Being the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Las Vegas creates a unique set of legal challenges — the at-fault driver who caused your injuries has fled the scene, possibly never to be identified. Nevada law and your own insurance coverage provide important protections in these situations. Understanding what to do immediately after a hit-and-run, and what legal options are available, is essential for Las Vegas accident victims. Marathon Law Group handles hit-and-run accident claims in Clark County and throughout Nevada.
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.
Nevada’s Hit-and-Run Law
NRS 484E.010 et seq. requires any driver involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to immediately stop, remain at the scene, and provide identifying information and assistance. Leaving the scene of an injury accident is a felony in Nevada — a Class B felony carrying 2–20 years imprisonment and significant fines. The criminal law is cold comfort to an injured victim who cannot identify the driver, but it reflects Nevada’s strong public policy against leaving accident victims without recourse.
Immediate Steps After a Las Vegas Hit-and-Run
In the seconds and minutes after a hit-and-run: call 911 immediately — police investigation is critical, and a timely police report is required for insurance claims and for any law enforcement efforts to identify the fleeing driver; note and photograph the fleeing vehicle’s license plate, make, model, color, and any distinctive features (even a partial plate can narrow identification); ask any witnesses for their contact information — bystanders often see details the victim missed during the chaotic moment of impact; look immediately for surveillance cameras — businesses, traffic signals, ATMs, and residential systems near the accident location may have captured the vehicle or its plate; photograph the accident scene, your vehicle damage, and any debris the fleeing vehicle left behind (bumper fragments, paint transfer, mirror pieces). Report the accident promptly to your insurance company — most policies require timely reporting of uninsured/hit-and-run claims as a condition of coverage.
Your Primary Recovery Source: Uninsured Motorist Coverage
When the hit-and-run driver is never identified, your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is the primary source of compensation under Nevada law. Nevada requires insurers to offer UM coverage (NRS 687B.145), which covers bodily injury and sometimes property damage caused by uninsured or unidentified (hit-and-run) drivers. The UM limits available to you depend on the coverage you purchased — Nevada’s minimum is $25,000/$50,000, but higher limits are available. UM coverage pays as if your insurer is the at-fault driver’s insurer — your claim is against your own policy, subject to your UM limits. Most Nevada UM policies require a “physical contact” element for hit-and-run claims — meaning the other vehicle must have made actual physical contact with your vehicle or person (excluding phantom vehicle cases where a vehicle cut you off and fled without touching you, causing you to swerve into a crash). Check your specific policy language, as some policies provide broader coverage.
If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Later Identified
Law enforcement investigation — examining surveillance footage, following up on witness leads, and checking nearby traffic cameras — identifies hit-and-run drivers more often than victims expect. If the driver is identified, their liability insurance (if they have any) becomes the primary source of recovery, supplemented by your UM coverage if their limits are insufficient. If they are uninsured, your UM coverage fills the gap. If the identified driver can be personally served, a civil judgment can be obtained even if they have no insurance — though collecting on an uninsured judgment presents its own challenges.
Contact Marathon Law Group After a Las Vegas Hit-and-Run
Marathon Law Group guides Las Vegas hit-and-run victims through insurance claims and any available legal recovery. Call (702) 522-1808 for a free consultation.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our experienced Las Vegas motorcycle accident 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.