Las Vegas Passenger Auto Accident Injury Attorneys
Injured as a passenger in a Las Vegas car accident?
As a passenger, you weren’t driving and didn’t cause the crash, but you’re still dealing with injuries, medical bills, and missed work.
Jack’s Got Your Back
Las Vegas Passenger Auto Accident Injury Lawyers
Nevada law protects injured passengers, allowing you to seek compensation regardless of which driver was at fault. You may have claims against multiple insurance policies, including the driver’s insurance, the other vehicle’s insurance, and possibly your own.
Don’t let confusion about your rights prevent you from getting the help you need. Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers will guide you through the process, explain your options, and pursue your claim while you focus on healing.
Find out what your case is worth
Free, confidential evaluation in as little as 5 minutes. Contact us today to speak to Jack personally.
- You pay nothing until we win
- Get an immediate call back. 24/7
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Over $500 Million in Verdicts & Settlements
Jack Bernstein stays personally involved in the cases his firm handles. We will investigate your claim and pursue any compensation that may be available under the facts and the law.
*Jack Bernstein has worked on the above cases during his career at this firm or another firm. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future cases.
See Case ResultsWhy hire Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers?
Jack G. Bernstein, Esq. has been protecting the rights of injured victims and their families for over 40 years.
I want to thank Leslie and Jack for the wonderful work they did for me. If you need a law firm this is the one and be sure and ask Leslie to be your manager. She will respond back as quickly as possible. 5 star review
$500 million+ recovered
More than 40 years of verdicts and settlements for injured people and their families. Past results do not guarantee your outcome.
Jack is personally involved
You are not a case number. Jack stays involved in your case, and you will always know who is handling it.
We know how insurance companies work
Auto insurers want you to take a fast, low offer. We build every crash case as if it is going to trial.
Experts who strengthen your case
Accident reconstruction experts, doctors and investigators who show how the crash happened and what it has cost you.
No fee unless we win
No upfront cost. We advance the expenses of your case, and you pay no attorney fee unless we win.
Free consultation, day or night
Call any time, 24 hours a day. Tell us what happened and you will get an honest answer about your case.
Takeaways for injured passengers
Being hurt as a passenger in an auto accident you didn’t cause can be frightening. But understanding your legal rights and options is empowering.
- As a passenger you can pursue an injury claim against any driver whose negligence caused the crash, and being a passenger rarely puts your own fault in issue. What their insurance pays is ordinarily capped by the policy limits, and Nevada’s required minimums are low: $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more, and $20,000 for property damage (NRS 485.185). On a serious injury that is often not enough, which is why we look for every policy that may apply, including your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
- Act quickly to get medical help, document evidence, and record your damages. This strengthens your case later.
- An experienced personal injury attorney can help with liability analysis, damage calculation, negotiations, and litigation if needed.
- Keep comprehensive records and don’t settle quickly for less than full value. Patience and persistence pay off.
- Even if you were partially negligent, comparative negligence laws in Nevada allow you to recover damages reduced in proportion to your share of the fault, as long as your negligence was not greater than the negligence of the defendant, or the combined negligence of the defendants you are suing.
- Seeking legal counsel provides you with personalized guidance, advocacy, and support through the process.
With over 40 years handling passenger auto injury cases, our experience is unmatched. Here’s how we can help:
Decades of experience
Comprehensive legal support
Tailored approach
Direct consultation
Our experience, resources, and compassion level the playing field after a passenger accident.
If you would like to talk it through
When you call, you talk to Jack, not a file number. Tell him what happened in the car you were riding in, and he will tell you honestly whether it is a case worth bringing and what would come next.
Free consultation · No fee unless we win · Available 24/7
Common passenger injuries: understanding your unique situation
As a passenger, you can sustain various injuries based on your seating position and the nature of the collision. Here are details on common passenger injuries to help you evaluate your particular circumstance:
- Front seat passengers often suffer whiplash or spinal injuries from the sudden back and forth jolting of a rear or head-on collision. Fractured knees and arms can also result from slamming into the dashboard, glovebox, or windshield.
- Backseat passengers, especially in the middle, are more prone to side impact injuries like broken ribs or collapsed lungs if another vehicle crashes into the car’s door. Traumatic brain and neck injuries are also common if your head strikes the side windows or front seat headrests.
- Rollover accidents lead to complex injury patterns with multiple impacted areas. Passengers can sustain crushed limbs, severed arteries, collapsed lungs, and extensive lacerations from broken glass. Spinal cord paralysis is also a major risk.
- Child passengers face heightened dangers from underdeveloped bones and muscles. Their lightweight bodies are easily tossed about the cabins, often leading to traumatic brain and spinal injuries.
Understanding these common patterns can help you evaluate your situation. But remember, every passenger’s injuries are unique. So focus on your specific medical situation and how it impacts your legal options.
