What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Car Accident in Las Vegas

Reviewed by Roey Sellouk, Nevada Bar No. 16623 · View Attorney Profile

A car crash in Las Vegas is controlled chaos. Your adrenaline is spiking, traffic is still moving around you, and you're trying to process what just happened while your hands are shaking. The calls you make, the photos you take, and what you say in the next few hours will directly shape any injury claim that follows.

Here's the exact checklist, grounded in Nevada law.

Why Do the First 24 Hours Matter After a Las Vegas Car Accident?

Las Vegas records more than 20,000 reported traffic crashes per year, accounting for a substantial share of all Nevada collisions statewide. Nevada insurers are legally required to complete their claim investigation within 30 calendar days of receiving notice (NAC 686A.670). The evidence race begins at the moment of impact. What you preserve now, your attorney can use later.

Insurance adjusters contact claimants within hours, not days. They are gathering information while the scene is fresh and memories are unguarded. The steps below are designed to protect you during that window.

Step 1: Call 911 and Check Everyone for Injuries

Nevada recorded 421 traffic fatalities in 2024, and nearly 9 out of 10 fatal crashes in the state occur in urban zones, with Las Vegas accounting for the majority (Zero Fatalities NV, 2025). Not every serious injury looks serious at the scene. Call 911 immediately. An official police report creates the objective foundation for your entire insurance claim.

Do not move injured passengers unless they are in immediate danger from fire or traffic. Unnecessary movement can worsen neck and spinal injuries.

Nevada law (NRS 484E.020) requires all drivers involved in a crash to remain at the scene and provide their name, address, vehicle registration, and insurance information to any injured party and the investigating officer.

Do You Have to Move Your Car After a Las Vegas Crash?

Yes, when it is safe to do so. Under NRS 484E.020, Nevada drivers must move their vehicle out of active traffic lanes when the car is drivable and movement won't create further hazard. Many drivers believe they must leave everything in position until police arrive, but leaving a drivable car blocking traffic creates its own liability.

Turn on your hazard lights. Move to the shoulder, a nearby parking area, or any safe location where you can still see and document the scene.

One exception: if anyone is seriously injured or vehicles cannot be driven safely, leave everything in position until law enforcement arrives and directs otherwise.

Step 3: Exchange Information and Nothing More

About 11.1% of Nevada drivers carry no insurance at all, meaning roughly 1 in 9 drivers on Las Vegas roads has no coverage (Insurance Information Institute, 2025). Knowing exactly who you are dealing with from the start matters for your claim. Nevada law requires you to exchange: full name and contact information, driver's license number, vehicle registration, and insurance company name and policy number.

That is the full list. Do not go further. Do not apologize, and do not say "I didn't see you" or "I should have stopped sooner."

Under Nevada's modified comparative fault law (NRS 41.141), any statement suggesting shared fault reduces what you can recover. A casual apology can become an admission. Keep the conversation brief and factual.

What Should You Photograph at the Accident Scene?

Photographic evidence captured at the scene is irreplaceable. Once vehicles are moved, debris is cleared, and weather changes, that evidence is gone. Use your phone to document everything while vehicles are still in position and conditions are unchanged.

Capture:

• The position of all vehicles before they are moved
• Damage to all vehicles from multiple angles
• License plates of every vehicle involved
• Road conditions, weather, and lighting at the time of the crash
• Skid marks, debris, and physical evidence on the road surface
• Traffic signals, signs, and intersection markings
• Any visible injuries to yourself or passengers

If witnesses are present, get their names and direct phone numbers. Third-party accounts from people with no stake in the outcome carry significant weight with insurers and juries alike.

Why Should You See a Doctor Even If You Feel Fine?

Whiplash symptoms are frequently delayed 24 hours or more after the initial trauma (Mayo Clinic). Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury symptoms can appear hours or even days after a crash, not at the scene (CDC). Adrenaline masks pain signals during and immediately after a collision. Inflammation takes time to build.

If you wait several days before seeing a doctor, insurers will argue that your injuries either did not happen in this crash or were not serious enough to need immediate attention. A same-day or next-day medical visit creates a record that links your injury directly to the collision.

Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care physician as soon as you leave the scene. Tell the treating provider you were in a car accident and describe every symptom, however minor it seems.

When Does Nevada Require a DMV Crash Report?

Nevada requires you to file a crash report directly with the Nevada DMV within 10 days when: a police officer did not respond to and investigate the crash, and there was an injury, death, or property damage of $750 or more (NRS 484E.070). This is separate from the police report and separate from notifying your insurer.

The form is the SR-1, available at dmv.nv.gov. Failing to file when required can complicate your claim. If a police officer did respond and file a report, the SR-1 is generally not required. When in doubt, file it and note that you did.

