At Shook & Stone, our law firm takes rear-end accidents seriously. A rear-end car accident may not seem like a big deal; however, it can cause serious injury to the driver and passengers.
The force of a car hitting you from behind or the vehicle ahead is immensely powerful.
When you get hit from behind, your body is forced forward as the vehicle stops accelerating and comes to a complete halt. This shoves your body into the airbag and, depending on how fast your vehicle is traveling, you may even be pushed into your steering wheel or dashboard. The added momentum from hitting the other car causes you to hit hard surfaces of your own vehicle causing serious injury.
A Las Vegas read-end collision lawyer at our firm fights aggressively for our clients to recover compensation from negligent drivers; we recover:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses;
- Past and Future Medical Care;
- Lost Wages;
- Pain and Suffering;
- Disfigurement;
- Property damage; and
- Loss of Love, Companionship, Caretaking, Consort, and Society Additionally, we will fight to get you compensation for any disfigurement or scars. Any scar on your body is permanent and can hinder you from working at a certain job, and may cause you to miss out on the joys of being with those that are special to you.
Common Causes of Rear-End Crashes
A rear-end accident in Las Vegas is a severe collision that can cause potentially life-threatening injuries.
The leading cause of rear-end accidents is distracted driving. Not paying attention to the road and having your mind on other things can lead to a collision with a car behind you. Other causes of rear-end collisions include, but are not limited to:
- Drowsiness;
- Reckless driving;
- Aggressive driving;
- Drunk driving;
- Improper Passing;
- Speeding;
- Tailgating;
- Defective brakes;
- Failure to yield or stop at a red light;
- Driver fails to heed traffic lights; and
- Hitting a parked car; and
- Multiple car auto accidents.
If you’ve been rear-ended in Las Vegas, it is important to know how these accidents play out legally. This is includes all vehicle occupants:
First of all, the other driver (who caused the accident) may be liable for medical bills and other losses sustained by you as a result of the collision. The front seat passenger may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. The backseat passengers, if they were injured as well, have a different claim that will be analyzed by an injury attorney.
The rear seat passengers can also make a claim against the insurance company of the person who hit them from behind. This claim will be made for what is called “indemnification of expenses.” Basically, the rear-ended driver’s insurance company would reimburse the passenger vehicle for any extra costs or losses sustained as a result of the collision. The injured passengers may also have additional rights against their own insurance providers for medical bills and other losses.
The at-fault driver may be liable to pay for the cost of your injuries, and possibly pain and suffering, loss of work wages and other costs.
The laws regarding rear-end collisions in Nevada are very clear when it comes to insurance payments. When you, or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, you need an attorney who is familiar with the laws surrounding insurance and medical bills. You need a lawyer who will work hard to make sure you get your fair share of compensation from the person who caused the accident. At Shook & Stone, we take rear-end collisions seriously and help our clients every step of the way.
When Multiple Vehicles are involved: If you, or a loved one, are injured in a multiple vehicle accident then your rights are different than if there was only one other person involved. For example, if three cars were rear-ended at the same time and you were in the middle vehicle, then you would have no claim against any of the drivers who hit you from behind because they all hit you at the same time, meaning they could not have avoided or minimized their share of your damages. However, a claim can be made against one of the front end drivers in order to recover losses sustained as a result of them rear-ending you.
When only two vehicles are involved: If there is two cars in an accident and each driver is to blame for causing the collision, then each driver will be responsible in their own right. The at fault driver can be sued directly for damages sustained as a result of his or her negligence. This means that the other driver is liable for all of your medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of work wages and other expenses incurred from the collision.
The insurance companies of both drivers may become involved in the claim process and act as a party to the case, but they are not liable for any damages incurred from negligence or wrongdoing. The at fault driver may be able to be sued directly for your injuries if his or her car was uninsured or underinsured, meaning their policy limits were too low to cover your losses. But, this is rare because most people have insurance that will pay out at least $15k for the injuries sustained in a rear end collision.
