It may stand to reason that all doctors are the same, so it does not matter who you see after an accident.  As a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas, I can tell you that the opposite is true.  While all doctors do go to medical school and are likely to provide you with proper care, not all doctors work with accident victims.  They will treat you but they do not have the special training that can help in your recovery and your case.

Find the Right Doctor

After an accident, you can ask a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas for a list of reputable doctors or you can search for one online or through a referral.  When you go to make an appointment, ask if the doctor works on accident cases and if they are willing to testify in court if necessary.  This is an essential duty performed by doctors familiar with treating accident victims.  When it comes time for your court case, the judge and jury will need to hear information related to your medical care.  The best person to explain your condition and the future impact of your injuries is your doctor. Asking this question up front can prevent you needing to switch later on.

You May Need More than One

Many people visit their primary care doctor immediately following their accident.  This is often the easiest person to see on short notice.  They can check you out to make sure that you do not have any internal injuries and prescribe medication for pain.  They will not, however, be the best doctor to help you recover.  It is highly likely that you will need to visit a specialist, chiropractor, physical therapist or massage therapist as part of your overall treatment plan.  Receiving the right care will help you to have the best chance for recovery.  If you need to see a specialist and the insurance company is trying to prevent this, you may need help from a car accidents attorney in Las Vegas.

Your Doctor Will Need to Work with a Car Accidents Lawyer in Las Vegas

Think of your doctor and lawyer as part of a team.  They will need to work together to build your case.  Your doctor will be able to document what your injuries were, how they are impacting you now, and how they will impact your future.  They will be able to make determinations like whether or not you will be able to work in your current profession.  Your doctor, however, will not work with the insurance company to settle your claim and while they may testify in court, they will not specifically work on your case.  This is where your attorney comes in.

What Doctors Have You Visited?

If you were in an accident, what type of doctor did you visit afterwards? Did you see a chiropractor, general practitioner, physical therapist or some other specialist?  Who was able to help you get the most relief? Leave a comment and let us know.

No.  As a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas, I work with a lot of clients that come to me thinking that their insurance company will give them a high payout for their injury claim.  It is an understandable misconception because of the client relationship established with an insurance agent when you buy a policy.  They are warm and friendly, trustworthy, and maybe even an actual friend.  The problem is that your insurance agent is not who makes a decision regarding your claim.  A claims adjuster is, and their goal is to keep payouts as low as possible so that the insurance company can make more money.  This is why you should consider working with an attorney.

What You Should Know Before Filing an Insurance Claim

Filing an insurance claim begins with a call to the claims department of your insurance company.  This is not done with your actual agent or with customer service.  They are going to ask you a lot of questions about what happened and who was involved.  My recommendation is to keep the call brief.  They may ask you about things that you do not know, cannot fully remember, or are uncertain of due to the shock of just having been in an accident.  It is better to ask for a follow-up call or have them speak with an attorney instead of answering things in a way that may not be completely accurate.  After all, everything you say is being recorded and could be used against you later on.

Who Pays for Your Medical Bills and Property Damage?

Typically, after an accident, your insurance company will open a claim and provide you with a claim number.  That number is then used by your doctor and the auto body shop for billing purposes.  Your insurance company will then try to collect that amount from the insurance company of the other driver if they appear to be at fault.  The other insurance company may or may not pay.  This process is separate from any lawsuit that you file or damages you are trying to collect with the help of a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas.

How a Car Accidents Lawyer in Las Vegas Works with the Insurance Company

When you hire an attorney, the first thing they will do is to gather information regarding your case, what happened, who was involved, where it happened, etc.  It is critical to understand the facts prior to beginning negotiations.  Once that is done, discussions will begin with the goal of reaching a potential settlement.  Just because the insurance company is looking out for their own financial interest does not mean that they will not negotiate.  Very often things can be settled outside of court.  However, if they cannot, a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas can represent you in court.

What Was Your Experience Like with Your Insurance Company?

Have you ever tried to work with them on your own?  What was your experience like?  Were they helpful or did you feel pressured to settle?  Leave your comments here!

It is the call that no one ever wants to get – your child was in an accident.  As a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, we see cases like this on a regular basis.  Most of them involve teenagers that were either driving or were passengers in a friends’ car.  Fortunately, most of these accidents are non-fatal, producing injuries that can be recovered from.  If you do get a call like this, it is important to know how to handle the situation.  Since your child is still a minor, they are going to need your help.

Their Safety is Most Important

If you get a call immediately following the accident, you may want to head to their location.  When someone is in an accident they typically go into shock.  Whether they are sixteen or forty, it happens.  The problem is that teens don’t have the experience to deal with the process of collecting information from the other driver, working with the police to file a report, or getting their car to a safe location.  If you are close by or have a family member who is, head over there to make sure that a police report is filed and that your child is safe.

