Drunk Driving Lawyer in Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas is a 24-hour town, where casinos, bars, and other nightspots never close. While that makes it a fun place to live and visit, the abundant nightlife also gives people unlimited access to alcohol. That puts Nevada residents and tourists at great risk of being involved in a drunk driving accident.

Injuries and fatalities are common results of drunk driving crashes. These collisions can also cause the victim and his or her family to suffer tremendous hardships. Medical bills, combined with lost income and other accident-related losses, can make it difficult to stay financially afloat.

Were you or a loved one hit by an intoxicated driver? If so, you could be entitled to compensation to help with the damages that you incurred. Let a drunk driving accident lawyer from THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys seek justice for you.

You can count on us to demand maximum compensation from the insurance company and represent you aggressively during settlement negotiations. Rest assured that we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if that’s what it takes for you to get a full and fair award.

Our law firm offers free consultations to every prospective client. You’ll get solid legal advice at no charge and with no obligation. Call or contact us today to get started.

How Common is Drunk Driving in Nevada?

Unfortunately, drunk driving happens all too frequently in Nevada. Sparks and Reno rank as two of the most dangerous cities for DUIs the nation, according to Insurify.

In addition, federal data shows drunk driving accounted for 29 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes in Nevada in a recent year. Nevada also ranks No. 12 as one of the “booziest brunch” states, with a high number of fatal drunk driving accidents occurring between the brunch hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Statistics also show that there were 396 deaths and 682 serious injuries in impaired driving crashes over a five-year period in the Silver State, according to the 2020 Nevada Highway Safety Plan. A full 65 percent of those collisions occurred in Clark County.

The plan also found that males in every age group are involved in more drunk driving crashes than women. Men between the ages of 26 and 35 were the most reckless age group, accounting for 143 serious injuries and 46 fatalities. Women in the same age range accounted for 57 serious injuries and 17 fatalities.

Common Injuries From Drunk Driving Accidents

Some of the most common injuries from drunk driving accidents include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

The force of a car collision can cause the victim’s head to strike the steering wheel, windshield, dashboard, or a side window. The violent impact can lead to severe brain damage with lifelong consequences. People who suffer catastrophic TBIs may never fully recover and often require round-the-clock caregiving. Compensation from a drunk driving claim can help families afford the costs associated with a traumatic brain injury.

Chest Injuries

Drunk driving accidents can cause serious trauma to the chest and torso. Vital organs such as the lungs and heart are located in the chest. A forceful blow can cause potentially lethal damage to those internal organs, as well as crush the rubs and sternum. Drivers and passengers may also be propelled forcefully against their seatbelts, which can lead to severe contusions.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord transmits signals from the brain to the rest of the body. When this communication is interrupted due to damage to the spinal cord, the results can be life-changing. The worst spinal cord injuries can result in partial or permanent paralysis. The lifetime costs of living with a spinal cord injury can number in the millions of dollars. Compensation in a drunk driving case can include damages for future medical care and future lost earnings, which can help ease the financial blow for the victims and their families.

Fractures

Healing from broken bones can take a long time. The most serious fractures may require surgery to insert pins and screws to immobilize the affected areas. Bones commonly broken in drunk driving accidents include the neck, femur, pelvis, collarbone, ribs, and skull.

Cuts and Lacerations

Cuts and lacerations can range from minor to severe. Open gashes can cause life-threatening bleeding at the accident scene. Survivors may be left with permanent scarring, disfigurement, and/or need reconstructive surgery to repair the damage.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Not all drunk driving accident injuries are physical. Many survivors suffer from emotional and mental health issues after a crash. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can disrupt victims’ entire lives, preventing them from working and enjoying the activities that they did before the accident. These emotional injuries can also be accounted for in a drunk driving accident claim.

What Should I Do If I’ve Been Hit by a Drunk Driver?

If you were struck by a drunk driver in Las Vegas, your health and safety should be your No. 1 priority. Get to a safe location immediately and seek medical attention. Call 911 and report your name, where the accident occurred, the number of vehicles involved, and any known injuries. If you are too injured to get out of your vehicle, wait for medical professionals to arrive.

