What to do after a car accident in Las Vegas, in order: the at-the-scene checklist, Nevada's legal duties, which police agency to call, the DMV SR-1 report, whose insurance pays and what to do when the other driver is uninsured.
After a car accident in Las Vegas, in 60 seconds
After a car accident in Las Vegas, stop, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt, move a damage-only crash out of traffic if it's safe, then exchange information, take photos and call your insurer. If police don't investigate at the scene and someone was hurt or damage reaches $750, Nevada law (NRS 484E.070) requires you to send the DMV an SR-1 crash report within 10 days.
- Never leave an injury crash: it's a category B felony in Nevada (NRS 484E.010).
- Freeway crash: report it to the Nevada State Police, per LVMPD.
- Insured? The DMV's post-crash suspension process doesn't apply (NRS 485.200).
- Uninsured driver hit you? Your UM coverage pays injuries; your collision coverage pays the car.
What to do: save the checklist below, and call us at (702) 726-3110 if you're unsure which coverage applies.
The crunch, the jolt, then the questions. Do I call the police? Whose insurance pays? In our experience helping Las Vegas drivers since 2016, the smoothest claims start with a few simple moves in the first ten minutes. Here they are, with the law behind each.
What Should You Do Right After a Car Accident in Las Vegas?
The short answer: After a car accident in Las Vegas, stop, help anyone hurt and call 911, move a damage-only crash out of traffic if safe, then exchange information, take photos, collect witnesses and call your insurer.
This checklist combines Nevada law (NRS chapter 484E) with industry guidance from the Insurance Information Institute (III).
- Stop and stay at the scene. Every driver in a crash must stop. Leaving a crash that injured someone is a felony.
- Check for injuries and call 911. Tend to people first. Call 911 if anyone is hurt and give reasonable help.
- Move out of traffic if no one is hurt. In a damage-only crash, move a car that blocks traffic out of the travel lanes if it's safe.
- Exchange information. Trade names, addresses, license, registration and insurance details.
- Photograph everything. Shoot every vehicle, the plates, the street and the signals before cars are towed.
- Get witness names and contact details. Note the location, time and weather too.
- Report the crash. Get the officer's name, badge and report number. No police investigation? File a DMV SR-1 within 10 days if required.
- Stick to the facts. Describe what happened; don't argue or concede fault at the scene.
- Call your insurer as soon as possible. Report it even after a minor crash; your policy sets time limits.
Step 8 is our team's advice, not a statute: what people say in shock rarely matches the photos.
Sources: NRS 484E.010–.050 → · III, what to do at the scene (industry) → · Nevada OTS 2024–2025 fatal report →
What Does Nevada Law Require at the Scene of a Car Crash?
The short answer: Nevada law requires drivers in a crash to stop, share their name, address, registration and license, and help anyone injured, and leaving a crash that injured someone is a category B felony under NRS 484E.010.
Nevada's duties after a crash are in chapter 484E of the Nevada Revised Statutes. In plain English, as of October 2026:
- Injury or death crash (NRS 484E.010). Stop at the scene, or as close as possible, and stay until your information and aid duties are met.
- Damage-only crash (NRS 484E.020). Stop immediately. If your car blocks traffic and can be moved safely, you must move it out of the travel lanes: the fender bender rule.
- Information and aid (NRS 484E.030). Give your name, address and registration number, and show your license if asked, to the other driver and any officer. Help anyone injured, including arranging transport to care.
- Report to police (NRS 484E.030). If no officer is present and the crash injured or killed anyone, or happened on a highway, promptly report it to the nearest police or Nevada Highway Patrol office.
- Parked car (NRS 484E.040). Find the owner or leave a written note with your name and address where it will be seen.
| What goes wrong | Severity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving a crash that injured or killed someone: 2–20 years in prison, $2,000–$5,000 fine, no probation | Felony | NRS 484E.010 |
| Knowingly false information in a crash report | Gross misdemeanor | NRS 484E.080 |
| Willfully not filing a required SR-1: driving privilege suspended up to 1 year | Suspension | NRS 484E.080 |
| Leaving a damage-only crash or a parked car without a note | Misdemeanor | NRS 484E.020, .040 |
| Stopping, sharing information and reporting on time | No penalty | NRS 484E.030 |
Severity labels are our team's grouping of the statutory penalties, not a published rating.
