Nevada Hit-And-Run Laws Explained

What Is a Hit and Run Under Nevada Law?

A hit and run under Nevada law is when a driver doesn’t stop their vehicle after an accident in order to do the things that are required of them. After an accident, a driver must stop their vehicle and exchange information with the other driver. If there’s anyone injured, each driver must make sure they get medical attention. A hit and run is a misdemeanor or a felony offense in Nevada, depending on the specific events of the case.

Relevant Nevada Statutes for Hit-And-Run Accidents

Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 484E.010, 484E.020, and 484E.030 outline a driver’s obligations after an accident. The driver must stop at the scene of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) involving death, bodily injury, or property damage and their duty to exchange information and, if necessary, render aid.

NRS 484E.040 covers a driver’s responsibilities if they hit a vehicle that’s unattended or property.

NRS 484E.030 — Hit and Run Resulting in Injury or Death

Any time you’re in an accident that causes injury or death, NRS 484E.030 applies. The law requires both drivers to stop and give aid to anyone injured in the crash. If anyone in the crash needs medical attention, you must summon the help.

In addition, you must provide your name, address, and vehicle registration to the other driver. If no police officer responds to the scene, you must notify law enforcement. You must also give your relevant information to the investigating police officer.

NRS 484E.030 requires rendering medical aid, calling the police, and exchanging information with the other driver. A failure to follow the law is a felony or misdemeanor. The severity of the offense depends on the severity of injuries.

NRS 484E.020 — Property Damage Hit and Run

Even if your accident results in property damage only, you’re still required to do certain things. If you’re involved in a hit and run resulting in only property damage, you must stop and move your vehicle to a place away from traffic. You must exchange your personal information with the other driver and call the police.

The police usually respond, but they may not respond to a very minor accident. NRS 484E.020 applies to hit-and-run accidents that involve property damage. The penalty for a hit and run with property damage only is up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, and six points on your driving record.

NRS 484E.040 — Unattended Vehicle Hit and Run

A car accident may not always involve another person. A person who hits a parked vehicle must report the accident to the police. You must also either find the driver or leave a note on their car in a conspicuous place with your contact information.

Nevada Revised Statute 484E.040 applies to unattended vehicle accidents. If a driver is so badly hurt in the crash that they’re unable to notify the police, the responsibility to inform the authorities falls to other adults in the vehicle.

NRS 484E.10 — Hit and Run Causing Death or Bodily Injury

If a hit-and-run crash results in death or bodily injury to any person, the penalties to the offender are very serious. The offense is a felony punishable by at least two years in prison and up to 20 years in prison. You also face a fine of up to $5,000 and revocation of your driver’s license.

Failing To File a Police Report Can Result in a Driver’s License Suspension

When the police respond to a traffic accident, they investigate the case, and they prepare and file a traffic accident report. In cases of minor accidents with no serious injuries, the police may not respond to the crash. If they don’t respond to the crash, the drivers must file the accident report themselves.

If you don’t get your report filed in the allotted time frame, you can face a one-year driver’s license suspension. Your license is reinstated once you file the report. You’re not penalized during a period of time when you’re incapacitated and unable to comply.

False Accident Reports in the State of Nevada

It’s against the law to file a false accident report in the State of Nevada. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail. You may also receive a fine of $2,000. That’s in addition to any other charges that you might face, such as insurance fraud.

Penalties and Hit-And-Run Charges in Nevada

The penalties for a hit and run in Nevada depend on several variables. A person who commits a hit and run may be charged with a misdemeanor, if their accident only involved property; however, under Nevada’s hit-and-run laws, an at-fault driver who leaves the scene can be charged with a felony if the accident caused bodily injury or death.

This chart highlights the types of charges and sentences those who commit hit-and-run accidents may face:

Severity	Type of Charge	Prison/Jail Time	Potential Fines
Property Only	Misdemeanor	Up to six months	Up to $1,000
Injury/Death	Category B Felony	2 to 20 Years	$2,000 – $5,000

A conviction can also affect the at-fault driver’s ability to have a license. Those guilty of a misdemeanor may receive points on their driving record, while those guilty of a felony may have their driver’s license revoked.

Although this isn’t part of the court sentence, the at-fault driver may also face higher insurance premiums, if convicted of a misdemeanor or felony. 

Support For Tourists And Visitors After A Crash

Injured while visiting Las Vegas? Travel should not make recovery more complicated. We help tourists navigate insurance claims, rental car issues, and out-of-state medical documentation. From the first call to the final settlement, our team provides full-service support and keeps you informed every step of the way. You do not have to return to Las Vegas to get a fair handling of your case.

Driver’s License Suspension and Consequences

Nevada drivers face a six-month driver’s license suspension if they accrue 12 points within a year. Those convicted of felony charges may have their license revoked.

Criminal Elements and Proving a Hit and Run 

Under Nevada’s hit-and-run laws, the criminal elements of a hit and run may involve any or all of the following:

• Failing to stop after an accident and remain at the scene if the accident caused bodily injury, death or property damage.
• Failure to exchange information.
• Failure to render aid.
• Failure to file a police report.
• Filing a false report.

Proving a Hit-And-Run Case

Proving a hit-and-run case involves gathering and preserving evidence to establish accident details and potentially identifying the at-fault driver.

