A car accident can dramatically affect many areas of your life. You may be forced to deal with painful injuries and costly medical treatment. You might find yourself unable to work and support yourself financially. You may also find it difficult to repair or replace the vehicle that you depend on for everyday life.
In Nevada, irresponsible drivers can be held liable for the injuries they cause through a personal injury claim. But if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or has insufficient coverage, getting properly compensated can be difficult. The other driver’s insurance company is usually the one who pays for your injuries and medical bills after an accident, so a lack of insurance could certainly limit your ability to secure the money you’re owed.
Were you hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Las Vegas? The uninsured motorist lawyers at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys are here to help. We will walk you through your legal options and work skillfully to get you the money you need to cover your injuries and related losses.
We’re proud to provide personalized, one-on-one service to injured Nevadans, and you can count on us to return all emails and calls within 24 hours.
Don’t wait to get legal help after a car accident. Visit our contact page or call our office today for a free case review, with no obligation.
What to Do After an Accident With an Uninsured Driver
To make sure you have the best chance of recovering the maximum amount of compensation after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, follow these steps:
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible: Don’t put off seeing a doctor after a car accident. You need to make sure all your injuries are identified and documented. You’ll also want to start treatment as soon as possible to maximize your chance of a full recovery.
- Follow doctor’s orders: Not following your doctor’s instructions can jeopardize both your health and your chances of recovering full compensation for your injuries. Even if you disagree with your doctor’s recommendations, speak to him or her before making any change to your treatment regimen.
- Save all of your medical bills, receipts, and other documents: You need proper documentation of your injuries and financial losses to recover full and fair compensation after a car accident, so be sure to save all your paperwork related to your injuries. In addition to your medical bills, you’ll also want to hold on to any pay stubs for proof of lost wages.
- Talk to a Las Vegas car accident lawyer: Under Nevada law, you have two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit related to any injuries you may have sustained. This sounds like a long time, but it takes time to build a quality case. Talking to an attorney early on makes it easier to find and preserve the evidence you’ll need. It also gives your lawyer more time to build a persuasive case.
Auto Insurance Requirements in Las Vegas
Nevada law requires drivers to carry certain amounts of minimum car accident coverage. Those minimums include:
- $20,000 in property damage coverage per accident
- $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident in injury or wrongful death coverage
- $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Note that these are the minimum requirements for all drivers. Drivers can buy additional coverage if they wish. Purchasing more insurance may cost a bit more upfront, but drivers who have more coverage will have an easier time collecting full compensation if they’re involved in an accident in which someone is severely injured.
Insurance Coverage for Underinsured and Uninsured Motorists
Nevada law currently does not require drivers to purchase uninsured motorist coverage or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. However, state law requires all auto insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to all drivers.
While UM and UIM coverage is optional in Nevada, THE702FIRM Injury Lawyers strongly advises you to purchase it. If you don’t have the right coverage and you’re hit by a driver who’s uninsured or underinsured, you have no way to recover any compensation for your losses.
One other option that can keep you prepared for an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist is medical payments (Medpay) coverage. Like underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage, medpay coverage is an optional benefit that you can add to your existing auto insurance policy.
Medpay is a no-fault benefit that covers costs such as your medical bills after an accident. Another advantage of Medpay coverage is that you can claim benefits after an accident even if you were somewhat responsible for causing the crash.
What Does Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage Cover?
There are two elements to most uninsured motorist plans in Nevada. They are:
- Bodily injury coverage, which covers injuries to the driver and any passengers in the vehicle. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, and physical pain and suffering sustained by anyone in the car who was injured.
- Property damage coverage, which covers any damage to the vehicle itself in the event of an accident.
- What Does Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage Cover?
- Underinsured motorist coverage in Nevada works in a similar way to uninsured motorist coverage. Like uninsured motorist coverage, a UIM policy covers your bodily injuries after an accident.
- A UIM add-on to your auto policy protects you in the event that the other driver’s insurance coverage doesn’t meet state minimums or isn’t enough to cover your losses after an accident.
For example, if the driver who hit you only has $25,000 in bodily injury coverage and you have $30,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, you may have some difficulty recovering the full value of your case without underinsured motorist coverage. You can file a lawsuit against the other driver, but that’s a risk, and they may not have sufficient assets to cover your remaining losses. On the other hand, UIM on your own policy could apply and further compensate you the full extent of your injuries.
Why You Need a Lawyer to Help With a UM/UIM Claim
An accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist is much more complicated than a typical car accident, and the stakes are much higher. You have fewer ways to obtain the money you need to cover your various losses, but you still need that compensation as fast as possible. If you’re dealing with multiple insurance policies, resolving the claim can quickly become overwhelming.
Getting help from an uninsured motorist attorney makes your life much easier and simpler. An experienced lawyer will know the ins and outs of Nevada’s insurance requirements. They’ll be able to help you promptly file a claim with your insurance carrier. That way, you get your benefits more quickly, and you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay your bills.
After a Car Crash, Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
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Contact a Las Vegas Uninsured Motorist Lawyer Today
At THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys, we understand how stressful life can be after being injured in a car accident, especially one with an uninsured or underinsured driver. No matter how complicated the case may seem, our Las Vegas UM/UIM lawyers have the knowledge and experience to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Those skills have enabled us to recover millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
We’re proud to be among the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 law firms. We’re also members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an invitation-only group of trial attorneys who’ve won multimillion-dollar judgments on behalf of their clients. With our skills and resources on your side, you can rely on us to fight aggressively for you to be fairly compensated for your losses.
We can get started on your case immediately. Call or contact us today for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we win.