Losing Someone In A Las Vegas Crash
If a crash took someone you love, we are so sorry. When you are ready, Erik Severino can sit down with your family, explain a Nevada wrongful death claim in plain terms, and carry the legal weight so you can focus on each other. No pressure, and nothing is decided on the first call.
- Free and confidential, with no obligation
- No fee unless we win your case
- You speak with Erik, not a call center
- A local firm on St. Rose Parkway in Henderson
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We answer with care, not a sales pitch.
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Someone from our team will reach out gently and soon. For immediate help call (702) 360-5000.
You Will Work With Erik Himself
A family that just lost someone should not be handed off to a rotating cast of case managers. When you call here, you talk with Erik Severino, a Nevada attorney since 2006. He listens first, answers your questions honestly, and handles the case from the first conversation through the end. There is no script and no rush.
No Fee Unless We Win
Nothing up front and nothing out of pocket. Our fee comes from the recovery, and we go over case costs with you first.
Available 24/7
Reach us nights, weekends, and holidays. Every call is confidential. Hablamos Español.
Local To Henderson And Las Vegas
We know these roads and the Eighth Judicial District Court. You can sit across a desk from your attorney. Learn more about Erik.
A Wrongful Death Claim, In Plain Words
When a crash on I-15, US-95, the 215 Beltway, or Boulder Highway takes a life because another driver was careless, Nevada law gives the family a way to hold that driver and their insurer responsible. It is called a wrongful death claim, and it is your family's own civil case, separate from anything the police or prosecutors do.
Nevada's wrongful death statute, NRS 41.085, lets the decedent's heirs and the estate's personal representative bring the claim, and it sets out the losses the law recognizes. It draws a line between the losses your family suffers, such as grief and the loss of companionship and support, and the losses that belong to the person's estate, such as medical bills before death and funeral costs. Nevada also has a separate survival statute, NRS 41.100, which keeps alive the claims your loved one personally had so the estate can pursue what they suffered before passing. We cover the full statute and the damage categories on our wrongful death page, and this page stays focused on the part that involves a vehicle crash.
You do not need to understand all of this before you call. That is our job. When we talk, we will explain how it applies to your family, who should be named, and what the next step looks like, at whatever pace feels right to you. If you would rather read more about how auto cases work in general first, our car accident overview is a good starting point.
Building The Record Before It Fades
When the person who could tell their side is gone, the physical evidence has to speak for them. That is why the early work matters so much, and why it pays to have someone protecting the record from the start.
The Crash Scene
Skid marks, gouges in the asphalt, vehicle rest positions, and debris fields all tell a story. Much of it disappears within days, so it gets documented and measured early.
Vehicle Data
Many cars carry an event data recorder that logs speed, braking, and throttle in the seconds before impact. That black box can confirm what really happened.
Camera Footage
Traffic cameras, doorbell cameras, business security systems, and dash cams capture the moment. Most footage records over itself fast, so it gets requested right away.
Reconstruction
An accident reconstruction engineer can rebuild the sequence from the physical evidence, putting a clear timeline in front of the insurer and, if needed, a jury.
Footage from a Regional Transportation Commission traffic camera or a nearby business can vanish within days as systems record over old files. A vehicle's event data recorder has to be pulled before the car is scrapped. Skid marks on the 215 Beltway get swept away. Getting a preservation letter out early, and getting a reconstruction engineer to the scene while it is fresh, can be the difference between a clear account of what happened and a he said situation where the only voice left is the at-fault driver's.
The corridors where these crashes happen shape the work too. A high-speed wreck on I-15 near the Spaghetti Bowl, a left-turn collision on Boulder Highway, a pedestrian struck along Las Vegas Boulevard, or a crossing crash on St. Rose Parkway each leave a different record on the road and in the surrounding cameras. If your loved one was taken to UMC, Sunrise, or St. Rose Dominican, those medical records also become part of the account, both for the estate's pre-death claim and for showing what happened in those final hours. We know these roads and where the evidence tends to live, and we move to lock it down before it is gone.
