Personal Injuries in Las Vegas, NV

What Is the Goal of Personal Injury Laws?

Personal injury laws are designed to protect individuals who suffer serious harm as a result of someone else’s negligence. When another person or party’s actions—or inactions—cause an accident or lead to your injuries, you can file a personal injury lawsuit and recover compensation for your damages. In personal injury law, “damages” refer to economic and non-economic losses you sustain as a result of your injuries. Depending on your circumstances and the nature of your injuries, your damages could include medical expenses for immediate and ongoing treatment, lost income/wages, disability, in-home care, pain and suffering, and more.

In short, the goal of personal injury laws is to allow injured victims an avenue of recovery. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful behavior, you shouldn’t (and don’t) have to simply deal with the many physical, emotional, and financial consequences on your own. Continue reading to learn how our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers can assist you in seeking the recovery you need and deserve, or reach out to us directly for a free, confidential consultation. We have helped injured individuals throughout Nevada recover millions of dollars and have a record of success in tough, complex cases.

Speak to a lawyer at Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen today; call (702) 505-8115 or contact us online. No Fees unless we win.

When Can I File a Personal Injury Claim?

Under certain circumstances, an injured victim has the ability to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for physical and emotional losses. In some cases, the victim may also recover for property damage. An injury, in addition to pain and suffering, can be associated with significant financial expenses due to the cost of treating the injury and having to take time off work to heal. Additionally, if another person or entity’s negligence results in the death of a victim, the victim’s surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased.

In order to file a personal injury claim, you will need to prove all of the following elements:

• Another person/party owed you a duty of care
• The duty of care was violated/not upheld
• As a result of this violation of the duty of care, you were injured
• You sustained measurable damages, whether economic or non-economic in nature

Due to the complexity of both personal injury and wrongful death cases, it is extremely important that you work with a reputable personal injury lawyer. The team at Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen will clearly explain to you how Nevada personal injury law relates to your unique situation. There are important things you must understand about liability and how to deal with the other party’s insurance company in order to protect your potential case and your right to recovery.

Even if you don’t hire us, we can explain how to ensure that your personal injury claim is handled properly so that you are able to recover the maximum amount of compensation you are owed. We are happy to provide you with a free consultation, which is your opportunity to speak with one of our attorneys in a one-on-one, pressure-free environment. During the initial consultation, we will answer all of your legal questions in a clear, straightforward manner.

Types of Personal Injury Claims We Handle

At Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen, we assist clients in a wide range of personal injury matters, including claims involving:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Amputations
• Back and neck injuries
• Brain injuries
• Burn injuries
• Dog bites
• Drowning and hotel accidents
• Knee injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Wrongful death

We have helped victims of all types of accidents and injuries seek fair compensation. We are often able to negotiate favorable settlements but, when the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, we are fully prepared to aggressively litigate your case at trial.

Auto Collisions

A number of factors can cause automobile crashes, including:

• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Dangerous road conditions
• Distracted driving
• Defective auto parts or equipment

Catastrophic road collisions can lead to severe physical injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, fractures, broken bones, and even death.

Slip & Falls

As a world-renowned entertainment destination, Las Vegas offers a wide array of hotels, casinos, resorts, and nightclubs for guests to enjoy. While these establishments aim to provide guests with leisurely, pleasurable experiences, accidents are known to occur in all types of Las Vegas facilities. Guests can slip, trip, and fall on slippery floors, dimly lit stairs or walkways, or on uneven flooring.

Defective Products

We all use hundreds of products on any given day. Many of these products have the potential to cause injuries due to defects or some danger that the manufacturer may have failed to disclose in its product brochure. Children’s strollers, household tools, car tires, and office chairs are just some of the common items that can have defects, causing serious injuries as a result. A number of injuries have been reported from the use of battery-operated gadgets, such as mobile cellular phones and e-cigarettes. A defective electronic battery can cause these gadgets to overheat when in use and to explode, causing users to suffer serious burns and other injuries.

