July 25, 2025
Uninsured Drivers in Nevada: How to Recover Compensation
Driving without insurance in Nevada is illegal, but that doesn’t stop some people from getting behind the wheel without coverage. If one of these drivers collides with your car, you might wonder how you’ll pay for medical bills, car repairs, and lost wages. Fortunately, you have options for recovering accident costs, even when the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance.
Why Driving Without Insurance is a Bad Idea
Nevada requires all drivers to carry liability insurance with the following minimum limits:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death per accident
- $20,000 for property damage per accident
These limits protect drivers and accident victims alike. If someone hits you and they have insurance, their policy should cover your medical expenses and vehicle repairs. But in an uninsured driver accident, there’s no insurance company to foot the bill.
Despite these laws, about 8.8% of drivers in Nevada still drive uninsured. This means even if you do everything right—carry insurance, obey traffic laws, and drive carefully—you could still end up paying the price for someone else’s bad decisions.
What to Do After an Uninsured Driver Accident
The steps you take after the crash could affect your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what to do:
- Ensure safety: First things first—check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call for medical help immediately.
- Call 911: Even if the crash seems minor, report the accident to the police. A police report is valuable evidence if you need to file an uninsured motorist claim.
- Gather information: When the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you need to collect as much information as possible to protect yourself. Get their full name and contact information, driver’s license number, license plate number, and vehicle make and model. If witnesses are present, ask for their contact information, too. Their statements could be crucial in proving fault.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the vehicle damage and visible injuries. The surrounding scene can also provide valuable information, such as traffic signals, street signs, and road conditions that might have contributed to the crash.
- Notify your insurance company: Call your insurance provider as soon as possible. Even if the other driver is at fault, you may need to rely on your own policy to cover the damages. Uninsured motorist coverage and collision coverage can help fill the gap.
- What if the driver flees?: Most uninsured drivers know their lack of coverage is illegal, so they may flee the scene to avoid getting in trouble. But don’t worry—uninsured motorist coverage also applies to hit-and-run accidents.
How to Recover Compensation
If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your options for recovering accident costs include:
- Filing an uninsured motorist (UM) claim: UM coverage is not required by law in Nevada, but it’s highly recommended. This coverage applies when the at-fault driver is uninsured or can’t be located after a hit-and-run accident. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is often lumped with UM coverage, which protects you if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages.
- Using medical payments (MedPay) coverage: MedPay is an optional add-on in Nevada that covers medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of fault. It won’t pay for lost wages or pain and suffering, but it can help with immediate medical costs.
- Relying on collision coverage for vehicle repairs: Collision coverage pays for repairs to your car, regardless of who caused the accident. If an uninsured driver damages your vehicle, your insurer will cover the repairs (minus your deductible).
- Suing the uninsured driver: You have the right to sue the at-fault driver for damages, but there’s a catch: many uninsured drivers don’t have the assets to pay a settlement. Even if you win in court, collecting the money could be difficult.
Proving Fault
To recover accident costs, you must prove the uninsured driver caused the crash. Evidence like police reports, witness statements, and accident scene photos establish fault. Insurance adjustors want to see proof of these four things:
- The driver had a legal responsibility to drive safely.
- The driver acted negligently. Maybe they ran a red light, drove recklessly, or were distracted behind the wheel.
- The driver’s negligence directly caused the accident.
- You suffered injuries or financial losses as a result.
Types of Compensation You Can Recover
Depending on your coverage and the accident details, you may be able to recover the following:
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills, doctor visits, rehabilitation, and ongoing and future treatment
- Lost wages due to missing work after the accident, plus loss of earning capacity if you can prove that your injuries will impact your ability to work in the future
- Property damage costs associated with repairing or replacing your vehicle
- Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Dealing with a no-insurance claim can be overwhelming. Insurance companies don’t always play fair, and uninsured drivers rarely have the money to cover your losses. That’s where a car accident lawyer comes in. They can provide the legal help you need after an uninsured driver accident. This may include:
- Helping you file your uninsured motorist claim correctly
- Gathering evidence to prove the uninsured driver was at fault
- Negotiating with your insurance company for a fair settlement
- Exploring legal action if other options don’t cover your damages
Choose Carvalho & Associates Attorneys at Law
If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver, choose Carvalho & Associates for legal help in Nevada. We have over 30 years of experience helping injured clients in Las Vegas recover the compensation they deserve. Schedule a free consultation with our personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas, and we’ll discuss where to go from here.