When people think of Las Vegas, they usually think of the entertainment attractions, bright lights, and iconic streets. But like any large city, Las Vegas also presents a backdrop in which accidents and injuries can occur.
When you or someone you love has sustained a burn or fire injury in Las Vegas, you may have the right to seek financial compensation. This is especially true if your injury was due to another person’s carelessness or negligence.
It is crucial that burn and fire victims contact a skilled personal injury attorney. An accomplished lawyer will fight hard to secure maximum financial recovery for you.
In the following article, we will examine the things that you need to know about Las Vegas fire injury settlements.
Contacting the skilled legal team at Morgan & Morgan will give you the best chance of obtaining financial recovery. If you have suffered from a burn or fire injury in Las Vegas, complete our user-friendly contact form online to schedule your free initial case evaluation.
Types of Accidents That Can Lead to Las Vegas Fire Injury Settlements
Fire injuries and burns can happen in a wide array of contexts. Burns are some of the most common injuries that occur in the United States.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the most common kinds of fire and burn injuries. Although many burns are the result of fire injuries, others may result from various heat sources or hazards.
Friction Burns
This type of burn injury happens when a foreign object rubs against the skin and causes a burn. Friction burns are a combination of scraping and a heat burn. This type of injury is particularly common in motorcycle collisions.
Cold Burns
This type of burn results in damage to the skin when the skin becomes frozen. Cold burns are also known as “frostbite.”
Thermal Burns
Thermal burns result from the body coming into contact with something hot. Extreme heat causes the death of skin cells and can lead to extensive tissue damage.
This is the most common type of burn that people face. Thermal burns include:
- Fire injuries
- Steam burns
- Scalding water burns
Oftentimes, workplaces and businesses present hazards that can lead to thermal burns. These include machinery, ovens, coffee pots, and more.
These are only a few of the most common categories of burn and fire injuries. Other types of burn injuries include chemical burns, electrical burns, and radiation burns.
No matter what type of burn or fire injury you have suffered, it is important to contact a legal professional. A skilled attorney can provide all of the information that you need when it comes to securing Las Vegas fire injury settlements.
Understanding Las Vegas Fire Injury Settlements
In personal injury law, victims have the right to pursue financial compensation from the person or entity that is responsible for their injuries.
The payments that the victim receives from the liable party are known as “damages.” Damages can be awarded as the result of a lawsuit or trial.
But damages can also be secured through negotiations before a lawsuit is formally filed. This is how most personal injury cases are resolved. In cases like these, the agreement is called a “settlement.”
Accomplished Nevada attorneys know the best methods for securing Las Vegas fire injury settlements.
Common Categories of Damages in Fire Injury Cases
Each personal injury case is unique. Whether an injury dispute is resolved through a lawsuit or pretrial negotiations, there are a few common categories of damages that are taken into account.
The two primary categories of damages in fire injury cases are “economic” and “non-economic” damages. Both of these are intended to compensate a victim for the negative consequences that they endured as the result of their accident.
Economic Damages
This type of monetary compensation is meant to pay back an injury victim for any direct financial losses that they incurred as a result of their accident. In other words, economic damages are not a payment for the difficulty of enduring the fire injury. Instead, this category of damages is only intended to restore the injured person to their previous financial state.
A personal injury usually results in more than just physical and psychological damage. Oftentimes, victims face mounting financial costs after an accident.
Common examples of economic damages include:
- Current medical bills
- Anticipated future medical care and treatments
- Lost wages and income from missed days of work
- Cost of replacing or repairing damaged property
Oftentimes, victims undervalue the economic costs of their injuries. A knowledgeable accident lawyer will examine the facts of your case to help you determine the full value of your fire injury.
Non-Economic Damages
When most people think of an injury settlement, they think of the economic payments. But not every type of negative consequence from a fire accident comes with a monetary value.
Victims also have the legal right to pursue damages for the intangible losses from their injuries. These are known as “non-economic” damages.
In many cases, the non-economic costs of an injury are the most difficult to bear. Suppose that you sustained a severe fire injury as the result of a business owner’s negligence. How much is it worth to be unable to sit comfortably for long periods of time? What is the value of being unable to engage in the hobbies and activities that you love? How much should you be paid for feelings of embarrassment about scars from your injury?