Do You Have to Report the Accident to Your Own Insurance?

Yes. Your policy contains a cooperation clause requiring prompt reporting. Failing to notify your own insurer can jeopardize your coverage. Call as soon as you have received medical attention and are in a safe location.

Reporting is not the same as giving a full statement. Tell them the basics: where and when the crash occurred, that you have sought medical attention, and that you are consulting an attorney. Do not describe the extent of your injuries until they are fully evaluated. Do not speculate about fault.

Can the Other Driver's Insurance Company Require a Recorded Statement?

No. Nevada law does not require you to cooperate with the adverse insurer before you have legal representation. The opposing insurer will likely call within 24 to 48 hours. They will sound helpful. They will tell you the recorded statement is routine. It is not routine; it is evidence-gathering designed to minimize what they pay.

Nevada uses modified comparative fault (NRS 41.141). Any statement in which you accept partial responsibility, express uncertainty about what happened, or describe your injuries as "minor" reduces your recovery proportionally. If an adjuster gets you to acknowledge 20% fault, your claim loses 20% of its value automatically.

Politely decline. Tell them your attorney will be in contact. That is the complete answer you need to give.

Step 9: Build Your Evidence File Starting Now

Your damages claim is only as strong as the paper trail behind it. Insurers look for gaps in medical treatment and inconsistencies between early statements and later records. Start building your file at the scene and keep it going until your case resolves.

Preserve:

• All damaged clothing and personal property from the crash
• Every medical bill, prescription receipt, and out-of-pocket expense
• Records from every treatment visit, specialist appointment, and physical therapy session
• A daily symptom journal noting pain levels, limitations, and how the injury affects your work and daily life

This documentation becomes the foundation of both your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and non-economic damages (pain, suffering, reduced quality of life).

When Should You Call a Personal Injury Attorney?

Personal injury attorneys in Nevada work on contingency, meaning there are no fees unless Court costs, litigation expenses, and possible opposing-party fees or costs may still apply. you recover. A consultation costs nothing and takes about 15 minutes. The earlier you contact an attorney, the more evidence your legal team can preserve before it disappears, and the less time opposing insurers have to build their narrative without you represented.

An attorney can identify all potential sources of recovery, including underinsured motorist coverage when the at-fault driver carries minimum limits. They handle communications with insurance companies, calculate the full value of your economic and non-economic damages, and protect you from the mistakes that reduce claims most often.

If a commercial truck was involved, the calculus changes significantly. Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, carrier insurance policies, and evidence that must be preserved within days.

How Nevada's Comparative Fault Law Affects Your Recovery

Under NRS 41.141, Nevada uses modified comparative negligence. If you are found partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. On a $100,000 case where you are found 25% at fault, you recover $75,000. At 51% or more fault, you recover nothing.

Insurance adjusters are trained to find fault with claimants. Every statement you make, every gap in medical care, and every piece of social media activity is potential data they can use to shift fault in their direction. Nevada's comparative fault rule is one of the most consequential laws in your case, and it starts working against you the moment you say the wrong thing at the scene.

Document thoroughly, get checked out medically the same day, decline to give recorded statements, and speak to an attorney before making any decisions about your claim.

For more detailed information on car accident cases in Las Vegas, see our car accident lawyer page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Nevada?

Nevada gives you two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit under NRS 11.190. While that window seems wide, evidence disappears quickly and insurers investigate fast. Consulting an attorney in the first few weeks gives your case the strongest possible foundation.

Do I have to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company?

No. The adverse insurer cannot legally compel your cooperation before you have representation. Politely decline and tell them your attorney will be in contact. Under Nevada's comparative fault law (NRS 41.141), any statement assigning you partial responsibility directly reduces your compensation by the percentage of fault assigned to you.

What if I don't feel injured right after the crash?

See a doctor the same day or the next day regardless. Whiplash symptoms are often delayed 24 hours or more after impact, according to the Mayo Clinic. Concussion and traumatic brain injury signs can appear hours or days later, per the CDC. Delaying care gives insurers an opening to argue your injuries were not caused by the crash.

Does Nevada require me to move my vehicle after a crash?

Yes, when it is safe to do so. Under NRS 484E.020, Nevada drivers must move their vehicle out of active traffic lanes when the car is drivable and movement won't create further hazard. Leaving a drivable car blocking traffic creates its own liability under Nevada law.

What is Nevada's comparative fault rule and how does it affect my payout?

Under NRS 41.141, Nevada uses modified comparative negligence. If you are found partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. You can still recover as long as you are 50% or less responsible. At 51% fault or more, you receive nothing. This is why every statement you make after a crash matters.