- Jun 26, 2026 - Personal Injury - Written by Cloward Trial Lawyers, reviewed by Ben Cloward
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call or text us 702-605-5000Driving in Las Vegas carries real financial stakes, and understanding bodily injury liability coverage in Nevada is the first step toward protecting yourself after a crash. This required auto insurance coverage pays for injuries sustained by others when you are legally at fault, including emergency care, lost income, and pain and suffering. It does not cover your own injuries or vehicle damage. For Las Vegas drivers, this is more than a line on an insurance form. It is the legal and financial foundation of every at-fault accident claim.
At Cloward Trial Lawyers, our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers work with injured clients whose recovery often depends on whether the at-fault driver carried adequate coverage. Understanding how liability limits work, what they cover, and where they fall short can make a real difference when it counts.
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Bodily injury liability coverage is required auto insurance in Nevada that pays for injuries sustained by others when you’re found at fault in an accident. This includes medical treatment, income lost during recovery, and even legal fees if a claim becomes a lawsuit.
This coverage applies to many people, not just other drivers. It protects passengers in any involved vehicle, pedestrians, and even cyclists who might be injured due to your actions on the road.
If someone else suffers harm in an accident you caused, this coverage prevents their bills from becoming your responsibility, at least up to the limits of your policy.
Under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 485, every registered motor vehicle in the state must carry liability insurance meeting the following minimums, commonly written as 25/50/20:
These are the legal minimums, not a suggested amount. In a serious crash, $50,000 can disappear quickly, and any damages beyond your policy limit become your personal responsibility. Many Las Vegas drivers carry higher coverage to protect their home, savings, and other assets.
Bodily injury liability coverage pays for harm caused to others when you are legally responsible for a crash. According to the Nevada Division of Insurance, liability coverage does not provide protection for you, your passengers who are resident relatives, or your own property. Separate coverage types, such as MedPay or collision coverage, address those needs.
Covered expenses typically include:
Individual insurers may structure these categories differently, but each item above is a standard component of bodily injury liability coverage in Nevada.
After an accident, your insurance company launches an investigation to determine liability. If you’re deemed at fault, your bodily injury liability coverage will pay the injured party’s medical bills, lost income, and pain-related damages, up to the limits of your policy.
For example, if three people are hurt in a crash you caused and their combined medical bills exceed your $50,000 per-accident limit, the remaining balance can be pursued against you personally.
The process typically involves:
You must report the accident to your insurer immediately to avoid delays or disputes, and it is wise to document everything, such as photos, names, injuries, scene details, and even road conditions.
You could be left with massive bills and limited options. When someone causes an accident but only carries Nevada’s bare minimum insurance, the compensation available may not come close to covering your losses, especially in severe injury cases.
That is where underinsured motorist coverage and pursuing a personal injury claim come into play. You may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for the balance of your damages. You could absorb the costs if you do not carry supplemental coverage and the other driver has no assets.
Nevada law establishes the minimum, but serious crashes routinely produce damages that far exceed those limits. Most insurance professionals recommend carrying at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, particularly for drivers with assets at stake. The premium difference between minimum coverage and higher limits is often modest relative to the financial protection gained. Review your current policy and speak with your insurer about the cost of increasing your limits.
Beyond the coverage basics, a few practical realities shape how bodily injury liability coverage in Nevada works. Understanding them helps you make informed decisions about your policy before an accident forces the issue.
Bodily injury liability applies only when you are found at fault. Nevada is a fault-based state, so the at-fault driver’s insurer pays. If another driver caused the crash, their coverage is what the injured parties pursue. Your own medical costs in that scenario fall to your health insurance, MedPay, or a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.
When damages exceed your policy limits, the remaining balance does not disappear. Injured parties can pursue a judgment against you for the difference, and a court can authorize wage garnishment, bank levies, or property liens. Those consequences can follow you for years.
As mentioned before, carrying higher limits is one of the most practical steps a Nevada driver can take. Umbrella policies add another layer of coverage above standard auto limits for those who want maximum protection. In most cases, the cost of upgrading is far smaller than the financial exposure that comes with being underinsured after a serious crash.
As a driver or injured party in Nevada, you have legal rights during a bodily injury claim. You are entitled to file a claim, negotiate compensation, and seek legal representation, whether you are filing against someone else’s policy or defending yourself under your own.
Nevada follows a fault-based system, meaning the driver who caused the crash is financially responsible for resulting damages. The state also applies comparative negligence, so if you are partially at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of blame.
If you are filing a claim, here’s what to document:
Under Nevada law, injured parties typically have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury claim. If damages exceed your policy limits, your insurer covers up to the cap, and anything beyond that becomes your personal financial responsibility.
When the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage in Nevada is insufficient, your financial recovery should not be affected. Cloward Trial Lawyers works for injured Las Vegas clients facing inadequate coverage, lowball settlements, and insurer pressure. Our legal team goes head-to-head with insurers who try to pay less than what is fair, and we pursue every dollar you are owed. Call us today at (702) 605-5000 to schedule a free consultation.
In 2016, at the age of 37, Benjamin P. Cloward became the youngest lawyer in the history of the State of Nevada to be awarded the prestigious “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Nevada Justice Association. That same year, he became the youngest member of the Nevada, Las Vegas Chapter of ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates), and at the time was also the youngest person in the State of Nevada to be Board Certified as a Personal Injury Specialist.
Practice areas: personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, Greyhound bus accidents, and walk-in tub accidents.
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Start your Free Case Evaluation by using the form below. You’ll get a fast response from one of our team members, or you can call our office at 702-605-5000.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Ben Cloward, who has over 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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