Battle Born Injury Lawyers | October 27, 2022 | Car Accidents
When you are involved in a car accident that causes severe injuries or substantial property damage, you know that you need to call 911 to report the crash and request help. However, what do you need to do for a fender bender? There appears to be minor damage to the vehicle, and you don’t “feel” injured, so do you still need to call the cops for a fender bender in Las Vegas?
What Does Nevada Law Say About Reporting Car Accidents?
Whenever you are involved in a traffic accident, Nevada law requires you to stop at the accident scene and render reasonable aid to injured victims. You must exchange information with the other motorists. The drivers must move their vehicles if they can be safely moved so that they do not create a hazard or obstruction.
Drivers have a duty to report crashes that cause bodily injury or result in property damage of $750 or more. The report must be filed with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles within ten days after the car crash. However, if law enforcement officers investigate the accident, drivers are not required to file the crash report with the DMV.
It can be difficult to know how much damage is done to your vehicle without an inspection by a body shop and mechanic. Furthermore, you cannot be sure you did not sustain accident injuries until a physician examines you.
Therefore, it is best to report all car accidents to the police. Calling 911 is the quickest way to report a car accident and request assistance. If the police do not investigate the accident after you call 911, you must file a traffic crash report with the DMV within ten days.
Why Is It Better To Report a Fender Bender To the Police?
Reporting the crash to the police creates a written report. A police officer may visit the accident scene, investigate the collision, and generate a written crash report. The traffic accident report is a government document that is evidence the collision occurred.
Accident reports contain a great deal of information gathered at the accident scene, including:
- The location, time, and date of the accident
- The parties involved in the accident, including drivers and passengers
- The road and weather conditions
- The registered owner of each vehicle
- Whether people were injured
- The estimated damage to the vehicles
- Whether either driver contributed to the cause of the collision
The police officer may also gather eyewitness information and make notes about statements made by the drivers, passengers, or witnesses. Additionally, the police report may contain photographs of the accident scene or a diagram.
The accident report is not conclusive proof of fault for a car accident. However, it can provide a starting point for your Las Vegas car accident lawyer to begin the independent claims investigation. It also creates an official report for filing insurance claims.
Steps To Take After a Fender Bender in Las Vegas, NV
After a minor car accident in Las Vegas, steps you should take to protect your rights include:
- Move your vehicle out of traffic if it is safe to do so
- Call 911 to report the crash and request help
- Check on the other driver to render aid if possible
- Take photographs of the vehicles and the accident scene, and make a video with your cell phone
- Do not admit fault or discuss the accident with anyone other than the police officer
- Ask witnesses for their contact information and names
- See a doctor as soon as possible to evaluate your injuries (TIP: do not say you are not injured or hurt, but that you intend to see your doctor)
- Contact Battle Born Injury Lawyers to discuss your options for receiving compensation for damages
Delays in medical care can complicate insurance claims for fender bender accidents. The insurance company may allege that you are exaggerating the injuries because you did not seek immediate medical care or you are making up the injuries. Another tactic is alleging that the accident did not cause the injury because you did not see a doctor immediately after the crash.
Document your damages by keeping copies of medical bills and receipts. You are entitled to compensation for your economic damages, including the cost of medical care, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses.
You can also receive compensation for your non-economic damages. These damages are more difficult to prove. They include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent impairments, and a decrease in quality of life.
Taking photographs of your injuries throughout your recovery can help show the extent of your injuries. Keeping a written journal detailing how your injuries impacted your day-to-day life, activities, and emotional state is also helpful.
Contact the Las Vegas Car Accident Attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident in Las Vegas and need legal assistance, contact our car accident attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation with our legal team. We have four convenient locations in Nevada, including Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno.
We proudly serve Clark County and its surrounding areas.
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Downtown Las Vegas Office
400 S 4th St Suite 290,
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 357-4868
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
10789 W Twain Ave #100
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 820-1767
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Reno Office
675 W Moana Ln #206
Reno, NV 89509, USA
(775) 535-7768
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
8540 S Eastern Ave #200
Henderson, NV 89123
(702) 500-0287
