Car Accident Attorney

“Hindsight is 20/20.” – Sound familiar?  It is easy to look back at a motor vehicle collision wishing you had the foresight to purchase a policy with higher limits or greater under insured motorist coverage.  Understanding and coordinating coverage and benefits is important in ensuring that, when the unexpected happens, you are protected.

Different types of coverage can come into play depending on the nature of the motor vehicle collision.  Required insurance includes liability coverage, which protects the at-fault party in the event of an accident.  Some insurances will cover medical bills, lost income, and the cost to repair or replace damaged property.  Some policies protect the injured; in Nevada, auto insurance policies have optional Medical Payment benefits.  Skillful navigation of these nuances comes from the auto accident lawyer Las Vegas needs.

Nevada state law requires all motor vehicles have liability insurance before registration.  This is for the protection of the driver as well as the protection of other drivers on the road.  Those who risk driving without insurance – in this state, a misdemeanor act – will leave their personal assets unprotected in an accident.  According to NRS 485.185, Nevada drivers are required to carry $15,000 for injury or death of one person in any one accident; $30,000 for injury or death of two or more persons on any one accident; and $10,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.  In short, you may hear this policy described as “15/30/10.”  If you are injured by another driver, their liability insurance covers the cost of your medical treatment, repairing or replacing your vehicle, and other personal injury claims, but only up to the amount purchased by that driver!

There are situations – for example, a multi-car pile up – in which the at-fault driver’s liability insurance does not cover the cost of an accident.  In this case, is it possible for a Las Vegas car accident attorney to seek remedy from their personal assets.  There is insurance available to protect yourself from undergoing this litigation.  Uninsured and under insured motorist insurance (UM and UIM) cover the injured party in the event that the at-fault driver has inadequate or no liability insurance.  In most states, including Nevada, insurers are required to offer UM/UIM, usually at the same amount as the liability coverage, and the driver must waive UM/UIM coverage in writing.

In the event that the accident is the fault of another driver, and they have adequate liability coverage or your UM/UIM is going to supplement their coverage, when is your vehicle again going to be operational?  Or, when is your vehicle going to be replaced?  How are you going to get around in the meantime?  It is not uncommon for the at-fault party’s insurer to take an “adversarial” stance on this matter.  The auto accident lawyer Las Vegas uses can effectively work through the “speed bumps” of the insurance company.  In legitimate claims for property damage, there are two results: either the car will be repaired to pre-collision condition, or your car will be declared a “total loss,” meaning that repairing the car is more expensive than replacement.  Purchasing comprehensive or collision coverage on your own policy will speed this process, as your insurer will pay your repair or replacement expenses now and seek payment from the at-fault party’s insurer later.

The most important aftermath of any accident is making sure that you are okay.  It is not unusual for a person in an accident to not experience any symptoms at the scene, only to feel the traumatic injury catch up with them later.  When injury is the fault of another driver, their insurer is responsible for the medical bills.  But there can be a scary interim in which fault has not been decided but you are in need of medical care.  Coverage called “MedPay,” short for medical payments, is designed specifically for this situation.  During the time of your treatment, you will pay no deductibles or co-pays, but medical expenses relating to this injury will be paid.  Most importantly, MedPay is “non-subrogatable.”  This means that after your case settles, your insurer cannot seek repayment for any outlaid expenses relating to your treatment, so long as they were not greater than the amount of MedPay you purchased.

There is a lot to consider when insuring a motor vehicle – and much of this information is far beyond the scope of your high school driver’s ed!  Before taking that joy ride, consult with the best Las Vegas car accident lawyer.