Over 260,000 cars drive on Reno’s Spaghetti Bowl (Interstate 80/Interstate 580 Interchange) daily, increasing delays and congestion, and potentially leading to more crashes. State organizations have plans to complete renovations to upgrade traffic capacity. Until that time, Reno residents using this travel corridor may be at a risk for car accidents.
Were you recently in an auto accident on the Spaghetti Bowl? Did you sustain injuries during the crash? It’s essential to find the right car accident lawyer to represent you. Knowing what questions to ask during your initial consultation — and what answers are red-flags — can affect the compensation you ultimately receive.
Reading this article will help you hire a winning car accident attorney. These are 10 questions to ask a Reno car accident lawyer during your consultation (and warning signs you need to find another lawyer).
You can also bring a printout of BrentHarsh Law’s interview cheat sheet to your consultation; it’s a quick guide to everything we’ll discuss below.
How Will Nevada’s 51% Comparative-Fault Rule Affect My Payout?
In any Reno personal injury case, you must prove fault to recover any damages. Nevada’s NRS 41.141 uses comparative negligence, under which an injured party can still recover compensation for damages, even if they’re partially responsible for the motor vehicle accident. However, your total compensation will be proportional to your percentage of fault. If you want to understand how Nevada courts apply fault in car accident cases, read our guide on comparative negligence in Nevada car accident cases.
Any personal injury lawyer worth your consideration will be well-versed in this law, so if they dodge your questions, give vague explanations, or refuse to explain how comparative negligence works in car accident claims like yours, you may want to look for another attorney.
Attorneys who say things like, “Don’t worry about fault — I always get my clients 100% compensation,” could be inflating their success record. Look for an attorney who honestly assesses what he or she can and cannot achieve for you and has a proven track record.
Personal injury attorneys typically do not promise quick timelines; experienced attorneys know determining fault can be complex and time-consuming.
Watch for attorneys who fail to mention the aggressive tactics insurance companies use to shift blame and reduce your payout. You need protection from insurance companies, and a qualified car accident attorney will know how to keep you safe.
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
Let’s say your personal injury lawsuit goes to court. Your car accident attorney gathers evidence, and so does the other side’s legal counsel. In reviewing the evidence, the jury determines you to be 35% at-fault for the accident, though the other driver bears most of the responsibility for your injuries. The jury’s determination will reduce your total compensation by 35%. Once your degree of fault surpasses 50%, it’s no longer possible to recover compensation on a negligence claim. So, in Nevada, it’s still possible to receive some compensation for motor vehicle accidents when you’re somewhat to blame.
Determining the degree of fault can be very subjective, so it’s vital to have a car accident attorney who can present powerful evidence in your favor and negotiate aggressively with insurance companies during a personal injury claim.
What is the Statute of Limitations for My Crash?
Anytime you’re consulting with an attorney, you should always ask about timelines for filing personal injury claims and how long you have to take legal action. Once the statute of limitations passes, so does your opportunity for justice.
Nevada’s personal injury laws are complex, so you need an experienced personal injury attorney to guide you.
NRS 11.190 provides that accident victims have up to two years from the time of the accident to file a personal injury claim.
One exception to this is if the victim is a minor. In that case, they have up to two years when they turn 18 years of age, so the statute of limitations can be much longer.
If your accident involves a government entity (e.g., you were rear-ended by a government employee, on the clock, driving a government-issued vehicle), the statute of limitations can be as short as six months.
A knowledgeable car accident attorney will discuss the statute of limitations and its nuances with you.
One red flag to look out for is a lack of urgency on their part. Though two years seems like a long time, evidence can disappear, and working through the legal process takes time.
An attorney who says things like, “Oh, we have plenty of time,” may lack the fire needed to advocate for you aggressively.
Conversely, an attorney who pressures you to sign today or you might lose your car accident lawsuit may not have your best interests in mind. Look for attorneys who balance timeliness and respect for what you’re going through.
Finally, a qualified attorney will differentiate between filing and the settlement; the statute of limitations applies to filing only, not pursuing a settlement. Sometimes, settlements can take longer than two years from the time of the accident to pay out.
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
Two years might sound like a lot of time, but it’s really not for personal injury lawsuits. Evidence critical to your Spaghetti Bowl accident disappears quickly. For example, Nevada Department of Transportation cameras do not store footage forever, and nearby businesses have variable timeframes for saving and overriding footage as well.
