After a hit and run in Las Vegas, three moves protect you most: report the crash to the police promptly, get medical care the same day, and start looking for cameras and witnesses before footage is erased. And even if the driver is never identified, you may still be paid — uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy is the main recovery path in hit-and-run cases.
Report it — leaving the scene is a crime
Leaving the scene of an injury crash is a crime in Nevada, which is exactly why police take these reports seriously. Call 911 from the scene if you can, or report promptly afterward. The police report does double duty: it starts the search for the driver, and it becomes the foundation of your insurance claim. Get medical attention the same day even if you feel mostly fine — adrenaline masks injuries, and an early medical record ties them to the crash.
Evidence that finds drivers — and wins claims
Hit-and-run drivers are found more often than victims expect, but the window is short. Move quickly on:
- Photos of everything — your vehicle, debris, paint transfer, skid marks, and any partial plate you remember.
- Witnesses — collect names and phone numbers at the scene; memories and willingness fade within days.
- Camera footage — casinos, gas stations, doorbell cameras, and traffic cameras blanket Las Vegas, but many systems record over old footage within days. Requests have to go out fast.
This canvassing work is among the most valuable things a law firm does in the first week after a hit and run.
You can be paid even if the driver is never found
Nevada drivers are only required to carry 25/50/20 liability limits, and a driver who flees often has less than that — or nothing. That is what uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is for. It is optional in Nevada, but insurers must offer it with every policy, and many drivers carry it without remembering. When the driver is never identified, a UM claim on your own policy is typically the main path to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Two cautions: a UM claim puts you across the table from your own insurer, which will evaluate it as skeptically as any other claim, and Nevada's two-year statute of limitations for personal injury (NRS 11.190(4)(e)) still applies. Treat the claim seriously from day one.
Special situations
If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft when another driver fled, commercial coverage may also be in play — see our guide to Uber and Lyft accident claims in Las Vegas. If a hit-and-run driver struck your rented vehicle, our article on rental car accidents in Las Vegas sorts out who covers what. And for any collision case, our Las Vegas car accident attorneys can evaluate every policy that might apply.
Frequently asked questions
I did not get the plate. Is my claim dead?
No. Many hit-and-run victims recover through UM coverage without the driver ever being identified. The police report and prompt medical records carry the claim.
What if I was partly at fault?
Nevada's modified comparative negligence rule (NRS 41.141) allows recovery as long as your fault is not greater than 50 percent; your compensation is reduced by your percentage.
What does it cost to talk to a lawyer?
Nothing. Consultations are free, 24/7, in English, Korean, Spanish, and Chinese — and there is no fee unless we win.
This article is general information, not legal advice about your specific situation.