Sources: NRS chapter 484E →
Nick Sakha
Nick founded Sakha Agencies in Las Vegas in 2016 after graduating from UNLV. His team helps valley families with auto, home, renters, condo and life insurance from the office at 4765 S Durango Dr, and reviews every guide on this blog for accuracy.
Which Police Agency Handles a Car Accident in Las Vegas?
The short answer: LVMPD takes crash reports only inside its own jurisdiction, Henderson, North Las Vegas and Boulder City police handle crashes in those cities, and the Nevada State Police handle crashes on the freeway, according to LVMPD.
It depends on where the crash happened, per LVMPD's "Filing a Report" page:
| Where the crash happened | Who takes the report |
|---|---|
| Anyone hurt, anywhere | Call 911 first |
| On the freeway (I-15, US-95) | Nevada State Police |
| City of Henderson, North Las Vegas or Boulder City | That city's police |
| Elsewhere in LVMPD's jurisdiction | LVMPD; non-emergency line (702) 828-3111 |
LVMPD's page doesn't say whether officers come out to every non-injury crash, so don't count on it; if no officer investigates, the DMV report may be your job. When an officer responds, get the name, badge and report number, as the III recommends.
Sources: LVMPD, Filing a Report → · III (industry) →
Do You Need to File an SR-1 Crash Report With the Nevada DMV?
The short answer: You must send the Nevada DMV an SR-1 crash report within 10 days when a crash caused injury, death or $750 or more in damage and police did not investigate it at the scene.
The SR-1 is the Nevada DMV's "Report of Traffic Crash," the accident report a driver files when police didn't investigate. Under NRS 484E.070, a crash with injury, death or apparent damage of $750 or more needs one within 10 days. The exemption is narrow: only if an officer investigated and the officer's report lists the insurer's name and address, the policy number and the coverage dates. Attach, per the DMV form:
- A copy of your insurance card in effect on the crash date
- A repair estimate if damage reached $750
- A doctor's statement for each person injured in your vehicle
Mail it to the Nevada DMV, 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711.
Calling your insurer doesn't file the SR-1, and the SR-1 doesn't open a claim. Under NRS 484E.080, willfully skipping a required report can suspend your driving privilege for up to 1 year. Do both.
Sources: NRS 484E.070, .080 → · Nevada DMV, SR-1 form → · LVMPD →
Can a Car Accident Suspend Your License in Nevada if You Had Insurance?
The short answer: Not through the DMV's post-crash security process, because NRS 485.200 exempts a driver who had a liability policy meeting Nevada's 25/50/20 minimum in force when the crash happened.
Under NRS 485.190, if 20 days pass after the DMV receives a crash report with no release, no-liability judgment or payment agreement on file, the DMV holds a hearing on request. After an adverse finding, it suspends the driver's license and the owner's registrations unless security is deposited, capped at the 25/50/20 limits (NRS 485.220).
The main exception: a liability policy of at least 25/50/20 in effect at the time of the crash. If you're insured, this process doesn't touch you. Our guide to Nevada's required 25/50/20 car insurance explains each limit. The uninsured driver faces it, plus a $600 to $1,000 fine for driving uninsured (NRS 485.187); our guide to Nevada insurance lapses covers the DMV side.
Sources: NRS 485.187, 485.190–485.220 →
Whose Insurance Pays After a Car Accident in Nevada?
The short answer: The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for other people's injuries and property damage, while your own collision, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverages pay for you and your car, depending on what your policy includes.
