If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident in Nevada, NRS 484E.030 requires that you:
- stop at the scene,
- provide your name, registration, and address to the other parties, and
- render assistance to anyone who is injured.
Otherwise, you risk being arrested for hit and run.
If you caused only property damage, hit and run in Nevada is a misdemeanor, carrying up to six months in jail and/or $1,000 in fines. Meanwhile, hit and run causing injury or death is a category B felony, carrying two to 20 years in prison and $2,000 to $5,000 in fines.
In this article, our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys will discuss the following key issues regarding Nevada hit and run laws:
- 1. Elements
- 2. Penalties
- 3. Defenses
- 4. Record Seals
- 5. Statute of Limitations
- 6. Help for Victims
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources
1. Elements
For you to be convicted of hit and run in Nevada, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you hit another car and drove off without first fulfilling your statutory obligations.
Following a Las Vegas car accident or other car crash in Nevada, you must immediately stop at the scene of the accident, whether or not you were the one at fault. If your vehicle is creating a hazard or blocking traffic, move it to a safe location if possible.
State law then requires you to:
- Provide your name, address, and vehicle registration number to the other driver(s) involved. Upon request, you should also show your driver’s license; and
- Provide your name, address, vehicle registration number, and licenses to any police at the scene; and
- Render aid to any injured people needing medical attention. Examples include carrying them to safety and/or calling an ambulance. (If the driver cannot call 911 because of injury, a passenger should call.)1
If you hit unattended property in Nevada, such as a parked car or a fence, you must immediately stop and attempt to locate the property owner. Failing that, you must then leave a conspicuous note with
- your name,
- the vehicle owner’s name (if you do not own the car), and
- your address.2
Notifying the Police
Nevada law enforcement, such as the Metro Las Vegas police (LVMPD), must be notified about any car accident that results in either
- death,
- bodily injury, or
- property damage of $750 or more.
If the police arrive at the scene of the accident and file an accident report themselves, then you do not have to file a report as well. However, if police officers are not present at the crash, then you have 10 days from the date of the accident to submit a Nevada DMV SR-1 accident report.3
If a car accident in Nevada leaves you physically incapable of making a report, you do not have to file one until you regain capacity. If you do not own the car, and you are incapacitated, then the owner is required to file the report within 10 days after becoming aware of the accident.4
We have seen cases where the driver opted not to call 911 immediately because the other parties involved did not appear to be injured, but it turned out they were. In fact, the delay in receiving medical care caused their injuries to be much worse than they might have been otherwise.
As a result, the driver faced a felony charge for hit and run with injury. Additionally, their failure to call 911 in a timely manner was used against them in the ensuing personal injury case. Moral of the story: Call 911 after a crash.
Gathering Evidence
Although it is not required, after a crash it is a good idea to get the contact information of any eyewitnesses. They may be able to testify on your behalf if you are charged and/or sued.
Also, be sure to take photographs of the scene, property damage, and physical injuries. Then, write down all the details you can remember, including road and weather conditions. All this information can help you not only in your criminal case but also in any ensuing personal injury lawsuit.
Nevada hit and run accident victims should try to record the at-fault driver’s license plate number before they flee.
2. Penalties
If There Is Only Property Damage
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in only property damage is a misdemeanor in Nevada. The sentence is:
- up to 6 months in jail and/or
- up to $1,000 in fines.5
In addition, the DMV adds six demerit points to your driver’s license. If you accrue 12 or more points in a year, the DMV will impose a six-month license suspension.6
If There Are Injuries Or Death
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury or death is a category B felony in Nevada. The sentence is:
- 2 to 20 years in Nevada State Prison, and
- $2,000 to $5,000 in fines, and
- A driver’s license revocation.
Note that you face separate hit-and-run charges for every person injured or killed in one accident. Plus, the court may not suspend the prison sentence or grant you probation.7
Failing to Notify Police
In Nevada, willfully failing to make an accident report if necessary results in a license suspension of up to one year. Meanwhile, submitting a false report is a gross misdemeanor, carrying up to 364 days in jail and/or up to $2,000 in fines.8
3. Defenses
Here at Las Vegas Defense Group, we have represented literally thousands of people charged with hit and run. In our experience, the following four defenses have proven very effective with prosecutors, judges, and juries at achieving a charge reduction or dismissal:
- You were not involved in the accident. Crash scenes are very frenetic, so it is not uncommon for people near the collision to be mistakenly identified as one of the participants. In these situations, we rely on traffic surveillance video, GPS records, and eyewitness accounts to clear our clients of criminal liability.
- You did not know you were involved in an accident. If you grazed another car without realizing it, we could try explaining to the prosecutor that any reasonable driver in your position also might not have noticed the contact. Or perhaps you were having a medical episode at the time and genuinely did not realize you made contact with another vehicle; here, we would use your medical records and expert medical testimony to show the D.A. that you were unable to process what was happening and did not knowingly violate the law.9
- You fulfilled all the obligations. We have had clients who did everything right (exchanging information, rendering aid, etc.) but were still falsely charged with hit and run. Here, we compile all the available evidence (such as police bodycam footage) to illustrate you followed all the rules.
- You were incapacitated after the accident. This is another defense where we rely on our clients’ medical records to show that no reasonable person in their position would have been capable of exchanging information and rendering aid.10
A hit-and-run is failing to stop at an accident that caused injury, death, or property damage.
4. Record Seals
The waiting period before you can petition for a Nevada record seal in hit and run cases is:
- 5 years after the case ends for felony convictions,
- 1 year after the case ends for misdemeanor convictions, and
- immediately if the charge gets dismissed (no conviction).
