Car accidents are a daily concern for most people residing in Las Vegas due to the huge number of cars on the roads. Sometimes these accidents are accidental and unavoidable. However, most accidents are avoidable and are triggered by another motorist's lack of attention, negligence, or contempt for safety.

If you have been severely injured in a car accident that was caused by another person's carelessness, you could be eligible to receive compensation. We at Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Law Firm are available to evaluate the specifics of the accident and explore what legal options you may have. 

Types of Accidents

Even though every accident is different, there are certain commonalities to how they happen. You may be able to prevent an accident if you know how it happens or what causes it to happen. The following are among the most common types of car accidents that occur in Las Vegas:

Rear-End Collisions

Drivers who fail to concentrate on the road or trail too close to other motorists often cause rear-end collisions. When a driver fails to keep enough space between himself or herself and the car in front of him while in traffic, the back driver might not have the space or time to stop and prevent an accident when the traffic ahead of him or her stops suddenly. Rear-end collisions are frequently caused by drowsy driving, drunk driving, as well as distracted driving.

While the driver at the back is usually to blame for the collision by following too closely, they are not always to blame. If the front driver abruptly stopped in a busy driving lane or maybe reversed his or her car without any particular cause, he/she may be held responsible for that accident.

Rear-end collision injuries can range from mild injuries to serious injuries. Even at slower speeds, rear-end collision victims can sustain serious injuries such as fractured bones, spinal cord damage, and neck injuries.

Head-On Collisions

Although less prevalent than other forms of vehicle accidents, head-on collisions are one of the most lethal. Since both vehicles are going in the same direction, the impact of the collision is often intensified. For this reason, head-on collisions are far more likely to lead to serious injury or sometimes death than other kinds of car accidents.

Major reasons for head-on collisions include impaired driving, distracted driving, driver exhaustion, speeding, or negligent driving. Head-on crashes also cause brain trauma, spinal cord damage, internal organ injury, shattered bones, and other serious injuries.

Side-Impact Collisions

When a car traveling in one direction collides with another car at a parallel angle, it is called a side-impact collision. When two vehicles are involved in a side-impact accident, they usually create a "T" shape. Side-impact accidents are particularly deadly for the passengers of the car struck on its side. Vehicle sides usually have less bulk to cushion the impact from a collision compared to the vehicle's rear and front ends.

Side-impact crashes are frequently caused by drivers who fail to yield, fail to halt at intersections, and disregard traffic signals. A motorist who is driving while distracted, inebriated, or driving erratically might also trigger a side-impact accident and be found financially liable for the damages sustained by others as a result of the collision.

Sideswipe Accidents

A sideswipe accident occurs when two or maybe more automobiles are going parallel to each other and one vehicle collides with the side of the other. Side-impact incidents are often caused by drivers neglecting to raise their heads to assess their blind zones before switching lanes.

Sideswipe collisions are risky because the first collision might cause more cars to lose track and veer off their lanes into oncoming traffic. The cars may collide with other motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, or items on the roadside.

Sideswipe collisions can result in serious injuries, particularly when there's a subsequent impact following the initial collision. Whiplash, shattered bones, internal organ injuries, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, and brain trauma are all common injuries from sideswipe accidents. Sideswipe crashes are frequently caused by drivers' lack of attention, speeding, carelessness, fatigue, and intoxication.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Accidents involving only one car are surprisingly common. A single-vehicle crash occurs when a driver collides with something that's in their way, like an animal, spilled cargo, or flying objects from another car, like truck tire tread. Single-vehicle accidents happen when something that could appear to be a hazard forces a car to swerve off the road and collide with things like light poles, guard rails, or other objects.

The car may flip over or tumble into a trench based on the location where the incident happens. Even though these collisions only involve one vehicle, damages can be serious if the vehicle collides with a heavy or large item or flips over.

Impaired driving, driving when extremely tired, speeding, bad weather conditions, or animals on the highway are all common sources of single-vehicle collisions. Certain single-vehicle collisions are induced by the carelessness of another motorist, a poorly built road, construction zones, or negligent driving that leads a motorist to veer and drive off their lane to avoid colliding with an irresponsible driver.

Multi-Vehicle Collisions

Accidents involving three or more automobiles can be fatal. When numerous cars are involved, more people are at risk of being hurt. However, more insurance coverage may be available to compensate the afflicted. Multi-vehicle incidents are frequently the outcome of a chain-reaction rear-end crash. The passengers of the center car may experience devastating injuries when one car is wedged between two others.

It can be difficult to determine who is to blame in multi-vehicle incidents. In such cases, insurers typically attempt to shift blame.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover crashes can occur in a variety of situations and are more prone to resulting in traumatic injuries. Anybody on the inside of a moving car who is flipped over suffers severe injuries as a result of the impact of the rollover. Rollover accidents may result in car fires caused by spilled fuel and cargo burning, which can result in more injuries or even death when the car blows.