Take Them to the Doctor

Regardless of whether your child thinks they need medical care, it is important that you take them to see the doctor.  Shock makes it difficult to feel the full extent of injuries so they may feel okay immediately after the accident and be in terrible pain the next day.  Getting them checked out right away will help them to recover faster, give them a better chance of remaining comfortable, and either identify or rule out any internal injuries.

A Car Accidents Lawyer in Las Vegas Will Conduct an Investigation

After an accident, an investigation will need to take place to determine negligence or who is at fault.  This is something that the police will work on after a major accident but if they were in a fender-bender or there were no significant injuries, they may not.  In this case, an attorney can help to determine what happened, who was at fault, and build a case that may result in your child receiving financial compensation.

Hiring an Attorney

A car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas can represent your child but, if they are a minor, you will need to be part of the process and sign any contracts for them.  Until they are eighteen years old, they cannot enter a legally binding contract for representation or to accept a settlement offer. As their guardian, you will have to do that for them.

Are You a Teen that Has Been in an Accident?

If you are, or you know someone that does, you have rights.  Just because you are a minor, does not mean that you are not entitled to compensation for your injuries.  It only means that you will need to work with your parent and a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas to handle your case.

If you were in a car wreck as a child or teen, leave a comment and let us know what the outcome of your case was.

Getting hit by a commercial vehicle, a delivery truck, bus, church van, security vehicle, etc. is always more complicated than if you were hit by someone driving their personally owned car.  While it may seem like an accident is an accident, and fairly straightforward, nothing is as simple as it seems. In this particular situation, the complications typically come from the need to prove negligence.

What is Negligence?

This is the legal term for fault.  In any accident, it needs to be proven who caused it, who was at fault for the wreck, and what percentage of fault each driver had.  In Nevada, the law allows for each driver to be partially to blame for the wreck and their percentage of blame determines what percentage of the settlement they are responsible for paying.  For example, if you are in a wreck and the settlement is for $10,000 but you were found to be ten percent negligent, you would only be entitled to $9,000 of the total award.

Who is to Blame When Hit by a Commercial Vehicle?

If you were hit by a commercial vehicle, the case has multiple layers.  First, was the driver using the vehicle while on duty or in their free time?  Were they doing a task that was assigned to them and were they trained on how to operate the vehicle?  Was the vehicle properly maintained or did a lack of maintenance contribute to the crash?  These are the types of questions that must be asked and answered in order to know if the driver was fully to blame or if the company they work for had some responsibility.  If you think that the company was completely or partially to blame you need to include them in the lawsuit.  If you fail to do so and settle, you will not be able to go back and sue them at a later date.

A Car Accidents Lawyer in Las Vegas Can Help You to Prepare a Lawsuit

It can be difficult to know whether you should include just the driver or the driver and their company in your lawsuit. A car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas can help to make that determination after hearing the details of your case. The next step will be to file a lawsuit and begin down the path of either settling or going to court in pursuit of damages.

What if You Were in a Commercial Bus that Was Hit?

Unfortunately, this does happen.  In fact, a famous Las Vegas case is the one where a local 25-year-old man hit a small tour bus, killing two people and injuring three more.  In the event that you are or were in a similar situation, and were hit while a passenger, you still need to have the case thoroughly researched to identify all parties that could be to blame for your injuries.

Do you know anyone that has been in an accident with a commercial vehicle?  Share this blog with them so that they know their rights and the importance of identifying all responsible parties.

A hit and run driver was on the loose in downtown, crashing into an untold number of vehicles.  While rare, she went on an accident spree before ever being apprehended. News 3 Las Vegas reported that she hit at least three other vehicles but it is unclear how many were actually impacted by her reckless driving.

The Vehicle

She was driving a Toyota truck which made the string of accidents potentially worse.  For example, she was able to take out a street light near Stewart and Main, something that would have probably stopped a small sedan in its tracks.  Why she kept on going, no one knows since normally that would cause a person to at least pull over.

Who Was Hit?

After crashing into the light, she hit two other vehicles near Pecos and Stewart.  The next accident happened a few minutes later as the truck hit five other vehicles.  Unfortunately, this time people were hurt.  Two people were transported to the hospital with one of them bleeding and unresponsive.

Witnesses Followed Her

People that saw the last accident started to follow the truck and found it stopped near Fremont and St. Louis. According to reports, there were open alcohol containers in the truck along with her dog.  She was agitated or combative and was arrested when police arrived.  Fortunately, with the help of witnesses, the truck was tracked down so that the driver could be held accountable.  In many hit and run cases, the driver gets away, leaving victims and their families in search for justice, like with the case of the grandfather that was hit in November.  Often the only way to track the driver down is with tips and leads that the police have to follow up on.  Once a driver is found, criminal charges can be made against them and a civil case filed by a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas.