Proving a hit-and-run case involves establishing the following:

1. Duty of care: To be convicted, it must be established that the hit-and-run driver (defendant) had an obligation to conduct themselves with reasonable care.
2. Breach of duty: It must be shown that the defendant did not uphold their duty of care. For example, a driver who’s speeding or driving recklessly breached their duty with their actions.
3. Causation: Establishing causation means showing that the actions that established the defendant’s breach of duty caused the victim’s injuries.
4. Damages: Providing a hit-and-run case involves establishing that the defendant’s actions caused harm that justifies compensation. This could include medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Evidence Gathering After Hit-And-Run Accidents

Suppose you’re in a hit-and-run accident in Las Vegas. Depending on the severity of your injuries or your need to render aid to others, you may be able to gather some evidence right after the car accident.

Evidence Hit-And-Run Victims Can Gather at the Scene

Relevant evidence you can collect at the accident scene includes:

• Contact information for eyewitnesses.
• Debris from the hit-and-run vehicle.
• Photos or videos of your vehicle, skid marks, debris, etc.

Relevant Documentation

Filing a police report establishes facts that can be used to build your case. You should also seek medical treatment and ensure you’re evaluated. Seeking medical treatment ensures you have medical records to support injury claims.

Police reports and medical records are pieces of documentation that will establish accident details and strengthen your case.

Other Information To Note

You can help your case by recording the locations of any traffic or security cameras in the area and noting what happened before and after your accident. For example, if you observed the vehicle swerving through traffic or noted that the driver was speeding, this information can be used to support a reckless driving charge.

Legal Investigation

You may not be able to gather much evidence at the scene if you suffered severe injuries or have to render aid to another accident victim. You may also realize you need a lawyer to help you navigate the complexities of seeking damages after a hit-and-run accident.

Hiring a hit-and-run lawyer in Las Vegas will seek evidence to support your case. Your legal team will investigate and secure relevant evidence, such as:

• Debris
• The hit-and-run vehicle’s license plate number
• Paint transfer
• Photos of skid marks
• Police reports
• Vehicle descriptions
• Video footage from dashcams, traffic cameras, and security cameras
• Witness testimony

Your legal team may also search social media sites to locate additional witnesses or evidence, such as photos or videos posted by those at the scene.

What Should I Do if the Other Driver Tries To Run?

If the other driver tries to run, call the police as soon as possible. Debris on the road, eyewitness testimony and a police investigation may help you find the responsible driver. A nearby business may also have video surveillance that can help.

A surprising number of hit-and-run accidents get solved, so it’s important to do what you can by first reporting the accident to the authorities as quickly as possible. Write down anything that you remember as soon as you can because you never know what might be critical information later on.

How Does a Hit and Run Impact My Personal Injury Case?

Your injury accident claim may increase because of the hit and run. Failing to comply with the law that requires you to report an accident and exchange information is clearly negligent behavior. Any damages that you have because of the other driver’s attempts to flee the scene can be added to your car accident claim.

For example, if faster medical treatment may have reduced the severity of your injuries, you may add those damages to your claim. Our experienced Nevada attorneys for car accidents can help you evaluate your case and include all of the appropriate damages in your claim.

Compensation Available for Hit-And-Run Victims

Hit-and-run victims may seek economic (monetary) and non-economic (non-monetary) damages.

Economic damages can be calculated. These include costs stemming from an accident, and they come with a price tag. Grounds for economic damages can include the following:

• Burial and funeral costs
• Childcare
• Home maintenance costs
• Housecleaning bills
• Lost income
• Medical bills
• Relocation costs
• Transportation costs
• Vehicle repair costs

Claims can also include anticipated future costs, such as future medical bills or decreased earning potential.

Non-economic damages do not come with a fixed cost. These damages allow victims to seek compensation for the personal toll stemming from the accident. Ground for non-economic damages can include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of quality of life
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Punitive Damages

Some accident victims may be able to seek punitive damages. Punitive damages involve establishing that the at-fault driver was guilty of gross negligence, and their gross negligence caused you harm.

Examples of gross negligence could include operating a vehicle while intoxicated, street racing, or driving recklessly.

Why You Need a Las Vegas Hit-And-Run Accident Attorney 

It can be challenging to prepare a legal claim when you’re in a car accident, and the other driver leaves the accident scene. Experienced hit-and-run lawyers know how to conduct thorough investigations, ensuring they gather all relevant evidence to identify the at-fault party and establish their guilt.

Experienced hit-and-run lawyers have the resources needed to conduct a thorough investigation. Their legal teams will help them investigate, interview witnesses, and prepare and file legal documents.

Experienced hit-and-run lawyers also know the law, and they’re familiar with relevant case law that can be used to support your claim.

When you hire a hit-and-run lawyer, your lawyer will ensure you seek compensation for all applicable damages. They’ll handle negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company, ensuring the at-fault party takes full responsibility for their actions.

Injured in a Hit and Run? Get a Free Case Review

If you’re the victim of a hit and run, we want to help you get the relief you deserve. Call our team today to speak with a friendly and experienced representative to get all your questions answered.

One call is all it takes to get started on the path to recovery and fair compensation.

Nevada Hit-And-Run Laws FAQ