Fatal Car Accident Lawyer

After a fatal car accident, it is vital to have an attorney on your side that you can trust.

We have over 40 years of experience with these types of cases in Nevada.

Our team of highly professional and respected lawyers will make sure you and your family’s rights are protected.

These cases can be complex and challenging. We understand what it takes to win.

Having well-informed legal representation will give you your best chance at having a successful outcome.

Call us today for a free consultation.

Fatal Car Accidents Can Lead to Wrongful Death Lawsuits

After a fatal car crash, legal claims can be filed by the dead person’s family or their estate.

This will attempt to hold the person or party responsible for the accident.

Every lawsuit will have its own set of factors and circumstances.

These are some key points to understand about wrongful death lawsuits.

Meaning of Wrongful Death: A claim can be filed when there is negligence that caused the death. This includes reckless behavior or an intentional act that caused harm.

Common Causes: There are a wide variety of reasons why fatal car accidents occur. Drunk driving, speeding, and other negligent actions are the most common.

Who Can File a Claim: The surviving family of the departed victim are usually the ones to file a wrongful death claim. This includes spouses and children of the departed victim. A claim can also be filed by an estate representative.

Legal Procedures: A lawsuit will most likely include filing a claim with the responsible persons insurance company. Some cases will also include legal pursuit in the court of law.

Compensation Process: The spouse, family member, or estate representative will seek damages. This will often include medical costs, emotional suffering, income lost, and other damages that resulted from the death.

Higher Compensation with a Lawyer

Higher payouts are just another significant advantage to having the help of a lawyer.

Compensation from a claim is usually higher when you hire a wrongful death lawyer.

Taking on the insurance companies on your own can be difficult. Wrongful death claims can drag on and on without an attorney.

Having the guidance of an attorney gives you the best chance at receiving the most compensation.

Value of Your Case: An attorney with years of experience will be able to accurately value your claim. Damages will vary from case to case. Some of the expenses will include medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If there are expenses that continue in the future, these costs can be added to the claim. Having an attorney that can accurately value your claim will be beneficial.

Legal Representation: It is important to have an expert negotiator when seeking compensation. This will give you the best chance at receiving the maximum payment for your claim. However, not every case will be able to be settled through negotiations. A skilled attorney will be needed to properly represent you at trial if the case goes to court. Showing the court a well-laid-out case with evidence that supports your claim is vital. This will mean showing liability for the fatal accident. A higher compensation will often be rewarded if the attorney is successful at doing so.

Gathering Evidence: Attorneys are experts at gathering the evidence needed to validate your claim. This skill takes experience with fatal car accidents and an understanding of the legal system. Putting together the evidence in a cohesive manner is critical. The lawyer should be competent and experienced in handling cases like yours in the past. This can be advantageous to the outcome of your case.

You will need a wrongful death attorney after a fatal car accident.

The attorney you choose should have a proven track record.

Contact the Law Offices of Richard Harris.

 Reasons Deadly Car Accidents Occur

Anytime you get into a vehicle and drive there is always risk. These risks increase if there is negligent behavior on the road.

A fatal car accident can occur in a split second.

It can leave behind a lifetime of devastation to those involved.

Statistics from the Nevada Office of Health and Safety conclude that our roadways were increasingly more dangerous last year than ever before.

412 people were killed in 2024 on our Nevada roads.

Here are some of the most common reasons for a fatal crash.

Driving Under the Influence: This is still a major problem. Las Vegas is a 24-hour city with lots of alcohol. Recent statistics show there were over 230 deaths in Nevada due to impaired drivers. This is a large percentage of all car accident deaths. Las Vegas has the most of any city in the state by far. Driving with a BAC over .08 is considered drunk driving in Nevada. The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety conducts sobriety field tests routinely in order to try and lower these numbers.

Speeding: Driving over the speed limit increases the chances of a serious accident. Speeding is responsible for many fatalities across the country. The impact of vehicles at high speeds is a major contributor to deadly accidents. Speeding has become more noticeable when traveling the streets of Las Vegas. Cars whizzing by routinely on our roads puts the rest of us at serious risk. Cars racing one another on our streets have become commonplace. Speeding is the cause of approximately 1/3 of all fatal accidents in the US, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Reckless Driving: This is a common occurrence as well. Illegal lane changes, running stop lights and signs, and aggressive tailgating take place more than ever. Driving in this type of behavior can cause a major wreck to occur. These wrecks are sometimes deadly. Road rage is considered reckless driving as well. When emotions are out of control, accidents can happen in an instant.

