A hit-and-run car accident is a serious type of crash that can lead to life-threatening and fatal injuries – especially since the victim may not receive the immediate medical care that he or she needs. Hit-and-run collisions can also be difficult to recover from financially if the at-fault driver is never identified. You may need legal assistance from a car accident attorney in Las Vegas.
What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident?
Every motor vehicle driver in the State of Nevada has a legal obligation to pull over immediately at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or return to the scene as soon as possible if the driver left. Nevada Revised Statute § 484E.020 states:
- The driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting only in damage to a vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by any person shall:
- Immediately stop his or her vehicle at the scene of the crash
In addition, if a driver is involved in a crash resulting in injury or death, the driver must render aid to the injured, exchange information with the other driver, and report the crash to the police. Failing to take the required actions after a car accident is known as a hit-and-run.
In this type of crash, a driver keeps driving and flees the crash scene without stopping or giving his or her information to victims. This is a misdemeanor crime in Nevada that can be elevated to a felony if someone is seriously injured or killed.
Is Nevada a No-Fault Car Accident State?
A “no-fault” state uses an insurance system where anyone involved in a car accident can file a first-party claim with their own car insurance provider for coverage, regardless of fault. In these states, hit-and-run accident victims can recover compensation from their insurance policies without needing to identify the driver who fled the scene.
Nevada, however, is a fault-based state. This means the person or party at fault for causing a car accident is held financially responsible for the victims’ medical bills and property damage. A hit-and-run is so harmful because it can leave injured victims without many options for obtaining financial compensation for their losses since the at-fault driver’s identity is unknown.
Making a Financial Recovery as a Hit-and-Run Accident Victim in Las Vegas
After a Nevada hit-and-run accident, a type of insurance you may have on your policy that can pay for damages is uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance. These are optional add-ons to standard auto insurance policies in Nevada. However, you must decline them in writing when purchasing your policy. If you don’t remember doing this, you may have this type of coverage.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage offers supplemental insurance if you get involved in a car accident with a driver who does not have adequate coverage. However, it can also pay for your losses after a hit-and-run accident where the at-fault driver remains unknown. If you don’t have this type of insurance, you may have others that can help, such as collision or comprehensive coverage.
Another possibility may be holding a third party liable for your hit-and-run accident. If a dangerous roadway defect contributed to your crash, for example, you may have grounds to file a claim against the government agency responsible for road maintenance. Vehicle manufacturers, businesses or employers, and other drivers involved could also present possible defendants.
When to Contact a Car Accident Attorney
Help is available if you’ve been injured or a loved one was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Las Vegas. Multiple options for obtaining justice and financial compensation may be available to you and your family, depending on the circumstances.
Request a free case evaluation with an experienced attorney by calling Edward Bernstein & Associates at (702) 508-7334 to learn more. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of crash victims.