U-Turn Accidents in Las Vegas

What Is a U-Turn and When Is It Illegal? 

A U-turn is a driving maneuver of turning a vehicle 180 degrees to reverse its direction of travel and proceed in the opposite direction.

In Nevada, a driver can generally make a U-turn on any road where it can be made safely, unless specifically prohibited by law or signage. If an official traffic-control device indicates that a U-turn is prohibited, a driver should not make a U-turn.

The state also prohibits a U-turn in a business district, except at an intersection or on a divided highway, where an appropriate opening or crossing place exists. Additionally, U-turns are prohibited where visibility is limited and within active school zones, regardless of signage.

Regardless of statewide allowances, local authorities and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) may prohibit U-turns at any location within their jurisdiction. Las Vegas generally enforces U-turn restrictions based on specific road layouts, pedestrian traffic, or visibility hazards.

A U-turn is considered illegal if a driver makes it:

• When there is a “No U-Turn” sign.
• In a business district at an intersection or on a divided highway that lacks an appropriate opening or crossing place.
• Upon a curve or near the crest of a grade, where their vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other vehicle approaching from either direction within 500 feet.
• In a construction or work zone where signage or barricades make a U-turn unsafe.
• In an active school zone or school crossing zone.
• By interfering with oncoming vehicles or the normal flow of traffic.

Nevada Traffic Laws That Govern U-Turns

The above-discussed laws that govern U-turns are primarily stated in Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 484B.403.

Drivers must also obey the provisions of:

• NRS 484B.227 (Driving on divided highway)
• NRS 484B.363 (School zone or school crossing zone)
• NRS 484B.407 (Turning on curve or crest of grade)
• NRS 484B.400 (Required position and method of turning at intersections)
• NRS 484B.413 (Requirements for turning on highway)

These laws specify where a U-turn can be legally made and how to make it safely. Drivers must follow them and other Nevada driving laws to stay safe.

Immediate Steps After a U-Turn Car Accident

Here are the immediate steps to take after a U-turn accident:

• Check yourself and your passengers (if you have any) for injuries.
• Call 911 to get emergency care and report the accident. Nevada law requires that an accident that results in bodily injury, death, or property damage of $750 or more be reported.
• If you can safely move around, document the scene. Take photos and videos of the vehicles, visible injuries, road signs, traffic lights, and the surrounding environment.
• Exchange information with the other driver.
• Collect contact information. You can also request brief statements.
• Seek medical attention.
• Notify your insurance company.
• Contact a personal injury lawyer.

Determining Liability After a U-Turn Crash

Determining car accident fault after a U-turn crash involves analyzing evidence gathered at the scene, footage from traffic cameras and surveillance videos, police reports, traffic conditions, and witness statements and expert opinions.

This analysis aims to determine if the U-turn was legal, if the driver made the U-turn properly, and who had the right of way. Accordingly, the driver whose negligence led to the crash can be identified.

For instance, photos of a “No U-turn” sign from the accident scene show the turn was illegal; surveillance footage from a nearby building can tell if the oncoming driver ran a red light; witness statements can provide crucial information about speed and who had the right-of-way; police reports show citations, such as speeding, and so on.

Liability in car accidents can also be shared. A U-turning driver may make a mistake, and so can the oncoming driver, contributing to a crash. For example, Driver A makes a legal U-turn but improperly; say, they fail to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. However, the oncoming driver (Driver B) is looking down at their phone.

The Nevada comparative negligence law will apply in such a case. The degree of fault of each will be determined. Driver B can only recover financially if they are not more at fault for the accident than Driver A. Therefore, they need to be 50% or less at fault.

Evidence To Secure: Police Reports, Video, Photos, and Witnesses

The evidence you need to prove liability includes:

• Video footage of the crash and the moments preceding the U-turn, including footage from dashcam, traffic cameras, and private surveillance cameras
• Photos and videos documenting the accident scene
• Police reports
• Vehicle event data recorder (EDR)/black box data
• Witness statements
• Expert opinions

How To Start a Las Vegas Personal Injury Claim

Filing a car accident claim in Nevada is a multi-step process. After gathering evidence, exchanging information with the other driver, and seeking medical attention, you should notify your insurer.

Do this as soon as possible so they can begin an investigation and initiate the claim process. Only stick to the facts and be prepared with the necessary details about the accident.

It’s also crucial to contact a car accident lawyer. Attorneys are skilled at obtaining more information about accidents and losses suffered. Your attorney will use their expertise and work with other professionals to establish liability and determine the true value of your claim.

After which, they will draft and send a demand letter to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The letter will detail your information, how the U-turn accident happened, the injuries and losses you suffered, and the amount you are seeking in compensation. The other driver’s insurer can deny or accept the claim.

If they accept the claim, they will send an offer, which initiates negotiations until a fair settlement is reached. If they deny liability or a fair settlement can’t be reached, you can take the case to court.

Dealing With Insurance Adjusters and Insurance Claims

Your insurance company and that of the other driver will be involved in the case, which means you may deal with several adjusters. Your insurer will ask for details about the accident, and adjusters from the other side will ask for your version of events.

You should strictly stick to the facts when speaking with adjusters. Additionally, avoid giving the other driver’s insurance company recorded statements, as it can use minor inconsistencies to deny your claim. It’s also important to avoid social media at this moment, as adjusters might be actively monitoring your activities to find anything that contradicts your case.

Other tactics insurance adjusters commonly use include offering a quick, lowball settlement, delaying the claims process to get an injured victim to accept a lower offer, downplaying injuries, and attempting to show fault was shared.

Working with a U-turn accident attorney protects you from these tactics. Your lawyer will handle all communications with insurance adjusters and follow up on the claims process, while you focus on recovering.

Typical Injuries From U-Turn Collisions 

People involved in U-turn collisions typically sustain:

• Whiplash
• Neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Soft tissue damage

How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help After a U-Turn Accident

A car accident lawyer can help you in several ways after a U-turn accident.

This includes:

• Gathering and preserving evidence.
• Building a strong case that establishes fault.
• Dealing with insurance adjusters while you recover.
• Protecting you from tactics insurers often use.
• Calculating the true value of your claim so you can receive maximum compensation.
• Fighting for your rights in court if a fair settlement can’t be reached.

Statute of Limitations and Filing Deadlines for Personal Injury Claims 

Nevada has a two-year statute of limitations for car accident claims. Thus, you have exactly two years from the date of the U-turn accident to file a lawsuit.

Insurance companies also need to observe certain deadlines, such as deadlines for acknowledging a claim and for accepting or denying it.

Get Legal Help: Contact a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer 

If you were injured in a U-turn accident, a Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help you hold the at-fault driver responsible for their actions.

Contact us today to receive the compensation you deserve.