Nevada laws protecting injured passengers
If you’re injured as a passenger in Nevada, you have legal rights to compensation. But qualifying depends on proving negligence. Here are key laws we can leverage to build your claim:
- Drivers must exercise reasonable care on the road. If they behave recklessly and cause an accident, they are liable for injuries to passengers.
- Nevada is a modified comparative negligence state. So even if you were partially at fault, you can still recover damages reduced by your share of the fault, as long as your negligence was not greater than the negligence of the driver, or the combined negligence of the drivers you are suing.
- Damages can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and wrongful death claims. Punitive damages may apply for drunk driving incidents.
- If multiple negligent drivers contributed to the accident, you can pursue injury claims against all of them. Under NRS 41.141, each of them is ordinarily liable only for the portion of the judgment that matches their own share of the fault, so leaving one of them out can leave part of your losses with no one to pay them.
- An action to recover damages for injuries to a person must generally be commenced within two years (NRS 11.190(4)(e)), measured from when the claim accrues rather than automatically from the accident date. Different deadlines and exceptions can apply depending on the claim and its circumstances: claims against health care providers run on NRS 41A.097 and claims against state and local government on NRS 41.036, and the period does not run while the injured person was under 18 or insane when the claim accrued (NRS 11.250), so an injured child’s own claim is not measured only from the crash. Do not assume an exception applies to you; ask an attorney about the deadline on your claim.
Remember, passengers have strong protections under Nevada injury law. Passenger injury claims are part of our personal injury practice. Let us review your case details and explain your options for pursuing a claim.
Immediate next steps after the accident
Getting timely medical care and reporting the incident are crucial first steps after a passenger injury accident. Here is what to do right away:
- Seek medical attention, even for minor injuries. This documents your condition and need for treatment. Go to the ER or urgent care for extensive injuries that need immediate care.
- Report the accident to the police. The police report can corroborate your version of events later. Share details on all vehicles, drivers, and injuries involved.
- Document the scene through photos and videos. Capture damage to vehicles, skid marks, debris, weather conditions, and anything else relevant to how the crash occurred.
- Get contact details of witnesses who saw the accident occur. Their accounts can prove invaluable if other drivers contest liability later.
- Maintain records of medical expenses, lost wages, and other accident-related costs. These help substantiate the financial damages you incur.
- Avoid accepting an early settlement offer from insurers. This is almost always lower than the value of your case once we assess the full damages.
Taking these steps quickly protects your rights later. With our guidance, you can begin building your claim now. Call us for a free case review.
How to pursue compensation for your injuries
Recovering damages after a passenger injury accident involves navigating insurance claims and possible litigation. Here are key steps in the compensation process:
- Assess negligence and liability: Establishing which driver’s actions caused the accident is crucial. Police reports, witness statements, and crash forensics help identify liable parties.
- Calculate damages: Medical costs, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering must be quantified. Records help substantiate these amounts.
- File insurance claims. Making claims against the liable drivers’ insurance is the first step. But early offers are often inadequate.
- Negotiate settlement or file suit: If insurers don’t offer fair settlements, litigation can help recoup higher damages.
- Assess comparative negligence: Even if you were partially negligent as a passenger, you can still recover from liable drivers as long as your own negligence was not greater than their combined negligence, with your damages reduced by your share.
- Explore additional liability: Examine if other factors like faulty car parts or hazardous road conditions also contributed. This can warrant additional claims.
- Understand time limits: In Nevada, an injury claim must generally be filed within two years (NRS 11.190(4)(e)), and different deadlines and exceptions can apply, including that the period does not run while the injured person was under 18 or insane when the claim accrued (NRS 11.250). Ask an attorney which deadline governs your claim.
The value of your case depends on these variables. With our deep expertise in Nevada law, we can help you develop a legal strategy and pursue any compensation that may be available under the facts and the law.
How an attorney helps with your passenger injury claim
A personal injury attorney can investigate a passenger accident, deal with the insurers, and pursue any compensation that may be available under the facts and the law. Here’s how we help at every stage:
- Review police reports, medical records, and other evidence to establish liability and substantiate your damages. Our eagle-eyed analysis builds a robust claim.
- Deal directly with insurers on your behalf so you don’t get pressured into lowball offers. We know how to strategically negotiate fair settlements.
- Determine if any outside factors like defective auto parts or hazardous road conditions contributed to the accident. If so, we expand your options for additional liable parties.
- Calculate accurate values for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. We document those damages and pursue any compensation that may be available under the facts and the law.
- Take aggressive legal action against negligent parties if warranted. Our courtroom experience gets results if insurers won’t cooperate.
With 40+ years handling passenger injury cases, we’re intimately familiar with Nevada laws and how to apply them advantageously. Let us review your case for free and talk through the options that may be available under the facts and the law.
Documenting your passenger injury case
Proper documentation is crucial for proving damages in passenger injury claims. Be sure to record:
- Medical records like ambulance run sheets, ER charts, and follow-up exam notes. These substantiate diagnoses and treatment needs.
- Receipts for medical costs, prescriptions, medical equipment, and therapies. Maintain meticulous financial records.
