a few miles over the speed limit to maintain the flow of traffic, it is illegal to drive in excess of any posted speed limit. Speeding not only increases the risk of an accident happening in the first place, but also the severity of any resulting damages to those involved.

Throughout the United States, speeding consistently ranks as one of the most commonly cited contributing factors to fatal vehicle accidents each year. Speeding also greatly increases the risk of a motor vehicle collision resulting in catastrophic injuries to those involved. Depending on the severity of the at-fault driver’s speeding resulting in an accident, they could face a reckless driving charge in addition to their liability for the victim’s civil damages.

Every driver must have appropriate auto insurance coverage that meets the state’s minimum requirements. All auto insurance policies must include bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. The minimum coverage required for the former is $25,000 and $50,000 per accident. In addition, drivers’ policies must provide at least $50,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Drivers are encouraged to purchase additional coverage for accidents with uninsured and underinsured drivers. While optional, this coverage would apply whenever an at-fault driver does not have insurance or enough insurance to meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements. When an accident happens, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, but this coverage allows you to claim against your own policy if the at-fault driver does not have adequate insurance coverage.

Dealing with auto insurance carriers can be tremendously stressful, and ultimately every insurance carrier will do everything they can to minimize financial liability to claimants. But unfortunately, when you contact an insurer to file a claim against another driver’s policy, they will try to find any justification to reduce your settlement offer or outright deny your claim. It’s an unfortunate reality that many insurance company representatives will attempt to take advantage of injured claimants’ desperation to compel them to accept the lowest settlement offers possible.

When you have an experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney representing you and the insurance company notices that you are advised by legal counsel, they will be less inclined to attempt any bad faith handling of your claim. Your legal team can assist you in drafting your demand letter for coverage, handle any correspondence with insurance company representatives on your behalf, and ultimately help you negotiate the best settlement possible for your claim. However, even if you manage to secure the maximum amount of compensation you can from the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, this may not be enough to fully compensate the entire breadth of the damages you suffered.

Whether you are unable to secure full repayment of your losses through the insurance claim against the other driver or they do not have insurance at all, you may need to file a personal injury claim against them to recover the full scope of your damages. The purpose of a personal injury claim is to help the plaintiff become “whole” again after an injury caused by another party.

Your Las Vegas car accident attorney will be invaluable when it comes to gathering the evidence and testimony you will need to build the foundation of a personal injury claim. After you have identified the driver responsible for your damages and obtained a police report from the accident, your attorney will assist you in taking the next vital steps in your recovery efforts. They will help you file your insurance claim against the at-fault driver, and after securing as much compensation as you possibly can, they will help you build your personal injury case.

When a personal injury results from negligence, or any failure to exercise reasonable care and caution, the plaintiff must establish four elements of negligence to hold the defendant accountable:

1. Duty of care. The plaintiff must prove that the defendant or defendants cited in their complaint held a duty of care to the plaintiff. For example, every Las Vegas driver has a duty of care to refrain from consuming alcohol before operating their vehicle.
2. Breach. Next, the plaintiff must show that the defendant in their claim failed to meet the duty of care owed to the plaintiff. Following the previous example, once a driver has started operating their vehicle while intoxicated, they have breached their duty of care to drive responsibly.
3. Damage. You may file a personal injury case against another party only if they caused actual harm or tangible loss. Your Las Vegas car accident attorney can assist you in gathering any evidence needed to prove the full scope of the damages you suffered because of the defendant’s breached duty of care.
4. Causation. You may only claim compensation for the damages directly resulting from the defendant’s actions. This means you must prove your claimed losses resulted from the defendant’s negligence or misconduct and not some other cause.

Promptly securing legal representation as soon as possible after a car accident is essential if you want to have the easiest time possible establishing these elements of negligence. In addition, the sooner you secure legal representation, the easier it will be for you to gather the evidence necessary for proving fault for your accident.

The state allows a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, meaning a plaintiff has two years from the date an injury occurs to file their civil claim in response to that injury. This may seem like more than enough time, but the plaintiff has a much shorter time limit to file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. Since proving fault is crucial for both an auto insurance claim and a subsequent personal injury case, it’s always best to find legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible after any vehicle accident. This ensures the best chances of success with all the recovery efforts you must pursue.

