Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer: What to Do After a Car Accident in Nevada

A car accident in Las Vegas can upend your life in seconds. One moment you’re driving down the 215 or heading through an intersection on Tropicana, and the next you’re dealing with injuries, a wrecked vehicle, and an insurance company that wants to pay as little as possible.

If that’s where you are right now, you’re not alone. Clark County recorded 239 traffic deaths in 2025, and tens of thousands more people were injured in crashes across the Las Vegas valley that same year. Behind every one of those numbers is a person trying to figure out what comes next—how to cover medical bills, how to get back to work, and how to hold the responsible driver accountable.

That’s where we come in. The Las Vegas car accident lawyers at Richard Harris Law Firm have been fighting for injured Nevadans since 1980. With billions of dollars recovered and more than 100,000 people helped, our team knows how to deal with aggressive insurance adjusters, build strong cases, and get our clients the compensation they deserve.

Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer After a Las Vegas Crash

Insurance companies aren’t on your side after an accident. Their adjusters are trained negotiators with one goal: close your claim for as little money as possible. They may contact you within days—sometimes hours—of the crash, hoping to get a recorded statement or push a quick settlement before you fully understand the extent of your injuries.

An experienced car accident attorney levels the playing field.

At Richard Harris Law Firm, our team handles every aspect of your case so you can focus on healing. That means investigating the crash, gathering police reports and evidence, communicating with insurance companies on your behalf, calculating the full value of your claim, and negotiating aggressively for a fair settlement. If the insurance company won’t offer what your case is worth, we’re prepared to take them to court.

Our proven Case Resolution Process ensures you’re informed and prepared at every stage. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing upfront and owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Nevada Is an At-Fault State — What That Means for Your Case

Nevada follows an at-fault system for car accidents.

This means the driver who caused the crash—or more precisely, the driver who is more than 50% responsible—pays for the other party’s damages, typically through their liability insurance. If you’re the injured party, you generally file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company and can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Nevada also uses a modified comparative negligence rule. Even if you share some responsibility for the accident, you can still recover damages as long as you were less than 51% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault—so if you’re awarded $100,000 but found 20% responsible, you’d receive $80,000. If you’re 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover damages from the other driver.

This system makes evidence critical. Police reports, witness statements, photos, and traffic camera footage can all help establish who was responsible—and that’s exactly the kind of evidence our attorneys know how to gather and preserve.

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Nevada

The steps you take right after a crash can make or break your claim. Here’s what matters most.

1. Check for injuries and call 911: Your safety comes first. Move to a safe location if possible and request medical assistance for anyone who is hurt. A police report is essential for any insurance claim or legal action.
2. Document the scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, the surrounding area, traffic signals, skid marks, and any visible injuries. If the accident happened near a casino or business, their security cameras may have captured the collision—worth noting for your attorney.
3. Exchange information: Get the other driver’s name, contact details, insurance information, and license plate number. If there are witnesses, collect their contact information as well.
4. Seek medical attention: Some injuries—whiplash, concussions, soft tissue damage—don’t show symptoms for days or even weeks. Getting checked out promptly creates a medical record that directly supports your claim.
5. Don’t give statements to the other driver’s insurance: Adjusters may contact you quickly, but anything you say can be used to minimize or deny your claim. Let your attorney handle all communication with the insurance company.
6. Contact a car accident lawyer: The sooner you have legal representation, the sooner your attorney can begin preserving evidence, dealing with the insurance adjuster, and building your case. You’ll also need to obtain a copy of the police report, which your lawyer can help facilitate.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident?

The value of a car accident claim depends on the specifics of your case, but Nevada law allows injured victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages.

• Medical expenses: This includes emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, prescription medications, and any future medical care related to your injuries. If you’re unsure who pays for medical bills after a car accident, your attorney can walk you through the process.
• Lost wages: If your injuries prevent you from working—whether temporarily or permanently—you can seek compensation for the income you’ve lost and any reduction in your future earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering: Car accidents cause more than physical harm. Chronic pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and reduced quality of life are all compensable under Nevada law.
• Property damage: You’re entitled to the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any personal belongings damaged in the crash. Learn more about getting car repair bills paid after an accident.

In cases involving drunk driving, extreme recklessness, or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available. These are designed to punish the at-fault party and deter similar behavior.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Las Vegas

Las Vegas sees more than 20,000 reported crashes every year—roughly 56 per day—making it the most collision-prone metro area in Nevada. Clark County alone accounts for over 43% of the state’s total accidents. If we narrow this to crashes involving fatalities, Clark County accounts for over 71%. Several factors drive these numbers.

