Being involved in a car crash can be incredibly traumatic, especially if it involves serious injuries. Knowing what to do in these types of situations, especially if you were not at fault, is critical if you intend on claiming damages from the other driver.
Because Nevada is a “fault” state, either driver may decide to sue for injuries and damages if either have a case for it and if insurance is not enough to cover all damages. Nevada requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance including:
- $15,000 for each person for injury or death
- $30,000 for every accident for injury or death
- $10,000 to cover property damage
Call the police, and do not leave
No matter what the circumstances are, you should not leave the scene of an accident, even if it is just a fender bender. If there are serious injuries involved, call an ambulance and get care immediately. If not, be sure to collect the police report or number from the responding officer, which you will give to the insurance company later. If your vehicles do not interfere with traffic, leave them where they are.
Take notes
When you are able, collect details about the accident itself – the weather, location, which way the vehicles are facing. Take pictures, too. Tell the police exactly what happened, so they can include it in their report. Do not guess or speculate if you do not know something. Collect the other driver’s contact and insurance information.
If you are unsure whether you have sustained injuries, do not report no injuries. Rather, say that you are not sure. Some very damaging injuries can appear hours or days later, which may require extensive recovery or medical care.
After you leave
Once you leave the scene, you should continue steps to filing your claim promptly. Report the accident to your insurance company, as well as the responsible driver’s policy. Be sure that you know how to speak with an adjuster, otherwise, she or he may use misspoken words to award you less compensation than you deserve. It is also a good idea to seek medical attention to ensure that you do not have any unseen injuries.