Distracted Driving: The phone has become the number one distraction for most of us. We see drivers looking down at their phones constantly when traveling. Accidents happen when drivers are texting, talking, looking at maps, and not paying attention. Eating, drinking, and playing music loud can also be distracting. These accidents at any speed, can have deadly results.

Driver Fatigue: Falling asleep at the wheel can be deadly. Tired drivers are dangerous to everyone sharing the roadways. Trying to push yourself past the point of exhaustion to get home or somewhere else is not worth it. Losing consciousness and control of the car can happen in a moment. This can be easily avoided.

Weather Conditions: Driving in dangerous weather conditions is a common cause for car accidents. Ice, rain, and snow can cause a driver to lose control of their automobile. Nevada has all types of weather conditions. You should always drive with caution when weather is a factor. It is better to pull over and wait until the roads are less dangerous. Continuing to drive in inclement weather can put you and everyone else on the road at risk

Most Fatal Types of Car Accidents

All types of car accidents can be fatal.

High speeds and high impact always have a higher risk of death. Head-on and T-bone accidents tend to be among the deadliest.

Head – On Collisions: When vehicles collide front to front, is considered a head-on collision. When this is done at high speeds the impact of the 2 vehicles combines. This leads to traumatic results. Severe injuries can lead to fatalities. The driver and passengers are all at risk. Even when seat belts are in place these accidents can be tragic.

T-Bone Accidents: This happens when a collision occurs with the front of one vehicle into the side of the other. This forms the shape of a T. At high speeds these accidents can produce loss of life. The injuries are usually worse for the victims that are on the side where the impact occurs. Vehicle doors and sides are less protected than the rear and front of the vehicle. Those impacted are vulnerable to serious harm.

Proof of Negligence in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In order to have a successful outcome in a wrongful death claim, there must be solid proof of negligence.

The complexities of these lawsuits will need the expertise of an attorney.

Having Richard Harris on your side will give you the best chance at winning the maximum compensation.

Here are some of the key elements that need to be established to prove your case.

1. Duty of Care: The defendant is most likely the driver in fatal car accidents. They have the duty and legal obligation to follow the traffic laws. They must drive in a safe manner and act responsibly.
2. Breach of Duty: This happens when the defendant fails to uphold their legal responsibility of duty of care. If they are negligent and cause an accident, they can be held liable for their actions. Driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, speeding, and other negligent behaviors that cause a crash are considered to be a breach of duty.
3. Causation: The defendants actions were the cause of the crash. Because of these actions, they caused a fatal car accident. Our legal team will seek to find the proof that directly holds the person responsible for their negligence.
4. Damages: A death will have many losses. Some of these will include medical expenses, lost income, family hardships along with various forms of suffering. Our attorneys will look at all the damages of your case and seek to recover these losses.

Evidence Will Be Needed to Support Your Claim

We will fully investigate the negligent actions that caused the fatal car accident.

Your lawsuit will need hard evidence that can support the claim.

1. Police Reports: This is one of the ways to support your claim. Getting the legal proof of the accident will be needed. These reports will provide details and information of the crash. If there were citations issued, they will be included in the report.
2. Witness Testimony: Witnesses can play a major role in a fatal car accident lawsuit. Testimonies from those who saw what happened can be a crucial piece of evidence for the case. Having an attorney that understands how to question the witness is important to the gathering of the information. They may be needed in court if the case goes to trial.
3. Video or Photographic Evidence: Having video or pictures of the accident can be helpful when presenting the negligence that caused it. This can be valuable evidence that can show proof of speeding or reckless driving that supports your case.

Car Accident Experts

Accident experts can be very useful when putting together a wrongful death lawsuit.

They analyze all the facts of the accident to determine why and how it happened.

This is done through scientific and engineering principles of the before, during, and after the accident.

This reconstructs the accident and gives insight into the factors of the event.

• Scene Investigation: Physical evidence is gathered at the location of the accident. Tools are used that can take measurements and 3D images of the scene.
• Analysis of Data: Event Data Recorders (Black Boxes) will be analyzed if available. This holds information about speed, braking, and many other details that can be used to reconstruct an accident.
• Simulation: The reconstructionist will create simulations and models and test different scenarios. This will help to put together the cause of the crash. This is done with specialized software and other techniques.
• Expert Testimony: Expert witnesses can provide explanations of the accident. Specific expert analysis can help to establish liability.

Richard Harris will make sure that your rights are protected.

Our wrongful death car accident attorneys will fight to win your case and get you the compensation that you deserve.

Contact us by phone, email, or just come by our office.