The chaos following a car accident could leave you unsure of what to do next. You might be unaware of your legal obligations and the steps you should take to strengthen your accident claim.
The trial-ready lawyers at Oronoz & Ericcson, LLC have years of experience handling all kinds of personal injury claims. We’ll make sure you know exactly what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault. Contact our office today at (702) 878-2889 for a free consultation.
In Nevada, you have special legal obligations you must abide by after a car crash. Nevada Law states that the driver of any vehicle involved in a collision resulting in bodily injury or death must immediately stop their car at the scene or as close to the scene as possible. The law also states that all drivers must provide the following information to the other party or the police:
In addition to providing their information, all drivers must render aid to anyone injured in the crash, which could include carrying the injured person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment or making arrangements to do so.
If the other driver happens to leave the scene, do not follow them because doing so could hurt your compensation claim and put you in danger. There are other ways you can recover compensation in a hit-and-run accident. You might be able to recover compensation through uninsured motorist coverage.
This type of insurance covers accidents with uninsured/underinsured drivers, and hit-and-runs are treated as if you had an accident with an uninsured driver. Nevada law states that all insurance companies must offer this type of coverage, so there’s a good chance you might have it.
After you complete your legal duties stated above, you should call 911 because you or the other driver could be injured and require immediate medical attention. Furthermore, calling 911 ensures a police officer comes to the scene to create a police report.
Their report will be a valuable piece of evidence in your accident claim. If an officer doesn’t arrive at the scene for any reason, you are legally required to report the crash to the police. You can file a report with the Nevada DMV.
We understand this may not be realistic for everyone. The most important thing you can do is get treated for your injuries. However, you should gather as much evidence from the scene as possible if you can. Taking pictures of the scene, the damage done to your car, and any injuries you suffered could help strengthen your case for compensation.
Additionally, anyone who saw the accident might be willing to give you their contact information in case a witness testimony is needed.
You might not think you are badly injured after a car accident. However, the adrenaline of an event like this could mask the symptoms of your injuries. You might not feel the full extent of your pain until hours after the accident or the next day.
Additionally, bruising takes some time to develop in injured areas. Forgoing medical treatment immediately after your accident might be a red flag to the at-fault party’s insurance company. They may claim that you would have gone straight to the hospital if you were really injured.
That’s why you should see a doctor for even seemingly minor injuries. When you go to the hospital, make copies of your medical records and the doctor’s evaluation. This will show you were actually injured and have the medical expenses to prove it.
You have two years to file your personal injury claim against the at-fault party. This may feel like a lot of time, but your attorney needs to investigate your case. Your attorney might have to recruit the help of expert witnesses like an accident reconstructionist, or they may discover that a third party could be at fault for the accident, requiring further investigation into who the liable parties are.
Furthermore, insurance companies will contact you immediately after the accident and ask you to give them a statement. Please do not do this. Insurance companies try to use whatever they can to blame the accident on you. Having an attorney by your side to handle greedy insurers prevents you from being taken advantage of.
If you follow these steps after a car accident, you’ll ensure that you have a strong claim for compensation. While many Nevada car accidents settle, Oronoz & Ericsson, LLC is prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure you recover for all the ways your accident impacted your life. If that means we have to take your case to trial, we’ll be ready. Contact our office today by calling (702) 878-2889 for a free consultation.