Most drivers remain diligent in keeping their auto insurance up-to-date under Nevada law, but some motorists may not have auto insurance, whether due to neglect or lack of resources. When another driver hits you, you expect to receive full compensation by recovering damages, mainly medical expenses and vehicle damage. Unfortunately, that is never the case when an uninsured driver causes the accident, resulting in your injuries.
At Pacific West Injury Law, we understand how difficult it can be to pursue compensation from an uninsured driver liable for your injuries and other damages. An uninsured driver accident lawyer in Las Vegas can help scrutinize your claim and determine the best option to recover compensation. Let us help you with your situation by scheduling a free case evaluation with our legal team.
Nevada Car Insurance Requirements
In Nevada, car insurance policies must provide an uninsured motorist coverage that covers bodily injury liability equal to coverage owned to the victim’s insurance, but drivers do not need to purchase it. Under the Nevada Division of Insurance, all drivers should have the protection of the following levels as of July 2018:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $30,000 per person per accident for bodily injury
- $10,000 per person for property damage
While uninsured drivers continue to cause accidents on Nevada roads, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage offers a safety net for people injured in a collision. However, the coverage may fail to provide full compensation for victims with serious bodily injuries or those who sustain life-threatening damage. Therefore, it is paramount to consult an experienced Las Vegas uninsured driver accident lawyer to help you understand your legal options if an uninsured driver caused your injuries.
What to do If You Are Involved in a Collision with an Uninsured Driver
If you have been involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver, the situation can be frustrating and stressful. While you are entitled to seek compensation, following the below steps after the crash is essential to defend your rights and enhance your chances of receiving fair and full payment.
- Seek medical attention immediately: Whether you sustain minor or severe injuries after the collision, it is vital to seek medical care as soon as possible and determine the extent of the damage.
- Call the police: Contacting the police is ideal to ensure emergency services arrive at the scene on time. In addition, it ensures you make an official report, mainly detailing that the other driver caused the accident and is without auto insurance.
- Assemble as much evidence as possible: While at the crash scene, write what you can observe, take photos of both vehicles and your injuries, and document any other evidence to help with your claim.
- Collect witnesses’ information: Witness statements can be a great resource when presenting evidence to support your claim. Ensure you collect any witnesses’ names, addresses, and phone numbers, including some details about the crash.
- Contact an experienced Las Vegas uninsured driver accident lawyer: Since working with a lawyer offers multiple legal benefits, contact one immediately after the accident.
Following these steps may help you gather critical evidence that enables you to pursue maximum compensation that covers all your losses and damages. If you need legal help with your uninsured driver accident claim, our law firm has got you covered.
How to Bargain with Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers
If you or your loved one was involved in an accident with the at-fault driver lacking adequate insurance coverage, the driver might have some coverage available. In addition, since Nevada allows motorists to purchase Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist cover, the uninsured driver might have some financial coverage. This enables you to acquire more compensation to cover various expenses, including physical losses, lost wages, and treatment costs.
This type of coverage provides coverage to drivers in a car accident caused by an uninsured/underinsured driver. At Pacific West Injury Law, our uninsured driver accident lawyer can help you deal with uninsured or underinsured drivers who caused your injuries. We provide comprehensive legal services, ensuring we give you peace of mind during your recovery period while we pursue compensation on your behalf.
Filing an Uninsured Driver’s Claim
When filing an uninsured driver’s claim, you should note that you are filing against your insurance company. This is because your insurer cannot recover losses from a driver without coverage but pay you for the damages caused by the defendant. In an ordinary automobile accident with both drivers having insurance, the two parties can negotiate and settle the claim.
In an uninsured driver’s claim, you will file a claim with your insurance company which will have to pay for the damages on behalf of an at-fault party. In most cases, uninsured drivers’ claims are often made through arbitration, where both parties present their cases. The arbitrator will listen to both parties and decide who is responsible and liable to pay compensation for damages.
Recoverable Compensation for an Uninsured Motorist Claim
According to the Institute Research Council, over 80% of uninsured motorists lack insurance because they are not able to purchase it. While it can be difficult to recover compensation from an uninsured driver, Nevada law allows victims to file a lawsuit against such drivers for any damage caused due to negligence. Typically, most uninsured motorist claims are handled in small claims courts with rewards of up to $10,000.
However, an uninsured motorist may not have adequate assets to cover the damages awarded. Working with an experienced Las Vegas uninsured driver accident lawyer lets you determine if the defendant has sufficient assets to cover damage costs.
