Getting hurt in a car accident in Summerlin turns your entire day upside down. You may be in pain, unsure where to turn, and facing pressure from the insurance company before you have had time to catch your breath.Â
Your Summerlin car accident lawyer with Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers has access to a team with more than 150 years of combined experience and is ready to step in and protect your rights from day one. Speak with our firm’s Summerlin personal injury lawyer today to get the support you need and deserve.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Summerlin
The moments after a crash can feel like a blur. You are shaken, your heart is racing, and suddenly people expect you to know what to do next. If you are wondering what to do after a car accident in Summerlin, here is what we would tell you if we were sitting across the table from you right now:
- Call 911
- Get checked out, even if you think you are fine
- Snap a few photos if you can
- Talk to anyone who saw what happened
- Keep your answers short and simple
- Ask for the accident report
- Let your insurance company know
- Call a Summerlin car accident attorney with Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers
These early steps help keep the crash from becoming a bigger mess later. You do not have to get everything perfect, but you deserve someone who can protect you. Our team is here to walk with you through the hard parts so you can focus on getting back on your feet.
Serious Injuries Commonly Reported in Summerlin Crashes
When a motor vehicle wreck happens, there is almost always the potential for serious injuries to occur. Some injuries are obvious at the scene, while others may take hours or days to show up. You may not realize how badly you are hurt until after the adrenaline wears off.
The nature and extent of these injuries often depend on the number of vehicles involved, the travel speed, the crash’s location, and the collision’s angle.
Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and broken bones are some of the most severe. Internal bleeding, nerve damage, and herniated discs can also cause significant pain and complications.
Many people experience long-term effects such as limited mobility, chronic pain, or the need for surgery and rehabilitation. Recovery may take weeks, months, or even years.
Your Summerlin car accident lawyer has extensive experience handling work-related car accidents in Summerlin and will work tirelessly to protect you no matter how your life has been affected by your injuries.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Summerlin
Many car accidents in Summerlin are caused by drivers who fail to follow basic safety rules. If you were injured, the cause of the crash helps determine who is responsible for your losses. The most common causes fall into three key categories.
Driver Distraction and Inattention
Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous habits on the road. Texting, adjusting navigation, eating, or simply daydreaming can distract drivers from what is happening right in front of them. Even a quick glance away from the road can lead to a missed stop sign or rear-end collision.
Under NRS § 484B.165, using a handheld device while driving is illegal. When drivers break this rule or are mentally distracted behind the wheel, they may be held legally responsible for any harm they cause. A Summerlin texting while driving accident lawyer from Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers can review phone records, crash reports, and other evidence to show what went wrong.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Speeding reduces the time a driver has to react and increases the force of a crash. Drivers who follow too closely, change lanes without signaling, or run red lights endanger everyone around them. These aggressive behaviors are hazardous in residential zones and busy Summerlin intersections.
Under NRS § 484B.603, drivers must maintain a safe distance and control their speed based on traffic conditions. Your Summerlin car accident lawyer will investigate every aspect of your crash to determine whether unsafe speed or aggressive conduct contributed to your injuries.
Traffic Violations and Right-of-Way Failures
Some crashes happen because a driver simply does not follow the rules of the road. They may turn without signaling, roll through stop signs, or ignore right-of-way laws. These careless mistakes are more than technical errors. They can lead to serious and preventable collisions.
Nevada law, including NRS § 484B.250, outlines how drivers must yield and move through intersections. If the other driver broke one of these rules, that violation may help prove fault in your case. We are familiar with local roadways and know where these violations happen most often in Summerlin.
Local Roads and Crash Patterns in Summerlin
Some streets in Summerlin are just tougher to navigate than others. It comes down to traffic, design, and how people behave behind the wheel. Here are three places where crashes happen often and why they matter when you are trying to recover from one.
High-Traffic Intersections and Shopping Corridors
If you drive around downtown Summerlin, you already know how hectic it gets. Intersections like Charleston and Rampart are full of turn lanes, impatient drivers, and constant stop-and-go. Add in people searching for parking or racing to beat a yellow light, and it is no surprise that rear-end and side-impact crashes are common here.
Even when you are being careful, all it takes is one distracted or aggressive driver to ruin your day. Your Summerlin car accident attorney sees a lot of accidents where someone misjudges the distance or tries to squeeze through a gap that just is not there. These crashes are loud and sudden, and they can leave you shaken up for days.
Neighborhood Streets and Residential Speed Zones
Neighborhood streets feel quiet until someone comes flying through without stopping. We hear from clients who were hit near schools, parks, or while just trying to back out of a driveway. These areas are full of kids, dog walkers, and everyday people trying to get where they are going.
