When medical bills pile up, insurance companies undervalue your claim, and you’re struggling to recover from injuries caused by someone else’s negligence, a Reno personal injury lawyer can be your strongest advocate.
Every year, thousands of Northern Nevada residents suffer injuries in preventable accidents, from crashes on I-580 to slips and falls at local businesses. Without proper legal representation, many accept inadequate settlements that don't cover their long-term medical needs or lost wages.
Don't let insurance companies minimize your suffering or pressure you into unfair agreements. Call Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman at (775) 284-8888 for a free consultation today.
Key Takeaways About Reno Personal Injury Law
- Nevada’s modified comparative negligence law (NRS 41.141) allows recovery for injury victims found 50% or less at fault, with compensation reduced by your share of fault. If you are found more than 50% responsible, Nevada law bars you from recovery.
- Most personal injury claims in Nevada must be filed within two years of the date of injury under NRS 11.190. Strict exceptions exist for latent injuries or minors. Claims against government entities are governed by specific requirements, including notice rules in NRS Chapter 41.
- Insurers may use recorded statements, social media, and even surveillance to weaken your claim.
- Most personal injury cases settle without trial, but having trial-ready attorneys typically results in significantly higher settlement offers.
- Medical documentation and prompt treatment create the foundation for successful injury claims in Nevada courts.
How Our Reno Personal Injury Lawyers Advocate for Injured Nevadans
Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman has represented accident victims across Northern Nevada since 1998, achieving substantial results for clients from Reno to Carson City. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. That preparation demonstrates to insurers that we are committed to pursuing appropriate outcomes, rather than accepting quick settlements that undervalue injuries.
We keep our caseload small so we can provide the personalized attention that larger firms often cannot. When you work with our Nevada personal injury lawyers, you will speak directly with the attorneys who know your case inside and out, not just with case managers. From our California Avenue office, we serve injured clients throughout Washoe County, Douglas County, and the Lake Tahoe region, delivering dedicated representation aimed at achieving the best possible outcome.
Unlike firms that rush settlements to move onto the next case, we take time to understand how your injuries affect your daily life and future plans.
Hear from our clients
Types of Personal Injury Cases in Northern Nevada
Personal injury law covers any situation where someone's negligence causes harm to another person, creating potential liability for damages. Nevada law recognizes various types of injury claims, each with specific legal requirements and compensation possibilities that a skilled Reno personal injury lawyer understands how to navigate successfully.
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common type of personal injury case in Reno. However, victims may also pursue claims involving premises liability, construction accidents, and other forms of negligence. Understanding which legal theory applies to your situation is crucial, as it shapes how evidence is gathered and what types of damages you may be able to recover.
Motor Vehicle Accidents Throughout Reno and Sparks
Car accidents remain the leading cause of serious injuries requiring a personal injury attorney in Reno, with intersections like McCarran and Mae Anne Avenue seeing frequent collisions. Truck accidents on I-80 through the Truckee River Canyon create particularly devastating injuries due to the size and weight differences between commercial vehicles and passenger cars.
Motorcycle accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries because riders lack the protection of enclosed vehicles. Even with helmets and protective gear, motorcyclists face higher risks of traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and road rash that requires extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents have increased as Reno develops more walkable neighborhoods and bike lanes throughout the city. These vulnerable road users suffer severe injuries even in low-speed collisions, often facing long recovery periods and permanent disabilities that affect their ability to work and enjoy life.
Premises Liability Lawyers in Reno: Slip and Fall & Other Claims
Property owners in Nevada have legal duties to maintain safe conditions for visitors, whether at casinos along Virginia Street, retail stores in South Meadows, or apartment complexes near UNR. When dangerous conditions cause injuries, victims may pursue premises liability claims with help from a Reno personal injury attorney to recover compensation for their damages.
Common hazards that lead to premises liability claims include several preventable conditions that property owners should address promptly. These hazards often result in slip and fall accidents and other injuries when not properly remedied:
- Wet floors without warning signs in grocery stores and restaurants
- Broken stairs or missing handrails in apartment buildings
- Inadequate lighting in parking garages and walkways
- Uneven sidewalks or potholes in shopping center parking lots
- Dog attacks when owners fail to control aggressive animals
Property owners may argue they were unaware of a hazard, but Nevada law holds them accountable for dangers they should have identified through reasonable inspection and maintenance.
Regular upkeep and prompt repairs prevent most premises liability incidents, making owner negligence the real cause of these preventable injuries that affect Northern Nevada residents.
