A person operating a rental car is tasked with doing so safely, the same as they would their own vehicle. If you are in a car accident as a rental car driver, you may be responsible for the losses that you caused other people, including the damage to the rental vehicle. Yet, there are various factors that play a role in whether or not it occurs. Talk to a Las Vegas car accident attorney at Bighorn Law today.

What to Expect After an Accident in a Rental Car

If you total a rental car, you can expect there to be financial concerns. If you caused the accident, you could be held responsible for any losses to the vehicle as well as to other parties involved. Your auto insurance policy should follow you to the rental car, meaning that unless it states otherwise, you have auto insurance liability coverage to meet these losses up to the coverage limit.

In some situations, you may have purchased a rental insurance policy at the time of renting the vehicle. If you did so, that insurance should cover the losses that you have in this incident depending on what occurred.

  • Collision damage waiver. This type of potential rental coverage protects you if the car is damaged in an accident. This only applies in situations where you were not engaging in any reckless behavior that caused the incident to occur.
  • Supplemental liability coverage. If you purchased this type of insurance for the rental car, it should help to supplement your existing liability insurance. That could help you pay for the medical expenses and other losses you cause to other people.
  • Personal accident insurance. This type of coverage is often purchased to cover any medical expenses you or your passengers have in situations where you cause an accident to occur. It helps to cover your medical costs.

If you did not purchase additional rental insurance at the time of renting the vehicle, check with your existing auto insurance provider. You also may have coverage through some credit card companies. Before you pay out of pocket, make sure you know what your insurance coverage is.

The Other Driver Caused the Accident

In situations where the other driver caused the accident, and your rental car has damage, that other driver’s insurance policy should cover the losses. This can become challenging, but the rental car company, as the owner of the vehicle, will seek compensation for the losses from the at-fault party. This typically means you do not have to cover these costs yourself. Yet, there are limitations to this. You will need to prove the other driver was fully at fault for the losses.

In all situations, if you are facing financial loss due to a rental car accident, it helps to seek out legal help from an attorney who can guide you. Do not simply pay for the damages, especially if you suspect that you did not cause the accident. Instead, rely on your car accident attorney to help you navigate the rights available to you in these challenging cases.

When you are involved in a car accident, you may know the importance of getting medical care immediately. You may also know to call the police to get documentation of what occurred. In addition to this, there are several other steps you need to take to protect yourself and your right to compensation after a car accident.

At Bighorn Law, we encourage you to contact a car accident attorney if you have suffered injuries caused by another person. Do not assume the insurance company will protect you. Let us do it for you instead.

Gathering Data at an Accident

If you are safely able to do so, you can request information from all parties involved in the accident at the scene of the incident. We encourage you to do this when possible because it allows you to get key information that our attorneys can then use to help document what occurred. Some data to try to obtain include:

  • Photos of the scene and the surrounding area
  • The names and contact information for all involved
  • The names and contact information for all witnesses
  • Video of those involved
  • The other party’s contact information
  • The vehicle’s black box

In addition to this, record yourself describing what occurred just before and just after the accident. Be sure you have a good written log of what occurred. Then, be sure to complete a police report as well.

Seeking Medical Care

It is vital to any personal injury claim that you seek medical care as soon as possible following a car accident. The medical records will assist the attorney with putting together your case against the at-fault party. Medical care includes the following:

  • X-rays
  • CT scans
  • Blood work
  • Other diagnostic tests
  • Surgery
  • Physical therapy

You should attend all follow-up appointments and take all medicine as prescribed. Do not skip appointments or stop taking medicine as it could show the defense team that you are not concerned about your injury.

Avoid Posting on Social Media

Do not post anything on social media about the accident, the pending litigation, or anything else related to your injury. You can still use social media, but do so wisely. If you are going on a vacation, avoid posting pictures. Do not post pictures or videos of you doing any physical activity that would go against any injury claims you have made. It is also in your best interest to avoid posting details of the crash or making any comments about the other driver involved.

When to Contact an Attorney

After a car accident, you will need to make a preliminary call to your car insurance provider to start the documentation process and to get your case moving forward, even if you are not to blame. At that point, we encourage you to contact our car accident attorney. The sooner we can get involved and begin gathering data and evidence, the easier it is for us to document the entire process for you. This could increase the compensation you are owed.