- Employer records verifying missed work days and lost wages due to the accident.
- Photos and video establishing the extent of vehicle damage, weather conditions, and the accident scene.
- Police reports, which include officer observations, driver/witness statements, and preliminary liability findings.
- Contact information for witnesses to potentially support your version of events later.
Also keep a diary documenting your pain levels, recovery progress, and how daily life activities have been impacted.
Thorough records strengthen your case dramatically. Let us know if you need help obtaining or organizing any documentation.
Passenger injuries in commercial vehicle accidents
Being injured as a passenger in a commercial vehicle like a taxi, rideshare, shuttle, limo, or bus can raise unique legal questions. But the core passenger injury laws still apply.
If your accident involved an Uber, Lyft, cab, party bus, shuttle bus, or any other commercial carrier, you have the same right to pursue injury claims against a negligent driver. Which policy pays depends on the vehicle and, for a rideshare, on what the driver was doing: while the driver is providing transportation services, from accepting the ride until the passenger leaves, Nevada requires transportation network company insurance of at least $1,000,000 for bodily injury, death and property damage per accident, and while the driver is only logged in and waiting for a request, the minimums are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage (NRS 690B.470).
The process works similarly:
- Document evidence like dashcam video proving the commercial driver’s negligence. Their high driving time increases accident risk.
- Get witness statements from other passengers supporting your account if fault is disputed.
- Claim damages like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Commercial policies often have higher limits, increasing potential compensation.
- Review the accident report police file with the DMV, which can affect the commercial driver’s licensing.
- Contact the carrier’s insurance immediately in addition to filing a personal injury claim.
The key is determining negligence. Commercial drivers are held to high safety standards. If one was texting, speeding, reckless, or ignoring regulations when the accident occurred, their insurance pays your damages.
Passenger auto accident injury FAQs
Have questions about your case?
Every passenger auto accident injury case is different. These answers cover the general rules; what applies to you depends on the facts.
Call us any time, 24 hours a day, and we will go through the specifics with you. It is free, and there is no obligation.
(702) 633-3333 Free consultation · Available 24/7 Or send us the details onlineWhat are my main legal rights as an injured passenger?
As a passenger, you have the right to pursue injury claims and compensation if another driver’s negligence caused the accident. Their insurance is liable for your damages.
What should I do after a passenger injury accident?
Seek medical attention immediately, document the scene, file a police report, keep records of all costs/damages, and contact an attorney to protect your rights.
Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault as a passenger?
Yes. Under Nevada’s modified comparative negligence rule (NRS 41.141), you can still recover as long as your negligence was not greater than the negligence of the defendant, or the combined negligence of the defendants you are suing. Any damages awarded are reduced in proportion to your share of the fault.
If I hit my head but didn't lose consciousness, could I still have a traumatic brain injury?
Yes, you can sustain a traumatic brain injury without losing consciousness. Any significant head impact causes the brain to shake inside the skull, which can tear blood vessels and nerves. Seek an urgent medical evaluation.
How does my seating position affect my injury risk as a passenger?
Front seat passengers often sustain orthopedic and head/neck injuries. Side impact crashes pose greater risks for backseat passengers. Proper seat belt use is critical to avoid serious injuries.
Can passengers file injury claims against rideshare or taxi drivers after an accident?
Yes, the same laws apply. Passengers can pursue injury claims against negligent rideshare/taxi drivers and their insurance. Their commercial policies usually have higher limits.
I was a passenger in a single-car accident. Can I still file an injury claim?
Yes, passengers can pursue claims against negligent drivers even in single-vehicle accidents. Their insurance would be liable for your damages.
Do passengers need their own car insurance for accident injury claims?
No, passengers can file claims through the car owner and driver’s insurance. Your health insurance may also cover accident-related medical costs.
Can passengers file lawsuits against friend or family member drivers?
Yes, passengers can pursue injury claims against any negligent driver regardless of relationship. But think carefully before suing friends/family.
How do I know if I have a valid passenger injury claim that's worth pursuing?
Every case is unique. For a free case review, contact us online or call (702) 633-3333 to discuss your particular circumstances with Jack Bernstein directly.
Will hiring Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers cost me any money upfront?
No. We provide free, no-obligation case reviews. And we work on a contingency fee basis, so we only get paid if we recover damages for you.
What should I bring to a legal consultation about my passenger injury case?
Bring any evidence you have, like medical records, photos, police reports, and documentation of damages. This allows us to accurately assess your potential claim.
Related reading
Contact us for a free consultation
If you have been injured in a car accident as a passenger, contact Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation with experienced Las Vegas accident lawyers. You will gain an advocate for every stage in the claims process, and we will pursue your claim to a resolution.
Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers is available to help you handle your passenger injury claim in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and beyond. Jack Bernstein and his team can offer you personalized service and legal representation after an accident.
Call us at (702) 633-3333 or contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Find out what your case is worth
Free, confidential evaluation in as little as 5 minutes. Contact us today to speak to Jack personally.