Highway car accidents often happen at higher speeds, making severe injuries more likely. Even if you escape serious physical injury, the emotional consequences of an accident on the freeway can be devastating.
The Las Vegas car accident lawyers at Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers frequently represent survivors of highway car accidents in Las Vegas. We also represent the families of people who were killed in highway crashes. We have recovered over $1 billion for our clients.
Our lawyers can handle the entire process—from reporting the accident to your insurance company, conducting an investigation and identifying responsible parties, to negotiating a reasonable settlement and taking the claim to court, if necessary. Reach out to schedule a free consultation today.
Common Injuries in High-Speed Vehicle Accidents
The speed limit on most highways around Las Vegas is 65 or 70 miles per hour, which applies to both cars and trucks. A collision at these speeds can produce devastating injuries, and many such accidents cause fatalities. Seatbelts and airbags are less effective at preventing injuries at high speeds, although they lessen the chance of ejection from the vehicle.
Shook & Stone’s Las Vegas personal injury lawyers represent high-speed crash victims with the following severe injuries, among others:
- Complex fractures.
- Disfiguring facial injuries.
- Traumatic amputations.
- Back injuries.
- Injuries causing blindness or hearing loss.
- Damage to the internal organs.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
Many people who survive collisions at highway speeds suffer multiple severe injuries.
Serious injuries can require extensive hospital stays and surgical interventions, leading to high medical costs. Some significant injuries permanently limit a victim’s functioning, and their financial losses are often considerable.
What Compensation Can Our Highway Accident Lawyers in Las Vegas Pursue for You?
Our Las Vegas highway accident attorneys will seek the full compensation you are entitled to after someone else’s negligence caused you harm. We will seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
You may be entitled to compensation in the form of:
Economic Damages
This is financial compensation for the economic losses you’ve had because of the accident. It can include coverage for:
- Medical expenses: These can be the costs you’ve already incurred due to your injury, as well as ongoing or future expected costs. For example, surgeries, doctor appointments, physical therapy, medications, and hospitalization.
- Job losses: Lost wages, lost job benefits such as retirement contributions and PTO, and even diminished earning capacity if an injury will keep you from returning to work.
- Property damage: The loss of personal property, such as your car, after a vehicular crash.
- Other expenses: Home or vehicle modifications, mobility aids, the cost of services like housekeeping or childcare, and other expenses related to your injury and recovery.
Non-Economic Damages
This is compensation for the more personal effects of an accident. It can include coverage for:
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
- Loss of consortium.
- Loss of enjoyment.
- Permanent disability.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a loved one, we are so sorry for your loss. Our Las Vegas wrongful death lawyers can pursue financial compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs.
- The loss of the decedent’s financial support.
- The loss of emotional support.
- Medical expenses.
- The decedent’s pain and suffering.
In some cases, where there was gross negligence or malicious intent, you may be able to recover punitive damages as well. Our freeway accident attorneys in Las Vegas will pursue the maximum compensation you are entitled to after an auto accident.
Common Accident Locations in Las Vegas and Clark County
With heavily trafficked highways like I-15, US 95, I-215, and I-11, there are many locations throughout the area where serious accidents can happen.
I-15, for example, sees heavy tourist and freight traffic. The combination of people who are unfamiliar with the area alongside large trucks can have disastrous consequences.
From 2019-2023, Clark County reported the highest number of fatal crashes in Nevada. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) reports that there were 1,056 fatal crashes in Clark County during that time period.
Common Causes of Highway Accidents
Common causes of highway accidents in Las Vegas include:
- Distracted driving.
- Drunk driving.
- Speeding.
- Failure to yield at traffic lights or to follow other traffic laws.
- Truck accidents.
- Aggressive lane changes.
If you were involved in an accident, our car accident attorneys or Las Vegas truck accident lawyers can help you prove negligence and pursue financial accountability.
What Special Laws Apply to Nevada Highway Accidents?
