If you drive in Las Vegas long enough, odds are you will be in a collision. The valley’s mix of tourists in unfamiliar rental cars, ride-share and delivery drivers in a hurry, and locals commuting across town on the I-15, U.S. 95, and the 215 Beltway creates a steady stream of rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, and lane-change impacts. Most are fender-benders. Some change lives in an instant.
If you have been hurt in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, here is what you should know about your rights under Nevada law and how the claims process actually works.
Nevada Is an “At-Fault” State
Nevada is not a no-fault state. The driver who caused the crash — and that driver’s insurance company — is responsible for the harm. That includes your medical bills, lost income, damage to your vehicle, and compensation for your pain and the disruption to your life.
Nevada requires every driver to carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, plus $20,000 for property damage (NRS 485.185). Those minimums have not kept pace with the cost of medical care — a single emergency room visit can exceed the per-person limit. When the at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough, or the driver has no insurance at all, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap. We look at every available policy, including ones you may not realize apply to you.
What If I Was Partly at Fault?
Nevada’s comparative negligence law (NRS 41.141) allows you to recover compensation as long as you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. Your recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance adjusters know this rule well and often try to shift more blame onto injured people than the facts support. Having an attorney who investigates the crash — the scene, the vehicles, the witnesses, the police report — keeps that from happening to you.
Deadlines That Matter
In most cases, Nevada gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and three years for vehicle damage claims (NRS 11.190). Two years sounds generous, but evidence fades fast: surveillance video is recorded over, witnesses move, and memories blur. The sooner a claim is properly documented, the stronger it is.
What to Expect When You Work With Us
After more than three decades representing injured people in Las Vegas, our office runs these cases the same way every time: we handle the insurance companies so you can focus on getting well. That means gathering your medical records and bills, documenting your lost income, dealing with the adjusters, and negotiating a settlement that accounts for everything the crash has cost you — not just the bills you have today. If the insurer won’t offer what’s fair, we are prepared to take the case to court. Eric H. Woods has tried cases at every level, and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Your consultation is free, and there is no attorney’s fee unless we win your case. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Las Vegas or anywhere in Southern Nevada, call 702-737-0000. Hablamos español.