Typical examples of non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, and stress
- Long-term trauma
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- The loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium or relationship in wrongful death claims
Overall, fire injury claims will often involve the same types of damages as any other personal injury case.
But fire injuries and burns can be particularly damaging. They can lead to long-lasting or permanent scarring and disfigurement. The responsible party must compensate the plaintiff for physical and emotional pain.
The disfigurement that can be caused by fire injuries is especially relevant. A skilled attorney will fight for payments to compensate for any physical scarring.
But victims should also be paid for the emotional and social damage that is done by a fire injury. If the plaintiff has suffered a severe burn on their face, they may feel embarrassed or depressed. A fire injury can change the quality of the victim’s social interactions and relationships.
These very real losses must be taken into account when you’re calculating the value of Las Vegas fire injury settlements.
Finding the Right Fire Injury Attorney for You
If you have sustained a fire injury and believe that you have cause to pursue damages, consult with an attorney. Although there are many personal injury lawyers for hire in Las Vegas, finding the right one for your specific needs can be challenging.
When you need legal representation, consider the following tips:
Do Your Due Diligence
Make sure to research several different attorneys and law firms before hiring anyone. You should not simply accept the first result from an internet search when you’re seeking legal representation.
It is a good idea to read reviews from former clients. Make sure to find assessments from several different websites. Do not rely only on the positive testimonials featured on the law firm’s site.
Although all attorneys will have a few negative reviews, find a lawyer with a vast majority of positive evaluations.
Look for Trial Experience
The best fire injury attorneys have plenty of trial experience. Most personal injury claims reach a settlement without the need to go to court. But it is important to know that your lawyer can handle a trial, if necessary.
You should not have to worry that your attorney will make an agreement that is not in your best interests just to avoid the courtroom.
Contingency Fees
Search for an attorney or firm that operates on a contingency fee payment structure. A contingency fee is a portion of the recovery from a personal injury case that is used to cover the cost of legal representation.
When a lawyer operates on a contingency fee payment structure, the injury victim pays nothing unless the firm wins or settles their case. Most reputable firms are paid through contingency fees for personal injury cases.
Never hire a lawyer or firm who wants you to pay before agreeing to take your case.
FAQs
Do Nevada attorneys take most of your injury settlement? ›
If a plaintiff wins the case, their attorney will collect a percentage of the settlement. If the plaintiff loses, the attorney is not entitled to a fee. It is standard for a Nevada personal injury lawyer to collect anywhere between 33.33% to 40% of the financial award, plus any court costs.
How do you calculate pain and suffering in Nevada? ›In this method, your economic damages are multiplied by a number, typically any number from 1.5 to 5. The total amount is your final settlement. For example, you have $10,000 in economic damages such as doctor bills and damage to your car. A fair assessment of your pain and suffering is a multiplier of 3.
How much are most personal injury settlements? ›An average personal injury settlement amount is anywhere between $3,000 and $75,000. Be careful when using an average personal injury settlement calculator to give you an idea of what you may stand to collect. These numbers really depend on your individual case and are hard to predict without a professional.
What are the chances of getting a settlement? ›In fact, industry observers estimate that more than 95 percent of cases end in settlement, not trial.
How long does it take to settle a personal injury case in Nevada? ›The average personal injury settlement takes about three to six months from start to finish. If an insurance company is not offering what your lawyer believes is a full and fair settlement value for your losses, however, or if the insurer has rejected your claim, your case may have to move to trial.
What is the highest percentage a lawyer can charge? ›However, a legal professional's rate can range from 25% to 75%, depending upon a number of factors. These percentages often depend on your lawyer's experience, the laws of the state you live in, whether or not your case goes to trial, as well as the complexity of your case.
What is a typical amount of pain and suffering? ›A typical pain and suffering award varies greatly depending on the type of accident and injury. In general, the more severe the injury, the higher the award. Some cases can receive a few thousand dollars in a pain and suffering settlement, while others may receive hundreds of thousands or more.
Do you pay taxes on pain and suffering? ›These are non-economic damages that can be recovered in addition to your monetary or economic losses. The compensation you receive for your physical pain and suffering arising from your physical injuries is not considered to be taxable and does not need to be reported to the IRS or the State of California.
