If you have sustained injuries in a car accident in Las Vegas, you must understand the state’s compensation laws and your rights. As an at-fault state, Nevada allows injured motorists who did not cause an accident to seek monetary compensation for their losses.
Dealing with accident-related injuries on your own can be hard and traumatizing. The situation can quickly become more complicated when you navigate the legal claim process. It’s important to understand what compensation you deserve to secure the full amount for your injury damages. In this case, you need a reliable car accident attorney to advocate for your interests. You can find one at https://www.acelawgroup.com/las-vegas-car-accident-lawyer/.
Kinds of Compensable Damages
In personal injury claims, damages are monetary compensation that injured people can be awarded after sustaining losses because of another person’s negligence. They are meant to restore your life before the accident happened. Car accident cases that involve injuries allow for the following kinds of damages:
- Economic damages. These special damages cover measurable losses like the following:
- Medical expenses. These include medical bills that would not have happened but for the crash. Examples are hospital bills, physical therapy, rehabilitation, travel costs, prescription medications, and assisted devices. Your claim can include past and future medical expenses.
- Lost income. If you cannot return to work after sustaining injuries due to a crash, you can claim lost income. The wages you lost include salary, commission, missed opportunities, and bonuses. In addition, the use of PTO or vacation is also a kind of damage in injury cases. Lost income includes past earnings and future lost earning capacity.
- Vehicle damage. You can claim repair or replacement costs if the accident has left your vehicle damaged or totaled. This includes reduced or diminished value because of the crash and subsequent repairs.
- Non-economic damages. These are subjective compensatory damages since they do not have a direct dollar value. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering. Such damages account for a big part of your claim settlement. They cover anything associated with the trauma, pain, and distress you experience. Pain and suffering cannot be measured. Every person’s experience with pain is unique. An attorney can calculate your pain and suffering damages.
- Emotional distress. This covers compensation for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and mental anguish.
- Loss of consortium. This compensates you for the negative effects of your injuries on your family relationships. In general, a spouse can make such claims, which cover the loss of support, love, household assistance, and companionship. Because of your injuries, you may no longer be able to offer these things. Loss of consortium recognizes how your injuries can hurt your relationships and impact your daily life.
How to Prove Liability and Damages
In a civil lawsuit, damages must be calculated, no matter the damages you deserve to recover. A lot of factors impact your case’s outcome. However, before anything else, you need to prove the fault of the other driver. This means collecting evidence such as police reports, photos, eyewitness accounts, and videos. Also, you must prove that the car accident injured you. This is important when claiming economic and non-economic damages.
There are various kinds of damages you can claim after a Las Vegas car accident. You may also be awarded punitive damages if your case involves extreme negligence or reckless disregard for other people’s safety.
Determining the value of your injury claim can be complex because a lot of factors can come into play. A skilled car accident attorney can give you an idea of the possible settlement amount you can expect. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to know your options.