Any motor vehicle accident can result in economic losses for the victim and their family. Under Nevada law, the victim of a car accident has the right to seek full repayment for all economic damages they suffered because of the defendant’s actions. Depending on the nature and severity of your recent accident, you may have grounds to claim compensation for the following:

• Any immediate medical expenses resulting from the accident, such as the cost of emergency ambulance transportation, hospital bills, and prescription costs following your initial treatment.
• Ongoing health care expenses. If you suffered any serious injury, you could face months or even years of rehabilitative care. In addition, the defendant is liable for the cost of physical therapy, occupational therapy, multiple surgical procedures, and any other ongoing treatment costs you face because of the injuries they caused./li>
• Lost wages. Any car accident can leave a victim unable to work until they recover. If you are unable to perform your job duties because of your injuries, the defendant is liable for the income you are unable to earn during this time.
• Lost future income. Unfortunately, some people hurt in car accidents suffer extreme injuries resulting in permanent damage. If you have developed a permanent disability from your recent accident that interferes with your ability to work and earn income in the future, the defendant is liable for your lost earning capacity. An experienced attorney will know how to calculate the future income you could have earned had your injury not occurred.
• Property losses. The defendant is responsible for covering the cost of vehicle repair or replacement along with any other personal property damaged or destroyed in the accident in question.

After assessing the full range of immediate and future damages you can seek from the defendant who caused your accident, it may surprise you to learn your car accident case is worth more than you anticipated at first. However, your recovery does not end with your economic damages, as the law also allows the plaintiff in a personal injury case to seek compensation for pain and suffering.

Pain and suffering may seem difficult to assess in monetary terms, but there are two main methods used to calculate non-economic damages in personal injury claims. The first is the multiplier method, most commonly used in cases in which plaintiffs have suffered severe long-term damages and/or permanent disabilities. With this method, the plaintiff’s attorney multiplies their client’s total economic losses by a factor that reflects the severity of their condition. For example, if they face several months of intensive recovery and possibly years of chronic pain and other symptoms, their attorney may seek three, four, or even five times the amount of their total economic losses in pain and suffering compensation

The second method for calculating pain and suffering is the per diem method. When a plaintiff should make a complete recovery within a relatively short time, usually no more than a few months, their attorney may determine a fair amount of compensation to be paid for each day they spend in recovery. This pain and suffering compensation would continue until they reach maximum medical improvement from their injuries.

When you choose the attorneys at Easton & Easton to represent your car accident claim, we take time to help you determine appropriate compensation for the full scope of your experiences resulting from the accident in question. Our goal in every personal injury case we accept is to secure as much compensation in the shortest amount of time possible for our client.

If you recently experienced a car accident but have concerns that you are partially responsible for causing the accident, this does not necessarily mean you lose your right to claim compensation from the defendant. Nevada enforces a modified comparative negligence statute. This means that when multiple parties share fault for causing civil damages, each party is assigned a fault percentage by the judge who oversees the case.

As long as the plaintiff’s fault is less than 50%, they retain the right to claim compensation for their damages from the defendant. Their fault percentage is how much of their case award they will lose to reflect their shared liability. For example, if your claim amounts to $200,000, but you are found 10% at fault, this would mean losing $20,000 of your case award. If you bear any level of liability for your recent car accident, it is crucial to hire legal counsel you can trust. The right attorney can effectively leverage the evidence in play in your case to preserve your total case award.

Physical evidence from the scene of the accident and eyewitness testimony from those who saw the accident happen in real time are typically crucial for clarifying any disputes regarding liability for car accidents in Las Vegas. However, it is also possible for expert witnesses to play pivotal roles in these contested cases. For example, your Las Vegas car accident attorney might consult with an accident reconstruction expert to help you prove exactly how your accident happened and identify the driver or drivers responsible.

Expert witnesses can also be critical when firmly establishing grounds to recover your claimed damages. For example, if the defendant disputes the level of compensation you are seeking in your claim, your attorney might consult a medical professional who can support your claim for extensive damages. Likewise, if the defendant caused any long-term harm, you would need sound medical documentation to support your case and increase your chances of maximizing the compensation you obtain from your recovery efforts.

After you have secured as much compensation as you possibly can through an auto insurance claim, you can proceed with filing your personal injury action against the driver who injured you to recover your remaining losses. The vast majority of personal injury cases filed in Las Vegas end with privately negotiated settlements. The settlement negotiation process allows both the plaintiff and the defendant to save time and money they would otherwise spend on protracted litigation, but settlement requires both parties to compromise.