Liability coverage is the part of an auto policy that pays others when you cause a crash. The Nevada Division of Insurance (DOI) says it "protects you only if you are liable for an accident and pays for the injuries to others or damages to their property." These cover you:
| Coverage | What it pays for after a crash | Does fault matter? |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Other people's injuries and property when you're at fault | Yes |
| Collision | Damage to your car, minus your deductible | No, "regardless of who is at fault" |
| Medical payments | Injuries to you and your passengers | No, "without regard to fault" |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Medical costs for you and your passengers | Yes, the other driver's |
| Comprehensive | Theft, wind, fire, flood, vandalism | Not crash damage |
So you can file an insurance claim with the at-fault driver's insurer under their liability, or with your own insurer under collision. Collision is optional by law; our guide to what full coverage includes in Las Vegas explains it. A flooded car is a comprehensive question, covered in our guide to car flood damage in Las Vegas.
Fault
Decides whose liability pays the other side.
Your collision
Fixes your car either way, minus the deductible.
Medical payments
Treatment for you and passengers, no fault needed.
UM/UIM
When the at-fault driver has too little or no insurance.
Paperwork
Proof-of-claim form, police report.
Time limits
Your policy sets deadlines for claims and bills.
Who decides fault?
Fault affects who pays. Insurers investigate first, and a disputed injury case can end up in court. How Nevada law divides responsibility when both drivers made mistakes is a legal question; this guide isn't legal advice, so talk to a Nevada attorney if you were hurt or fault is disputed.
Filing the claim
The III's advice: call promptly, ask about time limits and rental coverage, and keep copies of every bill. If an at-fault claim makes your renewal harder to place, we have additional markets and match you to the right market for your situation. Our Las Vegas auto insurance team can review your policy with you.
Sources: NV DOI, automobile insurance → · NV DOI 2026 auto guide → · III, filing a claim (industry) →
Get A Quote for car insurance in Las Vegas
Not sure your policy would pay for your own car after a crash? A licensed Las Vegas agent will review your coverages with you and follow up the same business day.
What Happens if an Uninsured Driver Hits You in Las Vegas?
The short answer: If an uninsured driver hits you in Las Vegas, your own uninsured motorist coverage pays your and your passengers' medical costs up to your limits, and your collision coverage pays to repair your car, minus your deductible.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is coverage on your own policy that pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. Per the Nevada Division of Insurance, it "pays for the medical costs of you and your passengers," but "does not pay for damage to your motor vehicle" (2026 guide). That's collision's job.
UM/UIM is optional, but under NRS 687B.145(2) your insurer must offer it at limits equal to your bodily injury liability, and you can request it in writing later. About 11.1% of Nevada drivers were uninsured in 2023, below the 15.4% national figure, per the Insurance Research Council via the III: roughly one in nine.
Hypothetical. A driver stopped at a red light on W Charleston Blvd is rear-ended by an uninsured, at-fault driver. She and a passenger are hurt. Her policy: 100/300 liability, 100/300 UM/UIM, $5,000 medical payments, collision with a $500 deductible. Amounts are made up; no premiums shown.
With liability only and UM turned down, none of her coverages would pay. Because someone was hurt, she owes the DMV an SR-1 unless police investigated at the scene.
If the at-fault driver has too little insurance, underinsured coverage pays, up to your limits, damages above theirs (NRS 687B.145). Our guide to auto coverage in Las Vegas covers setting limits, and new arrivals can check what to carry in our moving to Las Vegas car insurance checklist.
Sources: NV DOI, UM coverage → · NV DOI auto FAQs → · NRS 687B.145 → · III, uninsured motorists (industry) →
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim or Lawsuit After a Crash in Nevada?
The short answer: Nevada's general deadline to sue is 2 years for injuries and 3 years for vehicle or property damage under NRS 11.190, while your insurance policy sets its own deadlines for reporting a claim.
| Deadline | How long | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SR-1 crash report to the DMV (if required) | 10 days | NRS 484E.070 |
| Reporting a claim to your insurer | Set by your policy | III |
| Lawsuit for injury or death | 2 years | NRS 11.190(4)(e) |
| Lawsuit for damage to personal property, such as a car | 3 years | NRS 11.190(3)(c) |
These are general limits with exceptions; talk to an attorney about your case.
