Hit and Run Accidents in Las Vegas: What to Do Right Now

A driver just hit you and took off. Maybe you’re still standing at the scene. Maybe you just got home and you’re trying to figure out what happens next.

Here’s the short version: you have real legal options in Nevada, even if that driver is never found. But what you do in the next few hours matters.

This article walks you through exactly what to do, what not to do, and how compensation works when the person who hit you is gone.

How Bad Is the Hit and Run Problem in Las Vegas?

Bad. Las Vegas isn’t just a busy city. It’s a 24-hour city full of tourists, rental cars, and a nightlife culture that puts impaired drivers on the road at all hours.

In 2022, there were 4,353 hit and run accidents in Las Vegas. Those crashes killed 30 people. In 2023, LVMPD reported that fatal hit and run incidents jumped 50% year over year, from 6 deaths in 2022 to 9 in 2023. The problem isn’t getting smaller.

Why do drivers run? LVMPD’s hit and run unit says the top three reasons are impairment, no insurance, and no vehicle registration. In other words, the drivers most likely to hurt you are also the most likely to flee.

That’s exactly why Nevada law has built-in protections for victims like you.

What Nevada Law Says About Hit and Run

Under NRS 484E.010, any driver involved in a crash causing injury or death is legally required to stop, stay at the scene, and provide their information. Leaving is not a traffic ticket. It’s a felony.

The penalties for the driver who fled:

If someone was hurt or killed: Category B felony, 2 to 20 years in state prison, and up to $5,000 in fines.
If only property was damaged: misdemeanor, up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

That’s their problem. Your problem right now is figuring out how to get your medical bills paid and your losses covered, and that’s what the rest of this article is about.

What to Do Immediately After a Hit and Run

Don’t chase the driver. You won’t catch them, and you could make things worse. Stay at the scene.

Call 911. Do this first, before anything else. You need a police report. Without one, your insurance claim for a hit and run is going to be an uphill battle. Nevada requires you to report any accident involving injury or property damage over $750.

Write down everything you remember about the car right now. Color, make, model, any part of the plate, which direction they went, damage you noticed on the vehicle. Do it before the adrenaline wears off and the details blur.

Take photos of everything. Your injuries, your vehicle, skid marks, debris, the intersection, street signs. Take more than you think you need.

Talk to anyone who stopped. Get names and phone numbers. Witnesses matter more than people realize, especially in hit and run cases where physical evidence is limited.

Look for cameras. Casino parking lots, gas stations, traffic signals, nearby businesses. Las Vegas has more surveillance coverage than almost any city in the country. Note what’s around you. Your attorney can move quickly to get that footage before it gets overwritten. Some systems delete footage within 24 to 72 hours.

Get checked out medically, even if you feel fine. Whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and internal trauma often don’t show up until hours or days later. If you skip the ER and symptoms appear later, the insurance company will use that gap to argue you weren’t really hurt. Go get checked. Keep every bill and record.

Call a hit and run attorney before you talk to your insurance company. Your own insurer is not your advocate. They have an interest in paying as little as possible. Before you give any recorded statement, talk to a lawyer first.

Can I Get Compensation If the Driver Is Never Found?

Yes, and this surprises a lot of people.

Nevada law requires auto insurers to include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on every policy issued in the state, under NRS 690B.020. Hit and run drivers who can’t be identified are treated the same as uninsured drivers under this law.

That means your own UM coverage can pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, the same compensation you’d go after if the driver had stayed and had insurance.

There’s one important catch: the accident has to have involved physical contact between the fleeing vehicle and you or your car. A “phantom vehicle” situation, where a car cut you off but never touched you and caused you to crash, is handled differently and is worth discussing with an attorney.

To use your UM coverage after a hit and run, you’ll generally need a police report filed promptly and documentation of your injuries and losses. This is why the steps above matter so much.

What If the Driver Is Found?

It happens more than people expect. LVMPD has a dedicated hit and run unit, and between surveillance footage, witness accounts, and physical evidence left at the scene, drivers do get identified, sometimes days later, sometimes months later.

If the driver is found and they were impaired when they hit you, your case opens up significantly. Nevada’s punitive damages law (NRS 42.001) allows victims to seek additional damages beyond medical bills and lost wages in DUI-related accidents. That can mean a substantially higher recovery than a standard injury claim.

Even if the driver is found to have been uninsured, you’d pursue the claim through your own UM coverage while potentially also taking legal action against the driver directly.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

Whether the driver is identified or not, here’s what a hit and run victim in Nevada can typically pursue:

Medical expenses. Everything from the ER visit to surgery, rehab, follow-up appointments, and any future care you’ll need because of your injuries.

