You can have a certificate proudly naming you the safest driver in the state, but this doesn’t mean you can’t be involved in a car accident. Nevada had 43,683 traffic accidentsin 2020 and statistics are expected to jump. Just because you’re following all traffic rules doesn’t mean everyone else is doing the same thing. 

If you’re involved in a vehicle collision in Nevada, do you know the essential steps to take? Filing an accident claim is a process and you don’t want to skip a step. Forgetting something can be the difference between receiving compensation for your damages or struggling to prove your accident even occurred.

Filing a Nevada Car Accident Report

Your personal injury claim isn’t going very far without your accident report. Your report verifies the vehicle collision actually occurred. Besides, there’s a good chance Nevada law requires you to report your car accident immediately. Yep, this means calling 9-1-1 and waiting at the accident scene for the authorities to arrive.

Under Nevada Revised Statutes §484E.070, you must immediately report any car accident that causes injuries, fatalities, or more than $750 in property damage. Since even minor vehicle damage can still run well over $750, it’s usually best to plan on staying at the accident scene.

Filing a Nevada Accident Report Online

If both you and the other involved driver don’t want to wait around for the police to arrive, you may be able to file your accident report online. There’s a filing deadline you need to meet. You have 10 days from the date of the accident to file your report. 

If you wait past the filing deadline, there’s a good chance you can’t file an accident report. You’re also going to need to provide some information. The Nevada DMV is going to ask for the following:

• A copy of the insurance policy that covers the vehicle involved in the crash when the accident occurred
• A statement of your total property loss or an estimate of the cost of repairs. This also applies if your vehicle is totaled. You’ll provide an estimate of your replacement costs.
• You may also be required to submit a physician’s statement if it turns out you suffered injuries. Not all injuries are immediately obvious, like soft tissue damage and internal bleeding.

Skipping this crucial step can do more than jeopardize your ability to file a Nevada car accident claim. You can face legal challenges like a temporary suspension of your driver’s license. If you fail to report a car collision involving serious injuries or fatalities, you may even find yourself dealing with criminal charges like failing to render aid or a hit-and-run.

Why You Should File a Car Accident

We’ve covered the legalities of why motorists should always plan on filing a report after a vehicle accident. However, there are a few other reasons why you don’t want to skip this crucial step.

Your insurance company is going to request a copy of the accident report with your injury claim. Without the report, there’s a really good chance your claim will be automatically denied. Think of your accident report as proof the incident occurred.

Most car accident reports contain a ton of information about the collision. These details can go a long way toward supporting your accident plan. Your report may even come with diagrams of the accident. This can help determine fault.

Figuring out fault in a Nevada car crash is key. Nevada follows at-fault insurance rules. This simply means you’re filing a claim against the driver responsible for causing the collision insurance company. In other words, you can usually leave your insurance provider out of the claim process. Nevada also follows comparative negligence rules, and this is when fault can take center stage.

If you’re new to comparative negligence guidelines, the definition is pretty straightforward. The rule lets more than one individual be responsible for causing the same accident. As long as you’re not assessed more than 50% of the blame, you shouldn’t have any issues filing a compensation claim. 

However, be prepared to receive less compensation. Your potential settlement amount will be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault. So, if you’re assigned 20% of the blame and your settlement amount is $100,000, you’ll receive $80,000.

Additional Steps to Take After a Nevada Vehicle Collision

Reporting the collision is an essential step in the claim process. Skipping over this step usually means you can’t recover compensation for your damages. However, reporting the accident doesn’t necessarily mean all that’s left is contacting the insurance company. There are a few other things you and your Nevada personal injury attorney should plan on taking care of.

Seek Medical Treatment

Even if you’re pretty sure you’re just fine after the car accident, you should still plan on scheduling a visit with a healthcare provider. Remember, not all injuries are immediately obvious. You don’t want to risk your health. You’re also going to need copies of your medical records when it’s time to file your Nevada personal injury claim.

Gather Your Evidence

If your injuries aren’t screaming for a ride to the ER in an ambulance, try to gather some evidence at the accident scene. If you’re on your way to the hospital, no worries, you can find most of the information in your official accident report.

Take some pictures of your vehicle damage and the position it ended up in after the collision. This can help establish fault if it becomes an issue. This can also apply to any surveillance footage, so make a note of the locations of any cameras in the area. Your accident attorney can subpoena the footage.

Plan on Working with a Nevada Car Accident Attorney

Even if you think you have a good grasp of the accident claim process, it’s still a good idea to partner with an experienced Nevada personal injury attorney. Your lawyer can help you navigate the process, including determining liability in your car accident. Your attorney can also help ensure you can receive fair compensation for your damages.