Out-of-Towner Car Accident Guide:
Las Vegas & Nevada
Car accident claims in Nevada
If you are an out-of-towner injured in a car accident, sustained severe injuries, required hospitalization, suffered intense pain and emotional distress, or your injuries interfere with your ability to work, call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case.
Consultations are always free.
We regularly represent injured visitors from across the U.S. and abroad.
Should I fly back to Las Vegas?
No. Our office handles hundreds of liability claims for clients who are NOT Las Vegas residents and get in a car accident while visiting Las Vegas or Nevada.
An accident victim can receive medical treatment in their home city or state and still get compensated for medical bills and other damages. We collect medical receipts and track the case's progress, from inception to settlement, from our office in Las Vegas, and when we settle the case, we mail the settlement check to our clients.
You only need to return to Nevada if your case goes to trial, and most Las Vegas car accident claims settle without a trial.
Otherwise, our attorneys and case managers are available by phone, Zoom, or text — whatever you prefer.
Where to file an accident claim
We hear this question often. Clients ask things like, "If I were hurt in Nevada but live in another state, which court handles my case?", "Does my home state process the claim, or does Nevada?", or "Where do out-of-towners file accident claims?".
The answer is simple: You must file your car accident claim in the state where the crash happened. So if the accident occurred in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada, you file an accident claim here - and you will need a local Nevada attorney to represent you.
How car insurance works
This article explains how car insurance works in 5 common scenarios - whether you were driving a personal, business, or rental car for pleasure or work in Las Vegas or somewhere else in Nevada.
#1. Driving your personal car
Most personal auto-insurance policies cover you outside your home state, so your policy should apply if you're in an accident in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada.
Review your policy to confirm it includes out-of-state coverage. Nevada also has minimum liability requirements, so make sure your policy meets or exceeds those limits.
#2. Driving a rental car
Most out-of-state auto insurance policies cover rental cars, including rentals driven in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada. Check your policy to confirm it includes rental vehicle coverage and out-of-state accident coverage.
Additionally, the rental car company typically offers insurance options at the time of rental, which the individual may have opted for. But, if your car insurance policy includes coverage for rental cars and extends to out-of-state driving, it should cover damages resulting from the accident.
#3. Using your car for business
If you were involved in a business-use car accident while visiting Las Vegas or Nevada, liability depends on:
Scope of employment: If the car accident occurred while the person was conducting business activities on behalf of their employer, the company is liable under the legal doctrine of "vicarious liability." Simply put, if you were driving your car for business and got into an accident, your employer is financially liable because you were performing work-related tasks at the time.
Company policy: The company has policies for business travel and car insurance. Some companies provide insurance coverage or reimbursement for employees' business-use vehicles, while others may require employees to rely on their personal insurance.
Personal auto coverage: The individual's car insurance may cover accidents while driving on a business trip. However, the extent of coverage depends on the policy's terms and conditions, including any limitations on out-of-state driving or business use.
Coordination of coverage: When the individual's and the employer's insurance apply, coordination between the two policies may be necessary to determine which is primary and which is secondary in covering the damages.
If you were injured in a business-related car accident in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada, call us. We assist out-of-towners and Nevada visitors with these claims every day.
#4. Driving a company car
When a person gets into a car accident while driving a company car, the responsibility for covering the damages can depend on:
Employer's liability: Typically, when an employee is driving a company-owned vehicle for business purposes, the employer is responsible for any accidents during employment. Under the "vicarious liability" doctrine, employers are financially liable for the actions of their employees while performing job-related duties.
Company car insurance: The company responsible for the vehicle maintains insurance coverage tailored to its fleet of cars and covers accidents. Should a car accident occur, the company's insurance is the primary source of coverage for the resulting damages.
Employee's insurance: While the employee may have personal car insurance from their home state, it is less likely to apply. Personal insurance usually does not cover accidents that occur while using a company-owned vehicle for business purposes, especially when the employer has its own insurance policy for company vehicles.
Coordination of coverage: In some cases, coordination between the company's and the employee's insurance may be necessary to cover certain aspects of the accident, such as medical expenses or deductible reimbursement. However, the employer's insurance policy is responsible for covering the damages.
Call us if you have been injured in a car accident while driving on business in Las Vegas or Nevada and need help coordinating liability coverage.
#5. Driving a rental car for business
If a person drives for business, rents a car in Las Vegas or Nevada, and gets into an accident, the responsibility for covering the damages can depend on several elements:
Rental car insurance: Rental car companies typically offer insurance options. If the individual opted to purchase rental car insurance, that coverage would likely apply first to cover damages resulting from the accident.
Personal car insurance: An individual's car insurance from another state may provide secondary coverage for accidents involving rental vehicles. However, the extent of this coverage depends on the policy's terms and conditions, including any limitations on out-of-state driving or rental car usage.
Employer's responsibility: If the accident occurred while the person was conducting business activities on behalf of their employer, the employer may also be held responsible for any damages. It could include liability for the rental car used for business purposes.
If unsure who pays, call us. We resolve these issues for out-of-state clients every day.
Steps to take after an accident
What to do if you get in a car accident:
Ensure safety: First, check for injuries and move to a safe location.
Contact authorities: Call the police and obtain a police report.
Exchange information: Collect all parties' names, contact details, and insurance information.
Document the scene: Take photos and videos, and note details of the accident.
Seek medical attention: Get checked by a doctor right away - even minor pain can become a serious documented injury later.
Compensation for multiple victims
If multiple victims were involved in a lawsuit, under Nevada law, ALL victims who filed a claim should receive compensation for medical bills and other damages.
Insurance companies cannot favor one victim over another.
If you are partly at fault
Nevada would use the modified comparative negligence rule if you were partially at fault. It means the plaintiff can collect compensation from all other at-fault parties if the plaintiff is less than 51% responsible for the accident. It includes all car accident cases involving out-of-towners.
Non-injury accidents
If only the car were damaged and no one was injured, you can file a liability claim with the at-fault driver's insurance; having an attorney in cases like this is unnecessary. All car accident claims involving out-of-towners are in this category.
The statute of limitations
In Nevada, the time limit for filing an injury claim is two (2) years from the accident date. After that, the statute of limitations expires. This rule affects all claims involving a victim who is an out-of-towner.
We can help
We work on a contingency basis, which means that if we cannot collect your car accident injury compensation, we will not be paid, and you will not owe us anything.
If Nevada is not your home state, but you got injured in a car accident in Las Vegas or Nevada, call our office at 702-432-1000 and ask to speak with a car accident injury attorney.
Since 2010, we've helped out-of-towners injured in car accidents recover full and fair compensation for medical bills and other losses.
Your consultation is free.
Next, read our article "8 Dos and Don'ts for Travelers Injured in a Car Accident in Las Vegas or Nevada."
