Rear-end crashes are some of the most common car accidents in Las Vegas: at red lights on Flamingo, in stop-and-go traffic on I-15, and in the Spaghetti Bowl merge. They often look minor. A bent bumper, everyone says they're fine, and you exchange numbers and drive off.
The problem is that rear-end injuries often don't show up right away. Whiplash, back strain and concussion symptoms can take a day or two to appear. What you do in the first 72 hours can decide whether you get your medical bills covered or end up paying them yourself.
Here's what to do, hour by hour.
At the scene
Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. If the cars can be moved safely, move them out of traffic.
Call the police. In Las Vegas, Metro or Nevada Highway Patrol may not come to a minor crash with no injuries. Call anyway and ask. A police report is strong evidence of what happened.
Take photos before the cars move, if it's safe. Get both cars, the damage, the other driver's license plate, the road and any traffic signals. Take more than you think you need.
Get the other driver's information. You need their name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, and driver's license number. A photo of their insurance card and license is the easiest way.
Get witness names and numbers. Witnesses disappear fast, and an independent account can settle a fault dispute.
Call More Money Morales before you leave the scene, or as soon as you're safe. Don't wait to see if you feel worse, if the insurance company calls, or if the other driver admits fault. The sooner we're involved, the sooner we can protect evidence, deal with the insurance companies for you, and make sure nothing you say gets used against you. The call is free: (702) 781-4848.
Don't say "I'm fine" or "I'm sorry." You may not know yet whether you're hurt, and an apology can be twisted into an admission. Stick to the facts.
Within 24 hours
See a doctor, even if you feel okay. Go to urgent care, the ER or your own doctor. Tell them you were rear-ended and describe every symptom, even small ones like a stiff neck or a headache. A medical record made right after the crash is one of the most important pieces of your claim. A gap of a week or two gives the insurance company an argument that something else caused your injury.
Write down what happened while it's fresh. Note the time, location, direction you were traveling, what you heard, and what the other driver said.
Report the crash to your own insurance company. Your policy likely requires prompt notice. Give the basic facts only: when, where, and that you were hit from behind.
Within 72 hours
Watch for delayed symptoms. Neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, numbness or tingling in your arms, trouble sleeping or concentrating. If anything new appears, go back to the doctor and get it documented.
File a DMV report if required. Nevada requires drivers to file an SR-1 report with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or property damage is over $750, unless police filed a report. Most rear-end crashes cross the $750 line once a bumper and sensors are involved.
Don't give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement. They'll likely call within a day or two and sound friendly. Their adjuster's job is to pay as little as possible. You don't have to talk to them. Just say: "You can talk to my lawyer, Morales Injury Law." Then call us at (702) 781-4848 and we'll take it from there.
Don't accept a quick settlement. An early offer usually comes before you know how badly you're hurt. Once you sign a release, the claim is over, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than you thought. Learn more about how insurance companies lowball injury victims.
Who's at fault in a rear-end crash?
In most rear-end crashes, the driver in back is at fault. Nevada law requires drivers not to follow more closely than is reasonable and prudent for the speed and traffic (NRS 484B.127), so a driver who can't stop in time usually wasn't leaving enough room.
That's not automatic, though. The insurance company may argue you stopped suddenly, cut in front of them, or had broken brake lights. Nevada follows the 51% rule: if you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. That's why the photos, witnesses and police report from the scene matter so much. Read more about how fault is determined in a Nevada car accident.
Call More Money Morales first
If you were in a collision, call us right away, ideally before you talk to any insurance company. Every step above is easier with someone on your side from the start, and the first days after a crash are when the insurance company works hardest to lock in its version of what happened.
More Money Morales used to work on the insurance side, so he knows how adjusters handle rear-end claims and how they try to pay less. Let him deal with them while you focus on getting better.
The call is free, and you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. Hablamos español.
Call More Money Morales at (702) 781-4848.