In Nevada, drivers are required to obtain a minimum amount of liability insurance. This is the insurance policy that is accessed if the driver causes an accident that results in injuries or property damage to others. However, according to a study from the Insurance Information Institute, more than 10% of drivers in the state failed to purchase or maintain the required amount of insurance.
If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by someone who failed to comply with Nevada’s insurance requirements, it is still possible to seek compensation for the expenses and psychological impacts of your injury through a either a personal injury lawsuit filed against the uninsured driver, or through an uninsured motorist claim against your own insurance. An experienced uninsured motorist lawyer in North Las Vegas from Pacific West Injury Law can help you explore your legal options and provide guidance and services focused on ensuring your right to seek compensation for your injuries.
What Are the Auto Insurance Requirements in North Las Vegas?
Nevada requires individuals registering their vehicles in the state to provide the following minimum levels of insurance:
- $25,000 in compensation for bodily injuries or death occurring to one person in an accident.
- $50,000 in compensation for all bodily injury and death occurring in the accident.
- $20,000 in compensation for personal property that was damaged in the accident.
While other types of insurance are available and drivers are welcome to purchase higher amounts of insurance than what is required, these are the only types of insurance that are actually verified by the state.
The Types of Insurance Policies that Can Come into Play in an Uninsured Motorist Accident
Insurance is the means by which the vast majority of the settlements or awards for personal injury or wrongful death claims are paid. Because of this, cases involving an uninsured motorist become more complex. There are, however, a number of options for compensation that a personal injury attorney can explore with you, including:
- Your own uninsured/ underinsured motorist policy. UM/UIM insurance provides coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that you or your occupants experienced as a result of an injury accident that was caused by a driver who had no insurance. Insurance companies who sell policies to individuals in North Las Vegas must offer UM/ UIM coverage, so if the driver wishes to decline this coverage, he or she must do so in writing.
- Collision. Your own collision policy — which is often combined with comprehensive coverage of other types of damage such as theft or wind, and is referred to as “full coverage” — provides compensation for damage occurring to your vehicle.
- Medical payments (MedPay). This is an optional coverage you can purchase that will pay for the medical expenses of injuries sustained by you or your occupants in an accident. MedPay will also provide compensation to insured drivers if they are injured as pedestrians in an accident with a motor vehicle.
- Your health insurance policy. Most health insurance policies provided through employers will cover medical expenses related to a motor vehicle accident.
What Happens if Your Insurance Company Won’t Pay the Claim?
Insurance companies are in the business to make money. One of the many ways they do this is by finding any reason to avoid payouts on large claims that are either made by their own insured as well as third-party claims made by victims who suffered injuries or property damage by their insured. Some of the most common reasons why your insurance company will deny a claim against any of your insurance policies include:
- You failed to seek a medical evaluation, yet are claiming that you were injured.
- Your claim exceeds your policy limits.
- Someone was driving your car when the accident occurred who was not listed as a driver on your policy.
- You failed to report your accident within the timeframe required by your insurance company.
- The insurance company disputes the details you have provided about your accident or injury.
If your insurance company does not pay the amount of damages you have claimed or fails to make a fair settlement offer to resolve your case, you can seek compensation by filing a bad faith legal claim against them.
What Happens if You Don’t Have Insurance?
If you are an uninsured driver who suffered an injury and property damage in a North Las Vegas motor vehicle accident, the following applies:
- If someone else caused the accident, you can file a third-party claim against their insurance company and seek compensation for the expenses and impacts of your injury.
- If you caused the accident, you will be completely responsible for providing out-of-pocket compensation for resultant expenses and impacts of injuries incurred by others.
Injured by an Uninsured Motorist in Las Vegas? An Attorney Can Help
If you have already filed a claim on your UM/UIM or other policy and have not received a fair settlement offer from your insurance company, we can also provide guidance and assistance in pursuing the value of your claim against your insurance company in court. For a free case evaluation, contact us online or call today.
