According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, injuries are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 44. Further, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 5 and 34, with about 18,000 people dying each year. What’s more, falls account for approximately 20% of fatalities every year.
Common Injuries Suffered Following an Accident
From car crashes to slip-and-falls to surgical errors, unintentional accidents can cause different types of injuries and even death. As such, it is paramount that you seek immediate medical attention anytime that you are involved in an accident. Common personal injuries in Vegas from accidents include:
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations;
- Leg injuries, including knee sprains and tears, broken bones, and fractures;
- Abdominal injuries, including broken or fractured ribs;
- Facial injuries, including cuts and bruises;
- Head injuries, including concussions; and
- Neck and chest injuries.
Ultimately, the type and severity of any injury will depend on the circumstances of each situation. For any of these injuries, however, it is imperative to seek immediate medical attention.
Common Undiagnosed or Untreated Accidents
While many injuries suffered during an accident may be obvious, other injuries are not as easily detectable or may not show up for some time after the accident. Examples of these types of injuries include:
- Concussions, which can result in headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, sensitivity to light, or difficulty breathing;
- Soft tissue injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments, such as “whiplash” injuries; and
- Emotional harm, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Even if you do not believe you have suffered any injury, it is important to visit a doctor as soon after the accident as possible. Symptoms often do not appear until days or weeks after an accident. The doctor will diagnose and treat any obvious injuries and symptoms. More importantly, however, a doctor will also provide guidance on how to monitor any symptoms following an accident that may not be obvious. What’s more, the doctor can recommend any follow up treatments and appointments to monitor and to treat delayed injuries and symptoms. Seeking immediate medical attention will also help facilitate the processing of your insurance claim and limit the ability of the insurance company to deny coverage based on not timely seeking medical attention.
How To Obtain an Incident Report
If you are involved in a car accident that results in injury to you or another person or property, you should contact local authorities to report the accident. As a legal matter, you have an obligation to report car accidents in Nevada resulting in injuries, fatalities, or property damage. As a practical matter, reporting an accident to the authorities can help you process an insurance claim and can be used in legal proceedings to protect your rights. Furthermore, you should make a report in the event of other personal injuries, such as in the case of a dog bite or a slip and fall accident.
What Information is Included in an Incident Report?
The type of information that will be included in an incident report one will vary slightly with each type of accident. The information in a car accident report will differ slightly from the information included in a slip and fall accident report. Notably, however, certain information is included in most incident reports. This includes:
- The names of the parties involved in the accident;
- A description of the accident with a possible picture of the accident;
- Witnesses to the accident;
- Statements from individuals involved in the accident or witnesses;
- A finding of possible liability, including possible fines or citations; and
- The name of the officer who completed the report with badge identification number.
Importantly, if the police are not contacted at the time of the accident, you can also file a police report after the accident. Depending on the type of the report, you may be able to file a police report over the phone when calling the non-emergency number (311), or (702) 828-3111. Or a report may also be filed at Police Records Bureau, located at 400 S. Martin L. King Blvd., Building C.
How to Obtain a Las Vegas Incident Report
After the incident report is completed, you will want to obtain a copy of the report. Your insurance company will want this report to help process a claim. What’s more, you may also use this report in support of a lawsuit against another party to hold them liable for your injuries. When requesting an accident report, the following information is needed:
- Event number, if available;
- Location (including cross streets);
- Date and time of accident;
- Name (first and last) of party(ies) involved; and
- License plate number of the vehicle(s) in accident, if known.
To obtain a copy of an accident report, you can request a copy by sending a request via letter or by picking it up at the Police Records Bureau. If sending a request by mail, you will need to include:
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- Original notarized authorization of a copy of your driver’s license (or other government issued identification. The date must not be expired.);
- A return addressed envelope; and
- $9.00 (cashier’s check or money order payable to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. You should not send personal checks or cash.).
When submitting a request by mail, you should send the request to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Attn: Correspondence Section, 400 S. Martin Luther King Boulevard, Building C, Las Vegas, NV 89106
Contact an Accident Attorney at the Ladah Law Firm for Legal Advice
If you have questions about incident reports or how to obtain one, the personal injury attorneys at the Ladah Law Firm can help. The Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at the Ladah Law Firm have experience in helping individuals in all types of personal injury accidents, including premises liability and motor vehicle accidents.
Contact the our Las Vegas accident attorneys today to discuss your case. You can call us today at 702-252-0055 or visit our office at 517 South 3rd Street in Las Vegas.
