Elko Car Accident Lawyer
Were You Injured in a Car Accident?
You may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
At Bradshaw Law LLC, Elko car accident attorney Denise Bradshaw has been helping Elko crash victims like you recover maximum compensation for almost 25 years.
- Our law firm offers FREE consultations
- Millions recovered on behalf of clients
- Your recovery is our priority
- No fee unless you win
You only have one chance to recover compensation through a lawsuit. Hire car accident lawyer Denise Bradshaw, and make it count.
Call (775) 738-7444
Table of Contents
Let Us Help You Navigate the Car Accident Claim Process
If you’re like most car accident victims, you’re probably shaken up, distressed, and maybe even in a lot of pain. Navigating the car accident claims process and battling with the insurance company should be the least of your worries. Unfortunately, even if liability for the crash is obvious, the insurer isn’t going to cut you any slack. They might pretend to be on your side, but the company’s bottom line is their priority. In fact, they’re going to go out of their way, and probably even be deceitful, to minimize your settlement.
You don’t have to go through the legal system alone.
When you hire car accident lawyer Denise Bradshaw to handle your case, our law firm will deal with the insurance company on your behalf. We’ll counter their tactics with evidence, and we’ll emphasize the extent of your injuries and other losses to negotiate maximum compensation. If they refuse to offer you a fair settlement, we won’t back down. We will bring your case to court and let the judge and jury decide.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Car Accident Claim?
The value of your car accident claim depends on the economic and noneconomic losses you’ve suffered because of the crash. During your free consultation, we’ll sit down and talk about how the accident has impacted, and continues to impact, your life. We’ll estimate the cost of any medical care you have needed because of your car accident injuries, and any treatment you’re expected to need going forward. We’ll talk about your time away from work, the pain you’ve endured, your out-of-pocket losses, and whether you’ve suffered emotional trauma because of the crash. Then we’ll crunch some numbers to estimate the value of your case.
You may be entitled to receive compensation for your:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Future medical needs
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Other economic and noneconomic losses
What Causes Car Accidents in Elko?
The primary cause of car accidents in Elko, NV is negligence. Driving is a job that requires the driver’s full attention at all times. Even the smallest distractions, like changing the radio station or answering a phone call, may result in dangerous or deadly consequences. Distracted driving is dangerous, as it takes away from the focus required to drive safely.
Other common causes of car accidents in the Nevada area include:
- Texting while driving – With the rise in cell phone usage, it’s no surprise that texting while driving is a common cause of a car accident. Even so much as reading a text while driving can have deadly consequences. Texting while driving distracts the driver and takes his or her eyes off the road, creating a hazard.
- Speeding – Speeding is one of the most common causes of a car accident. Speeding makes it difficult for drivers to react to sudden hazards and changes in a safe and timely manner. A person going over the speed limit can cause a car accident because he or she doesn’t have the time and space to stop or avoid another vehicle on the road.
- Disobeying traffic signs – Ignoring traffic signs, such as stop signs and do not enter signs, disrupts the flow of traffic, increasing risk of a car accident. Disobeying traffic signs is a form of reckless driving, as it puts other drivers at risk, as well as the reckless drivers themselves.
- Drunk driving – Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is prohibited. A driver who has consumed alcohol or illegal substances is dangerous, especially to other drivers. Being under the influence has major effects on your attention span, reaction timing, and other mental functions.
Car crashes are inevitable. You can be the safest driver in Nevada, but you cannot avoid encountering reckless drivers. Wearing a seat belt may reduce your injuries, but cannot prevent them from happening.
Elko car accident lawyers help victims get compensated for their damages and injuries when a reckless driver causes a crash. Car accident attorneys work to make sure you’re treated fairly, and that you get the compensation you need for medical expenses and lost wages.
Steps to Take After an Accident
Understanding what to say and do (and what not to say and do) after a car accident is vital to the success of your claim. The first steps taken after a car accident can have a significant impact on your well-being, and your ability to recover compensation for your losses. From seeking medical attention, to gathering the right evidence and hiring a car accident lawyer, making the right decisions can help preserve your right to a fair settlement.
After a crash, car accident victims should take the following steps toward building a strong claim:
Stay at the Scene
If you flee the scene of an accident, you run the risk of being charged with a hit-and-run, jeopardizing your right to financially recover. Even if you think you were partially responsible for the accident, you should remain at the scene to check for injuries, report the accident, exchange information, and collect evidence.
Check for Injuries
Check yourself, your passengers, and other involved persons for injuries. If injuries are severe, seek emergency medical treatment. Otherwise, victims should seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if injuries are not readily apparent. A car accident injury may not appear for days or week after the crash, but can still be life-threatening. Additionally, seeking medical attention creates documentation of your injuries that can be used when you file a claim.
Contact 911
Once you have checked yourself and others for injuries, call the authorities to report the accident. Reporting an injury accident isn’t just a legal requirement; it produces essential evidence in the form of a police report. A police report will include witness statements, a description of the crash, and the officer’s preliminary hypothesis regarding fault.
Gather Evidence
A police report is only one of many essential pieces of evidence in a car accident claim. In addition to the report, victims should take pictures of the accident scene, acquire traffic camera footage, collect eyewitness contact information and statements, and exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Medical records, hospital bills, and wage statements are additional pieces of evidence that can help provide proof of the damages you suffered.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney
Unrepresented car accident claims are less successful than those filed with the help of an attorney. Either before, or directly after contacting your insurance company, retain a car accident lawyer to help represent your best interests in your claim.
When Do You Need To Find A Car Accident Attorney?
If you suffered injuries in a crash, and you had to seek medical treatment or miss time from work, the time to find an experienced car accident attorney is now. You generally only have two years to take legal action in a personal injury case in Nevada, and the clock has already started ticking. If you wait too long to find a car accident lawyer:
Important evidence could “disappear”
Your memory, and the memories of witnesses, may fade
You could lose your right to recover compensation through the courts
Let’s Get Started With Your Recovery. Call (775) 738-7444
How Is Fault Determined in a Car Accident?
Fault is determined using the evidence presented when a car accident claim is filed, or when a lawsuit is brought to the courts. Evidence that may be used to determine fault includes witness statements, the police report, and the testimony of car accident reconstructionists.
Nevada follows a “comparative negligence” fault structure when determining liability in a car accident case. This means victims of accidents can still recover damages, even if they are partially responsible for their crash. To recover damages, an accident victim must simply be 50% or less at-fault for the accident.
Contact Bradshaw Law LLC
Denise Bradshaw has the experience to handle your car accident claim. If you or a loved one has been injured, do not hesitate to contact the Elko car accident lawyer at (775) 738-7444 today for a free consultation.