Unfortunately, accidents happen, especially in Las Vegas. They come in all shapes
and sizes. If you, or someone you care about has been seriously injured in an
automobile accident, rideshare such as Uber or Lyft, motorcycle, or commercial
vehicle, who is going to pay for your medical bills or wages lost from work? Believe
it or not, many people do not know what to do immediately after an auto accident
because they have either never been in one before, or have just endured a traumatic
event to no fault of their own, or both.
There was a time not too long ago when Metro Police, Las Vegas’s Police
Department, ceased responding to specific vehicle accidents; however, that law was
changed and Metro Police, Nevada Highway Patrol, North Las Vegas, and
Henderson police departments will respond to all accidents depending on the
location of the accident.
If you are involved in an auto accident, you should immediately call 911 if you are
injured. Calling 911 also allows for you to make an incident/traffic report. The
incident report is used to gather information about the accident itself, it may contain
witness statements, pictures, the police officer’s account of what he/she believed
happened leading up to accident and who caused the accident. Second, police reports
are not always accurate, so it is important that after you contact Metro, or your local
police department, you immediately contact an attorney.
Time is critical right after an accident. It is critical to your health should you be
seriously injured; and, it is also critical to the value of your case. Going to the
emergency room and/or a quick service medical facility is helpful, but it is not the
end of treatment. It is just the beginning. A victim of an automobile accident must
seek the proper medical care, whether that be through chiropractic work, pain
management, surgery, etc.
Do not speak with the insurance company and/or adjuster. Insurance companies are
not looking out for your best interests, they are looking to save money for the
celebrities in their commercials and catchy jingles–in the eye of an insurance
company, they are looking out for their bottom line. An attorney protects you from
calls from the insurance company, along with protecting you from yourself when
providing a statement or making damning admissions.
Absolutely take pictures of the scene to denote time of day, vehicle locations,
location of accident, weather conditions, and for property damage.
If you are injured, you must maintain treatment, many people try to “tough it out,”
but doing that on cheats yourself. If you are injured, you need to be truthful with
your medical providers and legal team. Failure to follow your treatment plan could
lead to massive loss of value in a personal injury case. If you cannot get a ride to
treatment, find one. If you are forced to miss a treatment day in a given week, make
that day up in that same week.
Lastly, you must maintain contact with your attorney throughout treatment. Ensure
that all documents are being sent from the provider to your counsel, verify that the
treatment has a course (i.e. end goal and/or date), and always double check that major
medical procedures are approved by your attorney before they are performed.
At MARATHON L AW G ROUP, PLLC, we help victims of accidents while practicing law
with integrity. Our lawyers dedicate both our time and education to our clients and
will be running by your side from start to finish line.
We offer free consultations for prospective clients and/or claim review, and do not
earn any compensation for our legal services unless we win your case.