Hit and Run in Nevada: Criminal Penalties and Victim Compensation Options

By John Quigley · NevadaAttorneyFinder.com · Updated June 20, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

A hit and run is one of the few traffic situations in Nevada that can send a driver to prison and, at the same time, leave a victim with serious injuries and no obvious way to recover. This guide explains both sides: what Nevada law requires every driver to do after a crash, the criminal penalties for leaving the scene under NRS 484E.010 and NRS 484E.020, and the practical paths an injured victim can use to get compensated even when the other driver is never found. Whether you are facing a charge or were left at the side of the road, knowing how the law works is the first step toward protecting yourself.

What Counts as a "Hit and Run" in Nevada

Nevada does not actually use the phrase "hit and run" in its statutes. The conduct is broken into a set of legal duties that every driver involved in a crash must perform, found in Chapter 484E of the Nevada Revised Statutes. A "hit and run" is simply the failure to carry out those duties — leaving the scene before you have stopped, exchanged information, and rendered aid. The severity of the offense turns entirely on what the crash caused: injury or death on one hand, or only property damage on the other.

The core obligation appears in NRS 484E.030, which requires any driver involved in an accident resulting in injury, death, or vehicle damage to stop and provide their name, address, and vehicle registration number, show their driver's license to anyone involved on request, and render "reasonable assistance" to any injured person — including arranging or providing transportation to a doctor or hospital where it is apparent that treatment is necessary. Leaving before doing these things is what converts an ordinary collision into a crime.

Leaving the Scene of an Injury or Fatal Accident: A Category B Felony

The most serious version of the offense is governed by NRS 484E.010, which applies when the accident results in bodily injury to or the death of any person. A driver who fails to stop and meet the duties under NRS 484E.030 in that situation is guilty of a category B felony.

The penalty range is severe. A conviction carries a prison term of 2 to 20 years and a fine of $2,000 to $5,000. Critically, NRS 484E.010 expressly states that the court may not grant probation or suspend the sentence for this offense. That is unusual — most non-violent Nevada felonies allow a judge to consider probation. Here, the Legislature deliberately removed that option, reflecting how seriously Nevada treats abandoning an injured person. A separate term of imprisonment can be imposed for each victim killed or injured in the crash.

It is important to understand that this felony is about the act of leaving, not about who caused the crash. A driver can be completely free of fault for the collision itself and still be convicted of a felony for driving away from an injured person. That is one of the reasons these cases require careful legal handling: the State does not have to prove the defendant caused the accident, only that the defendant knew or should have known the crash involved injury and left without fulfilling the statutory duties.

On top of the criminal sentence, a conviction under NRS 484E.010 results in revocation of the driver's license, and the conviction stays on the person's record as a felony with all the collateral consequences that follow — effects on employment, professional licensing, and firearm rights among them.

Leaving the Scene of a Property-Damage Accident: A Misdemeanor

When a crash damages only a vehicle or other property and no one is hurt, the governing statute is NRS 484E.020. A driver involved in such an accident must stop and complete the same information-exchange duties under NRS 484E.030. Failing to do so is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, plus possible demerit points and insurance consequences.

Two related duties round out the property-damage rules. Under NRS 484E.040, a driver who strikes an unattended vehicle — the classic example is backing into a parked car in a casino garage and driving off — must either locate and notify the owner or operator, or leave a written notice in a conspicuous place on the vehicle giving the driver's name and address and a statement of the circumstances. Under NRS 484E.050, a driver who damages highway fixtures or other property, such as a fence, signpost, or median barrier, must take reasonable steps to notify the owner and report the damage. Skipping these notice requirements is how a minor parking-lot scrape can turn into a citation.

How the State Builds a Hit-and-Run Case

Modern hit-and-run investigations rarely rely on an eyewitness alone. Las Vegas is saturated with cameras — traffic intersection cameras, casino and business surveillance, Ring and other doorbell systems, and increasingly the built-in dashcams and event-data recorders in newer vehicles. Police also use debris left at the scene: a shattered headlight assembly or bumper fragment can carry part numbers that lead investigators to a specific make, model, and year, and paint transfer can be matched to a suspect vehicle.

