Were You Hit By A Drunk Driver In Las Vegas?
Las Vegas may be known as “Sin City” — but everyone must still drive responsibly. You may or may not be surprised to learn that Las Vegas has the highest rate of DUIs in the nation, and is considered to be one of the worst cities for drunk driving in the United States. This creates a great amount of risk for other pedestrians, motorcyclists, and drivers. If you or a loved one have been hit by a drunk driver, you may still be focused on your bad luck. After all, it is especially upsetting to know that your life has been up-ended because someone else made a bad decision and broke the law. The good news is that you may have legal options available to you that will help you to recover and move forward.
Can I Sue a Drunk Driver?
If you have been hit by a drunk driver and suffered physical and financial injuries as a result of the accident, you have standing to bring a personal injury lawsuit against them. A personal injury lawsuit will allow you to receive compensation for all financial harm caused as a result of your injuries. This includes coverage for all medical expenses and lost wages, as well as compensation for pain and suffering caused by the physical and emotional trauma of the crash. In order to be successful in your lawsuit, usually you have to demonstrate that the other driver was negligent in causing the accident. However, if the other driver was under the influence at the time of the crash, their negligence will be presumed. This is known as the legal principle of negligence per se. Essentially, because the law against driving drunk was intended to prevent the exact kind of harm that you suffered, showing that they broke the law and you suffered that kind of harm as a result is sufficient to be entitled to a recovery. Nevada Revised Statute 42.010 also allows a personal injury victim to recover exemplary or punitive damages when they are injured after an accident caused by someone driving under the influence. This makes personal injury claims for drunk driving accidents easier than many other kinds of personal injury claims.
What to Do if You Think You Have Been Hit by a Drunk Driver
If you have been in an accident and you believe that the other driver may be drunk, it is important to get police to the scene of the accident. You do not always have to call police to respond to an accident, but if either party may be injured, appears intoxicated, or if the crash or debris from it cannot be cleared from the road, it is important to do so. When you call the police, be sure to report that you believe the other driver may be impaired so that there is a record of your statement and the police can conduct appropriate testing when they arrive. If the other driver is acting intoxicated, do your best to record them or get footage so that you have evidence. This is especially important because if there is no evidence of the other driver’s intoxication, it is nearly impossible to prove the driver’s intoxication later on in your case.
Contact Cameron Law in Las Vegas, Nevada, Today
If you have been injured due to a drunk driver, you shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of their negligence alone. Call a Las Vegas drunk driving accident lawyer at Cameron Law today to schedule a consultation and find out what your claim could be worth.