Damages in Nevada Personal Injury Cases: Economic and Non-Economic
Compensation in personal injury cases covers more than medical bills—it can include both economic and non-economic losses that affect victims and their families. Nevada law allows recovery for past and future damages, but calculating fair compensation requires understanding how injuries affect every aspect of your life, which an experienced Reno personal injury lawyer helps document thoroughly.
Insurance companies focus on minimizing payouts by disputing the necessity of medical treatment and downplaying pain and suffering claims. They use computer programs that assign arbitrary values to injuries without considering individual circumstances that make your case unique or the long-term impact on your quality of life.
Economic Damages: Medical Bills, Lost Wages & Property Loss
Economic damages represent measurable financial losses that accidents cause, including medical expenses from Renown Medical Center or Saint Mary's, lost wages from missing work, and property damage from the incident. These damages require documentation like medical bills, pay stubs from Nevada employers, and repair estimates to prove their value in negotiations or at trial.
Future economic damages often exceed past losses, especially for serious injuries requiring ongoing treatment or causing permanent disabilities that prevent returning to work. Life care planners and vocational rehabilitation experts help establish the long-term costs of injuries, including future surgeries, physical therapy at local facilities, medications, and lost earning capacity throughout your remaining working years in Northern Nevada's economy.
Non-Economic Damages in Nevada: Pain, Suffering & Emotional Distress
Pain and suffering compensation addresses the physical discomfort and emotional distress that injuries cause beyond just financial losses documented by receipts. Nevada doesn't cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, allowing juries in Washoe County courts to award compensation that truly reflects the impact on your quality of life and daily activities.
Calculating pain and suffering requires presenting evidence about how injuries affect your daily activities, relationships with family, and mental health following the trauma. Personal journals documenting your recovery process, testimony from family members about personality changes, and psychological evaluations from Nevada mental health professionals all help establish the true cost of living with serious injuries.
The Personal Injury Claim Process with a Reno Attorney
Understanding the legal process helps reduce anxiety and allows you to make informed decisions about your case at each stage of litigation or settlement negotiations. While every case follows a similar framework, the specific timeline and procedures vary based on injury severity, liability disputes, and whether insurance companies cooperate or fight legitimate claims.
Most cases handled by a Reno personal injury lawyer begin with investigation and evidence gathering before any formal legal action gets filed in Nevada courts. This pre-litigation phase often determines whether cases settle quickly or require extended negotiation or trial in Washoe County District Court to achieve fair compensation for injured victims.
Initial Investigation and Evidence Collection
Strong personal injury cases rely on evidence gathered immediately after accidents, before memories fade and physical evidence disappears from accident scenes around Reno. Your personal injury attorney needs to document the accident scene thoroughly, identify witnesses who saw what happened, and preserve evidence that proves liability and damages suffered by victims.
Important evidence to collect after any accident in Northern Nevada includes several types of documentation and proof that strengthen your claim:
- Police reports from Reno Police Department or Nevada Highway Patrol
- Photographs of injuries, property damage, and accident scenes
- Medical records from local hospitals detailing diagnosis and treatment
- Witness statements with contact information for follow-up interviews
- Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras
Quick action to preserve evidence prevents defendants from claiming lack of proof or disputing how accidents occurred on Reno streets and highways. Insurance companies often conduct their own investigations designed to shift blame onto victims, making independent evidence collection by your Reno personal injury lawyer important for protecting your rights and maximizing compensation.
Negotiation and Settlement with Insurance Companies
Once your attorney establishes liability and documents damages comprehensively, settlement negotiations begin with demand letters outlining your case's strengths and value. Insurance companies typically respond with low offers designed to test your resolve and see if financial pressure forces quick acceptance of inadequate compensation that doesn't cover your needs.
Effective negotiation requires patience and willingness to counter unreasonable offers with evidence supporting higher compensation for your injuries and losses. Your personal injury lawyer in Reno uses medical evidence from treating physicians, expert testimony from qualified professionals, and jury verdict research from similar Nevada cases to demonstrate why your case merits the compensation demanded.
Settlement negotiations may continue even after filing a lawsuit in Washoe County District Court, with many cases resolving just before trial when insurance companies realize you're serious about pursuing justice. Having attorneys who actually try cases in Reno courtrooms changes the entire dynamic, as insurers know they face real risk if they don't offer fair settlements to injured victims.
Results that speak for themselves
Nevada's Statute of Limitations for Injury Claims
Nevada Revised Statute 11.190 requires that most personal injury lawsuits be filed within two years from the date the injury occurs. If the deadline is missed, the claim cannot move forward regardless of its strength, which is why speaking with a Reno personal injury attorney soon after an accident is important. Exceptions may apply under the discovery rule for injuries that are not immediately noticeable, or in cases involving minors.