Talk to a car accident attorney from Bighorn Law today about your injuries.

Who has the right of way? Not knowing the answer to this, in any traffic situation, can put you at risk as a driver. It also means that you could be facing a violation of your license. Understanding right-of-way traffic laws in Nevada is a big part of being able to navigate the challenging streets throughout the city. Though you probably learned them when getting your license, having a refresher now could help you.

You Should Know These Right-of-Way Traffic Laws

Many times, car accidents happen because people do not know the right-of-way laws in the state. The following are some of the most important laws you should know, as found in NRS § 484B.250.

  • The first one in the intersection: When a driver is approaching an intersection, that driver must yield to any driver that is already in the intersection before moving forward.
  • The right driver has the right-of-way: When two drivers travel in different lanes and come to an intersection at the same time, the driver on the right-hand side has the right to move forward.
  • Continuing lane right-of-way: In situations where one car is in a lane that ends, and there is another vehicle traveling in a continuing lane, the driver in the vehicle that ends must allow for the other driver to move forward.
  • ·Not working traffic signal: If the traffic signal at a stop is not working, each driver must treat it like a full stop sign. This means that the driver who reaches the intersection first and stops has the right of way. If two do so at the same time, the one on the right has the right-of-way.

What Happens When a Person Fails to Provide the Right-of-Way?

In situations where the right-of-way is not adhered to, there is an increased risk that a car accident can happen. When that occurs, the police who respond to the scene will try to determine what occurred and use the evidence available to determine who was at fault. The person who had the right-of-way is less likely to be at fault than the driver who does not.

As a result of this, you must take steps to document any instance related to your case. Proving you have the right-of-way can be challenging without video or photos of it. Witness statements can often help to provide some information. Other times, you have to rely on any evidence at the time as well as statements provided by all drivers. Ultimately, when it comes down to your word against the other, the police officer has to decide on fault.

Let Our Car Accident Attorneys Help You Prove Your Right to Compensation

If the other party violated right-of-way laws and that caused an accident, we encourage you not to settle your claim until you speak to our attorneys. At Bighorn Law, we always work closely with our clients to ensure they have the best information and insights to prove their case.

You may know that there are many benefits to wearing a seat belt, including reducing the risk of serious injury and fatalities in many situations. That is very true for smaller children who may be thrown through a vehicle when a car stops hard or you are hit from the rear. However, it is critical to understand all of the car seat and seat belt laws in Nevada and what they mean to you if you are involved in a car accident.

Key Car Seat Laws in Nevada

Car seats are designed to minimize the risk of a child being hurt while in a moving vehicle. The state of Nevada requires that a child that is less than 57 inches in height and under 60 pounds be within a size-appropriate car seat. That means the car seat should be designed for their weight and age, as well as their overall body structure, to ensure it is safe. Additionally, the car seat must be properly installed according to the manufacturer’s directions and secured directly to the vehicle.

If the child is under 2 years of age, they must be in a rear-facing car seat. They will continue to be in that car seat until they reach the appropriate weight for a front-facing car seat. If you fail to provide this type of safety for your child, it can result in a fine of up to $100.

Seat Belt Laws in Nevada

While children have very specific laws regarding car seats, adults are also required to wear a seat belt in many situations. The state’s seat belt laws require that all people in the car wear a seat belt. This applies to all vehicles that were made after January 1, 1968. While all people in the car must wear one, a police officer pulling you over can only issue a citation if they pull you over for another violation and you are found to be without a seat belt.

Can Not Wear a Seat Belt Limit Your Compensation in a Car Accident?

Seat belts are designed to minimize injury. If you are not wearing one and you are involved in a car accident, that may mean that you are experiencing more severe injuries or complications to your injuries as a result of the lack of restraint. That may mean you violate the law, too.

This does not mean you cannot file a claim for compensation for a car accident. It may mean that the amount of compensation you receive is impacted, though. Many other factors impact this as well, including the type of accident and the extent of injuries.

Set Up a Free Consultation to Learn More About Your Rights

At Bighorn Law, we want you to be safe behind the wheel and encourage you to wear your seat belt and keep your child belted in. If you were hurt in a car accident in Nevada, allow our attorneys to work with you to obtain compensation for your losses at a free consultation.