Personal Injury Law in Reno, NV

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Reno? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Reno, NV can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Reno relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Reno, NV

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Reno 

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services found that falls were the leading cause of unintentional injury or trauma across the state. In fact, nearly 65% of all injuries were the result of falls. In cities like Reno, and Las Vegas, there is more traffic, and therefore more motor vehicle accidents, which account for almost 19% of injuries across the Nevada.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Reno, NV

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Nevada

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

First, you and your Reno attorney will file a complaint with the civil court. The defendant will answer and either offer a settlement, or will seek to enter the discovery process. After this, most Nevada personal injury cases will opt to settle outside of court. However, if no settlement can be reached then the case can proceed to trial.

Nevada Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

Oftentimes, state systems like the Nevada Court of Appeals are hesitant to state what an average case may be. This is due in part to the wide variety of factors that can influence a personal injury settlement in Reno, Nevada. Typically, plaintiffs or injured parties calculate the value of their claim by calculating the economic damages they have suffered. Things such as medical bills, work loss compensation, and property damage can influence personal injury cases so much that they tend to settle for anywhere between $3,000-$75,000.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in NV, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Nevada

If your Nevada personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

There is a damage cap of $100,000 for claims against government employees in Nevada. In addition, there is a varying cap on punitive damages, but those rarely affect average Reno personal injury settlements.

Statute of Limitations in Reno, NV Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Nevada’s statute of limitations allows you just two years to file a relevant personal injury claim. In Reno, this time limit begins to run on the date your injury occurred.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Reno, NV Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Reno against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Nevada state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!