If you or someone you know has been injured in a Nevada car accident as a passenger in the vehicle, know that you have rights to pursue monetary compensation for harm suffered from the at-fault driver. Sometimes you are an injured passenger in a Nevada car accident when a friend, family member, or loved one was behind the wheel. In such a scenario, you may not want to seek monetary compensation for injuries suffered. Understand that if the automobile insurance company is taking financial responsibility, you should seriously consider pursuing a personal injury claim.
Passenger Rights Explained
While every personal injury case is as unique as the parties involved, there are basic passenger rights that everyone is entitled to when involved in a crash. Under Nevada state law, courts follow a “comparative negligence” doctrine when calculating how much monetary compensation a personal injury victim deserves. In other words, how much money an injured victim may receive depends upon whether or not he or she was at fault. Sometimes, two defendants may be at fault for the accident and resulting damages, and they would have to share financial responsibility. Under Nevada law, if an injured victim is found to be more at fault than the defendant, the plaintiff’s recovery can be completely barred.
Notably, a passenger in a vehicle can never be at fault for a car accident. This means that no matter who is at fault—the driver in your car or a driver in another car—an injured passenger is never at risk of having monetary compensation reduced or completely barred.
Types of Injuries and Compensation Available
Car accidents are common. That being said, depending on the impact, the consequences can be severe and even fatal. Some of the most common injuries resulting from car accidents include bruising, broken bones, brain damage, dislocated joints, whiplash, coma, and even death. Monetary compensation that may be sought by an injured passenger under Nevada law includes past and future medical expenses, past and future loss of wages, pain and suffering, physical therapy costs, and job training fees, among others.
If the driver in your car accident was a family member, loved one, or friend, you may be hesitant to go after monetary compensation for your injuries. You likely do not want to sue and get them in trouble, but you are now stuck with a financial burden of paying for your own medical expenses. This may be the case even if another driver was at fault.
Nevada Car Accident Attorneys
Understand that you have rights if you are an injured passenger in a Nevada car crash. Even if the a- fault driver was a friend, family member, or other loved one, you should not be stuck footing the bill for your injuries when someone else’s negligence caused you harm. More often than not, the car insurance carrier is the party that is financially responsible for paying damages. Our skilled Nevada personal injury lawyers at H & P can explain your rights under Nevada law. Do not try to do this on your own. Call us today at (702) 213-8765 to schedule your initial consultation.