How do you prove pain and suffering? ›- Medical bills.
- Medical records, including your treatment records.
- Pictures of your injuries.
- Psychiatric records.
- The time you missed from work.
- Your mental state.
- Seek Legal Representation Right Away. ...
- Think About a Settlement Amount. ...
- Be Cautious About What You Reveal to the Adjuster. ...
- Don't Necessarily Accept First Offer. ...
- Request the Adjuster to Justify a Low Offer. ...
- Highlight Emotional Points.
At what point do most cases settle? ›
Some cases settle within days of a lawsuit being filed, or are even settled before the court paperwork is filed by a plaintiff to take civil action. In other situations, a settlement may be reached just before a jury reaches a verdict or even after a jury has made a decision and an appeal is pending.
How much money should I ask for in a settlement? ›To get a general idea of settlement, add up the costs in medical bills, damages, and lost wages, and multiply the sum by three. This may be around the amount in the settlement you can receive after a car accident. Compensation for pain and suffering is only given to those who are injured in a car accident.
How long does it take to negotiate a settlement? ›The average settlement negotiation takes one to three months once all relevant variables are presented. However, some settlements can take much longer to resolve. By partnering with skilled legal counsel, you can speed up the negotiation process and secure compensation faster.
How long do most settlements take? ›How long it takes to get a settlement for your personal injury claim depends heavily on the facts of the case. On average, the typical settlement takes six weeks for processing after the case is settled. This is due to a number of factors and may vary from one case to another.
Why do judges prefer settlements? ›A settlement allows for certainty as you eliminate the chances of losing in civil court. A settlement also allows you to avoid time, expense, and publicity that goes along with a court case.
How long does an insurance company have to settle a claim in Nevada? ›Insurance companies in Nevada have 80 working days to settle a claim after it is filed. Nevada insurance companies also have specific time frames in which they must acknowledge the claim and then decide whether to accept it, before paying out the final settlement.
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Las Vegas? ›The Nevada personal injury statute of limitations states that you have two years from the date that an injury occurs to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the victim dies and you seek to file a wrongful death lawsuit, the two-year countdown begins at the date of death, not the date of injury.
How is workers comp settlement calculated in Nevada? ›The level may range from one to 100%. For every percentage of permanent impairment, you will receive 0.6% of your income before your injury. You may be able to receive a lump sum for a settlement or receive monthly payments that will continue for five years or until you turn 70-years-old, whichever is later.
What is a 3rd of $25000? ›One-third of twenty-five thousand dollars is $8,333.33.
We can find our answer by dividing $25,000 by 3.
Answer and Explanation: 1 3 of 50 thousand dollars is $16,666.67.
Should you be 100 percent honest with your lawyer? ›
Being honest with your attorney is crucial to your case. Because of attorney-client privilege, anything you say to your attorney will stay between the two of you. Some things might be hard to admit to yourself, let alone someone else, but being dishonest with your lawyer will not only hurt you but also them.
Is severe pain a disability? ›Chronic pain syndrome can force people to retire early or severely limit their daily activities. In many cases, people have pain that is not curable. The Social Security Administration does not consider chronic pain to be a disability and chronic pain syndrome is not listed as an impairment in the Blue Book.
When pain becomes suffering? ›Suffering is the interpretation of that event and involves thoughts, beliefs, or judgments,4,5 and reflects the human experience of pain. Pain can cause suffering when it is uncontrolled or persists. Uncontrolled pain can lead to further physical impact and to major disruption in quality of life (QOL).
Can the IRS take my settlement money? ›And, the IRS cannot garnish any portion of your workers' compensation settlement. However, once the settlement is finalized and you come into possession of your settlement proceeds, this doesn't mean that the IRS cannot then attempt to take legal action against you to recover any money owed.
Do I have to report settlement money to IRS? ›If you receive a settlement in California that is considered taxable income, you will need to report it on your tax return. You will typically receive a Form 1099-MISC, which reports the amount of taxable income you received during the year.
Does a settlement count as income? ›Settlements for automobile and property damages are not taxable, but there are exceptions. Like medical expenses, the IRS and the State of California consider these damages as reimbursement for a car or home previously paid.