Lost wages. Income you missed during recovery, plus reduced earning capacity if your injuries are lasting.

Pain and suffering. Nevada allows non-economic damages for the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and impact on your daily life.

Property damage. Repairs or replacement for your vehicle and anything else damaged in the crash.

Punitive damages. If the driver is found and the facts support it, such as a DUI or extreme recklessness, Nevada law may allow additional damages with no cap in certain circumstances.

The value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, how long you’re out of work, your medical costs, and whether the driver is ever identified. Don’t accept an early number from your insurance company without getting an attorney’s read on it first.

What Not to Do After a Hit and Run

Don’t give a recorded statement to your insurance company before talking to a lawyer. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that minimize your claim. One careless answer can be used against you.

Don’t skip medical appointments. Gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers point to when disputing the severity of your injuries.

Don’t post anything about the accident on social media. Not photos, not updates, not “I’m okay” posts. Nothing. It can all be used to undercut your claim.

Don’t sign anything from your insurance company without an attorney reviewing it first.

Don’t wait. Nevada’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of the accident. Miss that window and you lose your right to compensation permanently, no exceptions.

Hit and Run Involving Other Vehicle Types

Hit and runs don’t only happen to people in cars. If you were on a bike, motorcycle, or on foot when a driver struck you and fled, the same Nevada laws and UM coverage rules apply.

If you were riding when it happened, our Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyers handle hit and run cases involving riders regularly. If you were on a bicycle, our bicycle accident attorneys can walk you through your options under Nevada’s UM coverage laws.

Hit and runs involving commercial vehicles, such as delivery trucks, semi-trucks, or buses, add another layer of complexity. Those cases often involve employer liability and commercial insurance policies. Our truck accident team and bus accident lawyers handle exactly those situations.

If this was part of a broader car accident and you’re not sure what type of claim applies to you, our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers can review your situation and point you in the right direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I only caught part of the license plate?

Give it to the police anyway. Partial plate information combined with the vehicle make, colour, and direction of travel is often enough for investigators to narrow down a match. Report everything you remember, even if it feels incomplete.

What if I was hit as a pedestrian and don’t have car insurance?

You may be able to file a claim through a household member’s auto policy if they have UM coverage. If that’s not an option, speak with an attorney. There may still be recovery paths available depending on the circumstances.

What if the accident happened in a parking lot?

Nevada’s hit and run laws apply to any area the public has access to, not just public roads. Parking lot hit and runs are covered under the same rules.

What if I already talked to my insurance company?

One statement doesn’t end your case. Contact a hit and run attorney as soon as possible to get guidance before anything else is said or signed.

What if the driver is found months later? Is it too late?

Not necessarily. Nevada’s 2-year statute of limitations runs from the date of the accident, not from when the driver is identified. As long as you’re within that window and have filed your claim, you can pursue the driver directly once they’re found.

What if I was a passenger in someone else’s car during the hit and run?

You may have a claim through the vehicle owner’s UM coverage, and potentially through your own policy as well. Passengers have rights too. Talk to an attorney about which policies apply to your situation.

Does it matter if the hit and run happened in Henderson, North Las Vegas, or Summerlin rather than Las Vegas proper?

No. Nevada law applies throughout Clark County and the rest of Southern Nevada. The same statutes, the same UM requirements, and the same 2-year deadline apply regardless of which part of the valley you were in.

What if I wasn’t in a vehicle at all, just walking near the Strip when I was hit?

Pedestrian hit and runs are common in Las Vegas, especially on and around the Strip. You can still file a UM claim through your own auto insurance policy even as a pedestrian. Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers handle pedestrian hit and run cases regularly.

How quickly should I contact a lawyer?

As soon as possible. Surveillance footage disappears fast. Evidence gets lost. Witnesses move on. The sooner an attorney can start working on your case, the better your chances of building a strong record, with or without the driver being identified.

Talk to a Hit and Run Lawyer in Las Vegas, Free Consultation

If you were hit by a driver who fled in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, or anywhere in Clark County, call Get The Win Injury Lawyers at (702) 867-8900.

We review your case for free, handle all communication with insurance companies, and come to you if you can’t make it to our office. No upfront fees. We only get paid if you do.

The 2-year clock started on the day of your accident. Don’t let it run out.

Get The Win Injury Lawyers 319 S 3rd St Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89101 (702) 867-8900 | getthewin.com