Because the prosecution must prove the driver knew or reasonably should have known an accident causing injury occurred, the defense often centers on that knowledge element. Genuine cases exist where a driver did not realize a person was struck, struck an object they reasonably believed was not a person, or left because they did not appreciate that anyone was hurt. Identity is another common battleground — proving who was behind the wheel, as opposed to who owns the car, is not always straightforward. These are fact-intensive questions, which is exactly why early involvement of a defense attorney, before statements are given to investigators, can make a significant difference.

The Other Side: What Hit-and-Run Victims Can Recover

For an injured victim, the cruelty of a hit and run is that the person who caused the harm has vanished. The good news is that Nevada law and a typical insurance policy provide several routes to compensation that do not depend on ever finding the driver.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage

The single most important resource for most hit-and-run victims is their own uninsured motorist coverage. Under NRS 687B.145, every automobile liability policy issued in Nevada must offer UM/UIM coverage, and it applies unless the insured rejected it in writing. UM coverage is specifically designed to treat a hit-and-run or "phantom" driver as if they were an uninsured driver, so it can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering up to your policy limits — even when the at-fault driver is never identified. If the fleeing driver is later found but carries too little insurance to cover the harm, underinsured motorist coverage can fill the gap.

Many Nevada drivers do not realize they carry this coverage, or how valuable it is. Because the at-fault driver is gone, the UM claim is filed against your own insurer, which means the insurer is, in practice, on the other side of the negotiation. That dynamic — your own company scrutinizing your injuries to limit its payout — is one reason victims benefit from representation.

Nevada Crime Victim Compensation

When a hit and run involves injury, it is a crime, and that opens the door to the Nevada Victims of Crime Program established under NRS Chapter 217. This state program can reimburse qualifying victims for medical and counseling expenses, lost wages, and certain other costs when other sources are unavailable. There are eligibility rules and deadlines — the crime generally must be reported to law enforcement promptly and an application filed within the statutory window — so victims should ask about this option early. It is most relevant when a victim has no applicable insurance of their own.

A Claim Against the Driver If Identified

If the police or your attorney's investigation identifies the driver, you can pursue a standard personal injury claim against them and their insurer, just as in any car accident. Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule under NRS 41.141: you can recover as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault, with your damages reduced by your share of fault. The fact that the driver fled does not establish your case automatically, but it is powerful evidence of consciousness of fault and often shapes how juries and insurers view the claim. A driver who flees may also have personal assets exposed beyond their policy limits, which an attorney can evaluate.

Why Insurance Coverage Is Mandatory in Nevada

Nevada is a mandatory-insurance state. Under the financial responsibility laws, including NRS 485.185, every owner of a registered vehicle must continuously maintain liability insurance meeting the state minimums. Driving without it is itself an offense and can lead to registration suspension and reinstatement fees. These requirements matter to hit-and-run victims for two reasons: they are the reason UM coverage is so widely available, and they explain why some drivers flee in the first place — uninsured drivers leave the scene precisely because they fear the consequences of being caught without coverage. Carrying robust UM/UIM limits is the most reliable protection a Nevada driver has against exactly that scenario.

What to Do at the Scene — On Either Side

If you have been involved in a crash, stopping is not optional, and it is almost always the better legal choice even if you are frightened or unsure whether anyone was hurt. Stop in a safe place, check on everyone involved, call 911, exchange the information NRS 484E.030 requires, and stay until you have fulfilled your duties. The penalty for leaving an injury accident is far worse than the penalty for almost anything you might be afraid of by staying.

If you are the victim, your priorities are your health and preserving evidence. Get medical care, report the crash to police, and capture every detail you can about the vehicle and driver. Then notify your own insurer and ask directly about UM coverage. Before you give a recorded statement or accept any settlement, it is worth speaking with an attorney who can make sure no source of recovery is overlooked.

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