If you were involved in a T-bone accident in Las Vegas, one of the first questions you might ask is, “Who is at fault?” It’s essential to establish fault in a Nevada car accident because the state is an at-fault state for car accidents. Therefore, the party responsible for causing the accident is financially responsible for the damages they caused. Additionally, Nevada law prohibits insurers from raising insurance premiums on a policy for accidents that were not your fault.
A T-bone accident is a collision that occurs when the front of one vehicle impacts the side of another, forming the letter “T.” T-bone accidents can result in serious injuries. This is often because there are fewer and less effective safety features on the sides of vehicles, and higher speeds may be involved.
Common injuries in T-bone crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
If you were involved in a T-bone car accident, reach out to an experienced car accident attorney to help determine fault.
Some of the parties who can be found at fault for a T-bone accident include the following:
The Driver Who Broke the Law
T-bone accidents often occur at intersections. When this is the case, it may be easier to determine who is at fault. At an intersection, one of the drivers may have run a red light or stop sign, in which case the driver who broke the law might be at fault. There may be red light cameras or witnesses who can testify about these facts.
The Driver Who Turned Left
Another common scenario in which T-bone accidents are more likely to occur is when a driver is turning left and hits the side of an oncoming vehicle. Drivers who are turning left must not turn until it is safe to do so. They may be found at fault for the accident unless other factors were involved or the driver turning left had the right-of-way. This may occur when one driver turns at a green arrow while the other drives illegally into the intersection.
Both Drivers
Under Nevada’s comparative negligence rule, fault for an accident can be divided between two or more people. There may be situations when both drivers are at fault for the accident. For example, one driver may have been speeding, and the other driver may have misjudged the distance of another driver when turning.
In these situations, each driver is assigned a portion of fault. The plaintiff can still pursue compensation for the damages they suffered as long as their degree of fault is not greater than the defendant’s. However, the plaintiff’s compensation is reduced by their proportion of fault. So, if the plaintiff is found 10% at fault, their damage award is reduced by 10%.
A Car Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help Establish Fault
It is often necessary to obtain evidence to help establish fault in a car accident case.
Useful evidence for determining fault may include:
- Police reports that state the direction of travel of each vehicle, a diagram of the vehicle’s respective positions, and information about whether a driver was cited for a traffic accident
- Statements from witnesses about how the accident occurred
- Video footage, including footage from traffic cameras, surveillance cameras, and dashcam footage
- Photos of the accident scene and damage to the vehicle
- The location and severity of vehicle damage
- Crash reconstruction reports from experts who use known information about the crash, such as the direction and speed of each vehicle that can show how the crash occurred
Personal injury lawyers know how to identify and gather this crucial evidence. Call a Nevada car accident lawyer for help establishing fault.
If you’ve been injured in Las Vegas, NV, and need legal help contact our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation today.
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
1149 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV. 89104
(702) 222-9999
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Summerlin Office
410 S Rampart Blvd, Ste 480 Las Vegas, NV. 89145
(702) 297-6373
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
9555 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV. 89123
(702) 997-4264