Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas

At Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers, we pursue full compensation for people who have been hit by drunk drivers. These collisions can cause serious, life-altering injuries, and with your Las Vegas car accident lawyer’s more than 150 years of combined experience on our side, we will make sure nothing gets overlooked. 

To speak with your drunk driving accident lawyer in Las Vegas with Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers, call us today and find out how we can help.

How a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas Can Strengthen Your Drunk Driving Case

Drunk driving accidents happen often in Las Vegas, and every one of them involves complicated outcomes, including serious risk of injury, devastating emotional trauma, and financial loss. Every case is a big deal and one that requires you to seek legal support.

Many times, victims believe that the party will face criminal charges and insurance companies will cover their losses fairly. That simply is not the case. Insurance companies want to reduce the compensation paid out, and they will do all they can to settle your case for less than you owe. This is one of the most important reasons to hire a Las Vegas drunk driving accident lawyer.

You should not have to manage insurance forms, medical records, or legal deadlines on your own. When you work with your Las Vegas personal injury lawyer at Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers, we take that weight off your shoulders and focus on getting your case moving in the right direction.

Legal Advocacy in the Shadow of Criminal Charges

A drunk driving crash almost always leads to criminal charges. Even if the driver is found guilty, that outcome does not guarantee compensation for you.

Civil claims are handled separately from the criminal case, and they often move more slowly. You may be facing medical bills, lost wages, and insurance delays while the criminal side plays out in court. We help bridge that gap.

Our firm is experienced in working alongside the criminal process without waiting for it to be over. We can collect evidence while the police investigate, request video footage, and build your civil case early. That way, when it is time to file your injury claim or go to court, we are ready, and we will not let criminal timelines slow down the help you need.

Evidence, Liability, and Maximizing Compensation

In drunk driving cases, the evidence often goes beyond basic police reports. We look at surveillance footage, field sobriety tests, breath and blood testing records, and witness statements.

If there are any doubts about who caused the crash or how it happened, we take the time to review it all. You deserve a full picture of what happened and how it connects to your injuries.

The damages in these cases are often more serious because the injuries are more severe. However, that does not mean the insurance company will offer a fair settlement. We build cases that show exactly how the crash has affected your life and what it will take to move forward. From lost income to future medical costs, we will prepare your claim with every piece of evidence the insurance company needs to see.

Issues That Make Drunk Driving Litigation Especially Difficult

Numerous factors exist that make filing a claim for losses after a drunk driving accident more complex. One of the most important reasons to hire a lawyer is simply to know your rights and to ensure that you have a voice in these complicated matters.

Even in a case that seems straightforward, you can expect there to be challenges to overcome. When you have an attorney available to you, you avoid many of those risks and achieve more of the outcome you need to move forward with your life. Our Las Vegas drunk driving accident attorney can help you do that.

Every drunk driving case comes with challenges, even when the driver was clearly impaired. From missing test results to blame-shifting by insurance companies, there are many ways your claim can be unfairly delayed or denied. If you are dealing with painful injuries and increasing bills, you need a legal team that knows how to take on these complications and protect your case.

Proving Fault Without a Test Result

If the driver refused to take a breath or blood test, or if law enforcement mishandled the process, that refusal can complicate your claim. Nevada law operates under an implied consent rule, which means drivers are expected to submit to chemical testing after a DUI arrest.

Under NRS § 484C.160, refusing to take a test can lead to license suspension, but it also creates evidentiary challenges. If your case involves a refusal, our firm may need to rely more heavily on witness accounts, police observations, or other signs of impairment. Even when a test was performed, there are still important legal thresholds that affect your case.

Under NRS § 484C.110, a driver under the influence with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is considered legally intoxicated. If the test was delayed, poorly calibrated, or improperly administered, it may not hold up. As your Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyer, we will examine every part of the timeline and testing procedure to determine whether the evidence actually supports what the insurance company is trying to claim.

Insurance Tactics and Civil Blame Games

Insurance companies are quick to protect their bottom line, even in cases involving drunk drivers. One of the ways they do this is by trying to place some of the blame on you. Nevada follows a system of modified comparative fault. Under NRS § 41.141, if the insurance company can argue that you were even partially at fault, they can try to reduce or deny your compensation. 

Your lawyer knows how to push back when insurers make unfair claims or twist the facts. Another problem you may face is unnecessary delays or low settlement offers that ignore what you have actually been through. Some insurers try to settle fast, hoping you will accept a check before speaking to a lawyer. 

