If you drive in Nevada, you’re required to carry auto insurance. One of the most important parts of your policy is bodily injury liability coverage. This type of insurance helps cover the costs when someone else is hurt in an accident you caused. It won’t pay for your own injuries, but it can help you avoid paying big bills out of pocket for others.
Here’s what you should know about bodily injury liability coverage in Nevada, how much you need, and what happens if you don’t have enough.
What is Bodily Injury Liability Insurance?
Bodily injury liability insurance is a part of your car insurance policy. It pays for other people’s injuries if you cause a crash. This includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or anyone else hurt because of your driving. It helps pay for things like:
- Medical bills
- Ambulance rides
- Hospital stays
- Doctor visits
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Legal fees if you’re sued
This type of insurance doesn’t pay for damage to your own car or your own medical bills. It’s there to protect other people.
Who Does It Cover?
It covers the people hurt in an accident where you’re at fault. This could be:
- People in the other car
- Pedestrians or bicyclists
- Passengers in your car (in some cases)
It does not cover your own injuries. To pay for your medical costs, you’d need other types of coverage like MedPay or personal injury protection (PIP), if available.
What Does It Pay For?
Bodily injury liability coverage helps with the injured person’s costs. These can include:
- Emergency room treatment
- Surgery
- Follow-up doctor visits
- Prescription medication
- Lost income from missing work
- Pain and emotional distress
- Funeral expenses in fatal crashes
- Legal costs if you’re taken to court
The amount your insurance will pay depends on your policy limits.
How Much Insurance Do You Need in Nevada?
Nevada law requires all drivers to carry minimum auto insurance. The minimum bodily injury liability coverage is:
- $25,000 for injury or death of one person in an accident
- $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people in an accident
- $20,000 for property damage (this is separate from bodily injury coverage)
These are often called “25/50/20” limits.
What Happens If There Are Multiple Injuries?
If more than one person is hurt, your insurance will pay up to the $50,000 total limit for all injuries combined. This means each person may not get enough to cover their full costs if there are serious injuries or several people involved.
For example, if three people are injured and each has $30,000 in medical bills, your insurance may not cover everything. You could be responsible for the rest.
What If I Don’t Have Enough Insurance?
If the damages are more than what your insurance covers, you could be personally responsible for the remaining costs. This might include:
- Medical bills not paid by your policy
- Lawsuit judgments
- Lost wages and pain and suffering damages
In some cases, people try to collect from your personal assets, such as your bank account or future wages.
That’s why many drivers choose to buy more than the minimum coverage. Higher limits give you better protection.
What If I Don’t Have Insurance at All?
Driving without insurance in Nevada is illegal. If you’re caught without it, you could face:
- Fines
- License suspension
- Vehicle registration suspension
- Reinstatement fees
If you cause an accident and don’t have insurance, you could be held fully responsible for all damages. This can include thousands of dollars in medical bills, repairs, and legal costs.
What If I’m Only Partly at Fault?
Nevada uses a “comparative negligence” rule. That means if you’re partly at fault, you can still recover damages — as long as you’re not more than 50% to blame. But your payout will be reduced by your share of the fault.
Example: If you’re 30% at fault and the other driver is 70% at fault, you can still get money for your injuries — but 30% will be taken off the total.
If you’re more than 50% at fault, you can’t collect any money from the other driver.
How Much Does This Coverage Cost?
The cost of bodily injury liability insurance depends on several things:
- Your driving record
- Where you live
- Your age
- The car you drive
- Your chosen coverage limits
Minimum coverage is cheaper, but may not be enough. Paying more for better coverage can save you money in the long run if you’re in a serious accident.
Other Types of Coverage You Might Want
In addition to bodily injury liability coverage, you can add other types of insurance to protect yourself:
- Property Damage Liability – Pays for damage to other people’s vehicles or property.
- Collision Coverage – Pays for damage to your car after a crash, even if it’s your fault.
- Comprehensive Coverage – Covers non-crash events like theft, vandalism, fire, or falling objects.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage – Helps if you’re hit by a driver who has no insurance or not enough.
- Medical Payments (MedPay) – Covers your own medical bills, no matter who’s at fault.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers (not common in Nevada).
Nevada Drivers Should Know Their Options
Around 15% of drivers in Nevada don’t carry any auto insurance. This increases the risk of not being fully protected after a crash. Even if you follow the law, someone else might not.
Having the right insurance can help protect your finances if you’re ever in a crash. It’s a smart move to talk to your insurance company about your options.
Need Legal Help After a Car Accident?
If you’ve been in an accident and have questions about insurance, medical bills, or injury claims, call Friedman Injury Law. Our team can help you understand your rights, deal with the insurance companies, and seek the compensation you deserve.
Call us today at (702) 970-4222 for a free consultation. We’re here to help you move forward.