If possible, you should collect information about the drunk driving accident in case you decide to file a legal claim later. Be sure to gather the following:

• The names and contact information of all parties involved
• The names and contact information of any witnesses
• The location of where the accident took place
• The vehicles involved, including the drivers’ registrations and license plate numbers
• Insurance information from all drivers involved
• Photos of the accident scene, including damage to the vehicles, your injuries, and any relevant evidence that you think would help your case (e.g., open containers of alcohol in the at-fault driver’s car)

Once you’ve received medical treatment, it’s time to contact a knowledgeable Drunk Driving motor vehicle accident lawyer in Las Vegas. Ideally, you should do this before you notify your insurance company of the wreck. At THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys, our lawyers can work directly with the insurance company from the moment you hire us. That way, you can focus exclusively on getting healthy again.

What NOT to Do After a Drunk Driving Crash

Just as there are things that you should do after a wreck, there are also things you should avoid. Here are some tips:

• Never admit fault. Even if you believe you played a role in the crash, never say that to a law enforcement officer or the insurance company. It could be used against you later.
• Never refuse an ambulance ride. If paramedics recommend that you go to the hospital, do it. Your entire personal injury case will revolve around your medical records. If it’s shown that you refused medical treatment or waited too long to be examined, the insurance company could argue that you weren’t seriously injured or that another circumstance resulted in your injuries.
• Never agree to a recorded statement. The insurance company will likely ask you for a recorded statement with your account of the accident. You should never agree to it without the advice of a Las Vegas drunk driving injury attorney.
• Never sign off on medical releases. You may also be asked to authorize the insurer to review your medical records. It’s very important not to sign off on these requests without an attorney’s advice. The wording of the forms could allow the insurance company to access your full health history, not just the records associated with the crash.

At THE702FIRM Injury Lawyers, our job is to put you in the best position to recover the full and fair compensation that you are owed. We’ll put all of our energy into building a strong and solid claim on your behalf.

Proving Liability for a Las Vegas DUI Car Crash

You must prove fault in order to collect compensation in a Las Vegas drunk driving accident claim. If you were hit by an intoxicated driver, liability could be relatively easy to establish. The easiest way is to find out whether the driver was criminally convicted of drunk driving in your case. According to Nevada law (NRS 41.133), a court conviction is an evidence enough to hold the driver accountable for your injuries.

If the driver hasn’t been convicted yet or managed to have the case dismissed, you’re not out of luck. You can still pursue compensation by building a compelling argument that the driver’s negligence was more likely than not the cause of the wreck.

With drunk driving accident cases, evidence needs to be collected regarding the drunk driver’s intoxication at the time of the accident. Police officers dispatched at the scene are trained to identify drunk drivers, test for blood alcohol concentrations (BACs), and gather evidence for driving under the influence (DUI). The legal team at THE702FIRM Injury Lawyers will obtain these records to show that the other driver was over the legal limit at the time of the accident. All of this evidence is useful in proving liability.

What THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys Can Do For You

Getting an attorney for a DUI crash is critical if you’ve been injured in Las Vegas. Drivers who get behind the wheel while intoxicated can and should be held liable for their actions. THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys can help you do that.

Our experienced drunk driving accident attorneys will build a compelling case against the impaired driver. We will:

• Investigate your case and gather evidence: To get the financial compensation you deserve from a drunk driver or his/her insurance company, you must be able to prove that the accident would not have occurred if not the impaired driver’s negligence. Our Las Vegas drunk driving accident lawyers can assist you in collecting the evidence that you need to establish fault, including police reports and proof of a BAC above the legal limit.
• Stand up to insurance carriers: Insurers will fight hard to lower your ultimate settlement amount and may even deny your claim altogether. We’ll fight back so that you are compensated fairly for your losses.
• Prove damages. Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages can be extensive, especially if you suffered serious long-term injuries or were disabled as a result of your accident. Our injury attorneys will determine what your case is worth and push for you to get maximum compensation for your losses.
• Communicate with all involved parties. Drunk driving accident cases often involve many parties, including law enforcement officers, insurance companies, witnesses, and the defendant’s legal team. Our experienced attorneys can handle all communications between these parties to lessen your burden and protect your case.

Most personal injury cases, including drunk driving accident cases, are resolved through settlements. But the skilled attorneys at THE702FIRM Injury Lawyers prepare every case as if it going to trial. That way, we’ll be ready to file a drunk driving lawsuit immediately if a settlement agreement cannot be reached.

Contact a Las Vegas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

If you were hit by an intoxicated driver in Las Vegas, you shouldn’t have to pay for the injuries and losses that you suffered. Call or contact a motor vehicle accident attorney in Las Vegas at THE702FIRM Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation with a dedicated drunk driving accident lawyer.