Nevada’s general personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). Miss this deadline, and your case is permanently barred — no matter how strong the liability evidence or severe the injuries. However, Nevada law recognizes several important exceptions that extend or toll (pause) the two-year period in specific circumstances. If you have concerns about the deadline in your case, consulting an attorney immediately is essential. Marathon Law Group evaluates statute of limitations issues in complex Las Vegas personal injury cases.
Injured in Las Vegas? Call Marathon Law Group at (702) 522-1808 for a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
The General Rule: 2 Years From the Date of Injury
The two-year clock starts running on the date the injury occurred — typically the date of the accident. For most car accidents, this is the day of the crash. The lawsuit must be filed in Nevada district court before the two-year deadline expires. Note: filing a claim with the insurance company does not toll the statute of limitations — the deadline runs against your right to file a civil lawsuit, not against the insurance claims process. Even if settlement negotiations are ongoing as the two-year date approaches, the lawsuit must be filed to preserve your rights (filing can be dismissed or stayed pending settlement, but the filing itself preserves the claim).
Minor Victims — Toll During Minority
NRS 11.250 tolls the statute of limitations for minors (persons under 18) during their minority. The two-year period does not begin to run until the minor reaches age 18. A child injured at age 10 in a Las Vegas car accident has until their 20th birthday to file a personal injury lawsuit — not two years from the date of the accident. This protection gives parents and guardians time to make thoughtful decisions about litigation without the pressure of a two-year deadline while the child is still developing and the long-term consequences of the injury may not be fully apparent. Note: the parents’ own claims (medical expenses paid for the child’s care, loss of consortium if applicable) are not tolled — those claims belong to the parents and are subject to the standard two-year deadline from the accident date.
Government Entity Defendants — Shorter Deadlines and Notice Requirements
When the at-fault party is a government entity (NDOT, LVMPD, Clark County, the City of Las Vegas, NRS property, etc.), Nevada’s claim filing statute (NRS 41.036) imposes shorter deadlines and mandatory pre-suit notice requirements. A claim against a state agency must be filed with the State Board of Examiners within 2 years; a claim against a political subdivision (city, county) must be filed within 2 years. However, some local governments have their own shorter notice requirements — the City of Las Vegas, for example, requires written notice within a shorter period. Missing the government notice requirement may result in permanent bar of the claim even if the lawsuit is timely filed. If a government vehicle, road design defect, or government-owned property was involved in your accident, consult an attorney immediately about the applicable notice requirements.
Discovery Rule for Latent Injuries
Nevada’s “discovery rule” tolls the statute of limitations when the plaintiff did not know — and reasonably could not have known — of the injury and its cause. This exception most commonly applies to medical malpractice and toxic exposure cases where the harm is latent and does not manifest until years after the wrongful act. In ordinary car accident cases (where injury is immediately apparent), the discovery rule typically does not apply. However, in cases where a soft-tissue injury later turns out to involve an undetected disc herniation requiring surgery that wasn’t diagnosed until months after the accident, or where the full neurological consequences of a brain injury only emerge over time, arguments can be made that the discovery rule should toll the deadline for the newly discovered injury component.
Fraudulent Concealment
If the at-fault party or their insurer actively concealed facts that prevented you from discovering the cause of your injury or the identity of the responsible party, Nevada courts may toll the statute during the period of fraudulent concealment. This is a narrow exception requiring proof of active concealment — not merely passive failure to disclose.
Contact Marathon Law Group — Do Not Miss Your Nevada Deadline
If you are approaching the two-year anniversary of your Las Vegas accident without having filed a lawsuit, contact Marathon Law Group immediately. Call (702) 522-1808 — missing the deadline permanently bars your claim.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney at Marathon Law Group. We offer free consultations and only get paid when you win.
For more information about your legal options, visit our Nevada personal injury practice area page or contact us today for a free consultation. You should also be aware of the Nevada personal injury statute of limitations to protect your rights.