What makes these crashes so frustrating is that they are almost always preventable. Someone ignores a stop sign, looks down at their phone, or speeds through a zone to slow them down. Even at low speeds, the injuries can be serious, and the damage can mess with your daily life in ways you did not expect.
Freeway Entrances and West Valley Transitions
Getting on and off the 215 can be a mess, especially during rush hour. Everyone is trying to merge, switch lanes, or avoid getting stuck behind someone unsure where they are going. Many crashes happen because someone panics or makes a split-second move that cuts off another car.
We see accidents where someone brake-checks, swerves at the last minute, or tries to force their way over without looking. These are not minor fender benders.
They usually happen fast and hit hard. If you were in one of these crashes, you are not alone. Your legal advocate with Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers knows how they happen, and we know how to help you deal with what comes next.
Legal and Financial Risks for Uninsured Drivers in Nevada
If you are involved in a crash and do not have insurance, things can get complicated quickly. Nevada law requires all drivers to carry proof of financial responsibility, and if you are caught without it, the penalties are steep. Under NRS § 485.185, every registered vehicle must have active liability coverage that meets state minimums.
Getting into a crash as an uninsured driver puts you in a tough position, whether or not you were at fault. If someone else caused the crash, you may still be limited in what you can recover.
If you were at fault, you could be personally sued for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle repairs. In either case, driving without insurance risks your finances and future.
Penalties for being uninsured can include license suspension, fines, and mandatory SR-22 insurance for up to three years. If your vehicle is impounded, you may also have to pay out of pocket for towing, storage, and other costs.Â
Nevada’s Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits
You only have a limited amount of time to take legal action after a crash. In most cases, the statute of limitations for car accidents in Nevada is two years. That clock usually starts on the date of the accident, and once the deadline passes, you may lose your chance to file a lawsuit.
Under NRS § 11.190(4)(e), you must bring your claim within two years of the crash. There are a few exceptions, such as when the injured person is a minor or when the effects of an injury are not immediately known.
If you are unsure about your timeline, it is important to talk with a Summerlin child injury lawyer with Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers who can help you figure it out before it is too late.
Even if your case seems straightforward, waiting too long can create problems. Evidence can disappear or become inaccessible, witnesses’ memories fade, and the insurance company may question why you delayed reporting the accident.
Types of Compensation Available After a Summerlin Crash
The impact reaches every part of your life when you suffer an injury in a crash. Car accident compensation can cover financial losses, emotional pain, and the physical toll your body has taken.
It may surprise you to learn that the costs of catastrophic injuries can directly impact the value of your claim, depending on the details of your crash. Below are some of the most common types of damages we include in Summerlin car accident cases:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Future medical bills
- Punitive damages
Our team works with medical experts, economists, and other professionals to calculate your full damages. Many people do not realize how much their claim is worth until it is too late. We help make sure nothing is missed and fight for every type of compensation you are entitled to pursue.
How Insurance Claims Work After a Nevada Car Accident
Starting a car accident insurance claim is not always as simple as calling the number on the back of your card. You might be dealing with your own provider, the other driver’s insurer, or both. What happens in those first few days can shape how the rest of your claim plays out.
Insurance companies will look at police reports, photos, and statements to figure out who they think was at fault. If the details are unclear, they may try to pin part of the blame on you. Even when the fault is obvious, they may still ask for recorded statements or medical paperwork before discussing numbers.
Most people feel pressured to take the first offer just to get it over with. That offer is usually far less than what you really need. We handle the entire Nevada car accident insurance claim process for you, so you are not stuck wondering if you missed something or said the wrong thing.
Hiring a Lawyer Early Can Change the Outcome of Your Case
You might not know when to hire a car accident lawyer in Summerlin, and that is understandable. Most people are still processing what just happened when the insurance calls start coming in. Getting help early gives you space to breathe and makes everything else a little easier.
When we get involved immediately, we can help lock down key details like photos, video footage, and witness info before they disappear. Your Summerlin catastrophic injury lawyer can also help you get to the right doctors and keep track of the care you need. Insurance companies quickly look for gaps, delays, or anything they can use to lower your claim.
Starting strong makes a difference. You do not have to know every answer or do everything perfectly. You just need a car accident attorney in Summerlin in your corner who has been through this before and can help you make the right moves early on.
Speak With a Car Accident Attorney in Summerlin Today
Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with after a car crash, even when they initially seem helpful.Â
Before accepting any offer, talk to a car accident lawyer in Summerlin with Shook & Stone Injury Lawyers to ensure you are not settling for less than you need.
Call now to speak with someone who can review your case and help you understand what your claim may be worth.
