Las Vegas hosts tens of millions of visitors every year, many of whom take full advantage of the city’s many casinos, restaurants, and bars. Unfortunately, this frequently leads to people getting behind the wheel while under the influence.
Driving under the influence is considered an actionable form of negligence, meaning the drunk driver may be civilly liable for any harm they cause you through their own misconduct. If you suffered harm in a drunk driving car accident in Las Vegas caused by someone else, our seasoned lawyers at LVNV Legal could help you pursue compensation for all your ensuing losses.
All motorists owe a duty of care to maintain full awareness of their surroundings and also follow applicable traffic laws. Since driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal offense in Las Vegas, drunk driving constitutes a breach of this duty.
Under the theory of legal negligence, failure to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances could result in a person being found financially liable for their misconduct. Accordingly, if you or a loved one suffered compensable losses because someone drove under the influence, you have grounds to hold that negligent party financially responsible for all those losses.
Depending on the severity of injuries and associated losses that an accident caused by an intoxicated motorist causes, you may be able to recover for medical expenses, physical pain, car repair or replacement costs, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages, and lost earning capacity through a civil claim. Assistance from our qualified legal counsel could be crucial to identifying all your recoverable damages and maximizing available compensation.
Importantly, the fact that someone else acted negligently by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated does not guarantee they will be found 100 percent responsible for an ensuing traffic accident. If a person hurt in a Las Vegas drunk driving car accident acted irresponsibly themselves immediately prior to the wreck, Nevada Statutes §41.141 allows the court hearing their case to reduce their final damage award by whatever percentage of fault they bear. A plaintiff could be barred from recovering anything if that percentage is over 50 percent.
On top of that, N.R.S. §11.190 sets a two-year statutory filing deadline on most personal injury claims, including those based on drunk driving car wrecks. If you wait longer than two years after learning that your injuries stemmed from someone else’s negligence, you could potentially lose the right to recover for your losses no matter how obvious the other party’s fault was.
While any kind of car crash can cause significant injuries, those involving intoxicated drivers often have especially devastating consequences. If a drunk driver’s misconduct led to you suffering a debilitating injury, pursuing civil recovery from them may be critical to preserving your future prospects, or even your overall quality of life.
After a drunk driving car accident in Las Vegas, our dedicated lawyers at LVNV Legal can discuss legal options with you and set you on course for a favorable case result. Schedule your initial consultation by calling today.
(702) 660-6700