What injuries are hard to prove? ›Some injuries can change a person's life, but are incredibly difficult to diagnose and treat. This is often the case when it comes to injuries such as whiplash, nerve damage, sprains, strains, mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions.
What type of compensatory damages will pay for pain and suffering? ›General damages (also called "non-economic damages") are harder to measure than special damages. They are meant to compensate plaintiffs for intangible losses associated with an injury like "pain and suffering." Examples of general damages include: pain and suffering (physical and mental)
How does suffering have value? ›One of the most significant benefits of suffering is that it breeds a deep respect for reality, for what is. While the experience of joy connects us to the realm of infinite possibilities, the experience of pain reminds us of our limitations.
How do I ask for a bigger settlement? ›- Hold Onto Everything. ...
- Open an Insurance Claim in a Timely Manner. ...
- Estimate the Value of Your Claim Carefully. ...
- Write an Effective Demand Letter. ...
- Reject the Insurer's First Offer. ...
- Highlight Facts that Benefit You. ...
- Remain Calm During Negotiations. ...
- Hire a Lawyer to Help.
How do you respond to a low settlement offer? ›
- Stay Calm. Your first reaction to a low settlement might be anger and confusion. ...
- Ask Questions. After you receive the offer and take time to process it emotionally, you should start considering why the offer was so low. ...
- Counteroffer. ...
- Always Respond in Writing. ...
- Don't Accept a Settlement Offer Before You Heal.
- Prepare Well for the Settlement Agreement Negotiation. ...
- Decide which negotiation tactics to use. ...
- Ask for a Protected Conversation with your Employer. ...
- Don't ask for too much. ...
- Don't ask for too little. ...
- Find out how the settlement payments will be taxed.
Settlement Is More Predictable
Settling out of court as a process is more predictable than going to court, regardless of circumstances and/or details. As well, even if the evidence is in your favor, a trial could result in a different legal outcome than you had imagined.
Settlements are significantly faster than a personal injury trial. On average, a settlement will take three to six months to complete. On the other hand, a trial takes twice as long to complete. Settlements are usually quicker, more efficient, less expensive, and less stressful than going to court.
How do most cases end? ›The vast majority of criminal cases end in plea bargains, a new report finds. A new report finds that the vast majority of criminal cases end in a plea bargain. The American Bar Association says the practice puts efficiency over fairness and leads to innocent people being coerced to plead guilty.
What is an acceptable settlement offer? ›Most obligations settle between 30%-50% of the original value. If the debt collection agency is unwilling to accept any settlement, you may negotiate a payment plan with them. Payment plans can keep you out of court, and you won't need to fork over a large amount of cash at once.
How long do most personal injury cases take? ›However the typical personal injury case can take from a few months to a couple of years. Indeed, the timeline of your claim will depend on many different factors, some of which are within the control of you and your lawyer, and others that are largely within the control of the insurance company.
What is a reasonable full and final settlement offer? ›What percentage should I offer a full and final settlement? It depends on what you can afford, but you should offer equal amounts to each creditor as a full and final settlement. For example, if the lump sum you have is 75% of your total debt, you should offer each creditor 75% of the amount you owe them.
How long does it take for insurance companies to negotiate a settlement? ›Negotiating a Settlement
Insurance companies do not like to pay out much on injury claims, so it might take time to negotiate. Most of the time, settlement negotiation takes a few weeks or months after getting the first offer.
Settlement negotiations are most effective at the proverbial sweet spot, when each side has the information it believes it needs to make a judgment about settlement but before discovery expenses allow the sunk costs mentality to take hold.
Should I just accept a settlement offer? ›
It is not in your best interest to accept a settlement offer without speaking with an attorney. The initial settlement offer from the insurance company is probably not fair. The offer may be much lower than the value of your damages. If the insurance company sends you a check, do not cash the check.
What happens once a settlement is reached? ›After a case is settled, meaning that the case did not go to trial, the attorneys receive the settlement funds, prepare a final closing statement, and give the money to their clients. Once the attorney gets the settlement check, the clients will also receive their balance check.
