High rates of auto accidents are a sad reality in the US. With thousands of collisions occurring across the nation every day, you must educate yourself and be aware of the laws involved in auto injury to safeguard your rights in case you encounter an unfortunate incident.
Auto injury laws fall under the traditional tort liability system, meaning that one can recover compensation when an accident is caused due to negligence or misconduct. Even if you live in Las Vegas, which has a lower auto accident rate compared to most of the states in the US, you may still benefit from understanding the auto injury laws to protect your rights if an unfortunate event occurs. Moreover, to be fairly compensated for your loss, it is imperative to hire a Las Vegas auto accident lawyer who will help you build a strong case against the defendant. If you want to know more about auto accident laws in the US, continue reading:
What is Auto Injury Law?
Auto injury law includes the legal principles and regulations governing situations where individuals suffer injuries or damages as a result of automobile accidents. As mentioned earlier, most states in the US follow the traditional tort system for compensation in auto injury, which means you can claim compensation if you have suffered an auto injury due to someone else’s negligence or misconduct.
How Do You Prove Negligence?
Proving the defendant’s negligence is crucial if you want to claim compensation. As the plaintiff, you need to establish that the misconduct of the defendant caused you physical and mental harm along with loss of wages.
According to the law, all drivers owe a duty of care to every other driver on the road, which means that every driver needs to maintain reasonable care while driving on the road to avoid foreseeable accidents. So, when an accident occurs, the plaintiff needs to establish the fact that the defendant caused a breach of duty that led to their harm. Some of the common examples of breach of duty in an auto accident include overspeeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, using a mobile phone while driving, or any other activity that takes the attention of the driver from the road. Proving the negligence of the defendant will ensure that you are fairly compensated for the accident.
Filling for an Auto Injury Claim
You need to keep in mind the following points if you are planning to file for an auto injury claim:
- Gather information
After an auto accident, you must immediately seek medical assistance and keep the initial medical reports handy, as they turn out to be strong weapons when claiming insurance. Moreover, right after the accident, if you are conscious, try to click pictures of the aftermath of the collision, the vehicles involved and the accident site to ensure you don’t miss out on anything important.
- Hire legal help
Although you can file for an auto injury claim on your own, it is best to hire a reputable lawyer to ensure you are fairly compensated. According to experts, you must talk with your legal team before speaking with the insurance adjuster. Negotiating for the insurance claim may be complicated, and not being aware of your rights will lead to huge losses. Therefore, it is best to speak to your lawyer to understand how you must construct your case to receive fair compensation.
- Negotiate with the insurance adjuster
When you file for the insurance, the insurance adjuster will try to determine the fault. They will try to understand which driver was at fault, and the insurance company of the at-fault driver needs to pay for the compensation. However, things are not as easy as they look because establishing fault is a complicated process, and you must be armed with all the proofs and documents to win the case.
To successfully claim the insurance, the plaintiff needs to establish the following four facts against the defendants:
- A duty to act a certain way
- Breach of duty
- Causation between breach of duty and injury
- The actual harm caused to the plaintiff due to the breach of duty
The above-mentioned facts stand true only when the defendant is completely at fault. However, when the plaintiff has also contributed to the accident, the recovery claim may be reduced. Moreover, in some cases, contributory negligence may also completely bar the plaintiff from compensation.
Why is Legal Help Necessary in Case of an Auto Accident?
Legal assistance is important to navigate the intricacies of auto injury laws. However, hiring help becomes imperative in the following situations:
- In case your insurance is denied:
There are numerous instances where the insurance company has tried to deny the plaintiff’s claim. In case you are facing a similar situation, you need to avail yourself of legal assistance to ensure you are fairly compensated.
- In case the other party has filed a lawsuit
In case the other party has filed a lawsuit against you, legal assistance becomes imperative to safeguard your rights.
Safeguard Your Rights With the Help of Legal Assistance
Auto injury laws are complex, and understanding them requires legal experience and expertise. Therefore, if you or someone close to you has undergone an auto accident, it is best to hire a professional lawyer to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your losses.
