If you have been injured in a car wreck, your natural inclination may be to call a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas.  This is certainly a good place to start because it will ensure that you are treated fairly by the insurance company.  One of the first questions that people tend to ask me during a consultation is how much money their claim might be worth or what they could get in a lawsuit.  The answer to that is highly specific so it is best to discuss how that number tends to be calculated.

Your Doctor Plays an Important Role

Immediately following an accident, you should visit a doctor and remain in their constant care.  If you are supposed to go for physical therapy, do it.  If you are supposed to have a procedure completed, schedule it.  You need to follow your doctors’ orders so that you can get healthy and build up a case for why you need compensation.  If you are injured but do not see a doctor, your injuries will appear to be mild or made up altogether.  By receiving the care you need, you are documenting that there is something wrong, how it impacts you, and what the costs will be to fully recover from it.  Without a medical file, you only really have a property damage claim.

How a Car Accidents Lawyer in Las Vegas Calculates Damages

The first step is to look at the damage done to your property. This is the easy part because an appraisal or quote from an auto body shop will make it clear as to how much damage you incurred.  You will also need to submit receipts from expenses like a car rental, etc.  Next, it will be time to review your medical bills to date.  Your doctor will play a critical role in determining what your future medical bills may be as well.  For example, do they think that you will need care for the next two months or the next twenty years?  Your final settlement amount should include an allowance for these future expenses.  The last major component of your claim is lost wages.  If you were unable to work or had to work less due to your accident, you could be entitled to recouping those wages along with any future wage loss due to your injuries. In some cases, a calculation is also made for pain and suffering but this is harder to prove.

How Negligence Influences the Value of Your Claim

Determining negligence is an important part of the process because negligence is the legal way of saying who was at fault or who was to blame for the crash.  In Nevada, both parties can be found to be partially negligent.  The portion of negligence that you have will reduce any financial award you receive.  For example, if the judge rules that the value of your case is $20,000 and you are found to be fifteen percent negligent, you would only receive $17,000.  Determining and proving negligence is one of the most important things that a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas can do for you.

Do You Want to Know What Your Claim Was Worth?

If you were in an accident and want to know if you should get money for it, the best thing to do is contact a lawyer.  In the meantime, share this blog with any of your friends that want to know how to calculate damages in their case.

No one enjoys road work.  It can cause massive delays on your morning commute and be a general pain when trying to get somewhere.  However, it is this same road work that makes the roads safe to drive on and prevents future delays as roadways are expanded or improved.  In other words, we all benefit from this temporary inconvenience.  Still, roadwork can create poor driving conditions that can lead to accidents – especially if you do not slow down.  As a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, I have spoken with many people that were in a work zone accident.  Here is how to prevent yourself from becoming one of them.

#1 Pay Attention to Road Signs

There are typically signs posted that tell you when you are entering a work zone and what the new speed limit is.  Obey all posted signs for your own safety.

#2 Watch for Workers

Keep an eye out for road crews, people walking in front or around you and any potential equipment that you could collide with.

#3 Avoid Distractions

As a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, I always encourage people to remain aware and alert, eliminating all distractions like talking on a cell phone while driving in a work zone. Since things can change rapidly, you need to be alert enough to catch them.

#4 Remain Calm

Try to relax and just focus on your driving.  If you get too worked up or nervous, you will actually increase the likelihood of making a poor decision.

#5 Avoid Lane Changes

This is not a time to speed up and try to change lanes.  Avoid this when possible since the road could have a strange grade or other factors that could make a lane change dangerous.

Fact: Three people die every day due to a work zone accident.  Around 80 percent of people killed in a work zone are actually people driving or riding in a vehicle.  It may seem like the workers are at the greatest risk but, statistically, this is not the case.  However, you driving safely can protect both yourself and road crews.

A Car Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas Can Help You Prove Negligence

If you are in a work zone wreck, you should call a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas for help.  This way, a case can be made for why the accident was not your fault but due to the road conditions themselves or protocols not being followed.

Work Zone Wrecks are Common

Have you ever been in one or know someone that has? If so, share your work zone accident story by posting a comment below.