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Frequently Asked Questions After an Auto Accident

What Steps Should I Take After a Las Vegas Car Accident?

To protect your legal rights to file an injury claim, there are specific steps to follow after a car accident in Las Vegas as follows:

• Call 911: It is important to call the police and obtain a police report. You should also request medical assistance for any injuries, no matter how minor they appear. Sometimes, injuries can be more severe due to internal injuries that are not always apparent.
• Seek medical care and treatment: You should obtain medical care and treatment for your injuries as soon as possible. Your health and well-being should be your top priority.
• Do not admit fault: When speaking to the police, state the facts without admitting fault, even if you believe you could be partially at fault. While police reports cannot be used as evidence against you in court, insurance companies may still attempt to use anything you say against you when negotiating a settlement.   
• Obtain evidence: If possible, take pictures of the accident scene, including damages to all vehicles involved and your injuries. You should attempt to obtain contact details for any witnesses. Look around for traffic cameras or other video cameras on nearby businesses facing the street and take note of these. You will also want to get the other driver’s contact information and insurance information. 
• Notify your insurance company: You should contact your insurance company and inform them of the accident. Stick to the facts and only provide basic details, like when the accident occurred, where it occurred, and the other driver’s details and insurance provider. 
• Schedule a consultation with our auto accident lawyer: Before making any statements to the insurance companies, you will want to speak to one of our auto accident lawyers. If you are hospitalized, we will come to you for your consultation. Seeking legal advice will help you determine your next steps, the value of your claim, and how our law firm can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. 

Do Most Auto Accident Cases Go to Court?

The vast majority of auto accident cases are settled before they even go to trial. Insurance companies do not want the negative publicity and added costs of trial, so they are more willing to reach a settlement and resolve the matter out of court. 

Even in cases where a settlement cannot be reached and the case goes to trial, insurance companies will still often attempt to settle the matter before a verdict is reached. They do not want to risk the judge or jury awarding high compensation when the evidence is not in their favor.

Where Do I File a Police Report in Las Vegas?

When the police respond to a car accident in Las Vegas, they will usually file the police report for you. However, you do need to verify they included all the required information as listed in Nevada Revised Statute 484E.070. 

Nevada law requires you to file a police report when:

• The property damages are more than $750
• Anyone involved in the accident was injured
• Anyone involved in the accident died

You have ten days from the date of the accident to file a police report. You can file the report online, in person, or over the phone with the appropriate police jurisdiction. For example, if a car crash occurred within Las Vegas City limits, you would file a report with the Las Vegas Metro Police. If the accident occurred in another jurisdiction, then you need to file the report with that police agency. 

You also need to attach specific documentation to the report, including repair estimates for property damages and medical statements from doctors for anyone who was injured in the accident or who died. 

Our Las Vegas car accident attorneys can assist you in ensuring your police report is filed within the mandatory ten-day period when you contact us immediately following your car accident and hire us to represent your interests.

How Do I Negotiate My Insurance Accident Case?

One of the biggest mistakes people make is attempting to negotiate their insurance accident case without legal representation. Insurance companies and adjusters have access to their own legal team. They know how to use different tactics to devalue your claim and can even attempt to deny it. 

They also will make it sound like they care about you and your injuries. They may state they want to get this resolved as quickly as possible. However, their initial offers are rarely the actual compensation you should receive. 

It is vital to remember insurance companies are for-profit businesses. The last thing they want to do is pay out large settlements when they can get you to settle on your own without help from a lawyer. They may also use “scare tactics” where they will say this is the best offer you are going to get, or if you don’t settle for what they are offering, they are going to lower it even more. 

Do not fall prey to these tactics. If you initially started negotiating your claim on your own, there is still time to get sound legal advice from our car accident law firm. Until you consult with our lawyers, never, under any circumstances, agree to a settlement offer or sign any paperwork the insurance provides. 

You could inadvertently be signing a settlement agreement and not realize it. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you cannot seek further compensation, even when you were legally entitled to a higher amount to begin with. 

What Is the Average Auto Accident Claim Timeline?

The average auto accident claim timeline generally ranges between a month to six months. However, more complex cases, where injuries were more severe or there was a wrongful death, could take between six months and a year to settle in most cases. Our car accident attorneys work aggressively to help car accident victims receive fair compensation as quickly as possible.