Remember, 260,000 drivers pass through this corridor daily, and witness identification can become impossible after only a few weeks.
Don’t let the two-year deadline create a false sense of security; the quicker you have an attorney by your side, the quicker they can gather and preserve evidence.
Once you hire an experienced Reno personal injury lawyer, he or she can send preservation letters, which stop involved parties from destroying crucial evidence, such as GPS logs for commercial vehicles or dash cam footage.
Will You Personally Handle My Case in Washoe County District Court?
Often, what most sets a personal injury lawsuit up for success is the trusted relationship you form with your personal injury lawyer.
Some law firms operate as “case mills,” wherein you initially meet an experienced personal injury lawyer, perhaps even a partner at the firm, and then your case gets handed off to less experienced junior associates or paralegals who may have never even set foot in a Nevada courthouse.
Some red flags to look out for when you ask this question are vague answers like, “We all work as a team,” or “I oversee all the cases.” Your personal injury lawyer should be able to specify their exact role and involvement in your depositions, negotiations, and a trial, should it come to that.
Law firms who work on personal injury cases day in and day out should be able to speak to their courthouse experience, including local court proceedings, specific judges, and trial calendar patterns.
Injury lawyers that brag about high case volumes or working many personal injury cases simultaneously may have a churn and burn approach to their work; these cases require dedication, attention to detail, and diligence at every phase. Skip the law firms that make volume plays.
Though it’s true that most personal injury claims settle out of court, your legal counsel should have trial experience, too.
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
Washoe County District Court has unique procedures and scheduling quirks that out-of-state or inexperienced attorneys might miss, affecting your claim outcomes.
Local judges may have preferences for how attorneys present evidence, and your attorney should know these. Effectively navigating the legal process is a minimum requirement, and your car accident lawyer should always meet crucial deadlines and capitalize on strategic legal opportunities.
What Contingency Fee Do You Charge, and Does it Rise if We Litigate?
Most attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if they obtain compensation for you.
A contingency fee basis is typically a percentage of your settlement or court award. You can expect this fee to increase should your case have to be filed with the courts or go to trial, as a personal injury trial requires much more time and resources from your attorney than settling out of court.
Reno personal injury lawyers may charge contingency fees anywhere from 33 to 50%, and they should be transparent about their fees from the first consultation onward. In January of 2025, Nevada’s highest court rejected a proposed ballot initiative that would have capped contingency fees to 20%, which would have been the most restrictive fee cap in the nation.
Legitimate attorneys should provide you with a detailed written contract outlining the fee structure and should walk you through it, answering questions you have. If the firm doesn’t account for hidden fees, such as those for gathering medical records or contacting witnesses, in the contract, that’s a red flag.
Car accident lawyers who push for quick settlements may want to avoid litigation fees over seeking the best outcome for you. If a law firm guarantees low fees, it may be unprepared to litigate.
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
Advance knowledge of the fee structure prevents surprises and helps you assess a personal injury lawyer’s genuine dedication to your recovery from the accident and getting you fair compensation.
Some attorneys may keep fees low by pushing for settlements that do not match the compensation you should get for your damages.
You deserve a personal injury lawyer who doesn’t mess around with fee structures and prioritizes justice.
How Will You Help Me Meet Nevada’s 10-Day SR-1 Crash Report Deadline?
Nevada law requires accident victims involved in auto accidents involving death, injury, or property damage exceeding $750 to file an SR-1 (safety responsibility) report with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of the accident.
No matter the circumstances of your accident, you are legally obligated to file this form by its deadline. This occurs when police are not called to the scene and do not prepare a report. Even if you left the accident scene in an ambulance, you still need to file. Failure to file can cause consequences, such as a suspended driver’s license, even if the other driver was 100% to blame for your accident.
Bottom line, your car accident lawyer should be very familiar with the SR-1 form. If your attorney confuses the police report with the SR-1 form, which are two distinct forms, it would be good to talk to other attorneys.
Since the deadline to file is soon after your accident, your attorney should have a sense of urgency and systems in place to ensure compliance as they work on your case. It’s a red flag if they have a “We’ll get to it eventually” attitude.
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
The immediate aftermath of an accident can be chaotic. You may be in physical pain, and it’s stressful to have to file a form like this when you want to focus on your recovery.
Especially if you’re navigating medical treatment, trying to work through vehicle repairs, or filing an insurance claim, it’s easy to miss the filing deadline for this form.
A good car accident lawyer should help file your SR-1 form on time to protect your driving privileges.
