Statewide Update: There Is An Increase in Minimum Insurance Coverage for Nevada Auto Drivers that Starts July 1st, 2018

If you drive in Nevada, you should know that on July 1, 2018, minimum insurance coverage requirements are set to change for the first time in 60 years. Right now, drivers in Nevada are required to carry a certain amount of car insurance before they get behind the wheel. Commonly referred to as 15/30/10, the law requires drivers to carry $15,000 per person in bodily injury coverage, $30,000 per accident and $10,000 in property damage coverage. Of course, if you’ve dealt with medical bills lately, you can see how these required amounts are hardly sufficient to address serious injuries.

Insufficient Requirements

When people are injured in a car accident by a driver who has only this minimum level of insurance, they may need to work with a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer to pursue the rest of the damages they have suffered from the individual driver. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to recover the full amount, even after receiving a successful judgment in court. Before the changes, negligent drivers in Las Vegas could cause devastating crashes while carrying insurance that could barely cover the basics of hospital care for injured victims.

Increased Insurance Minimums

The new law, enacted in May 2017, requires a higher level of coverage. However, that level of coverage is still insufficient to deal with the hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills that can pile up after a serious crash. Under the new 25/50/20 minimum standard, drivers must carry $25,000 per injured person in bodily injury coverage, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 in property damage coverage per vehicle. This is a move toward a more responsible insurance system, but it can still leave injured accident victims out in the cold.

Protecting Drivers

It can be important for drivers to protect themselves as well, by purchasing insurance coverage that exceeds the minimum requirements. There are a number of factors considered when insurance companies price car insurance for a driver, including their driving record, the type of car and the use of the vehicle. Going for a cheap insurance policy may be little consolation for a driver if they lose their savings, investments and properties as a result of causing a car crash with these low minimums in place.

It can also be important for people to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in case they are involved in an accident caused by an underinsured driver. This kind of policy can help to fill in the gaps when a driver cannot cover the harms they have caused.

Of course, even if the at-fault driver has more substantial insurance coverage, many companies are out to drive down their awards and deny people the compensation that is rightfully theirs. A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer at The Schnitzer Law Firm can help accident victims to pursue their rights. Call the firm today at 702-960-4050 or use our simple online form to set up a free consultation.