Las Vegas Hit & Run Accident Attorneys

A hit and run occurs when a driver involved in an accident, regardless of fault, leaves the scene without stopping to identify themselves or assist the injured.

Often yes, but the route to recovery changes. Without a plate number the driver may never be identified, and the claim usually runs through your own uninsured vehicle coverage rather than against the other driver. Nevada’s uninsured vehicle coverage reaches a vehicle whose owner or operator is unknown or cannot be found after reasonable diligence, on two conditions: the injury resulted from physical contact of that vehicle with you or with the vehicle you were in, and the crash was reported to the police within the time the reporting statutes require (NRS 690B.020(3)(f)). Your own policy wording matters too, so have it read. Meanwhile, witnesses, surveillance footage, and physical evidence still matter, both to identify the driver and to prove what happened.

Ensure safety first, then report the incident to the police, gather any available evidence, seek medical attention, and inform your insurance company.

Absolutely. An experienced attorney, like those at Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers, can help unearth evidence you might overlook and navigate the complexities of your case.

It is usually the route to recovery when the driver is never identified. Start by checking your policy rather than assuming you have no coverage: a Nevada auto liability policy must include uninsured vehicle coverage unless the named insured rejected it in writing, on a form the insurer furnished describing the coverage being rejected (NRS 690B.020(1)). What that required coverage pays for is bodily injury, sickness, disease and death; coverage for your own property damage is a separate product you may or may not have bought. And where the owner or operator is unknown or cannot be found after reasonable diligence, the statute reaches that vehicle only if the injury resulted from physical contact of the vehicle with you or with the vehicle you were in, and the crash was reported to the police within the time the reporting statutes require (NRS 690B.020(3)(f)). Your own policy wording matters too, so have it read.

Often, though the route changes and it is not automatic. With no driver to sue, the claim usually runs through your own uninsured vehicle coverage, which a Nevada policy carries unless you rejected it in writing (NRS 690B.020(1)). For an unidentified driver that coverage turns on two conditions in the statute: the injury resulted from physical contact of the vehicle with you or with the vehicle you were in, and the crash was reported to the police within the time the reporting statutes require (NRS 690B.020(3)(f)). Identifying the driver is still worth the effort, because it opens the driver’s own liability coverage. Have a lawyer read your policy and the police investigation to see what is open to you.

Lawyers can work with law enforcement, hire private investigators, and handle the claim with your insurance company, which matters in hit and run cases where the driver is never identified.

Two clocks matter, and the short one is the one people miss. A lawsuit for injuries to a person generally has to be started within two years (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). Long before that, if you need your own uninsured vehicle coverage because the driver was never identified, that coverage depends on the crash having been reported within the time the reporting statutes require to the police department of the city where it happened or, in an unincorporated area, to the county sheriff or the Nevada Highway Patrol (NRS 690B.020(3)(f)(2)). One of those statutes, NRS 484E.030, tells a driver in a crash involving injury, death or a crash on a highway to report it forthwith to the nearest police authority or the Nevada Highway Patrol if no police officer is present. So report the crash right away, and confirm your own deadlines with a lawyer early.

Penalties vary based on the severity of the accident but can include fines, jail time, and loss of driving privileges.

Yes, we assist both residents and visitors in Las Vegas. Regardless of where you’re from, we’re here to help you navigate the aftermath of a hit and run.

Remember, if you’re uncertain or have further questions, a consultation can provide clarity. Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers offers free consultations to discuss the specifics of your situation.

Choosing the right Las Vegas auto accident lawyer is a critical decision that could significantly impact your recovery process and your life. At Jack Bernstein Injury Lawyers, we represent Las Vegas residents injured in hit and run accidents. Contact us today for a free consultation. Jack’s Got Your Back!

Call us at (702) 633-3333 or contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.