If you’ve experienced an injury due to a car crash, medical malpractice, or any other accident caused by someone else’s negligence, establishing liability is the first step toward collecting the compensation you deserve. In some cases, proving fault in a personal injury claim might be relatively straightforward, but sometimes, victims share some responsibility with multiple parties. Here are a few answers to questions victims commonly have about liability in personal injury cases.

What You Need to Know About Injury Liability

How do I prove liability?

The more evidence you can collect from the scene of the accident, the easier it will be to clearly establish liability. Take pictures of any factors that might have contributed to your injuries, and collect the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Any evidence you collect will help your personal injury attorney conduct their own investigation.

Can I collect damages if I was partly responsible for the accident?

In most states, including Nevada, victims can still collect compensation for accidents for which they were partly responsible. However, the amount of your award will be decreased in proportion to your liability. For example, if the court decides that you share 20% of the blame for the accident, you’ll only be able to recover 80% of your total damages.

What should I say when the insurance company contacts me?

Insurance adjusters often try to get victims to make statements that can be interpreted as accepting liability for the accident. To preserve your rights for compensation, it’s best to not communicate directly with the insurer until you’ve consulted with a personal injury attorney.

Who else might be at fault for my injuries?

In some situations, parties who weren’t even present might share some responsibility for your losses. For instance, if you were hit by a professional driver, their employer might be included in the claim, or you might take action against a city agency if a poorly maintained road contributed to your accident.

For over 40 years, victims throughout Elko County, NV, have relied on Goicoechea, DiGrazia, Coyle, & Stanton for aggressive representation and effective legal counsel. If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligent or malicious behavior, their personal injury attorneys will aggressively pursue the full compensation you deserve. Visit their website for more information on how they can help, or call (775) 738-8091 to schedule a consultation with an experienced injury attorney today.