According to NRS § 686A.020, insurers are not allowed to act in bad faith, but that does not mean they will treat you fairly without pressure. We know how these companies operate, and we will not let them take advantage of you.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Drunk Driving Crash

If you were hit by a drunk driver, the damage may go far beyond the crash itself. You may be dealing with bills you cannot afford, pain that makes daily tasks harder, or time away from work that you never planned for. Your drunk driving accident lawyer in Las Vegas builds every case with one goal in mind: helping you recover what this crash has cost you. You may be able to pursue compensation for:

• Ambulance bills, ER visits, and follow-up care
• Surgery, physical rehab, and medical support at home
• Prescription medications and assistive devices
• Missed days, weeks, or months of income
• Ongoing limits on your ability to work
• Pain that keeps you from enjoying your daily life
• Continuing anxiety, fear, or emotional stress
• Trouble focusing, remembering, or processing information
• Reduced mobility or coordination
• Strain on your family relationships

Pedestrians and cyclists often suffer the worst injuries in these crashes. If the driver was uninsured or carried minimal coverage, we can help identify other options through your own policy or the driver’s assets. Our firm handles the details and fights for the full amount you deserve, so you do not have to manage anything alone. Review our FAQs to learn more.

What to Do After a Crash With a Drunk Driver

Everything feels like a blur right after a drunk driver hits you. You might be injured, confused, or unsure how to protect yourself. To keep your case strong and protect your health, try to focus on doing the following:

• Call 911 immediately and report the crash
• Stay at the scene unless you are taken away for medical care
• Cooperate with the police and give your statement when they arrive
• Gather the other driver’s name, address, and insurance information
• Take photos of all involved vehicles, visible injuries, and anything around you that seems important
• Get medical care as soon as you are able, even if you think your injuries are minor
• Avoid making any recorded or written statements for an insurance company
• Do not accept an early settlement offer before speaking with a lawyer

In every situation, put your health and safety first, and that means getting the medical care you need. When you can gather more evidence and provide more insight to police responding at the scene, that can help to bolster your case. 

As soon as you are safe to do so, after getting medical care, prioritize calling our Las Vegas drunk driving accident attorney. Use our personal injury settlement calculator to estimate the value of your case.

Staying at the Scene and Cooperating With Police

After a serious crash, police will complete an official report that includes statements, observations, and any signs of impairment. Under NRS § 484E.030, every driver involved is required to stay at the scene and offer reasonable assistance. 

Leaving the scene or refusing to cooperate can impact both the criminal case and any claim you file later. Your Las Vegas drunk driving accident attorney can help you figure out what this law means and how your case may be affected if the other driver failed to follow it.

We encourage you to discuss your case with us only. Avoid doing more than providing a formal statement to the police about the facts of your case. Let our team become your advocate.

Reporting the Crash to Protect Your Claim

In addition to cooperating with police, certain crashes must be reported to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Outlined in NRS § 484E.050, Nevada state law dictates when this is necessary, and missing that step can create complications. 

If the crash caused serious injuries, a Las Vegas drunk driving accident attorney from our office can help make sure all required documentation is completed and submitted properly. We can also review what was included in the report and identify anything that could support your claim.

This can be critically important in cases where the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. That makes it harder for you to recover the damages owed to you. Reach out to our attorney for drunk driving accident help in Las Vegas.

DUI Crash Statistics in Nevada

Drunk driving remains one of the top causes of serious crashes in Nevada, especially in Las Vegas. Whether you were on your way to work or heading home after dinner, another driver’s decision to drink and get behind the wheel can leave you with injuries that change everything. 

Remember that no matter how common these accidents are, you have the right to pursue legal action to protect your future. Insurance companies are not at your side, but our drunk driving accident lawyer is. These incidents are more common than many people realize, and the consequences are often devastating.

Where and When DUI Crashes Happen

According to recent data from the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, more than 100 fatal impaired driving crashes happen statewide each year. Many of these occur in Clark County, where late-night traffic and heavy tourism add risk. Local roads are not immune. 

Even residential neighborhoods in Las Vegas have seen major injuries linked to impaired drivers. If you suffered head trauma or memory loss in one of these collisions, a Las Vegas brain injury lawyer from our firm can help you gather the proof you need.

How Nevada Penalizes Drunk Drivers

Under NRS § 484C.400, causing serious injuries or death while driving under the influence is a felony offense. That may lead to jail time, license suspension, and other criminal penalties for the driver who hit you. 