Claims against Nevada state or local government entities generally follow the same two-year statute of limitations, but they are also subject to specific rules under NRS Chapter 41. These rules can affect liability, available damages, and the procedures that must be followed.
Common Mistakes That Hurt Personal Injury Claims
Many accident victims unknowingly damage their cases through actions that seem harmless but provide ammunition for insurance companies to reduce or deny claims. Understanding these pitfalls helps protect your right to fair compensation while your Reno personal injury lawyer builds your case for maximum recovery.
Social media posts create permanent evidence that insurance companies search for and use against injured victims throughout Nevada. Common mistakes that hurt personal injury claims include several behaviors that seem innocent but undermine your credibility:
- Posting photos of activities that suggest you're not seriously injured
- Discussing your accident or injuries on Facebook or Instagram
- Accepting quick settlement offers before understanding injury extent
- Giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal counsel
- Delaying medical treatment or missing follow-up appointments
Insurance companies monitor your online activity and use any posts that contradict your injury claims, even if taken out of context from your recovery process. What seems like sharing good news with friends becomes evidence that your injuries aren't as serious as claimed, reducing the value insurance companies offer for legitimate injuries.
FAQs for Reno Personal Injury Lawyers
How much does hiring a personal injury attorney in Reno cost?
Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency fees, meaning you pay nothing upfront and attorneys only get paid if they win your case. Contingency fees typically range from 33% to 40% of your settlement or verdict, depending on case complexity and whether trial becomes necessary.
What if I was partially at fault for my accident in Nevada?
Nevada’s modified comparative negligence law allows you to recover damages as long as your share of fault is not greater than the other party's (or parties'). This means you can still recover compensation if you are found 50% or less at fault. Your percentage of fault simply reduces your final compensation amount.
Do I have to go to court for my personal injury case?
Most cases handled by a Reno personal injury lawyer settle without trial through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution like mediation. However, being prepared for trial often motivates better settlement offers from insurance companies who want to avoid the uncertainty and expense of jury verdicts.
What's my personal injury case worth in Nevada?
Case values depend on injury severity, medical expenses, lost income, and impact on your life quality in Northern Nevada. Every case is unique, making generic calculators or formulas unreliable for determining fair compensation without thorough evaluation by experienced attorneys.
When should I contact a Reno personal injury attorney?
Contact a personal injury lawyer immediately after receiving initial medical treatment for your injuries to protect your rights. Early legal representation prevents costly mistakes, preserves evidence, and stops insurance companies from taking advantage of unrepresented accident victims.
What is the first step I should take after an accident in Reno?
First, ensure your safety and the safety of others. Move to a safe location if possible and call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance. Your health is the top priority.
Seek medical evaluation at a local hospital like Renown or Saint Mary's, or an urgent care clinic, even if you feel fine. Some serious injuries have delayed symptoms.
After addressing your medical needs, document everything: exchange insurance information, take photos of the scene and your injuries, and get contact information from witnesses.
What information does a Reno personal injury lawyer need for a free consultation?
To make your consultation as productive as possible, try to bring any documents you have related to the accident. This includes the police or incident report (if available), photos or videos from the scene, your medical records or discharge papers, and any letters or emails you have received from an insurance company.
Don't worry if you don't have everything. The most important part is discussing what happened so we can advise you on the next steps.
How does a lawyer prove the other party was negligent in Nevada?
To prove negligence, your attorney must establish four elements:
- Duty: The other party owed you a legal duty of care (e.g., the duty to drive safely or maintain safe property).
- Breach: The party breached that duty (for example, they ran a red light or failed to clean up a spill).
- Causation: This breach directly caused your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered actual harm (e.g., medical bills, lost wages, pain). We gather evidence like police reports, witness testimony, surveillance video, and expert opinions to build a case that proves these four elements.
Our personal injury resources
Contact a Reno Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Delaying legal representation gives insurers more time to build their defense while crucial evidence fades or disappears from accident scenes. The physical and financial toll of serious injuries doesn't pause while you consider your options, making prompt action with a qualified Reno personal injury lawyer necessary to protect your rights and maximize compensation.
Insurance adjusters already have teams of lawyers working to minimize your claim's value from the moment your accident happens in Northern Nevada. Level the playing field by getting an experienced personal injury attorney in Reno who fights for your interests with the same determination insurance companies show protecting their profits at your expense.
Call (775) 284-8888 now for your free consultation and take the first step toward getting the compensation you need to move forward with your life.