When a child is injured in a Nevada truck accident, it raises immediate and emotional questions: Who pays the medical bills if we have a child injured in a Nevada truck wreck? What rights do parents have under Nevada law? And how do you handle the legal process to protect your child’s future?
These incidents often result in serious injuries, and the medical costs can quickly overwhelm a family.
Before going for legal support or a law firm, let’s look at the first steps after the accident. Quick action in such devastating cases can be a lifesaver for victims in automobile accidents.
First Steps After the Accident
After a truck accident in Las Vegas or elsewhere in Nevada, the priority is to seek medical attention immediately.
Emergency room visits, imaging, and specialist medical care add up fast, especially for serious injuries like broken bones or head trauma. The injured minor will need documentation, including medical records, police reports, and any witness statements.
Under NRS 432B.630, the state also mandates medical professionals to report suspected neglect, which may be relevant in serious crashes involving third-party negligence.
Who Pays the Medical Bills?
In the early stages, health insurance or medical payments coverage through your auto insurance policy may cover initial medical expenses. However, under Nevada law (NRS 41.130), the ultimate responsibility often falls on the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
Through a personal injury claim, the family can seek compensation from the driver or company that caused the crash. Nevada is a fault-based insurance state, meaning the party that caused the accident is responsible for all resulting damages.
Legal Rights for Children
Children cannot legally file a lawsuit themselves, so the child injury claim must be filed by the custodial parent or legal guardians. If the parents are unmarried, only the custodial parent has legal standing.
The case is brought on the child’s behalf, and any settlement funds must be used for the child’s benefit, often requiring court approval before disbursement. Under NRS 41.200, settlements involving minors require judicial oversight to ensure fair use of any recovered funds.
Once the case is brought for compensation, the at-fault driver pays medical bills and other damages. The medical treatment isn’t the only coverage they provide in a car accident case. The Nevada law extends the coverage to other economic and non-economic compensation. This saves you from wondering, “How much does a truck accident lawyer in Las Vegas cost?”
Insurance and Medical Liens
Even if your health insurance company pays your child’s medical bills, it may file medical liens against any future settlement money. This means they want to be reimbursed from any funds awarded in the personal injury lawsuit.
An experienced personal injury attorney with truck accident experience can negotiate these liens and help ensure your child receives fair compensation for both current and future medical costs. Nevada Revised Statutes allow medical providers to file liens under NRS 108.640 if proper notification is provided.
This means your immediate expenses and even the attorney fees might also be covered this way. But how does one start filing a personal injury claim?
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Nevada allows parents to file a personal injury claim to recover damages for an injured child. These damages include:
Medical expenses:
This includes all emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and outpatient visits directly related to the accident. These are recoverable under NRS 41.130, which outlines liability for injuries caused by negligence. All bills must be thoroughly documented to claim full reimbursement.
Future medical costs:
Children may need follow-up treatments for months or even years. Under NRS 41A.097, projections for lifelong medical care can be included in claims. Ergo, especially if specialists anticipate future procedures, therapy, or rehabilitation due to growth-related complications.
Emotional distress:
Psychological effects such as anxiety, PTSD, or behavioral changes post-accident are recognized by Nevada courts. Moreover, these fall under non-economic damages and are supported by expert testimony and medical evaluations, especially when symptoms interfere with education or social development.
Lost wages of parents:
In other cases, if a parent must take time off work to care for the injured child, those losses are compensable. Therefore, Nevada courts recognize lost income as part of total damages under personal injury tort claims. Proof includes employer statements and wage documentation.
Once victims know how to prove negligence in truck accidents, leading to lawsuits, the rest of the process becomes easier.
The Role of an Experienced Attorney
Working with an experienced attorney is crucial in personal injury cases involving minors. Moreover, a qualified child injury lawyer or personal injury lawyer for a truck accident will understand the unique requirements under Nevada Revised Statutes and help protect the child’s future through the settlement process.
Ensure that medical bills paid are accounted for:
Attorneys will collect all billing statements and ensure lienholders are addressed to prevent future claims on your child’s settlement. They often negotiate reductions with providers to preserve more of the settlement for the family.
Avoid giving insurance carriers more information than required:
Insurers often request unnecessary details to delay or devalue claims. Legal counsel ensures that only relevant, required documentation is shared, maintaining your negotiating leverage and protecting your privacy.
Maximize insurance coverage and avoid delays:
An attorney understands applicable policy limits and underinsured/uninsured coverage. They can expedite claims by meeting filing deadlines and managing communication with all involved insurance companies.
Additionally, most firms, including the Bourassa Law Group, offer a free consultation to review the case and advise on next steps. Got a child injured in a Nevada truck wreck? Who pays the medical bills? The party at fault.
Settlement Process and Court Approval
In Nevada, any settlement funds for minor children must go through a court review. A judge will decide if the settlement money is truly in the best interest of the child.
This step ensures protection for the child and that the money will be used for medical care, education, or other needs that support their well-being.
Moreover, under NRS 41.200, the court may require the funds to be placed in a blocked account or trust until the child turns 18. This legal safeguard ensures the money is protected from misuse or premature spending.
Take Action Now
If your child has been injured in a truck-car accident in Nevada, don’t wait. You have the right to pursue a personal injury claim and hold the at-fault driver accountable.
Bourassa Law Group has helped countless accident victims in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada recover compensation and protect their children’s futures.
Contact Bourassa Law Group today for a free consultation. Let our truck accident lawyers help you understand your rights, navigate the insurance claim, and ensure your child receives the care and compensation they deserve.
1-800-870-8910