Can You Get Compensation if the Accident Was Your Fault?

Did you cause a car accident in Las Vegas, NV? You might still be eligible to seek compensation, even if you were partly to blame for an accident. It will depend on determining each driver’s share of fault for the collision. The percentage of fault assigned to you will make all the difference in your legal options.

A skilled Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can push back against attempts by the other driver’s insurance company to shift the blame to you. In certain circumstances, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit and hold another at-fault driver financially accountable for the crash, even if you share the blame. A car accident lawyer at Sam & Ash Injury Law can protect your rights and interests and help you pursue just compensation.

What Should You Do After an Accident You Believe Is Your Fault?

If you’ve been in a car accident and you believe you might be partly responsible, you should take the following steps:

  • Report the accident to law enforcement.
  • Answer the police officer’s questions, but don’t assume the blame or blame anyone else.
  • Seek immediate medical attention to get checked for any injuries.
  • Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recovery instructions for your accident injuries.
  • Request copies of the police accident report and medical records from your treatment and rehab.
  • Keep any bills, invoices, or receipts of expenses from the accident.
  • Gather copies of your pay stubs/income statements if you miss work.
  • Notify your car insurance provider that you’ve had an accident.
  • Contact a personal injury lawyer to review the accident and discuss your legal options.

You should refrain from doing anything that may jeopardize your right to seek compensation for your injuries and losses. First, you should never apologize to another driver or the police, even if you believe you bear some fault for the crash. Evidence from the accident may prove that someone or something else caused the accident or that you are less responsible for the crash than you initially thought. Assuming fault upfront may make it more difficult to prove later that someone else caused the accident.

You should also avoid making any comments about the accident on social media. Insurance companies often monitor accident victims’ social media accounts to see if they post anything that might serve as evidence to call into question the seriousness of their injuries.

You should contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options and the next steps you should take. A lawyer can help you protect your interests. Your lawyer can also assist you with pursuing financial relief for your injuries and losses, even if you bear some responsibility for causing the accident.

What Happens if You’re Injured in a Car Accident That Was Your Fault?

If you cause a car accident and suffer injuries in the crash, you could turn to your car insurance company for help depending on the insurance coverage you purchased with your auto insurance policy. For example, if you purchased optional MedPay coverage, your insurance provider will reimburse you for medical expenses to treat your injuries up to the policy limits, regardless of fault. If you purchased collision coverage, your insurer will pay for repair expenses to fix your car or reimburse you for the value of your car if it is a total loss. Rental car coverage can help pay the cost of renting a car while your car undergoes repairs.

Drivers in Nevada must have liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury and death, and $20,000 per accident for property damage. However, drivers can purchase higher liability coverage limits. If the other party’s accident losses fall within your policy’s limits, the other party can file a claim with your insurance company to pursue compensation. Nevada’s experienced car accident attorney can review your case and insurance policy to determine the best way forward.

Can You File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident That Was Your Fault in Nevada?

Even if you bear some fault for causing a car accident, you can file a lawsuit against another at-fault driver if they are primarily at fault. Nevada uses a modified comparative negligence rule for apportioning fault in car accident cases. Under this rule, an injury victim partly to blame for an accident can file a lawsuit if their fault is less than that of the defendant(s). In other words, you cannot file a lawsuit if your share of fault is more than 50 percent.

Under a comparative negligence system, a plaintiff’s compensation can be reduced in proportion to their share of the fault. For example, if you suffer $100,000 in losses from a car accident, and a court finds you are 25 percent responsible for the wreck, you are eligible to recover $75,000.

Even if you have the right to file a lawsuit after a car accident for which you are partly responsible, you must do so within the statute of limitations. Nevada’s statute of limitations on injury claims gives you two years from the accident date to file a suit. If you file a lawsuit after the two-year filing deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you will lose your right to seek compensation in civil court. Contacting a car accident attorney in Nevada as soon as possible is crucial to preserving your right to pursue compensation.

Get in Touch With Our Professional Car Accident Lawyers

If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident in Nevada for which you might be partly responsible, you need a seasoned car accident lawyer to investigate the collision and build a solid case on your behalf. A Las Vegas car accident attorney with Sam & Ash Injury Law can investigate the crash and seek evidence to show that the other driver is primarily to blame. You deserve What’s Right. Contact Sam & Ash Injury Law today for a free, confidential consultation with a Las Vegas car accident lawyer. We can review your case and explain your legal options for seeking the compensation you deserve.