Car Accident Lawyer Las Vegas

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

Follow these five steps if you are in an automobile accident:

• Assess your injuries and seek medical care
• Contact the police and request a report be done
• Photograph the scene and injuries
• Obtain a copy of the police report
• Call a car accident attorney

Should You Seek Medical Attention Immediately?

After a car accident, you must assess all injuries and determine if an ambulance is required. Individuals often experience an adrenaline rush and do not feel their injuries until several hours later or even the next day. 

It is essential to seek medical care as soon as possible to determine the extent of your injuries and how best to treat them. Medical documentation is critical to supporting your claim. 

Delaying medical care can compromise your health and weaken your potential claim. Seeking prompt treatment provides you with a professional assessment and creates an official medical record of the injuries sustained due to the accident. This documentation can become crucial in proving the validity and extent of your injuries when negotiating with insurance companies or presenting your claim in a legal setting.

Contacting the Police After a Car Crash

Always call the police when an accident occurs. Regardless of the severity, be sure to request an accident report. This helps ensure no facts about the accident can be skewed. Habitually bad drivers may use false insurance information and change their story after the accident. Requesting your report is a critical step in protecting yourself against negligence.

An official police report functions as an objective record of the incident, containing vital details such as witness statements, an initial assessment of fault, and road conditions at the time. This independent verification can serve as valuable evidence if disputes arise regarding the circumstances of the accident, providing credibility and support during the claims process or potential litigation.

Obtaining a Crash Report After an Accident

In Nevada, you can obtain an accident report via online request. 

 Requesting a Report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

If your accident occurred in Las Vegas, your report will likely be found with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Most traffic accident reports can be delivered through email via a secured link, but you can also elect to have them mailed or pick them up in person. Allow a minimum of 10 business days from the date of the incident before requesting a report. Once your request is received, you will be notified by email. 

 Requesting a Report from the Nevada Highway Patrol

To request a crash report from the Nevada Highway Patrol, you can submit a crash report request to the Nevada Department of Safety. 

Ensuring you have an accurate and complete crash report is vital for substantiating your claim. It contains details that can illustrate the accident's impact on your life, potentially increasing your compensation. Additionally, timely requests help avoid delays that might affect your ability to process insurance claims or pursue further legal action effectively.

Determining the Value of Your Auto Accident Claim

No exact formula exists for determining the amount of a Nevada car accident settlement. 

Factors that contribute to a settlement amount include:

• The severity of your injuries, including scarring, disfigurement, pain, and emotional duress.
• The cost of necessary medical expenses and predictable future medical expenses.
• The total amount of your property damage.
• The total amount of your lost wages and lost earning capacity.
• How much you contributed to the cause of the accident.
• Your lawyer’s ability to present evidence and argue your claim.

Each accident has unique circumstances that will impact the amount of a claim. Nevada is a “fault” insurance state, so the laws allow an injured person to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. 

Furthermore, Nevada law requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance coverage. However, the presence of insurance coverage does not mean you will recover the entire amount of the policy.

Understanding how these factors intertwine can provide insight into potential outcomes and help set realistic expectations. Detailed documentation of your injuries, medical treatments, and impact on your daily life can bolster your claim. Working with a legal team that can expertly negotiate and litigate when necessary, becomes crucial to maximize your potential compensation.

Sideswipe Accidents: Auto Accident Lawyer Insights

Sideswipe accidents are those between two motor vehicles, typically traveling in the same direction, where the sides of both cars impact one another. These collisions usually occur because one of the two vehicles moved out of its lane when it was unsafe. 

Sideswipe accidents can cause significant damage and severe injuries, mainly on highways. Often, neither motorist is aware that an accident is about to happen. The surprise of the impact can cause drivers to lose control or overcompensate. 

This can lead to a chain reaction involving more than just the two motorists in the initial sideswipe accident. Our attorney understands the causes of these accidents and how to manage resulting claims. 

Establishing Fault in a Sideswipe Accident

Nevada law requires drivers to stay in a single lane until they have been given the appropriate turn signal and determined that they can move forward with safety. In a sideswipe accident, the driver who fails to stay in their lane is generally the party at fault. 

However, as is often the case, this may not be the end of the analysis. For instance, another driver may do something that causes you to leave your lane. In such cases, hiring an attorney who can identify all the parties responsible for the accident is essential. 

Our legal team conducts thorough investigations to determine full liability in complex crash scenarios. By dissecting accident reports, witness accounts, and traffic camera footage, we identify all contributing factors and responsible parties. This comprehensive approach ensures that all potential sources of compensation are considered, enhancing the likelihood of a fair outcome.

Common Causes in Sideswipe Collisions

These collisions can occur for different reasons. Most happen simply because one of the drivers was momentarily inattentive. 

Common causes of sideswipe accidents include:

• Distracted drivers illegally using their cell phones while driving
• Drivers failing to check blind spots before changing lanes
• Road rage incidents, racing, or reckless driving
• Failure to signal a lane change
• Merging onto the highway without being careful
• Two drivers changing lanes at the same time
• Drunk drivers drifting out of their lane
• Hydroplaning on wet roads

Work Directly with an Attorney at Cohan PLLC

The aftermath of a sideswipe accident can be overwhelming, but having the right legal assistance can make a significant difference in managing these events. Our firm takes an individualized approach to each client, considering the unique factors at play in their situation. This ensures that all possible avenues for recovering damages are meticulously pursued, alleviating additional stress during an already challenging time.

Our commitment to client satisfaction and thorough legal representation is reflected in the detailed attention we give to each accident we handle. Whether it involves negotiating with insurance companies or presenting your story in court, we aim to provide clarity and support every step of the way. At Cohan PLLC, you are more than just a client; we see ourselves as your partners in reclaiming your quality of life after an accident.

If you have sustained serious injuries or lost a loved one in a car accident, do not expect the insurance company to have your best interests at heart. They aim to maximize their profits by paying you as little as possible.

When you retain our services, you work directly with the attorney assigned to your claim—not an assistant. We pay close attention to your needs and goals and provide personalized attention throughout the legal process. 

The Cohan PLLC Way

We prepare every contested matter as if a trial is inevitable. After handling hundreds of cases and arbitrations, we have learned that intensive preparation is the best way to present a formidable case to a judge or jury. Our preparedness often gives us an advantage at the negotiating table, which can lead to avoiding a costly trial or appellate process through a favorable settlement or quick resolution.

We take an aggressive approach to every claim we manage. This is based on our experience defending Fortune 500 companies and insurance companies. We know their strategies and tactics from having represented them, and we use this advantage to protect your rights and your family’s future.

Beyond our preparation and aggressive strategies, we pride ourselves on fostering strong, trusting relationships with our clients. Communication is a fundamental pillar of our client service. From the initial consultation to the resolution of your claim, we are committed to keeping you informed and involved. Our goal is not only to advocate for your rights but also to empower you with knowledge throughout the process.

Learn more about how we can help in a free case assessment with a Las Vegas car accident attorney at Cohan PLLC. Contact us at (702) 623-3579.