What Is the “No Injury, No Response” Car Accident Law in Nevada?

In Las Vegas, Nevada, the Metropolitan Police Department have enforced a “no injury, no response” car accident policy since March 3rd, 2014. The law went into effect to free valuable law enforcement time and resources for more serious accidents that cause personal injuries. According to the law, police will not respond to minor injuries, or those that don’t cause injuries or deaths. This does not, however, mean you don’t need to report your wreck. Here are the details on this unique Nevada law.

Contact a Fatal Car Accident Attorney

No injury, no response car accident insurance claims are typically simple to pursue and result in enough compensation to pay for property damage repairs, a rental vehicle, and other losses. If you find yourself involved in a more serious, fatal car accident in Nevada, the stakes will be much higher. Contact a Las Vegas fatal car accident attorney if someone close to you has died in a car accident.

What Should I Do After My Accident?

After a fender bender where no one suffered any injuries, move your vehicle to the side of the road. Leaving your vehicle where it is can obstruct traffic and pose a hazard to you and others involved in the collision. Once in a safe location, call the police and explain what happened. They will give you instructions on how to proceed, even if they won’t respond in person.

Police may respond if you believe the other driver is drunk or if the other driver takes off (making you the victim of a hit-and-run accident). Don’t skip a trip to the hospital, even if you think everything is fine. Many common car accident injuries, including whiplash, slipped spinal discs, and brain trauma can have delayed or hidden symptoms that may not appear for hours or days after the accident.

It’s always wise to visit your doctor and explain what happened. Scans may show that you have a hidden injury, such as a hematoma (bleeding in the brain). Next, you will need to swap information with the other driver, including insurance information. Once you have all the information about your car accident, make your call to the insurance company to deal with property damages.

What Does This Mean for My Insurance?

Document a no injury, no response car accident as you would a more serious collision. The at-fault driver’s insurance company will want to know details about what happened, and may also request proof and documentation. Start collecting information from the scene of the crash, such as photographs of the roadway and property damage. Get the name of the other driver and his/her license plate numbers. Write down a description of the collision and what you think caused it while the crash is still fresh in your mind.

Once you’re in a safe place, call the at-fault party’s insurance company. Nevada is a “fault” state, meaning you will file your claim with the person who caused your crash. If you don’t know who this is, contact a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas for assistance. Explain to the insurance company that you called 911 and reported the crash, but they didn’t respond since it was a non-injury wreck. The insurance agent should give you directions for how to complete your property damage claim, such as to bring your car to a mechanic for an evaluation.

What Does This Mean for My Potential Case?

Should you need to file a personal injury case regarding your no injury, no response car accident, you will need to bring forth all information and documentation you’ve collected about your crash. The fact that police never responded could mean less evidence than in more serious car accident cases. However, you could still have a case against the at-fault driver, a car part manufacturer, or another party if said party negligently caused your damages. You may have grounds for an injury claim if you suffered expensive property damages, you discovered injuries later, or if the insurance company unfairly denied your claim. Contact a skilled personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas.