Nevada uninsured motorist coverage comes from NRS 690B.020. Under that law, every auto liability policy sold in Nevada must include UM coverage unless the named insured rejected it in writing on the insurer’s form. The coverage must equal at least the state minimum for bodily injury, and you can buy higher limits. Our guide to uninsured motorist coverage in Nevada explains how this coverage works in more detail.
What Has to Happen for a Hit-and-Run to Qualify?
NRS 690B.020 sets two conditions when the driver is unknown or cannot be found after reasonable effort. First, the injury must come from physical contact between the fleeing vehicle and you or the vehicle you were in. Second, you or someone acting for you must report the crash to police within the time Nevada crash-reporting law requires.
The statute directs that report to the city police department, or to the county sheriff or Nevada Highway Patrol for crashes in unincorporated areas. In most of the valley, that means the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department or the Nevada Highway Patrol. Henderson and North Las Vegas have their own departments.
A crash with no contact, such as being forced off the road by a driver who never touched your car, is harder to fit within the statute’s wording. Your policy may be written more broadly than the law requires, so have the full policy language reviewed before assuming you are not covered.
Can Pedestrians and Cyclists Use Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
In many cases, yes. The physical contact rule is met when the vehicle strikes you directly, not only when it hits a car you are in. Many Nevada policies also extend UM coverage to the policyholder and household members while walking or biking.
Whether you are covered depends on your policy terms. Gather the declarations page and the full policy early, along with the policies of anyone you live with.
What if You Do Not Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
If you signed a written rejection, UM coverage may not apply. It is still worth checking, because the rejection must be in writing on a form that describes the coverage, and a household member’s policy may cover you. Our page on uninsured and underinsured motorist accidents in Las Vegas covers other options when coverage is limited.
