For victims of drunk drivers, the changes from an accident echo far beyond one night. Depending on injuries, the decisions of a drunk driver could haunt you for years after your accident. Even if you feel out of control with your current situation, take charge of your future by consulting a North Las Vegas Drunk Driving Lawyer.
How a Drunk Driving Accident Affects Victims
Drunk driving accidents can be particularly detrimental to victims, due to the usually unexpected nature of the crash. While some injuries and damages may seem intuitive, there are often more problems that are often under the surface for victims. It’s important to think rationally about all the ways that an accident could affect you in the future, even in unforeseen ways.
Though drivinglaws.org lists a number of penalties a drunk driver may suffer under Nevada law, victims will need to contact a lawyer to ensure compensation in a claim separate from any criminal liability the offender may incur.
Property Damage, Injury, Death
What people think of in terms of obvious suffering caused to victims often is very limited in scope. Property damage, injury, and death are all examples of what is legally referred to as economic damages or specific damages. In the case of a DUI accident, the at-fault party is liable for compensating victims for reasonable economic damages.
While it can feel callous to think of injury and death as such a sterile term as “economic”, it simply implies that there are accepted legal standards of objective value for damages in this category that a victim should be owed.
Pain and Suffering
Pain, suffering, loss of companionship, grief, and mental distress are also common results of a drunk driving accident and are not neglected by the law. These are referred to as non-economic or general damages. These types of damages are commonplace in DUI accidents, but can’t be easily assigned a value.
Often it is the responsibility of a lawyer, client, and experts to appraise exactly what the long-term cost of these damages will be and what compensation will be fair.
Statute of Limitations
Though you may be reeling after a drunk driving accident and feel like you need a while to get your facts together before seeking compensation, there is a time limit to filing suit. The personal injury suit statute of limitations in Nevada typically is 2 years. As a suit can take time to organize and file, you’ll want to get a head start on this deadline.
Though there are some exceptions to this rule, such as when a plaintiff is under 18, don’t count on bending the rules. Contact Pacific West Injury Law today to get started on your case before time runs out to get the compensation you deserve.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving North Las Vegas, call 702-602-HURT
Drunk Driving Lawyers in North Las Vegas
Pacific West Injury Law is an expert, trusted partner in personal injury law. Based out of North Las Vegas, Nevada, we know the ins and outs of this community and will help with every aspect of your claim. A lawyer isn’t just someone to answer questions and file paperwork for you.
We take the standard of zealous advocacy very seriously to ensure that you have the best representation possible at every step of the process.
Filing Your Accident Claim
In cases of severe accidents, an accident claim is typically filed for you by officers responding to the scene. If your accident occurred in inclement weather or wasn’t seen as severe enough to have police on the scene to document the accident, however, you’ll need to take matters into your own hands. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has an online filing system for non-emergency citizen reports, and you need to report an accident to preserve your right to claim any damages from it.
Once your report is in, your personal injury lawyer can file a DUI accident claim just as you would any personal injury claim against another person. Seeking damages through these claims is separate from any criminal consequences the drunk driver or driver under the influence of drugs faces, and any general or specific damages you seek will be separate from any punitive damages they suffer in criminal proceedings.
Settling Your Drunk Driving Accident Claim
If you’ve suffered long-term pain and hardship from a drunk driving accident, the last thing you want to do is litigate endlessly to get the compensation you deserve. Expert personal injury attorneys like Pacific West are masters at strategically negotiating settlements that are advantageous to you. Settlements prevent insurance companies and bureaucratic processes from burying your claim in procedural limbo for years and are often the most painless way to avoid a long and costly ordeal for both parties.
A great personal injury lawyer knows that winning in court isn’t everything, the goal is to get you the compensation you need for your pain and financial hardships so that you can move on with your life.
North Las Vegas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me 702-602-HURT
Recovering After Your Accident
Recovery is a long road. Auto accidents can have long implications on both mind and body, and healing doesn’t happen overnight. After a serious accident, your first priority should be your health.
That is why protecting your right to be compensated with a personal injury lawyer is absolutely essential. Don’t worry about how you’ll afford the new expenses of recovery- just focus on recovery itself.
Medical Treatments
Medical treatments for injuries from a DUI accident can be costly long into the future. Among other, back and neck injuries, PTSD, and survivor’s guilt can be recurring issues for decades into the future and require frequent medical care and can be stressful on both victims and their families. It’s important to factor these costs into your DUI accident claim.
If you weren’t liable for the accident, you shouldn’t be liable for the time and cost to deal with the effects from it for years to come.
Enjoying Life Again
As you start to heal from your accident, don’t be burdened by financial worry and stress that will prevent you from returning to an enjoyable, happy life. As the victim, you have been unfairly burdened by the decisions of another, but with help, you can get past the accident and learn to enjoy your life again. Your personal injury lawyer can handle much of the stress from the claim and will ensure that you get the compensation necessary.
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Pacific West Injury Law Firm Is Here for You
Here at Pacific West, we represent the North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, and Henderson communities to guarantee that victims get the representation they deserve and are never unjustly burdened by the irresponsible actions of others. Contact us online or call (702) 602-4878 and talk to us about what we can do to make sure you get the compensation you deserve so that you can get back to living.
Call or text 702-602-HURT or complete a Free Case Evaluation form