If your claim stalls
Start with your insurer. Then the Division of Insurance takes complaints online, by mail or at (702) 486-4009, and says insurers "generally must reply" within 20 business days. A complaint "will not extend any time limitations." Its 2026 guide also suggests checking your CLUE and A-PLUS loss-history reports for "prior claims for which you may not be at fault."
Sources: NRS 11.190 → · NV DOI, file a complaint → · NV DOI 2026 auto guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to call the police after a minor car accident in Las Vegas?
Not for every minor crash, but often. Under NRS 484E.030, if no officer is at the scene and the crash injured or killed anyone, or it happened on a highway, the driver must promptly report it to the nearest police or Nevada Highway Patrol office. Call 911 for any emergency. If police don't investigate and someone was hurt or damage reaches $750, you also owe the DMV an SR-1 within 10 days. A police report number also helps your insurance claim, so ask for one whenever an officer responds.
How long do I have to send an SR-1 crash report to the Nevada DMV?
Ten days from the crash. Nevada law (NRS 484E.070) requires the report when a crash causes injury, death or apparent damage of $750 or more to any vehicle or property, unless a police officer investigated and the officer's report lists the insurer's name and address, the policy number and the coverage dates. Attach a copy of your insurance card, a repair estimate if damage reached $750 and a doctor's statement for anyone hurt in your vehicle. Mail it to the DMV at 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711.
What is the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident in Nevada?
It depends on what the crash involved. Leaving a crash that injured or killed someone is a category B felony under NRS 484E.010, punishable by 2 to 20 years in state prison and a $2,000 to $5,000 fine, with each person injured or killed counted as a separate offense and no probation. Leaving a damage-only crash, or failing to leave your information on an unattended car, is a misdemeanor under NRS 484E.020 and 484E.040. Hit a parked car? Leave a note with your name and address.
Who pays for my car if an uninsured driver hits me in Las Vegas?
Your own collision coverage, if you carry it. The Nevada Division of Insurance says uninsured motorist coverage pays the medical costs of you and your passengers when an at-fault driver has no insurance, but its 2026 guide adds that this coverage does not pay for damage to your vehicle. Collision pays for crash damage to your car regardless of who is at fault, minus your deductible. With liability only, the repair bill can land on you, so we review both together.
How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Nevada?
Nevada's general deadlines are set by NRS 11.190: 2 years for a lawsuit over injuries or a death caused by someone else's wrongful act or neglect, and 3 years for a lawsuit over damage to personal property, such as your car. The statute lists exceptions, so talk to a Nevada attorney about your own situation. These are court deadlines, not insurance deadlines: your policy sets its own time limits for reporting a claim, and filing a complaint with the Nevada Division of Insurance does not extend any of them.
Related Questions
The Bottom Line on What to Do After a Car Accident in Las Vegas
The short answer: After a car accident in Las Vegas, stop, help the injured, exchange information, document everything, report the crash and call your insurer, then file an SR-1 within 10 days if police didn't investigate.
Liability insurance in force keeps the DMV's suspension process away; collision and UM/UIM decide whether your car and injuries are covered when the other driver can't pay. Check them before you need them: call (702) 726-3110 or start below.
Keep reading
More from our Las Vegas team.
Nevada's 25/50/20 Minimum
What each required limit pays for.
Read the requirements → 🛡️Full Coverage in Las Vegas
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Read the guide → 🌊Flood-Damaged Cars
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Read the guide → ✅Free Coverage Review
A licensed Las Vegas agent checks your policy with you.
Start my free quote →About this guide. Written by the Sakha Agencies team and reviewed by Nick Sakha, a licensed Nevada insurance agent (NV Lic. #4371904). Sakha Agencies (Nicholas K Sakha Agency Inc, NV Lic. #6013538) serves Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and all of Nevada from its office at 4765 S Durango Dr, Las Vegas. This guide is educational, not legal advice or a quote; statute summaries are plain-English paraphrases, so talk to a Nevada attorney about injuries or disputed fault. Facts come from the named sources linked above, including the Nevada Revised Statutes →, the Nevada DMV →, LVMPD → and the Nevada Division of Insurance →, and are reviewed quarterly.
Last reviewed by Nick Sakha on October 27, 2026.