If you have been involved in a car accident in Nevada, you need to understand the state’s laws on car accident liability. If you were injured or your car damaged in the accident, then you may be able to recover compensation from whoever was at fault. Nevada is not a no-fault state, so you can claim compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer for damages caused by the accident. The state’s negligence law allows you to recover at least a portion of the damages as long as you were less than 50% to blame for the accident.
Understand Nevada’s Car Accident Laws
Understanding Nevada’s car accident laws is the first step in responding to a car accident you were involved in. There are three main laws that are relevant after a car accident.
Nevada’s modified comparative negligence law allows victims of a car accident to recover compensation from another driver or drivers as long as they are less than 50% to blame for the accident. Often, insurers will try and allege that you were partly or even wholly to blame for an accident as this reduces or eliminates the possibility of obtaining compensation. However, as long as you have sufficient proof, the state’s negligence law allows anyone who was less than 50% to blame for an accident to recover a percentage of the compensation demanded. The actual percentage will be in proportion to the amount of blame determined to be the defendant’s in a claim.
Nevada is a fault state as far as car accidents are concerned. This means that any car accident victim is free to sue who they think was responsible for the accident. In a no-fault state, car drivers must have insurance to cover them in the event that they are injured in an accident and cannot make a claim against another driver. In Nevada, all car drivers must have insurance to cover them if they injure someone else, but can still make a claim if involved in a car accident against another driver.
The statute of limitations for car accident claims in Nevada is 2 years from the date of the accident. Any claim after that time period may be ignored.
What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident in Nevada
There are a number of things that you may be able to do immediately following a car accident you were involved in. Much depends on the circumstances and how badly you were injured. These are some of the most important things you can do:
- Make sure that the accident is reported to emergency services by calling 911;
- Get medical help, which could include a doctor’s assessment, hospital treatment, medications, tests and scans, medication, etc.;
- Exchange information with other drivers involved including insurance details, registration, contact details;
- Take photos if possible of the crash scene; find out if there was any security video footage taken;
- Ask witnesses to make a statement about what they saw or heard at the accident scene;
- Keep all medical documentation and receipts and invoices for treatment and property damage or replacement;
- Get a copy of the police accident report that will be completed as a result of any injury or serious damage in a car accident;
- Talk to your own insurer and a personal injury attorney about the possibility of making a claim.
Get Help With Your Nevada Car Accident Claim
If you have been involved in a car accident in Nevada there are several things you can do in response. You may be able to claim compensation if you were hit by a driver who was more than 50% at fault. You need to understand Nevada’s car accident laws before you make a claim. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation to get connected with an independent personal injury attorney who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.
