What to Do After a Car Crash in Las Vegas

Remain at the Scene & Render Aid

In Nevada, you have special legal obligations you must abide by after a car crash. Nevada Law states that the driver of any vehicle involved in a collision resulting in bodily injury or death must immediately stop their car at the scene or as close to the scene as possible. The law also states that all drivers must provide the following information to the other party or the police:

• Name
• Address
• Registration number of their vehicle
• Driver’s license

In addition to providing their information, all drivers must render aid to anyone injured in the crash, which could include carrying the injured person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment or making arrangements to do so.

What if the Other Driver Leaves the Scene?

If the other driver happens to leave the scene, do not follow them because doing so could hurt your compensation claim and put you in danger. There are other ways you can recover compensation in a hit-and-run accident. You might be able to recover compensation through uninsured motorist coverage.

This type of insurance covers accidents with uninsured/underinsured drivers, and hit-and-runs are treated as if you had an accident with an uninsured driver. Nevada law states that all insurance companies must offer this type of coverage, so there’s a good chance you might have it.

Call 911 & Report the Accident

After you complete your legal duties stated above, you should call 911 because you or the other driver could be injured and require immediate medical attention. Furthermore, calling 911 ensures a police officer comes to the scene to create a police report.

Their report will be a valuable piece of evidence in your accident claim. If an officer doesn’t arrive at the scene for any reason, you are legally required to report the crash to the police. You can file a report with the Nevada DMV.

Gather Any Evidence

We understand this may not be realistic for everyone. The most important thing you can do is get treated for your injuries. However, you should gather as much evidence from the scene as possible if you can. Taking pictures of the scene, the damage done to your car, and any injuries you suffered could help strengthen your case for compensation.

Additionally, anyone who saw the accident might be willing to give you their contact information in case a witness testimony is needed.

Seek Prompt Medical Care

You might not think you are badly injured after a car accident. However, the adrenaline of an event like this could mask the symptoms of your injuries. You might not feel the full extent of your pain until hours after the accident or the next day.

Additionally, bruising takes some time to develop in injured areas. Forgoing medical treatment immediately after your accident might be a red flag to the at-fault party’s insurance company. They may claim that you would have gone straight to the hospital if you were really injured.

That’s why you should see a doctor for even seemingly minor injuries. When you go to the hospital, make copies of your medical records and the doctor’s evaluation. This will show you were actually injured and have the medical expenses to prove it.

Contact Your Attorney

You have two years to file your personal injury claim against the at-fault party. This may feel like a lot of time, but your attorney needs to investigate your case. Your attorney might have to recruit the help of expert witnesses like an accident reconstructionist, or they may discover that a third party could be at fault for the accident, requiring further investigation into who the liable parties are.

Furthermore, insurance companies will contact you immediately after the accident and ask you to give them a statement. Please do not do this. Insurance companies try to use whatever they can to blame the accident on you. Having an attorney by your side to handle greedy insurers prevents you from being taken advantage of.