Thousands of car accidents happen every single day in the United States, many of which happen in Nevada. Our state saw around 1500 deadly crashes in a recent year, which resulted in 317 fatalities. Many additional crashes caused severe injuries.
More than 20 of these fatal wrecks occurred in Reno, meaning that there were, on average, about two fatal car accidents in Reno each month. Hundreds more people in Reno suffered injuries from collisions, ranging from minor cuts to life-changing catastrophic injuries.
While the costs and aftermath of a car accident are alarming, it is important to know there are experienced attorneys, such as Kidwell & Gallagher, willing and ready to take on your car car accident claim today. If you have recently been injured in a car accident in Reno, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, physical pain, and emotional suffering. Get in touch with our Reno car accident lawyers today to fight for your financial recovery.
Different types of car accident claims and injuries happen in Reno every week. We have experience representing clients in various car wrecks resulting in various injuries. These are some of the different types of car accidents and injuries our Reno car accident attorneys have seen.
If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you understand how easily it can happen. Some of the common causes of car accidents in Reno include:
The causes listed above are due to human error. Drivers also have to consider other conditions like the debris left on the road or inclement weather conditions.
When you are in a car accident, the person who caused the accident must pay for your damages. They will do so through an insurance company. Every Nevada driver must have state minimum insurance. While you should be able to recover compensation through the insurance company, it might be challenging. If you can move and it is safe, there are some steps you should take at the accident scene. If you are home, you can use this as a checklist instead. Remember only take these steps if it is safe:
Once you have an injury lawyer, you can protect yourself. When working on your case, we will identify your case worth. Considering all factors and evidence, our personal injury lawyer in Reno will negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement. When the insurance company is unwilling to negotiate, we will take further steps like mediation and litigation. We are on your side when the insurance company is not.
Neither of these lists is exhaustive, but it does not mean we haven’t represented clients injured in accidents you do not see listed here. Be sure to call Kidwell & Gallagher following an accident to discuss the circumstances of the crash. We will ensure that your rights will be protected throughout the entire process so you can focus on recovering from the injuries and nothing else. Contact our Reno car accident lawyers on your behalf.
Just like your car accident, the injuries that you experience can be sudden and unexpected.
Your injuries may appear immediately following your car accident. You may feel fine and experience pain for days or even weeks afterward. Even if you feel minor pain, that minor pain can transform into chronic pain if left unattended.
Symptoms like headaches or back and neck pain can indicate more serious injuries like spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Soft tissue injuries are another unexpected injury that can worsen if ignored for too long.
Car accidents can cause more than just physical damage to victims. You may suffer serious mental trauma following your car accident. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 25 to 33% of drivers experience PTSD symptoms at least 30 days after their accident.
Other forms of mental trauma that victims can experience are anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. These conditions can make it difficult for you to return to normal life. It’s common for drivers to be nervous about returning to the road.
According to Nevada’s Statute of Limitations, you have two years from the date of your wreck to file a claim. This means you should get in touch with a Reno car accident attorney as soon as possible. We know that two years may sound like a long time, but it can pass by very quickly when you are going through the recovery process.
If you choose to work with Kidwell & Gallagher, our lawyers will look at your claim’s facts to determine if it is viable. If we believe it is viable, we will help you file a lawsuit against the defendant and collect the evidence needed to build a strong argument against them. Our attorneys will also explain everything happening with your case and provide our professional legal advice on what we think you should do.
Some of our clients go through settlement negotiations, while others go through a trial hearing. The circumstances of your case will determine which path your claim may take. However, no matter which type of direction your claim goes, our lawyers will be by your side every step of the way.
Car accident cases can become stressful, time-consuming, and complicated. Therefore, we want you to know that you can rest assured knowing that Kidwell & Gallagher has what it takes to stand up for your rights and do our best to hold the responsible parties accountable for their careless and reckless behaviors.
In a car accident, the ability to hold a driver liable for a car accident depends on their at-fault status. An injured party can sue drivers found at fault for their injuries. Nevada is an at-fault state, meaning that there is no specific value that you must meet to seek compensation for your car accident.
To obtain compensation from the other driver, you must prove they were found at fault for your accident. Even if you have insurance policies that can compensate you in the short term, you may be able to obtain additional compensation from the liable driver.
In addition to fault, you also have to consider comparative negligence in your car accident.
Usually, in a car accident, the driver who is at fault is responsible for most, if not all, of the compensation. However, that’s not the case with comparative negligence.
Comparative negligence is a system that measures the percentage of compensation based on each party’s negligence. If the victim is not at fault for more than a certain percentage of their car accident, they can recover compensation. If the victim’s fault is equal to or greater than 50%, they may be unable to recover compensation.
Nevada operates by modified comparative negligence. Under modified comparative negligence, the victim’s percentage of fault must be less than the at-fault driver. For example, you may be able to obtain compensation if your percentage of fault is 30% and the other driver’s percentage is 70%. However, if your fault percentage is equal to or greater than 70%, it may be difficult to recover compensation.
