Car crashes in Nevada increased in 2022, even though law enforcement agencies across the state of Nevada, in cooperation with the state’s public health services, constantly remind motorists of safe driving habits and how to reduce or avoid the risk of a crash. According to statistics, accidents in Clark County have increased by 20%, and the number of fatal car crashes in Nevada increased by 2% when compared to 2021.
Common Causes of Nevada Car Accidents
Traffic accidents can occur in a number of ways. The most common causes of crashes in the United States, and by extension, the state of Nevada, include the following:
- Driving under the influence;
- Driving above the speed limit;
- Driving while exhausted or fatigued;
- Vehicle malfunctioning;
- Dangerous weather conditions;
- Dangerous road conditions;
- Distracted driving;
- Failing to obey traffic laws.
In the state of Nevada, the top factors that contribute to car accidents include driving while intoxicated and speeding.
Driving above the speed limit can result in the following:
- A higher chance of losing control of the vehicle;
- Reducing the effectiveness of the car’s safety features (such as seatbelts);
- Speeding in your vehicle wastes gas much faster;
- Distances and stop times between vehicles must significantly increase;
- Crashes involving speeding often cause severe harm or death.
Driving while intoxicated makes it difficult for the motorist to safely operate a vehicle. Intoxication also reduces accuracy in perception, dulls judgment, slows reaction time, blurs vision, and can cause a driver to drift asleep.
Damages for Accident Victims
The law in Nevada is clear regarding who must compensate an accident victim for harm suffered in an accident–the negligent person. Compensation includes economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage, etc.) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.).
States across America place maximum limits on the amount of damages an injured party may collect in a personal injury lawsuit. Nevada places limits on two particular circumstances:
- Non-economic damages are maxed out at $350,000 in medical malpractice cases;
- Punitive damages in personal injury lawsuits are capped at three times the amount of economic and non-economic damages if the total is $100,000 or above, or $300,000 if the total value of those damages is below $100,000.
When a defective product causes a plaintiff harm, there is no cap on a punitive damage award.
It is important to keep in mind that in Nevada, if the victim’s negligence contributed to their own harm, the amount of the award will be reduced by the percentage of fault as long as the plaintiff was 50% or less at fault for the accident that caused the harm.
Speak With a Nevada Attorney
If you were hurt in a Nevada accident by a negligent driver, whether they were intoxicated or speeding, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the harm that you have suffered. To learn more about your options under the law. The attorneys at H&P Law can guide you every step of the way.
