Las Vegas Traffic Deaths Are Rising — What You Need To Know

Traffic deaths have been on the rise in Las Vegas for the past several years. While some increase was expected after 2020, the dramatic uptick is concerning, especially for one of the largest tourist destinations in the United States.

So, what does this mean for you? If you regularly drive in or around Las Vegas, you or your loved ones could be at risk. Between the emotional pain of losing someone you care about, and the financial devastation common with fatal accidents, the surging traffic fatalities in Las Vegas could prove catastrophic.

What the Numbers Say

According to recent data, there were 1,131 traffic-related fatalities in Las Vegas between 2019 and 2023. More than half of those fatalities involved vulnerable road users, a group that includes motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Of the 610 vulnerable road user fatalities recorded, pedestrians accounted for more than half (312).

That’s a frightening statistic for a city that relies on tourism. Tourists typically travel the city on foot. The fact that roughly one-quarter of all traffic fatalities involve pedestrians shows just how at risk these road users are.

The numbers are similarly concerning for motorcyclists, who accounted for 255 deaths during the aforementioned four years. Motorcycles are popular in Las Vegas due to the city’s weather patterns and dense traffic congestion. Unfortunately, motorcycle riders represent more than 20% of traffic fatalities in the city.

What the City Is Doing About Fatal Traffic Accidents

Government officials in Nevada are taking these statistics seriously. Clark County has partnered with the Regional Transportation Commission and several local organizations to try to reverse the trend. Together, the network is spearheading an initiative known as the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan.

This initiative received a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). That money is being used to:

• Survey community members and gather information about unsafe roads and intersections.
• Perform walking and bike audits of the area.
• Identify key safety risks and plan improvements.
• Prototype safety upgrades, like lane reductions, wider sidewalks, and additional lighting.

Demonstration projects are being planned for fall and winter 2025. Depending on the success of these projects, some aspects may be made permanent, or other recommendations may be made to improve safety in this city.

The goal of SS4A is to make Las Vegas safer for everyone who uses the road, regardless of whether they’re visitors or residents.

Why This Matters to Las Vegas Crash Victims

Las Vegas’s roads are generally wide. While this affords vehicles greater ease of navigation during the busy tourism seasons, it also allows them to reach higher speeds. This is particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations, like pedestrians, who can’t quickly avoid a speeding car.

Restricting road width should help limit speeding on some of the city’s more dangerous routes. If this tactic is utilized carefully, it may decrease the number of traffic fatalities in the city.

This sort of approach doesn’t just promise to save lives. It could also limit the liability of the city and their many drivers.

Under the Nevada Tort Claims Act, state and local governments can be targeted for lawsuits when the government’s negligence is responsible for injuring the litigant. By implementing the recommendations of the SS4A initiative, the Clark County government can reduce their potential liability from Las Vegas fatal crashes.

However, that doesn’t mean crash victims or their loved ones don’t have the right to take legal action after a fatal Las Vegas accident. Even if the initiative can cut the current numbers in half, there will still be over 100 annual traffic-related deaths in Las Vegas.

If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal crash, a qualified car accident lawyer can help you pursue meaningful compensation. Nevada law allows you to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party if you are:

• A surviving spouse, child, or domestic partner.
• The parent of the deceased when the above doesn’t exist.
• A sibling of the deceased when the above doesn’t exist.
• The next closest family member when all of the above doesn’t exist.
• The personal representative of the deceased’s estate.

The compensation you stand to receive from the victim’s death hinges on your relationship to and the degree of dependency on them.

You’ll likely be remunerated for any expenses that resulted from the accident, including medical bills and burial costs. You may also be eligible to receive damages for:

• Lost wages and benefits you would have benefited from had the victim survived.
• Loss of companionship and affection.
• Emotional pain and suffering.

A wrongful death attorney in Las Vegas can help you understand your legal rights and options for moving forward with your claim.

Reach Out to Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys, Today

Have you been seriously hurt or lost a loved one in a car accident in Las Vegas? If so, you deserve to be represented by a car accident lawyer who has extensive local experience and understands the legal process in Clark County.

Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys, is home to a team of dedicated legal professionals with an impressive track record of helping Las Vegas accident victims secure the compensation they need to recover.