Approximately 38 million people visited Las Vegas in 2022 — a city that doesn’t even have one million permanent residents.
Tourists come from all over to stay in famous hotels, gamble in the casinos, and see world-class entertainment. However, this influx of visitors crowds Vegas highways and increases the risk of car accidents due to intoxication, speeding, distracted driving, and other causes.
The common causes of car accidents in Las Vegas
1. Impaired Driving
Despite the abundance of rideshare options, drivers still choose to operate their vehicles intoxicated. Visitors celebrating bachelor or bachelorette parties, birthdays, or those just trying to have a good time may decide to drink too much and get behind the wheel.
This is a significant problem in Nevada, and driving impaired accounts for 42.7% of total traffic-related fatalities. In 2022, there were 110 alcohol-related fatalities. Further, between 2017 and 2021, there were 447 fatal car accidents in Clark County involving impaired drivers. These accidents resulted in 486 deaths.
2. Speeding
Speed-related crashes account for 32.1% of Nevada’s total fatalities. These accidents occur primarily at night between 6:00 PM and midnight, and more than half happen on weekends. This issue has become somewhat of an epidemic in Vegas urban areas. One recent Vegas crash killed nine people while a driver traveled at a speed of 103 mph.
Vegas police have recently made several attempts to tackle the issue of illegal street racing. Street racers have been known to take over Vegas highways, specifically on Grand Valley Parkway and Frontage Road near US 93.
3. Lane Departure Crashes
Recent data revealed that lane departures resulted in a shockingly high percentage of Nevada fatalities (nearly 37%). These accidents involve a vehicle leaving its designated lane, often resulting from distracted, impaired, or fatigued driving. Between the years of 2015 and 2019, lane departures caused a total of 593 fatalities.
4. Reckless Driving
Since the pandemic, Las Vegas police officers have received several reports of reckless driving. There were 214 total citations for reckless driving in Las Vegas. Reckless behavior could involve carelessly swerving into other lanes, speeding through red lights, making illegal U-turns, or road rage.
This is a misdemeanor offense in Las Vegas, punishable by six months in jail. This offense increases to a felony when the reckless driving causes serious bodily injury. However, some cases of reckless driving can turn deadly. One reckless driver was arrested earlier in 2023 for shooting two people after he claimed they scratched his car.
5. Distracted Driving
Between the replica of the Eiffel Tower to the newly constructed 366-foot-tall MSG Sphere, it shouldn’t be a shock to find out that distracted driving causes many Vegas accidents. In addition to these architectural fixtures, hundreds of vehicles crowding the Vegas strip packed full of people more focused on having a good time than safe driving only makes distracted driving accidents more prevalent.
Distracted driving includes anything that takes your eyes off the road and mind off driving, such as texting, sightseeing, applying makeup, and reaching for objects in the car. Data from the Nevada Department of Transportation lists the likelihood of a car crash for the following types of distracted driving:
- Reaching for a moving object increases the risk of a crash by 9 times
- Looking at external objects increases the risk of a crash by 3.7 times
- Dialing a phone increases the risk of a crash by 2.8 times
- Applying makeup increases the risk of a crash by 3 times
Let Us Help You Recover – Call Today
Whether the driver that hit you was drunk, distracted, reckless, or negligent in another way, our car accident lawyers at Oronoz & Ericsson Injury Lawyers, LLC will gather the evidence needed to support your case. We’ll investigate your car accident case, collect witness testimony, and recruit expert witnesses to help strengthen your claim.
If the at-fault party and their insurer won’t agree to a fair offer, we’re more than willing to fight for more substantial compensation in court. We have years of trial experience and have helped thousands just like you recover from their damages. Call our office today to schedule your free consultation at (702) 878-2889.