Rollover accidents might potentially result in the expulsion of the operator or passengers, resulting in severe injuries. Speeding, inattentive driving, intoxicated driving, driving when fatigued, trying to drive off the highway shoulder, as well as other cars or objects pushing vehicles off of the lane, are all likely reasons for rollover accidents.

Blind-Spot Collisions

Before merging or switching lanes, all motorists are obliged to examine their blind zones, but not everybody does so every time. Drivers who fail to inspect their blind spots risk colliding with another car, resulting in blind spot accidents. Among the most likely reasons for blind-spot collisions is driver error.

Smaller cars and motorbikes can easily vanish into a bigger car's blind spot. Due to their small stature, they are particularly susceptible to sideswipe incidents. Big trucks have relatively larger blind zones on the roads, posing a major threat to other drivers. Blind-spot collisions can result in serious injuries based on the vehicle's speed, degree of collision, and other circumstances.

Low-Speed Collisions

A 3,000-pound vehicle or 6,000-pound truck can produce significant force in a collision, even at relatively low speeds. Cyclists and pedestrians are usually in extreme danger, irrespective of the car's speed when it strikes them.

The impact angle is typically more important than the speed. Whiplash, severe trauma, back and neck injuries, severe bruises, shattered bones, or head and facial injuries are all related injuries caused by low-speed collisions.

Merging Accidents

Even for seasoned drivers, merging into a packed traffic lane might be tricky. It is not unexpected that merging incidents occur frequently. If motorists fail to inspect their blind spots, do not match the pace of other vehicles, or drive dangerously, they may trigger an accident when merging into traffic.

Other motorists can create merging accidents if they speed past someone who is attempting to merge into traffic. Merging incidents frequently occur at high speeds, leading to catastrophic injuries to motorists and other passengers.

What Causes These Types of Car Accidents?

The majority of traffic accidents are caused by the driver's judgments behind the wheel, rather than by their lack of knowledge of how to operate a car. Human error is to blame for more than 94 percent of all traffic accidents. On the other hand, gaining knowledge of these issues can help to inform and encourage motorists to be more careful on the road. Common causes of car accidents include:

Distracted Driving

Distracted drivers are responsible for an alarming number of fatal car accidents. Driver distraction is, in fact, the main reason for most car accidents. Countless accidents have been caused by distracted drivers’ distractions or lack of concentration by drivers. Below are some of the most common causes of distracted driving

  • Using a mobile phone
  • Attempting to grab a moving item inside the car
  • Eating food
  • Sending texts
  • Reading a book
  • Focusing on different things outside the car
  • Putting on makeup

To drive your car properly, you must focus all your attention on the road. Drivers who shift their attention away from the road to chat on their mobile phones or send texts to their colleagues endanger the safety of other road users. Distracted driving is particularly dangerous because, unlike drunk driving, car accidents triggered by distracted driving can happen at any time of day.

Speeding 

Among the most common causes of automobile accidents is failure to obey the legal speed limits. Drivers who speed risk spinning out of control, increasing stopping distances and reducing the usefulness of safety features.

It is not surprising that, with our busy schedules, individuals sometimes disregard posted speed restrictions to get from one place to another much faster. However, during an accident, exceeding the legal limit or speeding might be disastrous.

Rubbernecking 

Another common behavior by drivers that could result in a crash is rubbernecking. Rubbernecking is when a driver stares at a roadside distraction long enough that they have to turn their heads to keep viewing it as they drive by.

While it's understandable for a driver to be intrigued by something interesting on the road, this distraction can lead to fatal accidents. Rubbernecking, like messaging or eating, diverts motorists' attention away from the road.

Motorists are required to maintain a constant focus on the road as they drive. A rubbernecking driver who fails to act reasonably could be found at fault by a court of law.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is among the leading causes of accidents on the roads today. Most drunk drivers have no idea that even tiny amounts of alcohol can impair their judgment, coordination, and response time. All these lead to an intoxicated driver making bad decisions that cause accidents that could have been avoided. Drunk drivers can cause accidents in several ways.

Also, drivers driving while intoxicated can start to get drowsy and eventually fall asleep as they drive. This could cause head-on collisions with oncoming cars. Furthermore, drinking impairs vision, the ability to understand traffic signals, and the understanding of other motorists' actions.

When a driver is inebriated, their capacity to estimate distances is hampered, and their response time is delayed. As a result, they may be unable to respond quickly enough if another vehicle brakes or stops suddenly in front of them.

Driver Fatigue 

Fatigue is a decline in inattentiveness that lowers human function and can lead to sleepiness while driving. It is one of the leading causes of car accidents, and it has several negative effects on driver performance, including slower response times, shorter attention spans, narrowed attention, and faulty logic and decision-making.

Under extreme circumstances, a driver can experience microsleep or lose consciousness while driving. Often, merely seconds of sleep while driving can result in the wrongful death of someone else.