Can You Unlock MedPay or UM/UIM So My Hospital Bills Get Paid Now?
MedPay (Medical Payments) and UM/UIM (Uninsured, Underinsured Motorist Coverage) are optional components of auto insurance that can help pay for medical expenses immediately following an accident.
You can access these benefits regardless of who was at fault for motor vehicle accidents and while you’re filing a personal injury claim.
It’s unfortunately common for insurance companies to deny or delay these benefits, so it’s extra important to have an assertive attorney to go to bat for you.
When you ask about this during your legal consultation, there are a few red flags to watch for:
- Unfamiliar with these policies or confused about how they work
- Dismissive of your financial concerns or has a “we’ll deal with it later” attitude
- Unable to describe how to activate these policies or what paperwork you need
- Doesn’t offer help and instructs you to handle your insurance independently
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
Emergency room visits, trauma surgery, and other forms of intensive medical treatment can bring on massive medical bills within days of your accident.
Depending on your health insurance policy, you may have a high deductible or co-pays that are challenging to afford outright. MedPay or UM/UIM coverage can kick in to provide financial relief while your personal injury case progresses.
An experienced attorney will expedite your personal injury claim so you’re not drowning in medical debt at such a crucial time in your recovery.
Have You Litigated Car Accident Cases at the Spaghetti Bowl or Other Hotspot Intersections?
Extensive experience with personal injury cases like yours matters when selecting an attorney to represent you. It’s vital to hire an experienced legal team that specializes in or has extensive experience in your type of personal injury case. There are many types of accidents that can be subject to personal injury lawsuits:
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
So, while a Reno personal injury attorney may have a winning record in wrongful death lawsuits, you’ll want to look for one that has experience in car accidents specifically.
It can also help your case to work with someone who has won cases at traffic accident hotspots in the Reno, Nevada area.
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County does annual studies of traffic corridors throughout the city, including the W. 7th Street Corridor, where there have been eight crashes since 2019.
These studies identify traffic infrastructure to improve. But in the meantime, Reno citizens are still at risk for car accidents across the city and on the Spaghetti Bowl, where increasing congestion has amplified the risk for car crashes. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be familiar with RTC data and should mention it if relevant to your auto accident.
Qualified Reno car accident lawyers will have represented clients who have suffered severe injuries at these hotspots. Their existing knowledge of the traffic patterns, traffic signs, road conditions, presence or lack of safety infrastructure, and historical accident records can all help them build a stronger case for you.
When you ask this question during your consult, look for your personal injury attorney to cite specific examples of cases they’ve won. If they can’t say they’ve ever helped an injured person in a car crash at the Spaghetti Bowl or another area hotspot
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
A Reno car accident lawyer who has litigated cases involving the Spaghetti Bowl understands the challenges in proving fault in high-speed, multi-lane, high-density traffic conditions.
Good lawyers know who to consult (traffic engineers, medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists), how to get RTC data or NDOT maintenance records, and which transportation design flaws contribute to auto accidents across the city and surrounding area. Local legal expertise is irreplaceable.
What Evidence Should I Preserve From Rideshare or Dash Cam Apps?
Technology like in-vehicle GPS systems, dash-cams, or rideshare app records can serve as foundational evidence in personal injury cases.
For example, if you or the other driver involved had a dash-cam running at the time of the car accident, you may have footage of the actual accident and the moments leading up to it, providing objective evidence that can establish fault.
Similarly, rideshare apps for services like Uber and Lyft can track GPS data, vehicle speed, and driver behavior throughout your ride, or the driver’s trip if they’re the other party involved in your accident.
Nevada law requires rideshare companies to carry $1.5 million in liability coverage during trips, but accessing this coverage means proving the driver’s status during the trip.
So, if you are in a car crash with an Uber driver, the rideshare app must show logged in, active status, and your lawyer must help you prove negligence on their part to receive fair compensation from the company’s commercial insurance policy. This is key, as many rideshare drivers carry personal car insurance policies with much lower limits, such as $25,000.
Any personal injury attorney who speaks in vague terms about digital evidence may fail to gather it before it disappears or miss evidence entirely that can prove fault.
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
Digital evidence matters immensely because it removes the subjectivity of your story versus the other parties involved. Rideshare data can prove the driver was distracted or speeding, while dash-cam footage can dispute any lies the at-fault driver attempts to tell about your accident.
