In Las Vegas, Nevada, an open road is unpredictable and unsafe. If you find yourself in an accident and you leave the scene without exchanging your correct information with the other parties on the scene. This can be considered as a felony of leaving the scene of a car accident in Las Vegas.
According to the Office of Traffic Safety, Nevada, Las Vegas had 12,720 reported crashes in 2016 (a decrease of just 1% from 2015) with 217 fatalities in Clark County (an increase of 18% from 2015).
Nevada Hit-and-Run Laws:
There are laws in Nevada that specifically target hit-and-run situations. Here are a few laws for your reference:
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NRS 484E.020 – Duty to Stop at the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death or Personal Injury:
Involvement in an accident of the driver of any vehicle on a motorway or in places accessible to the public with bodily injury or death of a person must immediately halt their vehicle right at the scene of the accident. If that is not an option, they must stop close as possible to the accident scene. They must remain at the scene until the individual meets the requirements set out in NRS 484E.030.
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NRS 484E.030 – Information and Assistance Obligation:
Any injury or death caused by the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident or damage to any vehicle or other property driven or assisted by any person shall provide the following information to the driver or occupants of other motor vehicles and police:
- The registration number of the vehicle involved in the accident
- Their Address, Name & License information
In addition to providing information, the person must also provide reasonable assistance to anyone injured in the accident. The accident, including transportation of the person to:
- A doctor
- A surgeon
- A hospital for medical or surgical treatment
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NRS 484E.040 – Obligation in the Event of Damage to a Vehicle or Other Property Without Supervision:
The driver of a vehicle that collides with another vehicle or other property, which is not seen by any party, must stop right there and then. The collision must result in some kind of damage to that other vehicle or property. They should locate and notify the operator or owner of the vehicle. Also, if the owners cannot be traced, the driver must leave a written notice in a location that is visible and safe showing the address of the driver and owner of the vehicle that caused the damage.
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NRS 484E.050 – Notifying The Police About an Accident Involving an Unattended Vehicle or Other Property Immediately:
The driver of a vehicle that is involved in a car accident in Las Vegas with another vehicle or property, which is not supervised, causing damage to the other vehicle must immediately communicate and report an incident to the nearest police station or the Nevada Highway Patrol. If there is another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of doing so and the driver of a vehicle is not present to give immediate notice of an accident, such an occupant must notify the authorities.
It is also necessary to report the incident if there have been injuries, but it does not matter whether the other person is guilty or not or whether no one has been injured. Under Nevada laws, information must be exchanged by the driver with the other party. Failure to follow this procedure can result in fines, license suspension, and even jail time.
Penalties for a Hit and Run in Las Vegas:
In most cases, a hit-and-run charge is generally considered a minor offense if there has been minimal property and no physical damage. But even as a felony, a person can face several months in prison along with fines.
In the event of serious injuries, the accident will be considered a crime. As a misdemeanor, penalties can include but are not limited to, several years in prison, heavy fines, loss of driver’s license, and license points.
How a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Victims:
At our law firm, our attorneys are committed to helping victims of a hit-and-run recover compensation. Often when people panic in these situations, they don’t think about the consequences . If a person leaves the scene of an accident, that person can be charged with a crime and also be held liable for damages such as medical bills, other financial costs, and pain and suffering. We can help you manage your case so that you can recover the maximum compensation possible.
Our traffic accident lawyers knows how to win even the most difficult cases of any car accident in Las Vegas. Call us now for more information on how we can help you with your case.