Is an insurance settlement negotiable? ›Before you accept the first offer you receive from an insurance company, be aware that you can negotiate to get what you deserve. The first step in the negotiation process is figuring out the true value of your vehicle.
Do plaintiffs or defendants win more often? ›Plaintiffs won in 68% of bench trials, compared to about 54% of jury trials.
Why do lawyers go up to the judge? ›An attorney may approach the bench in order to have a conversation with the judge and opposing counsel off the record and/or out of the jury's earshot. An attorney or juror must obtain permission from the judge to approach; e.g. "your honor, may I approach the bench?" For example, in People v. Maher, 89 N.Y.
Do judges regret their decisions? ›Our November Question of the Month asked NJC alumni if they have ever regretted one of their rulings. Nearly 80 percent of the 464 judges who responded said yes. “Anyone who says he/she hasn't is not being completely honest with themselves,” commented one judge anonymously, as was most often the case.
Why are there so many injury lawyers in Nevada? ›Nevada Is a “Fault” State for Car Accidents
Hence another reason why personal injury lawyers flood our State. In a “no-fault” state, you're responsible for collecting compensation from your own insurance company. So if you hired a car accident attorney, you'd essentially be suing yourself.
It can take a long time to complete all the phases of a civil lawsuit. The length depends on the complexity of the case and the amount of evidence and depositions involved. Complexities in the law can also lengthen the time to resolution. It's rare, but it can take two to three years to finish a lawsuit.
What percentage of cases are settled before trial? ›Kiser, principal analyst at DecisionSet, states, “The vast majority of cases do settle — from 80 to 92 percent by some estimates.” Other sources even claim that this number is closer to 97 percent. However, not all cases are created equally.
What is the statute of limitations on injury claims in Nevada? ›The Nevada personal injury statute of limitations states that you have two years from the date that an injury occurs to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the victim dies and you seek to file a wrongful death lawsuit, the two-year countdown begins at the date of death, not the date of injury.
Why do lawyers prefer out of court settlements? ›
Generally, settling out of court yields better results for clients than going to trial. To this end, think about the benefits mentioned above: settling is faster, cheaper, results in less stress, and can help you get on with your life much more quickly than otherwise. For attorneys, this is a win-win situation.
Can you sue for pain and suffering in Nevada? ›You can sue the at-fault party for damages when you are injured in Nevada. Damages for a personal injury claim can include reimbursement for your financial losses (economic damages) and compensation for the pain and suffering you experience (non-economic damages).
Who is America's largest injury law firm? ›Morgan & Morgan Lawyers. America's Largest Personal Injury Law Firm.
What is the rule 35 exam in Nevada? ›Rule 35 - Physical and Mental Examinations (a)Order for Examination (1)In General. The court where the action is pending may order a party whose mental or physical condition-including blood group-is in controversy to submit to a physical or mental examination by a suitably licensed or certified examiner.
What is the rule 11 in Nevada? ›Rule 11 - Signing Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to the Court; Sanctions (a) Signature. Every pleading, written motion, and other paper must be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's name-or by a party personally if the party is unrepresented.
What is Rule 56 in Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure? ›The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The court should state on the record the reasons for granting or denying the motion.
Why do most civil cases never go to trial? ›Most civil cases are settled out of court because both parties realize that it is the most efficient way to resolve the dispute. Out-of-court settlements also avoid the risk of an unfavorable verdict from a jury or judge and reputational damage.
Why do most cases never make it to trial? ›There aren't enough judges, courtrooms, prosecutors, police and investigators available to handle every case if it went to trial.
How many years can you claim injury? ›Time limits
The most common claim in a personal injury case is negligence and the time limit for this is 3 years. This means that court proceedings must be issued within 3 years of you first being aware that you have suffered an injury.
Under NRS 42.005, punitive damage awards in Nevada have a cap of: $300,000 if the amount of compensatory damages awarded to you is less than $100,000, or. Three times the amount of compensatory damages awarded to you if the amount of compensatory damages is $100,000 or more.
What is the discovery rule in Nevada? ›
Under the discovery rule, the statute of limitations doesn't run during the period before the victim discovered or should have discovered the injury. However, a person can't be willfully blind to their injuries, either. It all depends on what a reasonable person should have known or been aware of at the time.