Having any offense on your criminal record can turn off potential employers, landlords, and professional associations, so you are advised to pursue a record seal as soon as you are eligible.11
5. Statute of Limitations
The time limit in which Nevada prosecutors can charge you after an alleged hit and run is:
- 3 years in felony cases and
- 1 year in misdemeanor cases.12
Once the applicable statute of limitations runs, you are immune to criminal prosecution.
6. Help for Victims
If the driver who hit your car in Nevada flees the scene, follow the following five steps.
1) Collect Evidence
Once you are safe, try to gather all the available evidence of what happened. This includes taking videos and photos of:
- Your automobile, especially any property damage;
- Your injuries, if any;
- The other person’s car as they are driving away (if possible); and
- The surrounding area.
Also, collect the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses and record their recollections of what happened. They may have seen the other car’s make, model, and/or license plate number.
2) Tell Law Enforcement
Call 911 and wait for the police to arrive. Otherwise, file a police report as soon as possible. Include as many details as possible, including:
- The exact location where the collision took place;
- A description of the fleeing vehicle such as the make, model, color, and license plate (even partial plate numbers will aid police);
- What happened during the accident, and what direction the vehicle fled toward; and
- Any distinguishing details of the fleeing driver.
3) Go to a Doctor
The adrenaline spike after a car crash often makes you feel better than you are. Plus, certain injuries like concussions or internal bleeding may not show symptoms immediately.
The most important thing is that you receive early diagnosis and treatment and have a detailed medical record. The more time that goes by, the harder it is to make a causal connection between the accident and your injuries.
Common injuries from hit-and-run accidents include:
- Cuts and bruises,
- Broken bones/fractures,
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries,
- Neck and back injuries such as whiplash and spinal problems,
- Organ damage, and/or
- Chronic pain.
Some of these injuries may require extensive treatment and have lifelong consequences.
4) Document the Property Damage
Take your car in for a full inspection as soon as you can. Even if the damage appears only cosmetic, there may be hidden, critical problems such as:
- Misaligned frames,
- Faulty brakes,
- Malfunctioning safety systems.
If you wait too long, the insurance company may doubt that the damage came from the collision.
5) Lawyer Up
Dealing with the aftermath of a hit-and-run can feel overwhelming, but a skilled attorney can make the process more manageable. A Las Vegas hit-and-run lawyer can:
- Help you navigate the legal system,
- Negotiate with insurance companies, and,
- If necessary, represent you in court and possibly at a trial.
If the at-fault driver is never found, hopefully you already carry these optional forms of insurance:
- Uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), which pays medical and car repair bills if the other driver is at fault and unavailable;
- MedPay, which pays medical bills regardless of fault; and/or
- Collision Insurance, which pays car repair bills regardless of fault.
If your insurance company resists, your attorney can pressure them to pay you everything you are entitled to up to the policy limits. Also, having an attorney handle everything reduces the odds of you making mistakes on your insurance claim forms and then being accused of insurance fraud.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I hit a parked car and cannot find the owner?
If you hit unattended property like a parked car, you must immediately stop and try to locate the owner. If you cannot find them, you must leave a visible note with your name, address, and the vehicle owner’s name (if you don’t own the car). Failing to do this can result in hit and run charges.
How long do I have to report an accident to the police?
You have 10 days from the date of the accident to file a Nevada DMV SR-1 accident report if police did not respond to the scene. However, you must notify police immediately (call 911) if the accident resulted in death, injury, or property damage of $750 or more.
What happens if I am charged with hit and run but only caused property damage?
Hit and run involving only property damage is a misdemeanor in Nevada. You could face up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. The DMV will also add six demerit points to your license, which could lead to suspension if you accumulate 12 points in a year.
Can I get a hit and run conviction removed from my record?
Yes, you can petition for a record seal after waiting periods: one year for misdemeanor convictions, five years for felony convictions, or immediately if charges were dismissed. Having the record sealed helps with employment, housing, and professional opportunities.
Additional Resources
For more information, refer to the following:
- Crash Report Request, Nevada DMV
- Understanding Auto Insurance, Nevada Department of Insurance
- Vehicle Accident Procedures, Nevada Department of Administration Risk Management
Legal References
- NRS 484E.010; NRS 484E.020; NRS 484E.030. (See the Nevada car accident statutes.) See also, for example, Whatley v. State (Nev. 2025) 564 P.3d 450 (unpublished).
- NRS 484E.040.
- NRS 484E.050; NRS 484E.060; NRS 484E.070.
- Same.
- NRS 484A.900.
- NAC 483.510; NRS 483.448.
- NRS 484E.010; see also Sabrina Schnur, Fatal hit-and-runs spike in Las Vegas in 2021, Las Vegas Review-Journal (May 7, 2021).
- NRS 484E.080.
- Clancy v. State (Nev. 2013) 313 P.3d 226.
- See also Smith v. State (Nev. 2020) 468 P.3d 375; Hodges v. State (2019) 439 P.3d 957. See also Chadwick v. State (2024) 546 P.3d 215 (“Nevada’s appellate courts have not previously addressed the admissibility of evidence of a defendant’s alcohol consumption and apparent intoxication while driving in cases where the defendant is charged with leaving the scene of an accident in violation of NRS 484E.010. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting this evidence because it was relevant to Chadwick’s motive to flee, proven by clear and convincing evidence, and not unfairly prejudicial.”)
- NRS 179.245; NRS 179.255.
- NRS 171.085. NRS 171.090.