SUMMERLIN UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST LAWYER

Understanding Nevada’s Car Insurance Laws and Liability for a Crash

Nevada is an at-fault car insurance state, also referred to a tort liability state. This means that drivers in the state of Nevada are responsible for paying for damages resulting from accidents that they cause, and that they are required to carry liability insurance so that they do not have to pay for these damages out-of-pocket, and to ensure that an injured party recovers the compensation they need.

The Nevada Department of Insurance requires that drivers carry insurance in the following minimum amounts:

• $15,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage;
• $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage; and
• $10,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage.

These are the minimum amounts. Drivers are able – and often encouraged – to purchase higher coverage amounts, as well as different types of coverage. Other insurance coverage options that a driver may purchase include collision coverage, which pays for damages to a vehicle caused in a crash, regardless of fault; comprehensive coverage, which pays for damages resulting from fire, theft, or natural causes; uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), which pays for harm caused to you or your passengers when an at-fault driver does not have coverage or does not have sufficient coverage to pay for your injuries; and medical payments (Medpay), which pays for medical treatments in a crash regardless of fault.

What Happens if the At-Fault Driver Is Uninsured or Underinsured?

When a crash occurs, determining fault is essential, because it is the insurance company of the at-fault driver that is responsible for paying for losses. However, if the at-fault driver does not have insurance, the not-at-fault party should file a claim with their own policy’s UM/UIM coverage or/and Medpay coverage.

Despite the fact that neither of these insurance types is required under Nevada law, they are both critical, and should be purchased by all drivers. If you are in a crash caused by an uninsured driver and you do not have UM/UIM coverage or Medpay coverage, recovering compensation for your injuries may be very difficult to do.