Since every case is unique, we cannot guarantee a certain compensation. Instead, we can schedule an appointment to sit down and listen to the details of your claim. Afterward, we may be able to provide an estimate of how much you should expect as several factors play a role in the amount of compensation you may receive, such as:
We can tell you that the more severe and life-changing our clients’ injuries are, the more compensation they typically receive for their damages. However, the only way to know for sure is to speak to a professional car accident attorney.
In some cases, a settlement is offered by the other driver’s insurance company. The insurance company often does this when there’s a high probability of proving the other driver’s fault.
However, you also have the chance to negotiate a settlement amount with the insurance company.
When you file your Reno car accident claim, you can either settle out of court or pursue a lawsuit. Once you’ve chosen to settle, you’ll have the opportunity to argue why you deserve compensation for your accident. This argument will be made in the next step: the demand letter.
A demand letter is a legal document that requests compensation that covers the other person’s liability. It is used to obtain compensation from the insurance company. Demand letters can include the following information:
Writing a demand letter is an opportunity to justify your compensation with the facts of your accident and an experienced car accident attorney in Reno, Nevada can assist with such a task.
After sending your demand letter, the insurance company can respond to it in a couple of ways:
When you and the other driver can’t reach a settlement, your settlement may progress to a trial.
Going to court will require a certain amount of preparation. You and the other driver will be responsible for providing evidence during the discovery period.
All evidence you provide for trial must prove the other driver’s negligence. The more evidence that proves the other driver was reckless, the greater your chances of obtaining compensation.
Unlike a settlement, the lawsuit process can be unpredictable. There isn’t a guaranteed time that your case will be resolved. However, you may be able to be awarded damages that you wouldn’t be rewarded in a settlement.
When you are involved in any type of accident, you should take the time to determine how the accident has negatively impacted your life. Some of the common damages that car accident victims claim are:
The weeks and months following a car accident are challenging and stressful. There isn’t much time for you to rest on your laurels and hope that the insurance company makes a strong settlement offer. You need the aggressive mindset of an experienced Reno car accident lawyer on your side to fight for the compensation you deserve. Do not let the negligent driver get away with their actions.
An important task that car accident lawyers perform for their clients is reviewing and collecting evidence. Whether it is security camera footage, eyewitness testimony, photographs, police reports, or working with an accident reconstructionist, a car accident lawyer knows what evidence is needed to win a personal injury claim.
Upon collecting evidence, we will use it to prove various aspects of your case. Here is how we will do that:
The most skilled car accident attorneys in Reno will be able to secure an expert witness to testify on your behalf at trial. Expert witnesses can include any of the following professionals:
Your case can be even more stressful if your attorney tells you it is headed to trial. However, this means that your attorney is not accepting the offer submitted by the insurance company of the at-fault driver because they know they can likely secure higher compensation for you at trial.
Do not stress about going to court. A car accident attorney’s job is to prepare you for the deposition and for cross-examination. They will prep you with sample questions you are likely to face, as well as how you should handle yourself on the stand.
A great benefit of working with an attorney after a car accident is that you will not have to talk to lawyers or insurance adjusters alone. With a lawyer by your side, you can forward phone calls and emails to them or have them handle all communication for you without ever receiving a message or calling yourself. No longer do you have to worry about saying the wrong thing when talking to the lawyer for the other driver or the insurance company because a Reno car accident lawyer will guide you in the right direction?
When choosing the best Reno car accident lawyer for your case, here are the following factors to consider:
The car accident lawyers at Kidwell & Gallagher want to help you reach the best outcome for your case. Figuring out the best direction to go with your car accident claim can seem overwhelming. But an experienced car accident lawyer can provide a helpful perspective to your claim.
Your lawyer can assess the facts of your car accident and determine the best strategy for seeking compensation. They can also share general knowledge about the different options you have.
No matter which direction you take your Reno car accident claim, your car accident lawyer is willing to help you reach the best outcome.
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At Kidwell & Gallagher, we believe in fighting for our client’s rights to the economic justice they deserve. If you choose to work with our car accident lawyers, we will handle all the hurdles and challenges your case involves while you focus on healing from your injuries.
If you are ready to build a case for compensation following a Reno car accident, call our office, or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our Reno car accident lawyers will fight vehemently to defend your rights and work to help you recover compensation.
With over 45 years of combined personal injury law experience representing clients nationwide, our team is dedicated to helping our clients and our community. We also have two bilingual staff members to accommodate your needs!
When you schedule your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Reno, Nevada, you should come prepared with specific questions for us to address.
A driver only takes a few seconds to make a mistake and cause a car accident. While our attorneys know that every crash is different, there are some car accidents that we have seen more than others. Here are the most common causes of car accidents in Nevada:
If you hire one of our skilled car accident attorneys, we will work diligently to determine the cause of your car accident in Reno. We recommend scheduling a meeting at your earliest opportunity to begin telling us what happened the day of your accident. This will help our lawyers determine why your accident happened, who is liable, and the proper evidence we need to build a strong case.