Las Vegas is called the City of Lights. Everywhere you look, there are neon lights, fairy lights, hotel lights, and, of course, casino lights. But even a city filled with lights has a dark side. People get injured and hurt all the time. Downtown Vegas often sees altercations and assaults, leaving victims in a bad way.
If someone assaults you during an altercation in Vegas, it is important not to retaliate. This will only make matters worse. Try to diffuse the situation and stay as calm as possible. When your attacker flees, which is likely what they will do, take the following steps.
Call for Help
Your immediate safety should be your priority. If your attacker has fled the scene, call 911. If you cannot do so, ask a bystander to call them. This will alert the police, giving you an official police report of the incident.
Ask bystanders to stay at the scene to provide statements to the responding officer.
Get Medical Help
911 means getting first responders on the scene as well. Allow them to check you for obvious and non-obvious injuries. If a first responder tells you to go to urgent care or the nearest emergency room, you should do it.
You may not feel the extent of your injuries just yet, but as the hours and days pass, you may experience signs of concussion or internal bleeding.
If you visit a hospital right away, you can avoid these complications. You will also have medical records as evidence if you want to pursue compensation.
Making all follow-up visits with the hospital or your doctor is important. You want your recovery to be as fast as possible, with minimum complications.
Get Evidence
While you are still at the scene, you should take photos of your injuries (you can also do this at the hospital). Get witnesses’ names, contact numbers, and the names of other people involved in the altercation.
Get a copy of the police report as soon as it is available, and keep all your medical records, receipts, and test results in a safe place.
Stay Away From Social Media
It is normal to feel angry after an altercation or physical fight, especially if you were attacked unprovoked. In these times, you may want to vent to your social media followers. This is possibly the worst thing you can do.
Until your legal case is resolved, you should not post statements, videos, or photos of the incident online. If you do, it might be used against you during your case.
Do not discuss the incident with anyone other than your doctor and your lawyer. You may think talking to friends and family is okay, but it is not. If you tell too many people, details will get out, which can damage your case.
Consider Your Legal Options
After an altercation injury, it is important to determine who is to blame. For instance, if your attacker intentionally hit you, they can be held liable through a criminal or civil case.
If the alternation happened on a property with no safety measures, the property owner may also be held partly liable. If there were supposed to be visible security on site, the security company might also share the blame.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Getting attacked is traumatizing. You may find it hard to focus on overcoming this trauma, healing from your injuries, and dealing with legal proceedings.
That is why it is important to hire a lawyer from the start. Your lawyer will let you know whether your case is strong and whether you can get compensation. Your lawyer will also handle the negotiations with the relevant insurance companies.
If there is no agreement on compensation, your lawyer may suggest mediation or arbitration. If this does not work, you can file a lawsuit.
Potential Compensation
Whether your case is settled in or out of court, you can demand compensation for:
- Medical costs. These expenses cover treatment, surgery, hospital stays, medicine, and physical therapy.
- Lost income. You should be compensated for missing out on future income.
- Pain and suffering. This refers to emotional distress and your injuries’ impact on your quality of life.
- Property damage. If your belongings were damaged in the attack, you can seek compensation for replacements.
Why Choose a Las Vegas Lawyer
If you are hurt in Las Vegas, it is best to hire a Las Vegas lawyer. They will have all the necessary knowledge of local laws related to your case. They will also have connections like medical and investigative experts who can strengthen your case.
With guidance from the right lawyer, you can get the compensation you need while focusing on recovering from a traumatic experience.