Ongoing Investigation

Metro officers are investigating the accidents.  Naturally there are quite a few vehicles involved and many potential injuries.  Do you know anyone that had their vehicle run into before 12:40 on January 4^th?  Whether it was parked or they were driving, if they were the victim of a hit and run, it could have been part of this accident chain.  Share this blog with them so that they can contact the police, make a report, and see if their accident was part of this chain of events. If it was, their accident could become part of the criminal case against her.

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.

In 2011, the Nevada state legislature passed a law making it illegal to talk or text on a cell phone while driving.  In 2012, a fine of $250 began being issued to people caught talking, texting or reading an electronic device while driving.  As a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas I know that this has really only been a small deterrent with many people still talking or texting while driving.

Why Using a Cell Phone is Illegal

It comes down to numbers.  Statistically, you are four times more likely to be in an accident when talking or texting on your phone.  If you want to stay safe or have your teens drive safely, you need to keep the phone away from your hands while driving – period.  This is in part due to the distraction of looking at the screen and also because it slows your reaction time as much as it would if you were to drink and drive.  In fact, studies have found that reaction times are severely slowed even when using a Bluetooth.

Legal Options

If you were in an accident that was caused by someone talking or texting while driving, you should call a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas for help.  In order to qualify for any financial damages, negligence must be established.  That is a legal way to determine who was at fault.  If they were illegally using a cell phone, that will help to demonstrate their role in the accident.  If you were the one on the phone, you may still have options but should speak with a lawyer to discuss your case specifically.

How Common Are Tickets?

If you ask most people if they talk or text while driving they will say yes.  If you ask them if they have ever gotten a ticket for it, you will most likely hear “no.”  As a car accidents lawyer in Las Vegas, I want to know if you or anyone you know has gotten a ticket for this.  Also, let us know if your ticket was only for using a cell phone or as part of a larger ticket for something like speeding.  Leave a comment and tell us what happened and where you were ticketed.

As a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, I see some strange accidents. Some of these are accidents caused by cars running away from the police or people driving across a median to hit someone in the opposite lane of traffic.  You name it and I have seen it. Still, there are some accidents that just defy logic or any reasonable explanation.  These are your freak accidents that leave you scratching your head. Here is my list of the weirdest accidents ever.

#1 Heart Relocation

There was an Italian man that was in a motorcycle crash. As a result, he had a ruptured lung that air was leaking out of.  This then caused his heart to move or literally relocate within his own body.  His blood pressure dropped significantly and he was at risk for more serious and immediate health problems. Fortunately, the lung healed, his heart moved back to the right spot, and he is just fine. While completely freaky, this is a good reminder to visit the doctor after your accident to make sure that you do not have any strange internal injuries.

#2 Bridge Diving

Bridges all over the country provide plenty of opportunity for nasty accidents that are hard to escape from.  After all, if you see something coming towards you and have nowhere to go, you are a literal sitting duck.  The Bay Bridge is located just outside of Annapolis, Maryland.  It is a huge sprawling bridge connecting the urban area of Annapolis with the more rural Eastern Shore.  Commuters use the bridge to commute to and from work on a daily basis and tourist use it to head out to the beaches of Maryland and Delaware.  Unfortunately, this was the scene of an accident where a Sebring was hit by a semi-truck and then pushed up over the concrete embankment and into the Chesapeake Bay.  No small body of water, the Bay can be a frightening place for swimmers.  The victim had to unbuckle her seatbelt and swim out of the sinking car before swimming to a pile of rocks at the base of the bridge.  This is any bridge drivers’ worst nightmare.

#3 Close Calls with Metal

Recently in California, a metal ramp flew off of a truck and ran straight through the windshield of a BMW.  Fortunately, the ramp came through exactly in between the driver and passenger side so that no one was hurt.  The force in which it came through the windshield could have resulted in a fatality if it had been just slightly to one side or the other.  Another close encounter with metal happened when a crane ripped off the top of a commercial van in New Jersey.  One minute the driver was rolling along and the next minute the roof of his van was completely gone.  He also escaped with only minor injuries. Phew.

#4 Freak Birds

It is hard to imagine someone more unlucky than Matthew Brealy.   He was riding a motorcycle near Chesterfield when a pigeon slammed right into his visor.  It broke his glasses, knocked him unconscious and caused him (in his unconscious state) to hit the accelerator and get the bike all the way up to 140 miles per hour before he crashed into a tree and was ejected onto the road.  As a result, he got a broken leg and two skull fractures – all thanks to a pigeon. Now that is freaky.

Tell a Car Accidents Lawyer in Las Vegas About Your Accident

As a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, I want to hear about your freaky car accidents. Post them here or share this post with your friends.