Distracted driving: Texting, phone calls, eating, and adjusting GPS systems remain the leading cause of crashes in Las Vegas, contributing to an estimated 25–30% of traffic accidents statewide.

Impaired driving: Despite the availability of rideshare options, DUI-related accidents continue to be a serious problem. The Nevada Department of Transportation identifies impaired driving as the leading cause of fatal crashes in the state.

Speeding: High-speed corridors like I-15, US-95, and the 215 Beltway see frequent speed-related collisions, particularly during rush hour. Speeding reduces reaction time and dramatically increases the severity of injuries.

Red-light running and failure to yield: Failure-to-yield crashes surged in 2025, becoming one of the top causes of fatal accidents in the Las Vegas valley.

Tourist and unfamiliar drivers: With millions of visitors each year, Las Vegas roads are filled with drivers who don’t know local traffic patterns, leading to sudden lane changes, wrong turns, and confusion at intersections—especially near the Strip.

We handle all types of motor vehicle accidents, including rear-end collisions, T-bone crashes, head-on collisions, hit-and-runs, rideshare accidents, limousine accidents, and single-vehicle crashes. No matter the cause, our attorneys investigate every angle to determine liability and maximize your recovery.

Insurance Dos and Don’ts After a Car Accident

How you handle the insurance process can significantly affect your compensation. Here’s what you should—and shouldn’t—do.

Do call your insurance company: Notify your insurer that you were involved in an accident. Take notes on who you spoke with and when. But keep the conversation factual and brief.

Do read your policy: Understanding your coverage—including uninsured/underinsured motorist protection—helps you know what resources are available. If you have questions, our team can help you review your policy.

Do save all documentation: Medical bills, repair estimates, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, and correspondence with insurance companies all strengthen your claim.

Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer: Their adjusters are looking for anything they can use to reduce your payout. Let your attorney handle these conversations.

Don’t sign anything without legal review: Releases, waivers, and settlement documents can permanently eliminate your right to further compensation. Never sign without consulting your car accident lawyer first.

Don’t accept the first offer: Initial settlement offers are almost always lower than what your case is worth. Insurance companies count on injured people accepting quick payouts before they understand the full extent of their damages.

Auto Insurance Coverage in Nevada

Nevada law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, commonly referred to as 25/50/20 coverage under NRS 485. These minimums break down as follows:

While these minimums satisfy legal requirements, they often fall short of covering the actual costs of a serious accident. Medical bills alone can easily exceed $25,000, leaving injured victims to make up the difference.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): Not required in Nevada, but highly recommended. An estimated 10–15% of Nevada drivers are uninsured. If one of them hits you, UM/UIM coverage pays for your bodily injuries when the at-fault driver can’t.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay): An optional add-on that covers your medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash—helpful if you have a high-deductible health plan.

Collision coverage: Pays for repairs to your own vehicle, even if you were at fault. Often required if you’re financing or leasing.

When Should You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

The short answer: as soon as possible after the accident. Even if you think your injuries are minor, there are strong reasons to consult with an attorney early.

When you hire a lawyer soon after a crash, your attorney can immediately begin handling all communication with insurance companies—protecting you from making statements that could be used against you. Your lawyer also ensures that critical evidence is preserved before it disappears, and that all deadlines are met. Nevada generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and missing that deadline means losing your right to compensation entirely.

There’s another reason to act quickly: injuries from car accidents don’t always appear right away. Whiplash, herniated discs, concussions, and internal injuries can take days or weeks to surface. What feels like a minor fender bender can turn into months of physical therapy and thousands in medical bills. Having a lawyer in your corner from the start means your case accounts for the full scope of your injuries—not just what’s visible on day one.

At Richard Harris Law Firm, consultations are always free, and we take cases on a contingency basis. There’s no cost to find out where you stand. Call us at 702-444-4444 for a free consultation.

Injured in a Car Accident? Richard Harris Law Firm Is Here to Help

Car accidents are overwhelming—physically, emotionally, and financially. But you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. The Las Vegas car accident attorneys at Richard Harris Law Firm have been fighting for injured Nevadans for more than 40 years, recovering billions of dollars and earning over 4,000 positive reviews from the people we’ve helped.

Whether your accident happened on I-15, at a busy intersection in Henderson, or in a casino parking lot on the Strip, our team has the experience, resources, and determination to pursue the compensation you deserve. We handle everything—from the initial investigation to final settlement or verdict—so you can focus on what matters most: your recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions