Who Is Responsible for a Car Accident on Private Property?

Nevada has some of the most heavily visited private properties in the country. Casinos and hotels, especially in high-traffic cities like Reno and Las Vegas, are full of visiting cars, valet drivers, delivery trucks, and more at nearly all times of the day and night. With so much activity and so many drivers not familiar with the area, roads and other areas can be extremely dangerous to pedestrians and other motorists.

If you were injured, or if your loved one was killed in a motor vehicle collision in Nevada, seeking legal representation needs to be a top priority. At the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp, our Reno car accident attorneys represent injured victims throughout Washoe County and beyond. No matter where you were you were hurt, we are ready and waiting to provide you with the expert legal guidance you need at this difficult time.

If your wreck occurred on private property, you may have some questions about whether or not you can be afforded additional protections or damages. Read on to learn more about who’s responsible for a car accident on private property in Nevada.

Is a Nevada Property Owner Liable for a Crash?

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, a property owner can be held liable for a crash on their premises.

Nevada premises liability laws touch on the standard of care that expects individuals, companies, businesses, etc. to act in a way that doesn’t put others at an increased risk of injury and take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.

Determining whether or not the property owner can be held liable in your car accident case is an important step to maximizing your compensation. Some of the factors that may indicate that the property owner can be held liable include:

• Obstructed views: Blind corners, delivery trucks parked in a way that obscures views of oncoming hazards, doors that open directly into the path of vehicles, and more can all be factors that increase the risk of a crash.
• Poor visibility: The most common source of poor visibility, beyond outright obstruction, is inadequate lighting. Whether the lighting fixtures don’t provide enough light at all times of the day or the bulbs need to be replaced, restricting visibility can decrease the amount of time a driver has to brake and avoid a crash.
• Road hazards: Potholes, spilled debris, slicks, and more can all create a hazardous space that increases the risk of losing control of a vehicle and leading to an accident. The property owner has a responsibility to at least mark these hazards, if they’re not able to fix or clear them as soon as they’re identified.
• Poor signage: Parking garages, valet areas, and other high-traffic areas require clear signage to ensure that all drivers and pedestrians know where they can and cannot drive. Missing signs, faded markings, and other issues preventing clear information can lead to confusion and may play a factor in an accident.

Determining whether these factors can be used in your case can be difficult if you don’t document the area around where you were injured. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to take pictures, exchange contact information with witnesses, and generally note the details of your surroundings after an accident.

While many private spaces have video cameras and other forms of surveillance, especially around casinos, hotels, and other business spaces, it’s always smart to take agency in gathering details. The more information you have, the better it is for building your potential claim.

How Does Insurance Coverage Impact the Outcome of Private Property Wreck Cases?

Private property owners have their own insurance policies, which can come into play if their negligence is proven to be a contributing factor to the crash. Depending on the specific circumstances of your auto accident, they could be held liable in addition to the driver of the vehicle that caused the crash. In these situations, you may be able to seek additional damages. Your Reno car crash lawyer will work with you to determine who you can potentially take legal action against.

If you were seriously injured in a car accident, hiring legal representation you can trust is an important step to securing the compensation you deserve. At the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp, we have spent decades representing victims of motor vehicle collisions throughout Nevada, both in the courtroom and at the negotiation table. Give us a call to discuss your situation with our firm, or schedule a free case consultation to give us the details of your case today.