Understanding Insurance Coverage
Surprisingly, roughly an eighth of motorists on the streets and highways are uninsured, even though all state laws require some form of vehicle insurance coverage.
The Nevada Division of Insurance (DOI) requires motorists to have liability coverage of $25,000 for bodily harm for a single person, $50,000 for more than two people, and $20,000 for property damage. This is meant to compensate for assets damage and injuries a driver causes to other motorists involved in a crash.
Other optional insurance coverages can compensate for your expenses and injuries. Including these will increase your premiums, but it may be a worthy investment if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist. These include:
- Collision – This coverage is supposed to compensate for your vehicle damages regardless of who’s responsible for the crash.
- Comprehensive – This one covers vehicular damage resulting from other factors than an accident, including vandalism, fires, or floods.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist – This coverage handles expenses relating to your injuries and those of your passengers after an accident with an underinsured or uninsured driver. The other driver must be at fault but lacks sufficient coverage to address your damages.
- Medical Payments – This coverage specifically addresses any medical expenses for you and other occupants in your vehicle. It also comes through if a car hits you as a pedestrian.
It’s important to reach out to your insurer to verify whether any of your policies can cover you. It won’t be easy to recover the right compensation if you’ve suffered serious injuries because insurance providers are profit-centered entities. They prioritize their bottom line, so they will always prioritize only paying claims that they view as legitimate.
Hiring an uninsured driver accident attorney in Las Vegas could make the work easier. They’ll review the settlement to ensure it covers your present and future financial needs before you sign on the dotted line.
Why Hire a Las Vegas Uninsured Driver Accident Lawyer
Seeking compensation after a car accident can be frustrating and challenging, particularly in collisions involving uninsured drivers. Working with an experienced Las Vegas uninsured driver accident lawyer at Pacific West Injury Law helps simplify the legal process and protect your rights. Some common ways an uninsured driver accident lawyer can help include:
- Gather critical evidence to support your case
- Estimate the value of your claim
- Defend your legal rights and represent your best interest in and out of court
- Advice your legal options and potential outcomes of your case
- Take your case to trial, if necessary
Many victims of traffic accidents assume that the at-fault party has sufficient insurance to cover compensatory damages, but this isn’t always the case. The majority of motorists on Las Vegas roads do not carry the required insurance. This fact could cause more confusion and stress after a crash. It won’t be easy to navigate the claims process alone.
Providing Peace of Mind
The knowledge that a legal practitioner with vast experience and an excellent track record in handling your case will keep you calm. This peace of mind is crucial and will significantly contribute to your recovery during this difficult time.
Gathering Facts and Evidence
Sufficient proof is your only ticket to a favorable case outcome, but your physical or emotional state may not allow you to collect enough evidence and documentation. Your attorney can gather all pieces of evidence to keep your case as solid as possible.
Communicating with Insurers
Your insurer will likely reach out to you even before you contact them, and you could be confused about what to say to them. Insurance adjusters are known to use this opportunity to influence plaintiffs into acknowledging blame. An attorney can handle these communications as you focus on recovery.
Proving Damages
The accident may leave you confused; hence impossible to maintain the proper records to prove all your damages. You cannot afford to leave out any out-of-pocket costs. Only your attorney can maintain proper records and receipts to prove all your damages.
Protecting Your Rights
Insurers can easily exploit you if you’re unaware of your rights and privileges. How can you comprehend what you’re entitled to if it’s your first time going through this experience? An experienced uninsured accident advocate can secure your rights and fight for what is rightfully yours.
Negotiating with Your Insurer
If you are not keen on negotiations, you may bear the burden of unjustified out-of-pocket expenses. A Las Vegas uninsured motorist accident attorney from Pacific West Injury Law is an excellent negotiator and can take charge of these discussions in your best interest.
Initiating a Trial
Most uninsured driver accidents are settled out of court, but some may be too complicated to resolve via negotiations or mediation and require a court settlement. If it gets to this point, your lawyer can file the lawsuit and use their knowledge to fight for a fair conclusion.
Contact a Las Vegas Uninsured Driver Accident Lawyer Today
If you or your loved one was injured in a car accident caused by an uninsured driver, contact an experienced Las Vegas uninsured driver accident lawyer at Pacific West Injury to help you. We can help you file your claim with your insurance company, collect pertinent evidence and prepare a strong legal case. Contact us to learn more or schedule a free case evaluation today.