When the defendant’s liability is clear, it behooves them to reach a settlement with the plaintiff as soon as possible. After the plaintiff agrees to the defendant’s settlement offer, the plaintiff receives their compensation and the defendant is released from any further liability for the incident in question. Your Las Vegas car accident attorney will guide you through this process, ensuring the settlement offer you receive is fair. While you may not secure as much compensation as a judge might award you in litigation, there is never a guarantee that a civil court judge will see things the same way as you see them, and there is always a risk when taking a personal injury case to court.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have extensive professional resources when it comes to settling our clients’ cases. When you choose our firm to represent you, we will gather any and all evidence needed to firmly prove fault for your damages and help you hold the defendant fully accountable for their negligence or intentional misconduct and the resulting effects on your life.

Ultimately, any car accident can be a life-changing experience, and there is always a chance for a car accident to cause tremendous long-term damage. When you choose the attorneys at Easton & Easton to represent you in your recovery efforts, our team will do everything in our power to help you feel at ease with this difficult situation. We will take time to listen to your side of the story and help you determine fault for the damages you have suffered. The sooner you secure our firm’s representation, the sooner we can begin guiding you toward recovery.

Your legal proceedings following any motor vehicle accident in Las Vegas are likely to begin with an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. Our firm has confronted all the major auto insurance carriers covering drivers in the Las Vegas area and we know the tactics they often employ in their efforts to minimize financial liability to claimants. We also have the skills and resources necessary to resolve any issues of bad faith dealings from insurance company representatives and will work with you every step of the claim filing process until you secure an appropriate insurance claim settlement for your recent accident.

When you have grounds to file a personal injury claim against the driver responsible for your accident, we will help you gather the evidence and testimony needed to ensure a favorable result in your case. We have helped many past clients through some of the most challenging personal injury cases, including disputed liability and complex damages. Our goal is to settle your claim as swiftly as possible, but if settlement negotiations fail for any reason or if a defendant refuses to settle your claim, we are fully prepared to represent you in litigation.

Q: Can I Sue for a Car Accident in Las Vegas?

A: Every driver in Las Vegas must have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements, and filing an insurance claim against the driver responsible for your accident is usually the first step toward recovery. You have the right to file a civil suit against the at-fault driver if they do not have auto insurance or if their insurance does not provide enough coverage to fully compensate your losses. Speak with a Las Vegas car accident attorney as soon as possible if you are unsure whether you have grounds for a civil claim in response to your accident.

Q: Do I Need a Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney to File an Insurance Claim?

A: While it’s not technically required for you to hire legal representation for your car accident recovery process, it is always best to have legal counsel you can trust to ensure the best possible outcome to your insurance claim filing process. Once the insurance company sees that you have legal representation they will be more likely to process your claim efficiently and in good faith. In addition, your Las Vegas car accident attorney will ensure you receive a fair settlement under the terms of the at-fault driver’s policy, and they can help you build a personal injury case if you must pursue further legal recourse.

Q: How Much Does a Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Cost to Hire?

A: The majority of personal injury attorneys accept clients on a contingency fee basis. The client does not pay an upfront fee to hire the attorney, nor are they required to pay legal fees for the duration of their case proceedings. Once the attorney wins compensation on their behalf, they pay a percentage of their case award to the attorney as their fee. If the attorney cannot secure compensation for their damages, the client pays nothing.

Q: Will the At-Fault Driver Go to Jail for Causing My Recent Accident?

A: The driver who caused your recent accident is liable for any damages they inflicted on you, but they could also face criminal prosecution from the state if they caused the accident through any type of illegal misconduct. DUI, reckless driving, and intentional acts of harm behind the wheel are all possible grounds for criminal charges. Your Las Vegas car accident attorney will advise you as to how any such factors will influence your civil claim proceedings.

Q: What Happens if a Car Accident Is Fatal?

A: In the event you have lost a relative due to the negligence or intentional misconduct of a driver in the Las Vegas area, you likely have grounds to file a wrongful death claim in lieu of a personal injury claim. While similar to a personal injury claim in many respects, a wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the losses suffered by the victim’s family. If you believe you have grounds to file this type of claim, it is essential to have reliable legal counsel advising you for the best chances of success.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have a wealth of professional experience in handling motor vehicle accident claims. We have assisted many past clients in their recovery efforts, helping them approach the insurance claim filing process with confidence and guiding them through their personal injury proceedings when necessary. Whatever your situation entails, it is vital to have legal counsel you can trust advising you through all stages of your recovery efforts. Contact the attorneys at Easton & Easton today to schedule your consultation with a Las Vegas car accident attorney you can trust to help you recover.