A Las Vegas car accident can happen in seconds, but the decisions you make in the first 24 hours can determine the outcome of your injury claim. Whether you were rear-ended on the I-15, sideswiped on Las Vegas Boulevard, or hit at an intersection on Flamingo Road, acting quickly and strategically protects your health, your rights, and your financial recovery. At Marathon Law Group, our experienced Las Vegas car accident attorneys have seen firsthand how early mistakes cost injured victims thousands of dollars — or even their entire case.
Step 1: Call 911 and Get a Police Report
Your first call after any car accident in Las Vegas should be to 911. Even if the other driver insists the damage is minor or wants to “handle it privately,” you must have a police report. Nevada law requires reporting accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $750. The police report becomes a critical piece of evidence in your claim. It documents the scene, identifies all parties, records statements, and in many cases, assigns fault. Without it, insurance companies and opposing attorneys have far more room to dispute what happened.
Step 2: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if you feel fine, you need to see a doctor within 24 hours of your accident. Many serious injuries — including whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding — do not present symptoms immediately. Adrenaline masks pain in the aftermath of a crash. Waiting to seek treatment is one of the most common mistakes accident victims make, and insurance companies routinely use delayed treatment to argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident.
Go to an emergency room, urgent care center, or your primary care physician. Tell them you were in a car accident and describe all symptoms, no matter how minor they seem. This creates a medical record linking your injuries directly to the crash — a foundation your attorney will rely on when building your claim.
Step 3: Document the Scene
If you are physically able, document everything at the scene before vehicles are moved. Use your phone to photograph all vehicles from multiple angles, the positions of the cars, skid marks, traffic signals, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of every witness. Write down the weather conditions, time of day, and exact location. These details fade from memory quickly and cannot be recovered once the scene is cleared. Your documentation will become part of the evidence your attorney uses to establish liability.
What to Collect at the Scene
Be sure to gather the other driver’s full name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance company and policy number. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers. Note the responding officer’s badge number and the police report number so you can request a copy later.
Step 4: Do Not Admit Fault
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that if you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the accident, you cannot recover damages. Any statement you make at the scene — even something as simple as “I’m sorry” — can be used against you to suggest you admitted liability. Be polite with the other driver and cooperating with police, but avoid any discussion of fault or what happened in the moments before the crash.
Step 5: Do Not Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company
In the hours or days after your accident, the other driver’s insurance company may contact you requesting a recorded statement. You are not legally required to provide one, and doing so without an attorney is a serious mistake. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that minimize your injuries, establish your contributory fault, and limit what they have to pay you. Politely decline and tell them your attorney will be in touch.
Step 6: Preserve All Evidence
Do not repair your vehicle until your attorney has documented the damage. Keep all clothing you were wearing in a sealed bag, especially if it was torn or bloodied. Save all medical records, bills, and receipts. Hold onto any prescription bottles, physical therapy records, and notes from doctors. If you missed work, document your lost wages with pay stubs or employer letters. Every piece of evidence has potential value in your Las Vegas personal injury claim.
Evidence That Can Make or Break Your Case
Dashcam footage, surveillance video from nearby businesses, and data from the vehicle’s event data recorder (the “black box”) can all be critical — but this evidence must be obtained quickly. Businesses routinely overwrite surveillance footage within days. Your attorney can send preservation letters to ensure this evidence is not destroyed. Acting fast is essential.
Step 7: Contact a Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Before Accepting Any Offer
Insurance companies move fast for a reason: early settlement offers are almost always far below what your case is actually worth. They want to resolve your claim before you understand the full extent of your injuries or retain legal representation. Before you sign anything or accept any payment, speak with a qualified Las Vegas car accident lawyer who can evaluate your claim and advise you on what fair compensation actually looks like.
At Marathon Law Group, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we win. We evaluate your case for free, and we move immediately to preserve evidence, document your injuries, and build the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
Call Marathon Law Group Now — Free Consultation
If you or someone you love was injured in a Las Vegas car accident, do not wait. The steps you take in the first 24 hours are the most important steps you will take in your entire case. Call Marathon Law Group today for a free consultation at (702) 522-1808. We are available 24/7 and will come to you if you cannot come to us.
Marathon Law Group
2012 Hamilton Ln
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 522-1808