All busy highways are accident prone. Traffic accidents kill more people and cause more serious injuries than any other type of accident. Some of the most common accidents on Nevada’s highway system are merging accidents, either when drivers enter a highway from a ramp, or while attempting to change lanes when they merge.
A moment’s inattention by another driver can cause serious injuries if a collision happens at speed. If you have been hit by an inattentive driver who was executing a merging maneuver, you should discuss the possibility of legal action with a personal injury attorney.
I-15 in Nevada
I-15 is a 124 mile long length of highway in Nevada, which is used frequently by motorists wishing to visit Las Vegas, as it is the only interstate which passes through the city. I-15 crosses Nevada wholly within Clark County as it connects California on the southern side of the state to Arizona on the northern side.
The highway enters Nevada after crossing the state border near the town of Primm and passes through mostly desert country before entering Las Vegas. It then passes through North Las Vegas and the rest of Clark County before entering Arizona at Mesquite. The highway was first built in 1959.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On I-15
You will need to establish who was responsible for your injuries and discuss filing a personal injury claim with an attorney before taking legal action. A personal injury claim in Nevada must be submitted within 2 years of the date of the injury, preferably a lot earlier.
If you were hit by a government employee while at work, you still have 2 years to file a claim, but you must file a preliminary claim with the relevant government agency first.
Nevada is a modified comparative negligence state, which means that your portion of any blame for the accident must be less than 50%. The payment that might be awarded to you will be calculated according to the proportion of blame for the accident that is determined for each person involved.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On I-15
If you are injured in a merging accident while on I-15, your first priority is to ensure that you and others are safe and that medical treatment is obtained promptly. If there are any significant injuries, police officers will take down details and file a report.
You will need a copy if you intend to claim compensation. Other important evidence that can help support your claim includes:
- photos taken at the crash scene;
- witness contact details and statements;
- report by vehicle repair firm of damage to your vehicle;
- medical reports;
- documentation showing cost of any treatment or surgery;
- evidence from your job showing any earnings that you would have forfeited due to the injury.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
You will find that it is far easier to get a fair compensation payment if you have help from an experienced personal injury attorney. Whatever the circumstances of your merging accident, the attorney will be able to tell you whether it is likely to have any chance of success based on the evidence you have available and will have dealt with cases like yours many times before.