Even when someone is charged, that does not automatically cover your medical costs, income loss, or other care needs. Our firm can pursue compensation for every part of your recovery while holding the impaired driver accountable for what happened to you.

In cases where the other driver lacks any insurance or enough insurance to protect you, it becomes increasingly important to have an attorney. No matter what the law does to those drivers, what they did to you is far more costly. Our Las Vegas drunk driving accident lawyer holds all parties accountable.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Case?

In Nevada, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. That deadline applies to drunk driving claims, even if the driver was arrested or charged criminally. If you miss the two-year window, you may lose the chance to recover anything at all.

The statute that controls this deadline is NRS § 11.190(4)(e). This law gives injured people two years to take legal action, starting from the day the crash happened. If you are still receiving medical treatment or are unsure about what happened at the scene, it is still important to talk to someone before that time runs out.

Our firm tracks important deadlines in every case we handle. We do that so you do not have to worry about missing paperwork, filing issues, or unexpected barriers. You focus on getting better, and we will handle everything else on time. Watch our videos to learn more about our firm.

What Makes Drunk Driving Injury Cases So Serious

Injuries from drunk driving accidents are rarely minor. The force of impact often leads to broken bones, brain trauma, or worse, especially if you were walking or crossing the street when the crash occurred. If that is what happened to you, a Las Vegas pedestrian accident lawyer at our firm can help you document your injuries and pursue a full claim. Some of the most common injuries we see include:

• Fractured or broken bones in the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis
• Neck and back injuries that may include whiplash or herniated discs
• Internal bleeding or damage to organs like the lungs, liver, or spleen
• Spinal cord trauma can result in partial or total loss of movement and sensation
• Deep lacerations and heavy bruising across the face or body
• Concussions that cause dizziness, memory issues, or headaches
• Traumatic brain injuries that affect thinking, balance, or personality
• Permanent physical disability requiring home care or assistive devices

Under NRS § 41A.100, injury victims in Nevada can file a personal injury claim when another person’s actions clearly caused them harm. If the driver was reckless or intoxicated, NRS § 42.005 may also allow you to seek punitive damages. If someone in your family was killed in a crash, a Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer from our office can help you exercise your legal rights and take the next step forward.

How Our Las Vegas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Get Results

You have injuries, emotional trauma, and financial losses caused to you by a drunk driver. The law allows you to pursue fair compensation for any losses you can document through a civil claim. Take a look at what we do to get results in your case.

• We gather evidence to back up your claims. In a drunk driving accident claim, there is often evidence to back up the claim of intoxication, such as blood tests and breathalyzer tests. We will investigate the case to include any additional parties that may also be at fault, such as the provider of the alcohol or others involved.
• Our legal team then works to understand all of the losses you have. We calculate all aspects of injuries and medical losses for you, as well as implications to your quality of life, pain and suffering. All of this allows us to build a strong, evidence-based claim to protect your future.
• We negotiate aggressively on your behalf. Expect our legal team to hold the at-fault driver accountable. This means filing a claim against their liability insurance. We will maximize that compensation if possible. This tends to be the most direct way forward, and we will not let the insurance company reduce your compensation unfairly.
• Seek other sources of income when necessary. In some situations, the driver may not have enough insurance or any at all. In these cases, we can seek a claim against your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if you have it in place. This compensation helps to protect you in cases where the other party does not have insurance. It can also apply in situations where the driver takes off instead of stopping to exchange information.
• Seeking a lawsuit may be an option. In some cases, our legal team will seek a lawsuit against the at-fault party for the losses you have suffered. This may mean seeking compensation from any assets the at-fault driver has to help you recoup the losses you incurred. In these situations, expect us to fight diligently for your rights.

We do not settle your case until we have the compensation you need to rebuild your life and cover the losses someone else caused to you. There is no amount of compensation that makes this process easier to manage, but with our guidance, we can hold those who did this accountable to the fullest level allowed under the law.

Do Not Settle with the Insurance Company

One of the most common mistakes you can make in a case like this is to settle with the insurance company too soon. The insurance company wants to limit its exposure and cost. 

Instead, allow our Las Vegas drunk driving accident attorney to fight for fair compensation in your situation. Let us be there to guide you every step of the way.

Connect With Your Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas for Support Today

If you have questions about what comes next after a drunk driving crash, our firm is here to help. 

You can speak directly with your drunk driving accident attorney in Las Vegas from Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers and get the answers you need. To get started, contact us today.