What Kind of Damages Can I Sue for After a Car Accident in Nevada?
Car accidents pose a major risk for serious and life-altering injuries. All it takes is another driver making a simple mistake or acting recklessly to ruin your life or the life of someone you love.
If you find yourself in a traffic accident, you could end up with damage to your vehicle and/or personal injuries. If this happens to you, consider contacting an auto accident lawyer for a free consultation. The personal injury attorneys at Valiente Mott understand Nevada law and how to get you compensation after a car accident.
What Forms of Damages Can I Recover From a Nevada Auto Accident?
There are two types of damages you can potentially recover from a car accident: compensatory and punitive. Compensatory damages are sometimes called actual damages and are intended to compensate you for a particular harm or loss. Two main types of compensatory damages include:
- Non-economic damages: These are difficult to calculate and nontangible. They’re often awarded for things like loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
- Economic damages: These are tangible damages that relate to an actual loss. Medical bills, property damage, and lost wages are common types of economic damages following a car accident.
In contrast to compensatory damages, punitive damages exist to punish a wrongdoer. They may also be awarded to deter future bad behavior. Sometimes called exemplary damages in Nevada, punitive damages don’t normally get awarded unless the defendant:
- Acted in a way they knew was likely to harm others, but purposefully did nothing to prevent the harm (also known as “conscious disregard”);
- Engaged in fraudulent behavior; or
- Committed despicable conduct that resulted in cruel and unjust hardship and ignored the rights of others (also known as “oppression”).
In plain English, this means punitive damages don’t typically get awarded unless the defendant acts in a reprehensible way.
Even if you’re entitled to damages following a car accident, you may need to file a lawsuit to obtain them. And it’s not always a straightforward process to start a lawsuit in Nevada.
For example, you need to file your lawsuit on time to avoid missing the statute of limitations deadline. To make sure you’re not missing your opportunity, it helps to have a Nevada personal injury lawyer to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to under the law.
Work with an experienced attorney to seek damages
Maybe you’re dealing with an at-fault driver who swears you caused the accident. Or perhaps a car insurance company is giving you a hard time with an accident claim. Either way, the experienced and competent personal injury lawyers at Valiente Mott can protect your legal rights.
Our experienced Nevada car accident attorneys have spent years fighting for victims and their families. Please contact us to schedule a free consultation at your earliest convenience.