Las Vegas is a worldwide destination for tourism, weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and conventions. Most people who come to Vegas don’t live in Nevada, which often makes it harder to handle an accident or injury claim.
Typically, injury cases need to be brought where they happened. This means that if you live out of state, you probably need to bring your injury claim here. Whether you were injured in a car accident, hurt in a slip and fall at a hotel/resort, or suffered some other kind of accident, our attorneys can do our best to handle your case to minimize the number of return trips.
For a free review of your case, call the Las Vegas personal injury lawyers at Mitchell Rogers Injury Law at (702) 702-2622.
Where Do I Sue for Injuries in Las Vegas?
Like everything else that happens in Vegas, injury cases need to stay in Las Vegas. This is a function of what courts have “jurisdiction” over your case and where “venue” is proper.
Las Vegas is in Clark County, Nevada, as are nearby towns like Henderson and Boulder City. It is likely that your accident happened within our county borders, which means your lawsuit probably needs to be filed in the Clark County District Court in Las Vegas.
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction will be correct here because the Clark County court has the power to hear injury claims arising from accidents in Clark County. If you are suing a local business or a person who lives in Nevada, doing so in Las Vegas is also usually the best or only option.
A federal court might have jurisdiction if you and the defendant have different home states and your case meets other criteria. However, this does not necessarily let you file outside of Nevada, either.
Venue
The other requirement is venue, which deals with which court is most “convenient” for the claim. Obviously, if you live across the country, Las Vegas is not very convenient, but legally speaking, it might still be the best court for the case.
Do I Need a Las Vegas Attorney to File an Injury Case in Vegas?
Typically, you need an injury lawyer who is authorized to practice in the state where you are suing. This means your lawyer must be a member of the bar in Nevada to sue in Las Vegas.
Additionally, it helps to have a lawyer familiar with local and state procedural rules, evidentiary rules, and various other legal issues that change from state to state. Even if your lawyer from back home could represent you in Nevada, it might not be ideal.
Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers practice throughout the greater Las Vegas area, representing clients who were injured in Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, and other areas in Clark County.
Our attorneys, Will Mitchell and Scott Rodgers, each have over a decade of litigation experience in high-stakes legal cases. You can rest assured that you’re in good hands working with our local attorneys.
How Do I Sue in Nevada if I Live Somewhere Else?
Our attorneys can meet with you virtually or over the phone for much of your case. If your case goes to trial, we might need you to return to Las Vegas to be present in the courtroom, but much of the negotiation, medical exams, and even depositions can be taken remotely.
As we build your claim, file motions and briefs with the court, and hold conferences with the judge and defense, your appearance is waivable throughout much of the claim. We will take into account the fact that you cannot pop by the office for a meeting or the courthouse for a short hearing.
We can also focus our efforts on evidence collection and negotiations so that your case is potentially strong enough to settle without trial.
If we settle without holding a trial, you might not need to come back to Las Vegas at all for your claim.
How Do I Sue Someone in Las Vegas if They Live in Another State?
If you were injured at a hotel or local establishment, we can easily locate them and serve them with a lawsuit here in Las Vegas. When the defendant is also from out of state, we can use Nevada’s “long arm” statutes to reach them where they live as well.
Usually, the fact that someone injured you while driving or otherwise taking advantage of their presence in Nevada means we can file a lawsuit against them here, too. This is especially common for something like a car accident between two tourists.
Nevada’s “long arm” statute gives the procedures and rules for serving an out-of-state defendant. Usually, we can use a service processor local to the defendant or get in touch with other local authorities to serve them with the papers to start your lawsuit.
Can I Sue in My Home State?
As mentioned, sometimes lawsuits can be filed in federal court. This usually requires that both parties live in different states and that the amount in controversy in the case is over $75,000.
However, the same legal considerations about jurisdiction and venue might mean that the federal court in Las Vegas is still the best or only court that can hear your case.
How Much Does a Lawsuit Cost in Las Vegas?
Lawsuits sound expensive, but most of the money you spend on a lawsuit can be recovered as part of your damages. Additionally, our lawyers usually work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that we only get paid from the winnings in your case – and we only get paid if you win. This lowers the bar to entry and helps injured victims from being afraid they won’t be able to afford a lawsuit.
Call Our Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Call (702) 702-2622 for a free case evaluation with Mitchell Rogers Injury Law’s Henderson, LV personal injury lawyers.