For most people, a car accident is a rare event. It can be difficult to know what to do, what your rights are and how you can get the settlement you need for your injuries. That is why we offer personal attention to every client at Koch & Brim. Our Las Vegas car accident attorneys have handled auto accident cases throughout our 45 years of combined experience.
Find out how we can help you during a free initial consultation today.
Many law firms will assign an attorney to meet briefly with a new client, but then hand the case off to a staff member, such as a paralegal or associate. This is a strategy used to accept as many cases as possible at a mill-type law firm. At Koch & Brim, we don’t engage in these time-saving tactics. We guarantee that an attorney will meet with you and personally handle all aspects of your case. Your attorney will listen to your story, develop a customized plan for your case and make sure that you have everything you need in the aftermath of a car accident. You will never be passed off to anyone else.
Attorney William Brim discussing Car Accidents
The beginning is the most important stage of an accident case. Early preparation at the start of a case can convince an insurance company to offer a better settlement. The insurance company will want to avoid the cost of a lawsuit by compromising and achieving a settlement. Strong case preparation by an attorney early in the case is the best way to achieve a fair resolution while avoiding the time, expense and stress of a trial.
At Koch & Brim, our attorneys can thoroughly investigate your crash, gather evidence and documentation, request copies of important records, interview eyewitnesses, and take other steps to build a compelling auto accident case right from the beginning of the claims process. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, with the strictest attention to detail, for the best possible results.
When clients call or come to the Las Vegas personal injury lawyer offices of Koch & Brim, LLP after an automobile accident, they are looking for answers. How can I get my car fixed? How can I get medical treatment? How can I get a fair settlement from the insurance company? There are different answers for each unique situation. Use these frequently asked questions to learn more about the car accident claims process:
If you don’t see your question or concern on this list, contact us to request a free in-depth consultation. Our car accident attorneys can provide you with tailored answers and legal advice that you can trust. Our number one goal is always to achieve high client satisfaction by focusing on each individual’s unique needs and circumstances.
All of the most common causes of car crashes in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada are preventable. They often stem from human error, such as failing to carefully operate a motor vehicle or obey traffic laws. At Koch & Brim, we are passionate about holding careless and reckless drivers and other parties accountable for causing car accidents. If you are not sure who or what caused your crash, we can thoroughly investigate the accident for signs of fault.
The top causes of car accidents in Las Vegas are:
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are common on the busy streets of Las Vegas – especially on The Strip. All drivers have a responsibility to pay attention to the road and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when applicable. If a driver fails to drive with reasonable care and prudence, this could cause a serious car, bicycle or pedestrian accident. If another driver would have done something differently to avoid the crash, the driver’s insurance company will be liable. This means it will be that driver’s responsibility to pay for medical bills and property repairs.
At Koch & Brim, we believe that every car accident victim should have the benefit of a high-quality attorney. We understand the financial straits that crash victims often find themselves in while they deal with expensive medical bills and property repairs. This is why we accept these cases on a contingency fee basis. With this payment arrangement, we only charge for our legal services if and when we win the case.
If we succeed in securing financial compensation for your losses, we will charge our fees as a percentage of the total amount won in a settlement or judgment award. That way, you do not have to afford your Las Vegas car accident lawyer out of pocket after a wreck. If we don’t win your case, you won’t owe us a dime in attorney’s fees – guaranteed. We keep our fees reasonable and affordable for injured crash victims.
If a careless driver or someone else caused your car accident in Las Vegas, you may be eligible for financial compensation to cover your past and future losses. Although no amount of money is adequate to make up for a serious car crash, a fair compensatory award could allow your family to pay off related expenses and move forward with financial peace of mind.
A successful car accident case in Nevada could result in the following types of compensation, depending on your case:
Discuss the value of your car accident case with one of our attorneys. There is no average settlement amount that will apply to your specific circumstances. Instead, you will need an in-depth evaluation using the unique facts of your case to understand what it could be worth. From there, your attorney can help you fight for maximum financial compensation using aggressive legal strategies – including going to trial, if necessary.
An accident report is one of the most important pieces of evidence to support your Nevada car accident claim. Whether your crash was major or minor, you should call the police to request an official car accident report. The report will contain important facts and information about the collision, such as the date, time, location, a description of both vehicles and the other driver’s contact information. If the other driver was violating a traffic law, this will also be recorded in the accident report.
You can request an accident report in Nevada by calling 911 from the scene of your crash. Calling the police immediately will bring them to the scene before anyone can remove or alter evidence. When the police arrive, give them your side of the story but do not admit fault. The police officer will draw up a detailed accident report with eyewitness information and – in some cases – an opinion on who or what caused the crash. Before the officer leaves, ask for your police report number.
Within two weeks of the date of the crash, you can request a copy of your accident report by contacting the correct office. This can help you with an insurance claim. Find the Nevada Highway Patrol office in the city where your car accident took place. Call the contact phone number during office hours and provide the crash report number, your last name and the date of the accident. You will need to pay $10 per crash report requested. An attorney can help you obtain a copy of your accident report, if necessary.
It is important to take the correct actions in the aftermath of a car accident in Las Vegas. Otherwise, you may be at a greater risk of an insurance company taking advantage of you or denying your claim. If possible, take the following steps to protect your rights and best interests:
After you leave the scene of the accident, consult with a car accident attorney before contacting an insurance company. The insurance company may use tactics to take advantage of you. Your lawyer can help you identify and combat these tactics and negotiate with the insurance company for you for a fair settlement. Your lawyer can also help you with issues such as getting medical care (even if you don’t have health insurance), having your vehicle repaired and getting a rental car while you wait.
A hit-and-run car accident means that the other driver fled the crash scene without stopping or exchanging information. If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident in Las Vegas, write down the other driver’s plate numbers, if possible. Even a partial plate could help the police locate the driver. If you have the license plate number, your attorney can usually access the driver’s insurance information for coverage.
Look around the area where the crash took place for any surveillance cameras, such as intersection cameras or CCTV footage from nearby businesses. If there are any eyewitnesses, get their information for statements. Call the police and give them all of the information that you have about the other driver and vehicle. If you’re injured, request an ambulance.
Before you begin the insurance process, contact an attorney. You may need to rely on your own auto insurance policy for coverage for a hit-and-run accident. If you don’t have uninsured or underinsured driver insurance, however, your attorney may be able to help you go up against the other driver (if found) or a third party, such as the government.
A statute of limitations is an important law to know as the injured victim of a motor vehicle accident. This is a law that places a time limit on your right to file a lawsuit. With only rare exceptions, if you wait too long and miss your window to file a car accident lawsuit, the civil courts will refuse to hear your case. This means you will be unable to recover financial compensation for your losses even if there is evidence that the other driver is at fault.
Every state has a unique statute of limitations for car accident cases. In Nevada, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident, in most cases. If you don’t discover your injuries until after the crash, the clock will not start counting down until the date of injury discovery. The best way to reserve your right to file is by consulting with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to avoid missing the statute of limitations.
If you were injured in an auto accident, talk today to a Las Vegas car accident lawyer, not a staff member, to learn about your rights and receive the maximum compensation. The lawyer team at Koch & Brim, LLP can answer any questions that you might have, explain your rights, and make the entire process easier for you and your family. At our law office, you will speak to an attorney, not an assistant, about your case.. Remember: No recovery, No fee. Contact us today at either of our convenient Las Vegas locations. Call us at 702-451-3900 for a free consultation! Se habla Espanol.
“They were very helpful throughout my case. Bill always called to check up and make sure I was doing okay after my accident. Always had great communication with me all throughout. Great experiences with Koch & Brim!” – Kayla