Swimming Pool Incidents

Hundreds of people reportedly die from swimming pool accidents in Las Vegas every year. Many of the victims are young children, ages one to four years old. Non-fatal swimming pool incidents can also have serious consequences, often causing fractures, concussions, or irreversible brain damage.

Dog Attacks

Injuries arising from dog bites and dog attacks are also common in Las Vegas. The most vulnerable victims are often young children and the elderly. Severe cases of dog bites and attacks cause fatal injuries, leaving the victims’ loved ones emotionally devastated by their losses.

Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing homes are entrusted with the physical care of elderly people. Unfortunately, these facilities are also known as places where elderly abuse or neglect can—and do—occur. Severe cases of neglect and abuse have been reported, contributing to a significant number of hospital admissions and deaths each year.

What to Do If You Are Injured in an Accident

People who are seriously harmed in an accident often require extensive medical treatment, surgery, and ongoing care, as well as rehabilitation and, in some cases, counseling. The first thing to do if you or a family member is injured in an incident is to get appropriate medical treatment.

Being treated in a hospital or instructed to rest after an injury can also lead to the loss of valuable working hours and can adversely impact the injured person’s personal and family life. After an injury, you are likely to experience a decline in your finances and, as a result, serious challenges. You may also be concerned with whether you will be able to fully recover from your injuries, what type of treatment you will need, and whether the person or party that caused your injuries can be held legally responsible and to what extent.

In fact, there are certain things you can and should do after an accident in order to protect your right to file a personal injury claim and aid in the legal process:

• Gather Proof: You or a family member should gather as much evidence as possible by taking pictures of the injuries, the place where the accident occurred, and the objects or parties involved. Write down details, such as the names of all people involved, their contact details, and the names of witnesses who may have seen the incident.
• Document the Incident: A good rule of thumb for traffic accidents is to ask for a police report or submit your own report at the nearest DMV office or online. For workplace injuries, notify your employer immediately of the accident/your injuries, as this is critical to a successful worker’s compensation claim. When injured in a commercial establishment, such as a casino or resort, report the mishap to security personnel or management.
• Speak to an Experienced Attorney: While most injury-causing incidents may be covered by insurance—such as the at-fault driver’s auto insurance, the establishment’s liability insurance, a homeowner’s insurance policy, or your employer’s insurance—you may still need some help in obtaining adequate compensation for your injuries and losses. Insurance companies typically dispute claims or offer minimal settlements to claimants. Having an attorney handle the claims process can lead to significantly better outcomes.

Your lawyer can sort through all the legal issues of your case, determine whose fault or negligence caused your injuries, and direct the claim against the appropriate insurance company for you. If necessary, an attorney can also represent you in court.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, the law firm of Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen has decades of proven experience in a wide range of personal injury cases. We invite you to reach out to us today to speak to one of our friendly, experienced attorneys during a free consultation.

Why You Should Act Quickly

Victims should not delay contacting an attorney, because personal injury cases are time-sensitive. If you fail to file a claim within a certain amount of time, known as the “statute of limitations,” you will not be able to recover compensation. In Nevada, you have two years to file a personal injury claim. This means that, if you don’t file your claim within two years of the date of the accident, you will almost assuredly be barred from recovering compensation for your damages.

In order to establish a strong claim, your attorney will have to address liability and damages. If a strong claim exists, your lawyer will need to establish that the person(s) charged with fault is legally responsible for the death or injuries, and show that the damages claimed are accurate portrayals of the extent of the loss or injuries. The sooner your attorney is able to begin investigating your claim and collecting supporting evidence on your behalf, the better.

Contact Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen Today for a Free Consultation

Personal injury is a highly complex area of the law; it is always a good idea to contact a lawyer even if you think you do not have a case. Our attorneys help Las Vegas residents by providing the information they need to make well-informed decisions about their legal options.

When you work with the law firm of Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen, it is our goal to treat you with the utmost understanding and compassion, coupled with the highest level of legal representation. We offer a free initial consultation for all personal injury matters and make it our chief priority to consistently provide you with individual attention throughout the progression of your case.

Please contact us online or call our office at (702) 505-8115 for a free consultation with one of our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys.