Southwest Las Vegas Crash: Wrongful Death Rights After the Fatal Russell and Buffalo Collision

In Southwest Las Vegas, flashing yellow arrows at major junctions like Russell Road and Buffalo Drive are frequently misunderstood by motorists. While the signal grants permission to turn, it does so only under the strict legal condition of yielding to all oncoming traffic.

When a driver attempts a turn across the path of a motorcyclist who has a solid green light, the resulting collision is rarely a “mistake” – it is a violation of a fundamental duty of care. For families grieving the loss of a young rider, the critical legal challenge is ensuring the insurance company doesn’t attempt to shift blame to the victim’s speed or visibility to avoid paying a rightful claim.

The Accident Brief

• Incident Date: Tuesday evening, January 13, 2026.
• Location: Intersection of Russell Road and Buffalo Drive, Southwest Las Vegas.
• The Conflict: A 2025 Toyota Tacoma turned left on a flashing yellow arrow, failing to yield to a 2022 Kawasaki motorcycle traveling through a green light.
• Outcome: The 23-year-old motorcyclist was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected from a secondary vehicle.

Failure to Yield and Nevada Wrongful Death Statutes

• Flashing Yellow & Right-of-Way (NRS 484B.253): This statute requires yielding to any vehicle “so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.” Violating this creates a presumption of negligence (negligence per se).
• Comparative Fault (NRS 41.141): Nevada’s 51% rule bars recovery if the victim is found primarily at fault. Adjusters often hunt for rider “speed” data to reach this threshold; we use forensic reconstruction to refute it.
• Wrongful Death (NRS 41.085): Families can pursue damages for loss of companionship and funeral costs. Because the rider had the green light, the estate has a strong standing for a liability claim.

Immediate Action Steps

• ECM (Black Box) Data: Secure the Tacoma’s data to prove the driver’s acceleration and lack of braking.
• Signal Timing Logs: Obtain official traffic logs to prove that the Kawasaki had a solid green light.
• Spoliation Letters: Formally bar insurance companies from repairing or destroying the involved vehicles until mechanical inspections are complete.

Contact Our Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If your family is navigating a tragedy on Las Vegas roads, the fight for accountability starts now. Contact Ace Law Group at 702-508-7675. Our Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyer handles the legal investigation so you can focus on your family.

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