Las Vegas Passenger Injuries Attorney Near You

Passengers who are injured in a Las Vegas motor vehicle collision have the right to seek compensation after an accident. In Nevada, the driver who caused the accident, along with their insurance company, is legally responsible for a passenger’s injuries and other damages. This means that if you were injured as a passenger, you can, and should, make a claim against the at-fault driver and their insurance policy, regardless of which vehicle you were in.

It is also possible that, as an injured passenger, you should be making a claim against both drivers. Under Nevada law, if both drivers share responsibility for the accident, they are both responsible for the full extent of the injuries suffered by a passenger. This is assuming the passenger was not somehow at fault for the crash, which would be highly unusual. In the event that both drivers in a two-vehicle accident share fault, passengers have the right to file claims against all applicable insurance carried by both drivers. Pursuing a claim against the insurance of both drivers can substantially increase the injured passenger’s recovery. This is particularly important where the passenger suffered serious injuries and one or both of the at-fault drivers only carried the minimum amount of insurance required.

The same is true if there are more than two at-fault drivers; the injured passenger can pursue a claim against all parties who contributed to the crash. In other words, they can recover from all the drivers who acted negligently, even if some drivers acted worse than others. Additionally, if the combined insurance carried by all at-fault drivers is inadequate to cover a passenger’s injuries, they may be able to seek compensation through the passenger’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, if the passenger has this coverage on their auto insurance policy.

Passengers have a duty to avoid interfering with the safe operation of a vehicle when it is in motion. If their actions contribute to causing a Las Vegas car accident, they may be held partially liable. Common ways a passenger can be found at fault for causing an accident include when a passenger attempts to control another driver’s vehicle. A passenger who interferes with driving by grabbing the steering wheel, pressing the gas or brake pedals, or otherwise manipulating the car’s movement can be held responsible for causing a crash. Passengers still owe a duty to act reasonably. Trying to control the vehicle outside of an emergency would likely be considered a breach of that duty and negligence on behalf of the passenger. This could limit or completely bar any recovery by the passenger and may result in a claim by other injured parties against them.