Personal Injury Attorneys » Car Accident Attorneys » Is Nevada a No-Fault State?

As soon as you’re in a car accident in Nevada, you might have questions about Nevada car insurance and how the claims process works. You might have heard of no-fault auto laws and wonder if no-fault rules apply in Nevada.

Nevada uses an at-fault system. In Nevada, when you’re a car accident victim, you can work with your personal injury lawyer to bring a claim against the responsible driver. Here’s what you need to know about no-fault laws and whether they apply in Nevada.

Is Nevada a no-fault state?

Nevada is not a no-fault state. In Nevada, the person responsible for causing a traffic accident pays for the damages. While you may still purchase insurance that kicks in if the responsible party is uninsured or underinsured, you can bring a claim against the responsible party from the very first dollar if you’re hurt in a car accident in Nevada.

Is Las Vegas no-fault?

Las Vegas is not a no-fault area. In Las Vegas, you can bring a claim against the responsible party whenever you’re a car accident victim. Las Vegas is in Nevada; the same at-fault car accident laws apply. Although some accidents may be inevitable, understanding how to drive in the busy city of Las Vegas may help you travel safely.

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What does it mean to be an at-fault state?

When you’re unfortunately hurt in an auto accident in an at-fault state, you can sue the other party any time you’re injured. There isn’t a minimum threshold for your injuries or damages that applies to bringing a legal claim. Instead, in theory, you could bring a legal claim against the other party even if you had only $1 in damages.

In no-fault states, you can’t bring a claim for auto accidents that fall below a certain threshold. Usually, this threshold is the seriousness of injuries. Below the limit, you have to rely on your own insurance to cover your losses. In no-fault states, the theory is that it’s better for society for everyone to have their private insurance cover minor claims instead of pursuing adversarial claims and litigation for every case.

Because Nevada is not a no-fault state, the minimum threshold rules for bringing an auto accident claim don’t apply. Nevada law says you can bring your claim against the responsible person no matter the value. There’s no inquiry into whether your case meets minimum requirements or whether your injuries are severe enough to justify bringing a claim. The reason for an at-fault system is the argument that the responsible party should pay for the results of their actions, and an at-fault system gives people an incentive to drive carefully at all times.

But Nevada mandatory insurance laws still apply

Even though Nevada is not a no-fault state, mandatory insurance minimums apply to all drivers in Nevada. You don’t have to have no-fault insurance, but you must have insurance that covers you if you cause an accident.

You must cover your liability to others if you’re responsible for personal injuries and property damages in an accident. Of course, it may be appropriate for you to carry more insurance than the required minimums.

Sorting out fault in an at-fault state often involves comparative negligence

Because Nevada is an at-fault state, a large part of the inquiry for a Nevada accident is sorting out fault. Determining who is at fault for the accident is critical to proving your claim. In some cases, multiple people may share responsibility for a crash. If you’re involved in an accident, it’s important to pay attention to proving fault and issues of comparative fault.

Comparative negligence determines how the liability of the parties involved in an accident should be distributed. The two main types of comparative negligence are modified comparative negligence and pure comparative negligence. In states that abide by modified comparative negligence, an accident victim can only recover damages to a certain degree. On the other hand, states that abide by pure comparative negligence allow victims to recover for their injuries regardless of how negligent the victim was.

What to do after an accident in Nevada

With Nevada being an at-fault state, how you handle the immediate aftermath of an accident can be critical to getting a fair recovery for your claim. Because it often comes down to who is at fault for causing the crash, it’s essential to do what you can to preserve the evidence at the scene. You should immediately call the police and take photos of the accident scene.

The law requires you to exchange information with the other driver, and you must get their contact information. Witness information, a police report, and your own photos can all help prove fault for your accident. The sooner you can work with an experienced injury attorney, the sooner they can help you preserve evidence critical to your claim.

How can an at-fault lawyer help?

Contacting an at-fault accident attorney is essential after a car accident. An experienced accident lawyer will be able to walk you through the insurance requirements and how to file a claim in an at-fault state properly. If you’re located in Nevada, a skilled attorney will explain the Nevada car accident laws and, more specifically, fault laws.

Nevada’s at-fault laws and the insurance company

When you understand that Nevada uses an at-fault system instead of a no-fault system for auto accidents, you can take it into account when you approach an insurance company for a settlement. The insurance company’s goal is to pay as little as possible for your claim. They may try to convince you that you’re at fault for the accident even if the other party is legally to blame. Don’t be fooled by the insurance company’s tactics!

The first offer from the insurance company might be highly inadequate compared to the actual value of your claim. An experienced Nevada accident attorney can help you evaluate any offers you receive from the insurance company. Your attorney can also help you respond to an inadequate offer and negotiate for the real value of your claim.

Pain and suffering in an at-fault state

Because Nevada is an at-fault state, you can include the total value of your claim based on traditional negligence laws. You aren’t limited to claiming the value of only your medical bills or your economic losses.

Instead, pain and suffering can be an essential part of your claim. Valuing your pain and suffering can increase the value of your claim significantly. It’s important not to assume what the value of your claim is worth until you speak with an experienced lawyer.

Work with our experienced Nevada accident attorneys

Our team of legal professionals has years of experience helping accident victims navigate Nevada’s complex car accident laws. We understand the ins and outs of Nevada’s accident laws, including Nevada’s at-fault accident laws. Our team of expert Las Vegas and Summerlin car accident attorneys will help you build your case and ensure you get a fair payment for your claim.

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    Gusner, P. Comparative Negligence Laws in Car Insurance Claims. (2022) 
    Goguen, D. Car Accident Defenses: Contributory and Comparative Negligence. (2023).

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      Adam S. Kutner - Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer
      Adam S. Kutner
      PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER

      With more than 33 years of experience fighting for victims of personal injury in the Las Vegas Valley, attorney Adam S. Kutner knows his way around the Nevada court system and how to get clients their settlement promptly and trouble-free.