Nevada has specific laws governing accidents in construction zones under NRS 484. Additionally, Nevada law allows you to pursue compensation from all liable parties in multiple vehicle pileups and other accidents involving more than one at-fault party.
Free Consultation We’ll help you win the benefits you need to get your life back.
How Is Negligence Proven After an Accident?
Negligence is proven through a careful investigation and the gathering of evidence. Every accident is different. For example:
- To prove a drunk driving accident, your lawyer may need to obtain Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test results or a police report that details the driver’s field sobriety test.
- To prove a distracted driving accident, your lawyer may gather phone records and GPS data.
- To establish that a driver acted recklessly, your Las Vegas highway accident lawyer may gather dashcam footage or witness statements.
We will seek to build a compelling claim for compensation on your behalf.
Identifying Responsible Parties After a Serious Accident
Nevada’s car accident claims system holds the at-fault driver responsible for paying the losses of other involved parties. The at-fault driver’s insurance company pays the settlement.
A Shook & Stone attorney in Las Vegas begins investigating an accident immediately to determine whether other parties besides the at-fault driver could have contributed to the accident. If the at-fault driver was working when the wreck occurred, such as a commercial truck driver, their employer could be liable. If any of the involved vehicles experienced a mechanical malfunction or parts were the subject of a recall, the manufacturer could be responsible for the crash.
If the at-fault driver was underage and drunk, Nevada Revised Statute § 41.1305 assigns liability to a social host who knowingly served them alcohol.
Obtaining Appropriate Compensation After a Highway Collision
Whether you intend it or not, you begin building your car accident claim at the moment the accident occurs. If you remain conscious, do not do anything that could lead insurance investigators to believe you were at fault for the crash, and do not minimize your injuries. Instead, refuse to talk about the accident until you have received medical care at a hospital and spoken to an attorney.
Insurance companies for at-fault drivers might take advantage of you in two ways: they might trick you into admitting responsibility for an accident, and they might exploit your financial anxiety by offering a lowball cash settlement in return for your promise not to sue. Engaging one of the seasoned Las Vegas highway collision attorneys at Shook & Stone immediately after the accident could prevent these harsh outcomes.
A diligent legal professional would handle all communication with insurance companies and other involved parties, preventing any inadvertent admissions. They could engage in negotiations with the responsible parties but insist they negotiate in good faith to pay a reasonable sum according to the severity and impact of your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Las Vegas Highway Accident Cases
Below are brief answers to common questions that victims of car accidents often have.
Who is liable in a multi-car highway accident in Nevada?
Liability depends on who was negligent and how it contributed to the accident. For example, a truck driver who was speeding may be one liable party. However, if another driver also failed to yield, then they may also be at fault.
Your lawyer’s investigation will help determine all liable parties and their levels of fault so that we can pursue the maximum compensation for you.
What if the accident happened in a construction zone?
If the accident happened in a construction zone, fault will depend on a few factors:
- Was someone speeding or otherwise disobeying traffic laws?
- Was the construction zone properly cautioned (such as having signs)?
When a driver breaks a traffic law in a construction zone, they may be automatically assigned fault for the accident. However, it still requires that the traffic violation can be proved.
Can I sue NDOT for a dangerous highway?
Yes, you can sue NDOT for a dangerous highway. However, there are much stricter filing deadlines. Additionally, you can only sue NDOT for negligence, not planning decisions (such as the highway’s design).
What is the deadline for filing?
In Nevada, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if a government agency (such as NDOT) is involved, then you must also file an administrative notice of claim. This generally has a shorter window, sometimes within as little as 180 days.
Contact Our Highway Accident Attorneys in Las Vegas Today
Highway car accidents in Las Vegas can cause permanently disabling injuries and death. Even if you are fortunate enough to suffer only minor injuries, the incident is bound to cause inconvenience, expenses, and psychological trauma.
Our dedicated auto collision attorneys at Shook & Stone will work tirelessly to obtain appropriate compensation for your injuries. Reach out to schedule a free consultation at your first opportunity after the crash.
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