Poor Weather Conditions

In general, bad weather can cause accidents in two different ways: it could make a car more difficult to operate, or it might affect the driver's visibility, resulting in an accident. Take into account the following:

Rain, particularly in heavy downpours, can impede a driver's visibility. When you have to use the car's headlights, the light is typically reflected off the rain and could blind you. Rain can sometimes make an operator lose control of their car. Your vehicle, for example, may hydroplane. This happens once a thin film of water accumulates beneath the tires, forcing the car to lose contact with the ground. When an automobile hydroplanes, it could move in any direction, and the operator will have no way of stopping it.

Fog also reduces a driver's capacity to see. As with downpours, turning on your headlights will not appear to work. Rather, visibility deteriorates. Drivers may plow into other vehicles or veer off the roadway due to their incapacity to see, endangering themselves or others.

Even though snow is sometimes uncommon in Las Vegas, it can make roads too treacherous for many cars to travel safely. Motorists can drive off the roadway when attempting to brake. Sleet, like snow, can affect your capacity to see, causing you to lose control of your car.

Common Injuries After a Car Accident

As we have previously seen, car accident injuries can vary from small bumps and scratches to life-threatening injuries based on the seriousness of the accident. Even relatively simple accidents might result in significant injuries. Furthermore, although some injuries can be noticed immediately, some might not show up for days or even weeks following the accident. That's why we constantly recommend seeing a doctor after you have been involved in an accident. Common injuries after an accident might include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Every year, approximately 2 million people suffer catastrophic brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a hit or a piercing injury to the brain. Traumatic brain injuries are a broad category of injuries that can range from mild concussions to irreversible brain injuries.

Clinical signs of a TBI often do not appear until a few days following the accident. It is often a great idea to consult with a physician if you think you hit your head during an accident. You should watch out for symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, as well as sensory issues.

Broken Bones

Our bones were created to hold our bodies, not to withstand the devastating impact of an event like an accident. In most cases, fractured bones can be excruciatingly painful, and in most cases, surgery is required. A shattered bone can cause long-term pain and limit mobility and range of motion.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The principal messenger system of the human body is the spinal cord. It is responsible for transmitting signals from the brain to the body. If the spinal cord is damaged, the implications can be disastrous. Spinal cord accidents are often fatal. Loss of mobility, tingling, intense pain, or loss of bladder or bowel control are symptoms of SCI.

Lacerations

In accidents, flying debris and broken glasses can inflict scratches and cuts. Mild lacerations are normally self-healing and do not require medical attention. Serious accidents, on the other hand, might result in deep and painful wounds. Stitches or surgeries may be required for certain injuries. In many situations, these injuries will cause scarring that can last a lifetime.

Burns

Burns might happen because of exposure to chemicals or when you touch a heated surface. First-degree burn wounds are mild and might not leave scars. Second-degree burn wounds are more severe than first-degree burns and could be quite painful. Second-degree burns cause blisters and are more likely to become infected. Third-degree burns are by far the most severe and often necessitate skin grafting procedures and a lengthy recovery period. These burns typically impact the inner layers of the skin and also the supporting muscles and bones.

Whiplash

Rear-end collisions are the most common cause of whiplash. The head may forcefully swing backward before going forward due to the unexpected impact of the collision. This might put a strain on your neck and make it painful. Whiplash can recover by itself in a matter of weeks in most cases. It can also cause ruptured or herniated discs in some people. Pain killers, chiropractic therapy, and, in extreme situations, surgery may be required to treat these symptoms.

Getting Compensation From a Car Accident Claim

Hiring a seasoned and professional vehicle accident lawyer can make a major difference when you are seeking compensation for your claim. Your attorney will consider the following variables when determining the actual value of your auto accident claim:

  • Your vehicle's value. Your attorney will take into account the value of your car before the accident as well as the cost of any required repairs
  • Liability. Your attorney can also assist you in determining your share of culpability or percentage of liability for everyone involved. If you were partially to blame for the car accident, the sum of compensation you can obtain will be reduced
  • Bodily Injury. Your attorney will estimate any injuries you sustained as a result of the accident by thoroughly reviewing your medical records and the associated costs
  • Non-economic damage. Any non-economic losses, like the loss of your capacity to live happily, or pain and suffering, will be assessed by your lawyer
  • Additional factors. The attorney will look into the details of your car accident for other issues affecting your claim

Find a Car Accident Law Firm Near Me

If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of another motorist's recklessness, you are eligible to collect fair compensation for your damages. At the Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Law Firm, we can analyze the specifics of your car accident and explain how we will assist you in obtaining financial compensation so that you may move on with your life. Our lawyers understand how frustrating it is when insurance providers or the other party refuses to accept liability for negligence and irresponsible behavior. Call us at 702-576-0010 to schedule a consultation with us. We are available to represent clients from all across Las Vegas, Nevada.