Las Vegas is a tourism destination. Many car accidents in Clark County are caused by drivers who are unfamiliar with the local roads. A driver on unfamiliar roads who misses a turn or an exit might try to recover by making an unsafe maneuver, such as braking or changing lanes suddenly and causing an accident.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who was confused about local roads, the car accident lawyers of Sam & Ash Injury Law can help you pursue compensation for your medical bills and other losses.
Do not assume that because the driver who caused your car accident is from a different state you cannot pursue justice. Contact Sam & Ash Injury Law to discuss your options for seeking full compensation for your losses. We will do what it takes to get What’s Right for you.
Risk of Driving on Unfamiliar Roads
Drivers who are unfamiliar with the road are distracted drivers. A driver may be distracted by looking at a GPS screen, a phone app, or a printed map, or by having to concentrate on written directions and as a result, they may get anxiety while driving. An over-reliance on road signs can take a driver’s attention away from what is happening on the road ahead.
Distracted driving studies say that glancing at a screen for 4.5 seconds to read or enter text while driving 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes shut. Add the stop-and-go nature of traffic in certain areas of Las Vegas, and the risk of causing a crash while driving on unfamiliar roads here is apparent, especially when drivers fear getting lost.
Types of Car Accidents Caused by Being Unfamiliar with the Road
Accidents that indicate a driver may have been unfamiliar with local roads at the time of the crash include:
- Rear-end collisions – A distracted driver can easily fail to brake in time to avoid running into the rear of the vehicle ahead of it in traffic. A driver who suddenly stops or slows in traffic because he or she is lost may be hit from behind. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident and the leading cause of whiplash, a serious and painful strain of soft tissue in the neck.
- Sideswipes – A driver paying too much attention to street signs or other distractions can drift out of their lane and into other vehicles. A driver who has unexpectedly come upon their exit or turn may suddenly dart across lanes and violate the right of way of other drivers, causing a collision. In addition, the driver who has been hit may lose control of their vehicle or swerve and cause a secondary collision.
- Wrong-way accidents – Drivers who are unfamiliar with local traffic patterns can find themselves traveling down the wrong side of the road or the wrong way on a one-way street and into a head-on collision.
- Broadside collisions – Broadside or side-impact collisions occur when one vehicle runs into the side of another. They can occur when a driver abruptly turns and fails to see another vehicle in their new path of travel. Broadside collisions caused by abrupt turns can cause serious injuries, particularly if the driver increases speed to try to get out of the way. Vehicles offer less protection along their sides than at the front and rear.
- Motorcycle and pedestrian/cyclist accidents – A driver distracted by seeking their way on unfamiliar roads is less likely to be aware of surrounding vehicles, especially smaller vehicles such as a motorcycle or bicycle that may be hidden in a blind spot. When a motor vehicle hits a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or person on foot, the individual hit is likely to be seriously injured because of the lack of protection. The accident victim may sustain injuries from the initial impact of the crash and again when they hit the ground.
How Our Las Vegas Car Accident Attorneys Can Help
If you have been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you may have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party. In general, a car accident victim may seek compensation for:
- Past, current, and future medical costs related to injuries associated with the crash
- Lost wages, including future losses due to diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
Many drivers who cause accidents due to their lack of familiarity with local roads are tourists or business travelers from out of state. All states have laws that apply to out-of-state motorists within their borders and the ability to hold them accountable for accidents they cause. This means a legal claim against an out-of-state driver who caused injury in a Nevada car accident can move forward, though it is more complicated.
To ensure that a driver from another state who has injured you is held accountable, you’ll need the assistance of Nevada car accident attorneys who have experience handling lawsuits against out-of-state drivers, as we do at Sam & Ash Injury Law. We have licensed attorneys in California, the home of more than a third of Las Vegas visitors, and we have offices in Newport Beach, CA.
We can build a strong case to present to insurers along with demands for full compensation to you. An out-of-state driver and their insurer may be interested in settling rather than traveling to Nevada to fight a lawsuit. But if the insurer refuses to agree to a reasonable settlement, the attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law will be ready to file a formal lawsuit on your behalf and fight for justice for you in court.
Talk to Sam & Ash Injury Law If You Had A Car Crash
Contact the experienced car accident lawyers as soon as possible after suffering serious injuries in a car accident caused by a driver who may have been unfamiliar with local roads. At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we have the resources and the dedication to pursue compensation for you if you’ve been seriously injured by another driver.
Call us today or contact us online for a free review of your accident and legal options. We’ve stood up for What’s Right for many car accident victims and we’re here to help you too. Call us now.
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