"During the initial consultation Erik demonstrated a high level of knowledge, he was personable and professional. I immediately knew this was the law firm I wanted to represent me. Throughout the process Erik's team worked diligently to assist me to compile the required documents. They were organized and thorough. I felt I was in good hands, which relieved my stress. I had consistent communication with them throughout the entire process, and they were always responsive to my calls/emails. I would like to especially thank Ciara who was so patient with me. Thank you!"
Why The Adjuster Calls So Quickly
In the days after a fatal crash, the at-fault driver's insurance company is already working. An adjuster may reach out sounding gentle and concerned. That call is not really about your family. It is about closing the file for as little as possible, and the earlier they do it, the cheaper it tends to be for them.
Their common moves are predictable once you have seen them. They ask for a recorded statement, hoping a grieving family member says something they can use later. They float an early settlement before anyone knows the full extent of the losses. And in a fatal case they often try to shift blame onto the person who died, because that person is no longer here to correct the record. Under Nevada's modified comparative fault rule, every percentage of blame they pin on your loved one shrinks what they have to pay, and if they can push your loved one's share past half, they argue the claim is barred.
You do not have to take those calls. It is enough to say an attorney will be in touch, then let us answer for you. We deal with the adjuster, line up the evidence against their version, and keep your family out of conversations that are built to be used against you. If money is owed by more than one party, we look at all of it, including coverage on your own policy through our uninsured motorist claims approach when the at-fault driver was uninsured.
The Criminal Case And Your Civil Claim
If the driver was impaired, speeding, or reckless, the State of Nevada may bring criminal charges. That case belongs to the prosecutors, and it moves on its own schedule in the courts. It can lead to a sentence, but it rarely puts anything in your family's hands. It is the public's case, not yours.
Your wrongful death claim is the civil side, and it is entirely your family's. The two can run at the same time. A criminal conviction can strengthen your civil case, but you do not have to wait for it, and a not guilty verdict does not erase your right to recover, because the civil standard of proof is lower than the criminal one. We track what the prosecutor is doing, request the police and investigative file, and use what helps your claim while building the rest ourselves.
Coordinating the two takes some care, especially around timing and what gets said on the record. That is one more reason to have someone in your corner early. If the crash involved a commercial vehicle, the questions multiply, and our truck accident page explains how those cases differ.
The Losses The Law Recognizes
No claim brings a person back, and money is a poor stand-in for someone you love. Still, Nevada law lets your family pursue the real harm. That includes the grief and the loss of companionship, the guidance and support your loved one provided, and the income the family counted on. The estate can separately seek medical bills before death and funeral and burial costs. We explain how these pieces apply to your family when we meet, and you can read more on our serious injury page.
Four Steps That Protect Your Family's Claim
There is no perfect way to do any of this. Do what you can, lean on us for the rest.
Keep What You Have
Hold on to the crash report number, photos, the driver's information, and any belongings returned to you.
Pause The Insurer
You can decline a recorded statement. Tell them an attorney will follow up.
Ask About Evidence
Camera footage and vehicle data fade fast. A preservation letter can save it.
Reach Out To Erik
One private call. We explain your options and start protecting the record.
A Nevada wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years, and the clock usually starts on the date of death rather than the date of the crash. If the claim is against a government body, such as the State, Clark County, the City of Henderson, NDOT, or the RTC, you must formally present a claim before you sue, on top of the regular deadline, and damages against a public entity are capped at 200,000 dollars per claimant. Talking to us early means a deadline never decides your case for you.
"Mr. Severino and his staff were very professional and responsive. He walked me through the filing process, my questions/concerns were listened to and addressed promptly, and my mind was put at ease. Thank you Mr. Severino!!"
If A Crash Caused The Loss
Fatal crashes happen in many forms. These pages cover the situations that lead to them and the ones families often ask about next.
Answers For A Hard Time
Your Next Step, Whenever You Are Ready
Tell us what happened, in your own time. We will listen, explain honestly whether your family has a claim, and tell you what handling it would involve. No pressure, no cost, and the conversation stays confidential.
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