RV Accident Injury Attorney in Las Vegas

RV Accident Injury Attorney in Las Vegas

Recreational vehicles are quite common in Nevada, because of their size and weight RV’s can cause severe injuries in case of suffering an accident. According to the recreational vehicle industry association, RV sales increased by 36 percent from 2014 to 2018. While RVs provide a convenient way to travel, they pose a big risk of much more devastating accidents.

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a RV accident due to the negligence of other parties, contact today our lawyers specialized in RV accident injuries in Las Vegas for a free consultation of your case.

Causes of RV Accidents in Las Vegas

While there are a variety of causes and factors that can lead to an RV accident, some of the most common in Las Vegas include:

• Improper weight distribution, this represents one of the leading causes of RV accidents, when traveling uphill or downhill the weight imbalance can cause the RV to overturn or hit another vehicle or a pedestrian.
• Taking a curve too fast, because these drivers often do not have the experience of driving a vehicle of this size and can take curves or turns too fast and end up having an accident. 
• Underestimating space needed to turn, an RV takes much more space than a common sedan when taking turns.
• Inability to see other vehicles, smaller vehicles sometimes can be in a blind spot and if the RV driver changes lanes without being aware of them, this can result in a catastrophic crash.
• Overload, RVs can only carry so much weight safely. RVs owners should make sure to check their manual to ensure what is the safe load limit for their RV.
• Miscalculating stopping distance.

Laws for RV Seat Belts

There are no RV seat belt laws unlike in regular vehicles, and many of these vehicles have a lap belt only/ lap-shoulder belts in the dinette and side seating areas but these seat belts provide almost no protection during a crash. That’s why there is a bigger risk of suffering and injury in case of one.

Injuries That Can Result from an RV Accident

Some of the most common injuries that can occur due to an RV accident are:

• Spinal cord injuries: this injury occurs when there’s damage to the cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. The most common cause is direct injury to the spinal cord or damage to the tissue and bones that surround the spinal cord.
• Traumatic brain injuries: this represents the most common cause of disability and death in adults. This term describes a vast array of injuries that can occur to the brain. The damage can be focal or diffuse and the severity can range from a mild concussion to severe injury.
• Burns: these injuries can have a vast range of damage depending on the severity of the burn you can even need treatment from specialized burn centers and months long follow care.
• PTSD 
• Loss of limbs 
• Broken bones/ fractures: these injuries are quite common in RV’s accidents.
• Paralysis
• Internal organ damage

RV accidents can cause more serious injuries because of:

• Lack of seatbelts used by or available to, all passengers in the vehicle.
• Absence of airbags in some of the RVs
• Increased force of the collision due to the size of RVs

Responsibility in RV Accidents

In RV accidents there might be more than one party responsible for your injuries and this can make a case a lot more complicated. Some of these include:

• The driver of the RV
• The owner of the RV
• The company that rented the RV
• The manufacturer of the RV
• The people who loaded the RV vehicle or trailer
• The people in charge of maintaining the RV

When an accident occurs, the responsible party or their respective representatives are going to try to make you settle for as little as possible and attempt to shift the blame for the accident onto you. This is why you need an experienced lawyer in injuries from RV’s accidents that can fight for your rights.

Steps to Follow After an RV Accident

There are certain steps that can help you keep going if you’ve been involved in a RV accident, some of these are:

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible even if you cannot see any of the injuries and are feeling ok, some injuries take more time to show symptoms and can create a sense of false security.
• If your injuries are not too severe, preferably wait for the police to report the accident.
• If you can take pictures of the scene and the bruises or other injuries you may have, if you can’t take pictures by yourself, ask someone to take the pictures for you.
• Try to get the contact information from possible witnesses and the driver, and ensure to get a copy of your own medical record when you go to the hospital.
• If you can write down all the details related to the accident
• Contact a car accident attorney in Las Vegas for a free evaluation of your case.

Damages for Which You Can Obtain Compensation 

There are several factors that can influence in the compensation for your injuries, some of these can be classified in two categories such as economic and non-economic damages, which include:

• Future and past medical bills: these include the costs for rehabilitation and long-term care if required.
• Loss of income: this will depend on the period it will take you to recover from your injuries, and how you may not be able to generate any money during this time.
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium 
• Emotional Distress: even though this can be harder to prove, you still qualify for compensation.
• Property damage: if any of your property was damaged during the accident you will be compensated for this.
• Loss of life’s pleasures: when your injuries left you unable to participate in your hobbies and other things that used to bring you joy after the accident.

Is There a Time Limit to Present a Claim for an RV Accident?

Yes, there is a period of two years for filing your claim, which is known as the statute of limitations, and it differs depending on the state, in the state of Nevada that’s the period for personal injuries. That is why it’s important that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible after suffering injuries from an RV accident.