But this evidence can disappear within days if your attorney takes a passive approach. An attorney experienced with digital evidence and its preservation can help you prove the other driver is at fault and take on insurance companies with higher coverage limits from rideshare companies.
How Often and on What Channel Will You Update Me?
You should expect clear, consistent communication when working with a personal injury lawyer. The best law firms make sure their clients always know what’s happening with their cases.
Any attorney worth your time should be extremely clear about what you can expect communication-wise. “We’ll be in touch” just doesn’t cut it when your lost wages, physical recovery, and family life are on the line. They should tell you:
- What triggers communication, such as a case update
- How frequently you can expect to hear from them
- Where you should expect communication (email, phone, client portal, etc.)
- Who you’ll hear from if they’re unavailable
- What information support staff can provide you
- Their communication policy in writing
If during your consultation the attorney acts defensively or irritated when you ask for communication specifics, that’s a warning sign for what communication will be like.
Promises of daily or otherwise frequent communication suggest unrealistic expectations, just as promises of communication only when you reach a settlement suggest a lack of client-centered legal services.
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
Realistically, some personal injury cases take months or even years to resolve, so knowing when and how you’ll hear from your legal representation matters. Medical treatment keeps going, regardless of your case status, and your lost wages will not pay themselves.
As we’ve discussed before, your attorney can help you with everything from insurance claim negotiations to how to pay medical bills in the immediate aftermath of your accident.
So, having open lines of communication to receive updates, ask questions, and get advice is incredibly helpful after such a stressful experience. Attorneys who go silent may juggle too many cases or prioritize their own interests over client outcomes, both of which can lead to bad outcomes for you.
What Settlement Range and Timeline Are Realistic for a Reno Auto Claim?
Reno averages around 7,800 crashes per year, with nearly 65% of accident victims sustaining injuries. It’s a tragedy that there are certain traffic corridors that frequently see car accidents.
- The Spaghetti Bowl
- Virginia Street
- 4th Street
- 6th Street
- Mill Street
- McCarran Boulevard
You can view traffic crash data yourself using the Nevada DOT interactive map, which shows the exact locations on our local roads where fatal and non-fatal crashes have occurred in recent years. Many occur on 4th Street and the I-80 corridor. Nevada’s fatal and serious crashes have caused over $16 billion in economic and quality of life costs in 2023 alone.
Every auto accident case is unique, but during your free consultation, an experienced attorney should be able to give you a rough estimate based on the extent of your injuries, the circumstances of your accident, and your accident location. You can also explore typical case values in our breakdown of how much compensation you can get for a car accident in Reno.
Catastrophic injuries will warrant a higher settlement than minor injuries. The type of injury can affect the settlement, too. Transient injuries that heal quickly, such as abrasions, bruises, and other soft tissue injuries, may yield lower settlements than spinal cord injuries, which can require ongoing rehabilitation or extensive lifestyle changes.
Insurance companies are more likely to settle car accident claims quickly if liability is obvious, but if fault is in dispute, it can take much longer, even years. When asking your personal injury attorney these initial questions, be wary of attorneys who:
- Offer specific dollar amount promises before reviewing your medical records, police report, witness statements, digital data, and other forms of evidence
- Provide unrealistic timelines, such as promises of a settlement in weeks for complex, serious injury cases or telling you it will take years to resolve your case, regardless of the circumstances
- Tell every client the same timeline
- Disregard how determining liability affects the timeline and settlement value
- Push for a settlement before your medical outlook is clear and your providers establish any ongoing medical care, such as physical therapy or treatment for traumatic brain injuries
- Claim to be in complete control over insurance company negotiations or court proceedings
- Cannot provide specifics about typical Reno settlement ranges or car accident cost data for your accident location
Why It Matters to Reno Drivers
In personal injury cases, you must weigh to costs and benefits of pursuing any legal course of action. Your attorney will help you do this, including when it makes sense to accept a settlement from an insurance company and when you’ll need to pursue litigation to get the outcome you need.
Transparency is essential in this process; car accident lawyers who respect their clients and want the best outcomes for them will be honest about what to expect. Their previous case wins and settlement amounts can give you a sense of what’s possible.
Justice is Available to You With Brent Harsh Law
Now that you know what to ask your future car accident lawyer, and what red flags to watch for, it’s time to find one that will fight for you. Contact our attorneys at Brent Harsh Law; we’re on standby, ready to stop at nothing until to hold the at-fault driver accountable and give you a successful car accident claim outcome.
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