Just like every other state, Nevada requires everyone involved in an auto accident to do certain things before they can lawfully leave the scene of that wreck—specifically, stop at the scene, provide help to anyone who needs it, exchange personal and insurance information with all other involved parties, and usually wait until the police arrive. Anyone who fails to fulfill any of these requirements may not only face criminal prosecution, but also civil liability for the role they played in causing the wreck.
If you were recently injured in a hit and run car accident in Las Vegas, it may be especially important for you to get help from a seasoned car accident lawyer. At Shook & Stone, we understand how uniquely traumatic and infuriating this sort of crash can be, and our team can work tenaciously to identify the person who hit you and make sure they are held responsible for the harm their actions have caused you.
The legal basis for virtually every auto accident lawsuit in Las Vegas and throughout the state of Nevada is “negligence”—in other words, proving that at least one person involved directly caused the accident to happen through their own reckless or careless misconduct. Typically, this means showing that another driver involved in your wreck—who, in this case, then illegally fled the scene of that wreck—broke a traffic law, drive while drunk or distracted, or otherwise breached the “duty of care” they owed you and everyone else on the road.
Importantly, though, while someone illegally leaving the scene of an accident often correlates with them having been negligent in some way, the fact that they broke the law after the crash does not necessarily mean they acted negligently before it as well. It will still fall to you to establish through a “preponderance of evidence” that a hit-and-run driver was primarily responsible for your Las Vegas car accident, irrespective of their hit-and-run offense. This is something that the skilled legal professionals at Shook & Stone can provide vital assistance with.
Unfortunately, law enforcement officers cannot always track down and pursue criminal charges against people who cause hit and run car crashes in Las Vegas. As a result, those injured in these accidents often cannot name the hit and run driver as the defendant in a civil lawsuit or settlement demand. In a situation like this, the only option for financial recovery would be to go through personal insurance.
The most helpful type of insurance coverage in this regard is uninsured motorist coverage. This optional policy add-on can be applied to wrecks where the at-fault party cannot be identified. In certain situations, you may also be able to take advantage of Med Pay coverage to cover medical expenses for you and your passengers on a no-fault basis.
Someone who illegally flees the scene of a car crash will almost always find themselves in legal hot water soon after—often in both criminal and civil court. While the criminal justice system handles the former type of case, our team at Shook & Stone can help you achieve the best possible resolution from the latter.
Recovering fairly after a hit and run car accident in Las Vegas is almost always easier with a skilled legal professional on your side. Call today to discuss your options.