Battle Born Injury Lawyers | November 3, 2022 | Car Accidents
If you are unsure whether you should call 911 after a car accident in Reno, NV, it is best to take the safe route and make the call. Even if there are no apparent injuries, it may help you in the future if the police were at the scene of your accident and made an official record of it.
Calling the police after your car accident may seem like a waste of law enforcement efforts, and they may take a long time to respond. You may consider not calling them at all and trusting that you and the other driver involved can work out any insurance or legal issues without police involvement.
However, under Nevada law, you may be legally required to call the police if your collision meets certain characteristics. Before leaving the scene, you should read more below about when to call the police.
When Am I Required To Call the Police in Nevada?
If you are involved in a car accident in Reno, Nevada law requires that you and the other parties involved in the crash stop at the scene:
- NRS 484E.010 requires that drivers stop at the scene of an accident that appears to have resulted in personal injuries or death.
- NRS 484E.020 requires drivers to stop at the scene of an accident involving damage to vehicles or other property.
- NRS 484E.030 requires drivers to render aid and exchange information.
Failing to adhere to these requirements means you risk facing charges under Nevada law for a hit and run. Penalties for a hit-and-run accident resulting in injury or death may include time in prison and steep fines.
You should always stop if you are in an accident. Additionally, you must report the collision to the police if it results in injury, death, or property damage.
The Police Investigation Might Help Settle Disputes Over Fault
Calling the police is in your best interest in the event that you or the other parties involved bring insurance claims or lawsuits as a result of the accident. When the police are called to the scene, they will write up an official report detailing the circumstances of the accident and will take down the insurance information of all involved parties.
Situations involving accident claims can get complicated, so having an official report of the incident can help to avoid confusion and hearsay in the claim or litigation process.
Some insurance companies have policies requiring that policyholders call the police if they are involved in an accident, so make sure you are following all necessary expectations of your policy as well.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Case in Nevada?
Under Nevada’s statute of limitations, personal injury cases – including car accident claims – must be filed within two years. This means if anyone was injured in a wreck and they are going to file a claim against the at-fault party, they have two years from the accident date to do so. An injured person can be a driver, passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist, or any other person that was involved in the accident.
The two-year statute of limitations also applies if the car accident resulted in someone’s death. If a family member or representative of the decedent wishes to bring a wrongful death claim, they have two years from the date of death – not the date of the accident.
If someone wishes to bring a claim for property damage caused by a car accident, they have three years from the accident date to do so.
The statutes of limitations for different claims stemming from an accident can be confusing. It is in your best interest to hire a Reno injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you adhere to the legal requirements.
Contact the Reno Car Accident Attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident in Reno and you need legal assistance, contact our Reno car accident attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation with our legal team.
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Reno Office
675 W Moana Ln #206
Reno, NV 89509, USA
(775) 535-7768
Battle Born Injury Lawyers
400 S 4th St Suite 290,
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 357-4868
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
10789 W Twain Ave #100
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 570-9000
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
8540 S Eastern Ave #200
Henderson, NV 89123
(702) 500-0287
