Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer Explains
Car crashes and liability claims
If your car accident in Las Vegas resulted in a severe injury, you ended up in a hospital, and you missed work, call us at 702-432-1000 to speak with a car accident lawyer directly.
While we can't reverse the unfortunate events of an accident, we can help you get compensated for your medical bills and other damages.
We provide free consultations.
We serve clients in Las Vegas and other cities in Nevada.
Why do car accidents happen?
In Las Vegas, car accidents occur for various reasons, but they almost always involve some degree of negligence.
Though the driver's error is the most common cause of most accidents, other things - defective products (tires, airbags, seat belts, seat backs) and negligently performed automotive repairs or negligent automobile maintenance can cause an accident.
Car accidents involving pedestrians can be some of the most dangerous. A pedestrian-related car accident can destroy a victim's life, just like a two-car collision.
When to hire a car accident lawyer?
If the car accident resulted only in property damages, you might file a claim yourself against the at-fault driver insurance. But, if the car driver, passengers, or pedestrians suffered from injuries after the car crash, you need an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your accident liability claim.
The car accident lawyer at Heshmati & Associates can help people injured because of:
- Drunk driving
- Distractive driving (cell phone use)
- Excessive speed
- Failure to adjust to conditions
- Hazards on roadway
Who is liable for an accident?
In any car accident, there may be more than one defendant, including:
- The car driver
- The car owner
- The car manufacturer(s)
- The car parts manufacturer(s)
- The car repair shop
- The road construction company
Furthermore, sometimes more than one vehicle contributes to a car accident. It could have been two other cars or a bus, truck, and motorcycle. You can file a claim against some or all defendants responsible for the crash, whatever the combination is.
In Nevada, the at-fault driver (or driver's insurance) will pay for all damages up to the driver's policy liability limit. If the at-fault driver does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover the claim, your insurance will pay for damages - if you have uninsured motorist coverage (UM).
What to do after a car accident?
If you have been a car accident victim, first seek medical help. Then, when possible, gather all relevant information about the accident:
- Location
- Date and time
- Driver's and driver's car information (including insurance)
- Police report
Take as many pictures as possible of the damaged cars, the victims' positions, and the surrounding area.
Next, you need to hire the best car accident lawyer you can find.
What happens if a Lyft driver hits my car?
As with any car accident, collect the Lyft driver's name, registration, and insurance information. Record the date, time, and location of the crash so Lyft can locate the trip in their system. Then contact a car accident lawyer.
The same steps apply if you're involved in a collision with an Uber driver.
If I got injured in a car accident, do I still have to go to work?
In Las Vegas or Nevada, you are not required to return to work until the doctor releases you. Your health and recovery always come first.
If your doctor recommends rest or limited activity, follow those instructions. Returning to work too soon can delay healing and weaken your injury claim - the insurance company may refuse to pay.
Hold on to your medical records and doctor's notes. They prove how the accident impacted your work and help you recover money for lost income.
How much is medical treatment enough after the car accident?
People often don't feel their injuries are significant right after an accident. And that's okay. Some of our strongest cases have started this way. Only after car injury victims return to their daily routine do they begin feeling the accident's effects (for example, back pain, neck pain, leg pain, head pain, PTSD, etc.).
How much medical treatment is enough and when you should start and end your medical treatment is very subjective. Only a medical doctor can provide these recommendations. However, people often don't realize that your car accident lawyer can only settle your case once with any insurance company. After the insurance company has settled your lawsuit and you got your injury compensation, a car accident lawyer cannot request more reimbursement, even if you need more treatment.
You get reimbursed only once
You have only one shot at getting compensated for your medical bills and other damages, and then - the case is closed. We advise our clients to take all doctors' advice very seriously and continue the treatment until the doctor releases them.
Problem with delays and gaps in treatment after the car accident
Any delay or gap in treatment sends a message to the insurance company that you may not need the treatment. Before ending your medical treatment, you should always consult your doctor and discuss it with your car accident lawyer.
Missing receipts predicament
Sometimes, medical bills are misplaced or even lost at the doctor's office. Don't hope these bills will vanish for good - sooner or later, they will all be found and sent to you. It is an unfortunate situation, and it causes a delay in getting a settlement. However, remember that your car accident lawyer can only settle your case once. You are responsible for paying if you receive a bill after the case is settled and closed. As much as you need the settlement money now - and we understand that - you must wait until ALL bills are found and submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement.
If someone hits me with their car, and they do not have insurance, what do I do?
If you got hit by an uninsured driver in Nevada, don't panic — you still have options.
First, check your own insurance coverage for UM and UIM.
Second, you can file an injury compensation claim directly against the driver; however, if the driver has no savings or other assets, it could be challenging to get compensation from them. Your attorney can investigate whether different sources of compensation exist — for example, if the driver was on the job at the time of the crash.
Finally, your other options could be Med Pay, your health insurance, or a vehicle owner's policy (did the driver borrow somebody else's car?)
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us.
Can I re-open an old car accident insurance claim?
This question comes up a lot.
You can re-open your claim if you received a settlement and signed the release from liability form/waiver without an attorney present within 30 days of the car accident. Many rules apply to re-opening your old case. You need to speak with the Las Vegas car accident lawyer for further information. We invite you to call us.
How does a car accident lawyer get paid?
We take all car accident lawsuits on a contingency basis, which means - you pay us only when we win your case.
A car accident lawyer can help
You can bet that insurance companies have the best lawyers looking out for their interests. We believe that you should have the best car accident lawyer looking out for you as well.
Usually, the medical bills are the highest costs for a car accident victim. In most cases, you need the money to pay for your medical bills (including PTSD treatment), auto repairs, and loss of wages.
We can help. To speak with a car accident lawyer, call us at 702-432-1000.
We serve clients in Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, and the surrounding area of Nevada.
We also represent many tourists who had car accidents while vacationing in Las Vegas.
