When a car crash takes place in the State of Nevada, injured victims have the right to hold the at-fault party responsible. If you find yourself in this situation, one of your first tasks will be to determine who or what caused the crash. One way investigators, whether it be by an insurance company or a Las Vegas car accident lawyer, determine car accident fault is by analyzing the location of property damage on both motor vehicles.
Identifying Fault in Common Crash Types Based on Property Damage
Nevada is a fault state, meaning the driver or party at fault for a motor vehicle collision can be held liable, or legally and financially responsible. It is common for drivers and their insurance companies to try to refute fault during car insurance claims. It is up to the injured victim to prove fault using clear and convincing evidence. One source of evidence is property damage. Property damage can say a lot about an automobile accident. It can determine the direction that both cars were traveling, for example, which can help investigators reconstruct the crash and find out who was in the wrong. The severity of the damage can also determine the speeds of both vehicles, which may provide evidence of speeding.
Rear-End Car Accidents
When one vehicle involved in a crash has damage to its front and the other has damage to the back, this points to the fault of the rear driver in a rear-end collision. Although there are exceptions, such as a driver cutting someone off and causing a rear-end collision, the majority of these accidents are caused by the rear driver. Drivers in Nevada are required to maintain a safe following distance from others at all times.
T-Bone Collisions
In a T-bone or side-impact crash, where one vehicle hits the side of a second car, an analysis of the property damage can reconstruct which driver was in the wrong place at the wrong time. By determining which driver hit the other, it can be decided who ran a red light, ignored a stop sign or failed to yield the right-of-way.
Sideswipe Accidents
In a sideswipe accident, where two vehicles make contact on the sides of both cars, determining fault can be difficult. The side panels of both vehicles may bear similar types of damage. Through accident reconstruction, however, it can be ascertained which driver was making an unsafe or illegal lane change at the time of the crash.
What Other Evidence of Fault Can I Collect?
Fault in a Nevada car accident case is often decided after a thorough investigation of the crash by an insurance company, police officers and crash experts. Investigators will often assess the damage done to both vehicles in person to help determine fault. Other types of evidence that are often used include:
- Police report
- Crash photographs
- Any video footage available
- Eyewitness accounts
- Road markings
- Cell phone records
While the location of damage on both cars can help point investigators in the right direction, it may not be enough to fully prove car accident fault. This is why it is important to gather other types of evidence, if possible.
How to Hold Someone Responsible for a Car Accident in Las Vegas
If you get involved in a car accident in Las Vegas, call the police to report the collision right away. A police report can provide you with evidence for your car insurance claim. Get medical care for your injuries without delay. Before you leave the scene, take photographs and speak to eyewitnesses in addition to exchanging information with the other driver. Then, contact an attorney for assistance with the recovery process. A personal injury lawyer can conduct a comprehensive crash investigation to explore who is at fault and preserve any available evidence. This may include property damage photographs or hiring experts for professional vehicle analysis. You can trust your lawyer to build a strong case and take on insurance settlement negotiations on your behalf.