The same city that never sleeps offers no pause in the statute of limitations. When someone’s negligence gets you hurt, Nevada law sets the rules that govern who pays and how much. A top-rated Las Vegas accident lawyer from Dobberstein Law Group can guide you through those rules. It also helps to grasp a few key statutes and court decisions yourself.
Within Nevada’s two-year window to sue, success hinges on timing, fault percentages, and the caps that apply to certain damages. Request a free case review right now—the sooner evidence is preserved, the stronger your claim will be. Schedule yours here.
Nevada’s Two-Year Deadline
Nevada grants injured people just two years to file a lawsuit for bodily harm or wrongful death—a countdown that starts the day the incident occurs. Miss the filing date and courts almost always dismiss the case, no matter how catastrophic the injuries. Limited exceptions pause the clock—for example, a minor may sue up to age 20, and the “discovery rule” can extend time when hidden medical errors surface years later—but judges enforce these carve-outs narrowly.
Casino surveillance, dash-cam footage, and ride-share GPS logs are often kept only 30-90 days, so prompt action is essential. A Las Vegas accident lawyer will draft preservation letters on day one, ensuring vital evidence is not overwritten.
Nevada’s 50 Percent Comparative Negligence Rule
Liability in Clark County is seldom one-sided. Under NRS 41.141, an injured person may recover damages so long as their share of blame does not exceed 50 percent. The math is strict: if a jury sets losses at $200,000 but assigns 20 percent fault for crossing against a flashing hand on Las Vegas Boulevard, the verdict drops to $160,000. When multiple defendants—from valet companies to subcontracted nightclub security—share blame, jurors apportion separate percentages, and each party pays only its slice. The best Las Vegas injury attorneys gather police citations, cellphone records, and expert accident-reconstruction testimony to push your percentage below the pivotal 51 percent mark.
Damage Caps and Special Limits
Nevada’s civil code imposes three rigid dollar ceilings that override any larger jury award, so a settlement plan must respect them from the outset.
Medical-malpractice Noneconomic Cap
When a licensed health-care provider is sued for professional negligence, pain-and-suffering damages cannot exceed $350,000. The lid covers physicians, hospitals, nurses, and EMTs but leaves economic losses (wages, rehabilitation, future care) and any punitive award untouched.
Punitive-damages Cap
Punitive awards—meant to punish rather than compensate—are capped at the greater of $300,000 (if compensatory damages are under $100 k) or three times compensatories (when they exceed $100 k). The cap vanishes for four scenarios: (1) DUI-related crashes, (2) hazardous or toxic-substance releases, (3) product-defect actions against manufacturers or sellers, and (4) insurance bad-faith denials. To claim any punitive sum, a plaintiff must prove oppression, fraud, or malice by “clear and convincing” evidence—ordinary negligence will not suffice.
Government-entity Cap
When the State of Nevada, Clark County, or a city agency is the defendant, all damages—economic and noneconomic—are limited to $200,000 per plaintiff, per incident, and punitive damages are barred outright. Because many Strip shuttles, public buses, and convention-authority venues fall under this rule, early mediation is often the most practical route. The trial team at Dobberstein Law Group evaluates every case against these thresholds on day one, crafting demand letters that reach the statutory.
Insurance Bad-Faith Protections
Nevada punishes unfair claim tactics. NRS 686A.310 creates a private right of action when an insurer fails to effectuate a prompt, fair settlement once liability is clear. Evidence of low-ball offers or stonewalling can open the door to attorney’s fees and consequential damages. Personal injury lawyers in Las Vegas routinely send statutory demand letters that preserve these rights and increase negotiation leverage.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas That Gets Results
Las Vegas thrives on risk, but your recovery shouldn’t. Dobberstein Law Group turns injury claims into winning wagers by pairing courtroom grit with insight into juries. We chase every dollar—medical bills, wage gaps, future therapy, even punitive bonuses when reckless drivers roll the dice with safety. Insurers stall; we press. Opposing counsel bluffs; we call. Put a table captain on your side before surveillance video fades or witnesses disperse on the Strip. Dial 702-430-8900 or contact us today to lock in a strategy that stacks the odds in your favor.