Deep Dive into Nevada Car Insurance
Car accidents can strike when you least expect them, and Nevada certainly has its share of accidents. According to data compiled by the Nevada Department of Transportation, the state saw 34,174 total injuries in 2017, of which 309 were fatal. Another 30,948 accidents resulted in only property damage. All told, there were 146,749 total crashes in 2017.
What Causes Car Accidents?
There are many causes of car accidents in the state. Consider the following:
In 2016, 77 people were killed and another 141 suffered serious injuries in accidents caused by impaired drivers. From 2012 to 2016, almost 400 people lost their lives in these types of accidents.
In 2016, 76 people lost their lives in accidents because they were not wearing a seat belt. Another 262 people suffered a serious injury. From 2012 to 2016, 333 people died because they were unbelted.
Other reasons for car accidents include distracted driving, carelessness, and aggressive driving such as tailgating and illegal passing.
There are several risk factors for accidents, such as age and gender, with male drivers between ages 26 and 35 being at the most risk of an accident. But anyone can have an accident, and for this reason Nevada requires that drivers have sufficient insurance whenever they register their vehicles.
At Naqvi Injury Law, we receive many questions about Nevada’s insurance laws, and we realized that there is a lot of inaccurate information on the Internet. To help you understand your responsibilities with respect to insurance, we have drafted this guide to the state’s automobile insurance, which will cover the following topics:
- The minimum auto insurance requirements in Nevada;
- The idea of no-fault insurance;
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Full coverage vs. liability insurance; and
- The penalty for driving without insurance in Nevada.
Why Automobile Insurance in Nevada is Important
Accidents are expensive. Even relatively minor injuries can cost thousands of dollars to treat effectively. For example, a broken bone might only require a cast, which can cost a few hundred dollars. But if you need surgery to insert a pin, screw, or plate, then the cost can jump in excess of $10,000. If you need to spend several nights in the hospital, then the amount increases dramatically.
Catastrophic injuries can easily warrant medical treatment in the six figures. Any damage to your spinal cord can cost a hundred thousand dollars in surgical costs to stabilize your spine and thousands more in continuing care.
Many of our injured clients also cannot work while they recover, costing them even more money. These lost wages imperil a motorist’s ability to take care of their family and pay their rent or mortgage.
When they cause a crash, few motorists have tens of thousands of dollars lying around to pay for someone else’s economic losses. Fortunately, their insurance policy can kick in and pay for medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Injured motorists will not be forced to dip into their own savings to fix themselves when someone else is to blame for the accident.
Motorists Have Many Insurance Options
Nevada insurers offer many insurance products, and many consumers become confused by the options. In this guide, we will break down what insurance is required and what other coverage options are available.