Reno Car Accident Lawyer

If you were involved in a collision and you suffered serious injuries, we encourage you to seek immediate medical treatment – your health is your top priority. Delaying medical care can result in worsened injuries and a longer recovery time. It can also work against you should you pursue a personal injury claim. The judge or jury could see your delay as proof that your injuries weren’t severe or painful. Explain to your doctor what happened during your crash. Keep records of your medical bills, diagnosis, and treatment plan. Here is what to do after a crash:

Stop at the scene and offer assistance. It’s illegal to leave the scene of a crash that resulted in injuries or property damage. You must stay on scene until you can legally leave. Otherwise, you risk a “hit-and-run” charge and penalties. Stop your vehicle, assess the situation, and offer help as appropriate.

If your car is blocking traffic and is drivable, move your vehicle out of the way. If you are in a minor crash and it is safe, push any incapacitated vehicles to the side of the road. Use your vehicle’s hazard lights and set out cones or flashers if you have them to warn other drivers of the crash. If you can’t move your vehicle off the road, don’t stay with it. Move yourself to a safe place, away from traffic, while you wait for law enforcement to arrive.

Don’t admit fault. Nevada is a “fault” state, meaning the driver who causes the crash will be financially liable for damages. It may not seem polite, but it’s important you do not apologize to the other party or say the collision was your fault. Wait for an investigation from police or an insurance company to assign fault. There may be an element at play of which you were not aware, such as the other driver’s partial fault or a hazardous road condition. It’s best not to take any legal action or give statements before you consult a Las Vegas auto accident attorney.

Check for injuries. Check to see if you or other parties have injuries. Immediately request an ambulance if there are injuries and call the police. Don’t assume someone else has already called for help. Do not move injured people unless they are in imminent danger; moving an crash victim can make minor injuries major. Stay with the injured person, remain calm, and make the individual as comfortable as possible while you wait for emergency assistance.

Report the crash to police. In Nevada, you must report a car crash if it results in injuries, death, or more than $750 of property damage.  However, we recommend that you always call the police to report a crash as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police are now responding to non-injury collisions as well. You must either call the police or submit a Report of Traffic Crash within ten days of the collision. Stick to the facts when speaking to police officers. Give as detailed an account as possible, including the directions both vehicles were traveling and the names of any eyewitnesses.

Gather information. Collect as much information about your crash as possible. If you are able to stay on the scene of the crash, gather information and record facts about the crash while they’re still fresh on your mind. Take down the name of the officer who arrives on scene, and the information of anyone who was involved in the collision or who saw what happened.

Here is a list of information you should exchange with the other party.

• Full Name
• Phone Number
• Address
• Email Address
• Insurance Company Name, Address, and Phone Number
• Policy Number
• License Plate Number
• Driver’s License Number

Take photographs. If possible, use a camera or a cell phone to take photos at the scene of the crash. Take pictures of your vehicle, other vehicles or property damage, injuries, the roadway, and any other relevant details. For example, if a tree obscured a stop sign, making the other driver roll through an intersection and crash into you, take a photo of the hazardous condition. Photos can serve as inscrutable evidence during car crash claims and cases. Take as many pictures as possible. Something in the background may be of vital importance to your case that an experienced attorney may notice. Take as many pictures as possible to ensure no detail is missed.

Don’t talk about your physical condition with anyone. Don’t tell anyone that you’re not injured because you may have injuries that you’re not aware of at this point. Regularly, the adrenaline surge that happens when you’re in a crash will mask any pain or injuries that you suffered. When the adrenaline wears off, however, you might find that you’re in intense pain, so don’t make any assumptions immediately.

Get a lawyer. One of the most important things to do after a crash in Las Vegas is to speak to an attorney with qualifies practice areas as soon as possible. To protect your rights, you will need legal advice before you speak to the insurance company and provide a statement of the events. Insurance companies have become very aggressive in contacting victims of collisions quickly after the event. Insurance companies do so to get a recorded statement of your injuries and the collision to use against you at a later date. This is why it is imperative to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after the event to ensure the insurance companies don’t trick you into providing statements that will lower the value of your case.

Create a crash file. If you think you will need to take legal action to pursue compensation for your crash-related damages, create an organized file documenting everything from the crash. This includes the police report and any medical documents. The more information you can gather, the stronger your case.

Contact a Nevada Car Accident Attorney

The experienced team at Valiente Mott has had great success in representing victims of motor vehicle accidents.  For a free consultation, contact our team today.