What happens after a car accident in Las Vegas, from the scene to a settlement?

Last updated October 7, 2026.

After a Las Vegas crash, Nevada law requires you to stop, exchange information and help anyone hurt. Police may write a report, and you may owe the DMV a report within 10 days. Then come insurance claims with set response deadlines and, if the claim does not settle, a lawsuit that generally must be filed within 2 years.

Every car accident claim in Las Vegas follows roughly the same path, though each step can take a different amount of time. This guide walks through it in order and points to the page that covers each step in detail.

What happens, step by step, after a crash in the Las Vegas Valley?

At the scene: stop and help. A driver in a crash that causes injury or death must stop at or as close as possible to the scene and remain until the legal duties are done (NRS 484E.010). Every driver must give a name, address and vehicle registration number, show a driver's license on request, and give reasonable help to anyone injured, including arranging transport for medical care if it is clearly needed or requested (NRS 484E.030).
Move cars if it is safe. In a crash with only property damage, drivers must stop and, if a vehicle is a hazard and can be moved safely, move it out of the travel lanes (NRS 484E.020).
The police report. If no officer comes and the crash caused injury or death or happened on a highway, the driver must promptly report it to the nearest police office or the Nevada Highway Patrol (NRS 484E.030). In the valley, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department covers the City of Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County, Henderson and North Las Vegas have their own police, and freeways go to the Highway Patrol. Our guide on which agency handles your crash and how to get the report covers fees and timing.
Medical care. Clark County recorded 10,908 trauma cases in 2023, the most of any Nevada county, according to the state's trauma report. Getting checked promptly protects your health and creates the records any claim needs.
The DMV report within 10 days. If the crash caused injury, death or apparent damage of $750 or more, a written report goes to the DMV within 10 days, unless an officer investigated and the report lists each party's insurance (NRS 484E.070). See when you must file an SR-1.
Insurance claims open. You may claim against the at-fault driver's liability coverage, your own collision, medical payments or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, or several at once. Nevada's minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash and $20,000 for property (NRS 485.185); see what those limits pay.
Insurer deadlines run. Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 20 working days and start investigating within 20 working days; on your own policy, they must accept or deny within 30 working days of a complete proof of loss (NAC 686A.665, 686A.670, 686A.675). See how long an insurer has to respond.
Treatment, bills and liens. Hospitals and public programs may claim part of a recovery; see hospital liens on a car accident settlement.
Settlement or lawsuit. Most claims settle. If not, an injury lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years (NRS 11.190). Cases over $15,000 are filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court (NRS 4.370); see what happens after a lawsuit is filed in Clark County.
Arbitration or trial. Many smaller cases go through the court's arbitration program, which the court's ADR office says covers cases worth up to $100,000 per plaintiff filed on or after January 1, 2026; see arbitration and short trials in Clark County.

The timeline at a glance

When	What	Rule
At the scene	Stop, exchange information, render aid; move vehicles out of lanes in damage-only crashes if safe	NRS 484E.010, 484E.020, 484E.030
Promptly, if no officer came	Report injury, death or highway crashes to police or the Highway Patrol	NRS 484E.030
Up to 10 business days (LVMPD) or 7 to 14 days (Highway Patrol)	Police crash report becomes available	Agency pages
Within 10 days	DMV report (SR-1) if required	NRS 484E.070
Within 20 working days	Insurer acknowledges the claim and begins investigating	NAC 686A.665, 686A.670
Within 30 working days of proof of loss	Your own insurer accepts or denies	NAC 686A.675
Within 2 years	Injury lawsuit filed	NRS 11.190
Within 3 years	Vehicle damage lawsuit filed	NRS 11.190

What changes the answer

Fault. Nevada is a fault state. You can recover if your share of fault is not greater than that of the people you are claiming against, and your recovery is reduced by your share (NRS 41.141). Our post on comparative negligence explains this in more depth.

Coverage. Whose insurance applies, and how much, shapes every step. If the other driver's limits are too low, your own underinsured motorist coverage may help; see claiming underinsured motorist coverage in Nevada.

Who the other driver was. A commercial truck, a government vehicle or a drunk driver each brings different rules. See crashes with government vehicles. Truck crashes add federal rules, covered in what happens after a truck accident.

Seat belts. In Nevada, not wearing a seat belt may not be considered negligence or causation in a civil case (NRS 484D.495); see whether an insurer can blame you for a seat belt.

Where you live. Visitors to Las Vegas follow the same Nevada rules; our page for visitors hit while in Las Vegas covers handling the claim from home.

The size of the case. Injury cases under $15,000 can go to justice court, small claims handle up to $10,000, and larger cases go to district court (NRS 4.370, NRS 73.010).

For example: a typical claim from start to finish

Imagine a hypothetical driver named Jordan whose car is hit by a driver running a red light in unincorporated Clark County. LVMPD responds and writes a report. Jordan goes to an urgent care that evening, then to a follow-up doctor's visit the next week.

Because an officer investigated and the report lists both drivers' insurance, Jordan does not need to file an SR-1. Jordan requests the report after about two weeks, then opens a claim with the other driver's insurer and a collision claim with his own. His insurer acknowledges the claim within days and later declares the car a total loss.

Jordan finishes treatment four months later. The other insurer offers its policy limit of $25,000. Because his bills and lost pay exceed that, Jordan also opens an underinsured motorist claim on his own policy. Everything resolves without a lawsuit, well inside the 2-year deadline. This is a hypothetical walk-through, not a prediction of any real case.

Common mistakes after a Las Vegas crash

Leaving the scene too soon. Leaving an injury crash is a felony in Nevada (NRS 484E.010).
Skipping medical care. Gaps in treatment are hard to explain later.
Forgetting the DMV report. If no officer investigated, the 10-day SR-1 deadline still applies.
Giving a recorded statement before you understand your injuries. See our post on talking to insurance adjusters after an accident.
Settling before treatment ends. A release usually ends the claim.
Watching the wrong clock. Insurer deadlines never extend your 2-year lawsuit deadline.

What to do this week

Write down the other driver's name, insurance and plate, and the report number from the officer.
Get medical care and keep every record and bill.
Check whether you owe the DMV an SR-1 within 10 days.
Open claims with the insurers involved and write down each claim number.
Photograph your car, your injuries and the scene if you can return safely.
Put the 2-year and 3-year deadlines on your calendar. For how to collect proof, see our post on evidence for an auto accident claim.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to call the police after a minor crash in Las Vegas?

If no officer comes and the crash caused injury or death, or happened on a highway, the driver must promptly report it to the nearest police office or the Highway Patrol (NRS 484E.030). For damage-only crashes, the DMV report rules may still apply.

How long do I have to file a claim?

An injury lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years and a vehicle damage lawsuit within 3 years (NRS 11.190). Insurance claims should be opened right away.

Is Nevada a no-fault state?

No. Nevada requires liability insurance and decides claims by fault (NRS 485.185, NRS 41.141).

Which court hears car accident cases in Las Vegas?

Claims over $15,000 go to the Eighth Judicial District Court at the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Avenue; smaller claims can go to justice court (NRS 4.370).

How long does a settlement take?

It depends mostly on how long treatment lasts and whether coverage is disputed. Our post on how long it takes to settle an auto accident case discusses the usual factors.

Will my case go to trial?

Most claims settle. If a lawsuit is filed, many smaller cases go to arbitration first, and the Short Trial Program handles many of the rest.

If you were hurt in a crash in the Las Vegas Valley, you can talk with attorney Maysoun Fletcher about where your claim stands. Call 702-333-6339 for a free consultation.