Injuries received in TRUCK accidents often have catastrophic consequences. Serious injuries can be disabling, affecting not only the injured person but family members as well. Even relatively minor injuries that necessitate lost time from work and medical care can have a great impact on a family. In Nevada, an injured person, and, in certain cases, his or her family, may be entitled to compensation for injuries incurred in automobile, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents. Compensation (or "damages") includes:
- Medical expenses already incurred
- Future medical expenses
- Physical pain
- Mental suffering
- Loss/Destruction of property
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent physical disability
- Lost wages
Who's at Fault?
Fault of Another:
An accident victim is entitled to compensation if the accident was the fault of another. If the person who caused the accident has insufficient insurance, or is not insured at all, a victim is entitled to compensation from his own insurance company if he has uninsured/underinsured coverage. In some situations there are other policies of insurance (policies of other family members, employers, etc.) that may provide benefits.
Partial Fault:
Even if the injured person was partially at fault, the law may permit a partial recovery. The comparative fault doctrine in Nevada permits compensation to an injured person who is less than 51% at fault in a motor vehicle accident.
What To Do After An Accident
To protect yourself and your family, you should take certain steps after an accident:
- Describe exactly how the injury occurred, and how you were injured, to the medical personnel attending you after the accident. Describe exactly where you feel pain, and do your best to describe its severity. Do not leave out details. Always be complete in your explanations of your injuries.
- Give statements to no one except the police.
- Sign nothing (unless requested by the police) without first showing it to a lawyer.
- Keep a diary describing how the injury affects you and your family
Understand that what you say in traffic court, or to an insurance adjuster, may be used against you at a later time.
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