Is It Too Late to Get Car Insurance After a Crash Has Already Happened?
Car accidents happen in the blink of an eye—and if you weren’t insured at the time, your first instinct might be to try and fix the situation by quickly buying a car insurance policy. But can you get coverage after the fact? Mainor Ellis in Las Vegas is here to help answer these questions. More importantly, will that new policy help you with the crash that already happened? If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident in Las Vegas and didn’t have insurance at the time, here’s what you need to know.
You Can Buy Insurance After a Crash—But It Won’t Cover the Past
It is never too late to purchase car insurance going forward. However, auto insurance policies do not cover events that happened before the policy was active. This means you cannot legally or ethically purchase a policy after an accident and expect it to apply retroactively to the crash. Doing so would be considered insurance fraud, which is a crime in Nevada and could result in significant penalties.
What Happens If You Were at Fault and Uninsured?
If you caused the accident and didn’t have insurance, you may be held personally liable for the damages and injuries of others involved in the crash. This can include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and even pain and suffering. In Nevada, victims of a car accident can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover these damages from the at-fault party. Being uninsured doesn’t shield you from these claims. In fact, you may face license suspension, fines, and legal judgments—and you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket if the injured party prevails.
What If You Weren’t at Fault and Didn’t Have Insurance?
If you were not responsible for the crash, you can still file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. Nevada is a fault-based state, which means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for covering the losses of others. However, without your own insurance, you may not have access to uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or medical payments coverage, which would have helped with your own medical expenses regardless of fault.
Potential Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Nevada
Nevada requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, and failing to do so can result in:
- Fines up to $1,000
- License suspension
- Reinstatement fees
- Possible vehicle impoundment
These penalties apply regardless of whether you caused the accident or not.
What Should You Do Now?
If you were involved in a car accident without insurance in Las Vegas, you still have legal rights—but you need to act quickly. Whether you’re facing liability or trying to recover compensation as an uninsured but not-at-fault driver, you need our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys to help you understand your options.
At Mainor Ellis, we help people navigate the aftermath of serious car accidents—even in difficult situations. Don’t wait and risk making costly mistakes. Contact our Las Vegas office today for a free consultation and find out how we can protect your rights and help you move forward.
Source:
leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-485.html