Your route to recovery: The first thing you need to do if you’ve been injured in a car accident is seek medical treatment immediately. The second step is to find an attorney experienced in helping victims of car accidents. The attorneys at Shook & Stone have over 100 years experience representing the rights and interests of injured people who’ve been hurt through no fault of their own. Our team can help you recover from your injuries and get back to normal or near it as soon as possible.
Nevada Car Accident Attorneys
At Shook & Stone, we have more than 30 years of experience helping clients properly handle car accident and auto accident cases. If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision or other type of auto accident, contact us today for your free consultation.
Call to get started on your path to recovery and let our Las Vegas rear-end collision attorneys help you sort out all the confusion surrounding your accident. It is important that our clients understand the legal system, and we will walk you through each process step-by-step until you have received the compensation you deserve.
Rear-End Accidents
In Nevada alone, there were more than, rear-end collisions in 2011. This number was up from the year before by about 38%. Rear end crashes caused nearly 7,200 accidents total and resulted in over 230 injuries. Also, property damage was listed as a result of almost 4,800 rear-end collisions as well.
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Rear-End Car Accidents in Nevada
The number of rear-end car accidents in Nevada is increasing every year. As the population grows, more people are on the roads and there are more chances for accidents to happen. In addition, with distracted drivers and aggressive drivers out on the roadways, it’s no wonder that these types of accidents are becoming so frequent.
Common Injuries in Rear-End Collisions
When you are involved in a rear-end collision in Las Vegas, car accident victims are subjected to great forces and trauma by the negligent driver. Many rear end accidents lead to severe injuries which may include:
- Whiplash;
- Headaches;
- Neck injuries;
- Broken bones, fractures, contusions;
- Facial trauma and lacerations;
- Loss of consciousness;
- Serious catastrophic injuries;
- Soft tissue injuries;
- Spinal cord injury;
- Wrongful death;
- Traumatic brain injury;
Compensatory Damages in Las Vegas
Nevada allows you to sue for actual damages which include: out of pocket expenses;
- Loss of earning capacity;
- Physical pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress;
- and other non-economic losses.
A Las Vegas rear end accident lawyer at Shook & Stone can help you recover full compensation for your injuries. If the driver who hit you was at-fault, he or she will be responsible for paying your damages. If the at-fault driver is not insured and cannot pay these damages, our Nevada personal injury accident attorneys can help you recover from their assets through a claim under the State’s Uninsured Motorists Coverage.
Punitive Damages from a Rear-End Collision
In a rear-end crash, punitive damages are not generally recoverable, but it is possible. If the at fault driver was using his or her phone during the accident and was distracted by texting or talking, then he or she could be held liable for punitive damages in addition to other compensatory awards like medical costs and pain and suffering.
Damage Caps for Rear-End Crashes
Damage caps do not apply to rear end collisions in Las Vegas. In fact, this type of accident is one where the damage cap law does not apply at all. While damage caps are meant to be a way of keeping insurance rates down and lawsuits reasonable by capping damages per person or per accident, it has not worked as planned.
How Is Fault Determined?
The driver who rear-ends another vehicle is always at fault. The most important aspect of your case will be the police report. If your accident was witnessed, then this will be especially important. If an independent witness saw the accident and noted that it was a rear-end collision, and the police report reflects the same, then you have a very strong case. Don’t let insurance companies try to make you look like the guilty party in your Las Vegas rear-end car accident case.
Recovering Compensation After a Rear-End Car Accident in Las Vegas
At Shook & Stone, our Las Vegas rear-end collision lawyers are not afraid to fight for maximum compensation for our innocent clients. We have the resources and the know-how when it comes to successful claims.
Our fees are on a contingency basis, so there are no upfront costs. We get paid when you do, and we will work to make sure that each penny is well deserved!
It is important to have an attorney in your corner when you get injured in a car accident. You should not have to suffer the physical pain or financial burden of the injuries occurring as a result of someone else’s negligence and carelessness on their part, especially if that person was paying your medical bills.
At Shook & Stone, we work hard for our clients to recover the fair compensation they need and deserve. Call us for a free case evaluation.
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