A wrong-way car accident is a serious type of crash that can have life-changing repercussions for those involved. A wrong-way crash can occur for a number of reasons, many of which trace back to human error. If you were injured or a loved one died in a wrong-way car accident in Las Vegas, contact the Las Vegas car accident lawyers at Koch & Brim, LLP for a free discussion about your legal rights and options.
What Is a Wrong-Way Car Accident?
A wrong-way car accident refers to a motor vehicle crash where one driver is traveling in the wrong direction, or a direction against the correct flow of traffic. Wrong-way accidents are often catastrophic, such as head-on collisions and T-bone accidents.
What Causes Most Wrong-Way Car Accidents in Las Vegas?
Wrong-way auto accidents are most often caused by negligence when they occur in Las Vegas. In personal injury law, negligence is a failure to act in a reasonable manner or with the correct amount of care. Negligence can make a driver liable, or financially responsible, for a related crash in Nevada. Common causes of wrong-way car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Falling asleep behind the wheel or driving while drowsy
- Veering into oncoming traffic
- Entering a highway from the exit ramp
- Inadequate road signage
- Inexperienced or elderly drivers
- Lack of road visibility or dangerous road designs
Traffic violations and driver errors can cause wrong-way accidents in Nevada. Since Nevada is a fault-based car insurance state, you must determine and prove who is at fault for your crash before you can recover financial compensation for your damages.
Common Injuries From Wrong-Way Accidents
Wrong-way car accidents can be highly damaging for those involved, as they may take place at the combined speeds of both vehicles (in a head-on collision). This can quickly escalate the speed of the impact and, by correlation, the severity of the crash and injuries suffered. Common injuries include:
- Bone fractures
- Skull and head trauma
- Brain injuries
- Neck, back and spine injuries
- Paralysis
- Soft-tissue damage
- Burn injuries or lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Wrongful death
You should always get prompt medical care after a wrong-way crash in Las Vegas. Doctors can treat you for obvious injuries, but they can also diagnose hidden or delayed injuries.
How to Prove Your Wrong-Way Car Accident Case in Las Vegas
Motor vehicle drivers and their auto insurance providers can often be held accountable for wrong-way driving accidents in Las Vegas. If it can be shown using evidence that the at-fault driver violated a traffic law or was driving the wrong way on the road, this will typically allow you to seek a financial recovery from that driver’s insurer. However, you may also have grounds to bring a claim against the other driver’s employer, a motor vehicle manufacturer or the government, depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. A car accident attorney can carefully investigate your wrong-way collision to help you understand where to file an insurance claim.
How a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You With a Wrong-Way Crash Case
As the victim of a serious wrong-way crash in Las Vegas, you and your family will have to navigate what could be a complicated claims process. You will need to understand how to handle Nevada’s liability laws, the burden of proof, standards of evidence, insurance company tactics and settlement negotiations. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you with all of these case elements. An attorney from Koch & Brim, LLP will have the information you need to make educated decisions about your specific situation. To get started, contact us for a free initial case review with a wrong-way accident attorney in Las Vegas.