There is a two-year statute of limitations relating to auto accident claims in Nevada. Based on this statute, you have up to two years from the date of your car crash to request compensation from any at-fault parties. If you want to file an auto collision claim, a Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help you do just that.
Do not wait any longer to submit a car crash claim. Hire a Nevada car accident lawyer from H&P Law to help you pursue compensation from anyone responsible for your auto crash. Contact us today to get started.
Your Responsibilities After a Car Accident
Contact the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol as soon as your crash happens. This will bring police officers to the crash scene, and they can collect information from you and anyone else involved in the incident. These officers will use the information that they gather to prepare a police report.
File a Form SR-1 (Report of Traffic Crash) with the Nevada DMV. There is a 10-day window from the date of your crash to complete this form. Fill out the document to the best of your ability, even if you do not have all of the information requested.
Report your car crash to your auto insurance company, regardless of who is at fault. This will prompt an investigation. In an accident caused by a negligent driver, your insurer will work with the at-fault motorist’s insurance provider to cover your claim.
How Auto Insurance Works if Another Driver Causes Your Accident
It is mandatory to have auto insurance in Nevada if you operate a car in the state. There are minimum insurance coverages that apply to all motorists statewide. These coverages consist of the following:
- $25,000 for bodily injuries per person
- $50,000 for bodily injuries per accident
- $20,000 for property damage
Nevada has a “no pay, no play” law that affects drivers. Basically, if you do not pay for auto insurance coverage, you cannot collect compensation if you get hurt in a car crash. To understand this law, consider an example.
You can suffer an injury in a multi-vehicle crash in Nevada due to another driver’s negligence. If you have no auto insurance coverage, you cannot file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. In this situation, you may be fully responsible for all of your crash-related costs.
When You Should File an Auto Accident Claim
It is in your best interests to file your car crash claim as soon as you can following your accident. In most instances, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Nevada cannot be extended. One exception to this rule involves an auto crash in which a minor is injured.
For instance, your 16-year-old son or daughter can be involved in a car accident in which the other motorist is responsible. In this scenario, the statute of limitations tolls until your child turns 18. This means you have up to two years from your kid’s 18th birthday to submit a claim for compensation.
If you are unsure about whether to file an auto crash claim, H&P Law can help you out. Our Nevada car accident attorney can review your case and figure out the best course of action. For more information, get in touch with us.
How Much Compensation You Can Get in a Car Crash Claim
Since every auto accident is different, the amount that one driver requests in a claim may be higher or lower than what another motorist requests. A car accident lawyer in Nevada understands damages. They can teach you about economic and non-economic compensation and how they apply to your claim.
Economic compensation is quantifiable, and it includes medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage. Non-economic damages are subjective, and they consist of pain, suffering, and emotional trauma. A car accident attorney in Nevada considers your short- and long-term expenses, helps you calculate your damages, and crafts an argument designed to compel a judge or jury to award you this amount.
Per Nevada Revised Statutes §42.005, punitive damages can also be provided in personal injury lawsuits. These are awarded to deter an at-fault party from future acts of negligence. They are given out in conjunction with economic or non-economic compensation or both.
How Your Auto Crash Claim Gets Resolved
Ideally, you can submit your car accident claim to an at-fault driver’s insurance company. At this point, the business can process your request for compensation and give you 100% of the compensation you need to cover your losses. Unfortunately, the claims process is far from ideal, and problems can come up that make it tough to secure compensation.
An insurance company is focused on protecting its bottom line above all else. It may pressure you to make a statement in which you accept some or all responsibility for a collision, even if you are not at fault. There can be times when an insurer attempts to discredit your argument to the point where you want to give up on your claim altogether.
To avoid a lengthy and complicated claims process, partner with a car crash lawyer. This will not change the fact that you were involved in a crash and suffered losses. Conversely, your lawyer advocates for you, protects your legal rights, and makes sure you get the help you need to receive compensation for your losses.
What You Need to Know About Comparative Negligence and Auto Crash Claims
In accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes §41.141, comparative negligence applies to car crash cases. As long as you are less than 50% at fault for your car crash, you can recover damages. If you are primarily responsible for your auto accident, you cannot get compensation from any other parties involved in your collision.
In an accident where a court finds you to be 80% responsible, you cannot receive any compensation. Comparatively, if a judge or jury indicates that you are 40% responsible, you can get 60% of the damages that you originally requested. In the best-case scenario, the defendant is discovered to be 100% responsible, and you get all of the damages that you requested in the first place.
Comparative negligence is an important consideration in auto accident claims. At H&P Law, we can explain this statute and many others and help you in any way we can with your car crash lawsuit. To learn more, contact us today.
