Hit-and-Run Accident in Las Vegas: What to Do and How to Get Compensation

Call 911 immediately. Tell the dispatcher your location, that you have been hit by a vehicle that fled the scene, and whether you or anyone else is injured. Stay at the scene — Nevada law (NRS 484E.010) requires all drivers involved in an accident to stop. You have no legal obligation to chase the fleeing driver, and doing so is dangerous.

While waiting for police, write down or voice-record every detail you can remember about the other vehicle: make, model, color, approximate year, license plate (even partial), distinguishing features (dents, stickers, custom wheels), the direction it fled, and any description of the driver. These details fade quickly — capture them within minutes. If any passengers or bystanders saw the vehicle, ask them to stay for the police report.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) handles hit-and-run investigations within city limits. Call (702) 828-3111 for non-emergencies if you need to follow up after the initial report. Henderson Police Department covers Henderson, and North Las Vegas Police Department covers North Las Vegas. For highway hit-and-runs on I-15, I-215, or US-95, Nevada Highway Patrol investigates.

Photograph your vehicle damage from every angle. If the other vehicle left paint transfer, debris, or broken parts at the scene, photograph those — they can help identify the vehicle make and model. Photograph the road layout, your vehicle's position, skid marks, and any debris trail that indicates the direction the other vehicle fled.

Look for surveillance cameras in the area. Las Vegas is one of the most heavily surveilled cities in the United States. Casinos, hotels, gas stations, convenience stores, parking garages, and traffic signals may all have cameras that captured the crash or the fleeing vehicle. Note every camera you can see near the crash site and share this information with police.

If the crash happened near the Strip or Downtown, there is a high probability of camera coverage. LVMPD can request footage from businesses and the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) traffic cameras. Time is critical — many surveillance systems overwrite footage within 24-72 hours. Ask police to secure camera footage as part of their investigation.

Hit-and-run victims are often in shock — both physically and emotionally. Adrenaline can mask significant injuries. Get medical attention within 24 hours, regardless of how you feel. University Medical Center (UMC) is Nevada's only Level I trauma center for critical injuries. Sunrise Hospital is a Level II trauma center with a busy emergency department.

Tell the doctor you were in a hit-and-run accident and describe all symptoms. The connection between the crash and your injuries must be documented from the first medical visit. Delayed symptoms like whiplash, concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries are common after being struck by another vehicle.

Save all medical bills, prescriptions, and treatment records. These document your damages for both your UM claim and any future lawsuit if the driver is identified. Follow every treatment recommendation — gaps in treatment undermine your credibility with the insurance company.

If the hit-and-run driver is never identified, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage treats the case as if the driver were uninsured. Contact your auto insurance company and file a UM claim. Provide the police report, medical records, photos, and a detailed account of the accident.

Nevada requires all auto insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage. If you did not reject it in writing, you likely have UM coverage that matches your liability limits. UM coverage pays for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages up to your policy limits.

Your insurer may require proof of physical contact with the other vehicle for a UM claim arising from a hit-and-run. This varies by policy. Damage to your vehicle, paint transfer, and witness testimony can establish contact. If the other vehicle ran you off the road without physical contact (phantom vehicle), some policies still cover the claim, but the standard of proof may be higher. Review your policy language carefully or have an attorney review it.

Stay engaged with the LVMPD investigation. Follow up with the detective assigned to your case. Provide any additional information you remember. If you find witnesses after the initial report — a neighbor with a doorbell camera, a coworker who saw something — connect them with the investigator.

LVMPD's hit-and-run unit uses multiple methods to identify fleeing drivers: surveillance footage, license plate readers, debris analysis (matching broken parts to vehicle makes), paint chip analysis, community tips, and area canvasses. The more information you provide, the better the chances of identifying the driver.

If the driver is found, you can file a personal injury claim against their insurance (if they have any) or sue them directly. A driver who fled the scene has severely damaged their credibility — juries are unsympathetic to hit-and-run drivers, which often leads to higher settlements or verdicts. The criminal case (felony hit-and-run) proceeds separately from your civil claim.

The criminal case and your civil injury case are separate proceedings. In the criminal case, the state of Nevada prosecutes the hit-and-run driver for leaving the scene. Under NRS 484E.010, if the accident involved injury, it is a category B felony with 2-20 years in prison. If the accident involved death, it is a category A felony with up to life in prison. If only property damage occurred, it is a misdemeanor.

Your civil claim is about compensation for your injuries and damages. You do not need a criminal conviction to win a civil case — the burden of proof is lower (preponderance of evidence vs. beyond a reasonable doubt). Even if the criminal case is dropped or the driver is acquitted, you can still sue them for your damages.

A criminal conviction does help your civil case, however. It establishes that the driver fled the scene, which implies consciousness of guilt. Insurance companies and juries view hit-and-run drivers extremely negatively, which typically increases settlement values.

Nevada's statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years from the date of injury (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). This applies even if the hit-and-run driver has not been identified. For property damage, the deadline is 3 years (NRS 11.190(3)(c)).

Report the hit-and-run to police immediately. Under NRS 484E.030, drivers involved in injury accidents must notify law enforcement. Even though you are the victim, filing a timely police report strengthens both your UM claim and any future lawsuit. Your UM insurer will want to see a police report filed promptly.

Do not assume the driver will never be found. LVMPD identifies hit-and-run drivers weeks or months after the crash through delayed tips, camera footage review, and repair shop notifications. Keep your claim active and continue pursuing all avenues of recovery.

A hit-and-run is one of the most frustrating experiences after a car accident. Someone caused your injuries and drove away, leaving you to deal with the consequences. Take our free 2-minute assessment at /assessment/ to understand your options — including UM coverage, police investigation status, and potential lawsuit avenues.

Whether the driver is found or not, you have paths to compensation. Your UM coverage, surveillance footage, and the LVMPD investigation can all work in your favor. Start with the assessment to get a personalized report and connect with a Las Vegas attorney experienced in hit-and-run cases.