Speeding on Nevada Highways: How Excessive Speed Changes Your Injury Case
You’re on I‑15 or U.S. 95, doing a reasonable 70–75. Then someone blows past you like you’re parked. You barely see them until they’re already weaving three cars ahead. A minute later you see it: tail lights, debris, airbags. When high speed meets a moment’s bad decision, the result isn’t a “fender bender.” It’s a life-altering crash. And under Nevada law, excessive speed doesn’t just cause more damage, it changes your case.
At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we see how speed turns a “normal” accident into a fight over fault, damages, and sometimes punitive punishment.
Nevada Doesn’t Just “Discourage” Speeding, It Outlaws It
Start with the law, specifically CHAPTER 484B (Rules of the Road):
- NRS 484B.600: It’s unlawful to drive at a speed greater than is “reasonable or proper” under the conditions.
- NRS 484B.613: Drivers must obey posted speed limits.
- NRS 484B.623: Basic speed rule — you must control your speed to avoid collisions.
So when a driver is doing 90 in a 65, flying through construction zones, or ignoring weather, traffic, or visibility, they’re not just “careless.” They’re violating specific Nevada statutes.
In a civil injury case, that matters because violating a safety law can be powerful evidence of negligence and extreme speeding can support claims not just for compensation, but for punitive damages in some cases.
Proving the Other Driver Was Speeding (Even Without a Ticket)
Insurance companies love to say: “There’s no speeding ticket. You can’t prove it.” Wrong.
At Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers, we routinely use the following to prove a driver was speeding:
- Crash reconstruction experts
- Skid mark analysis and impact damage
- Event Data Recorder (“black box”) data from newer vehicles
- Surveillance or traffic camera video
- Witness statements (“He flew past me like a rocket”)
Even without a citation, the evidence can still show dangerous speed. And when your Las Vegas speeding accident lawyer can prove that, it changes how negotiations go, how juries see the case, and how judges consider punitive damages.
Comparative Negligence: Speed Can Overpower Other Arguments
Nevada follows modified comparative negligence (NRS 41.141):
- If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
- If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.
In a typical crash, insurers try to push blame your way. But if the other driver was blasting down the highway at 30+ mph over the limit, they have a problem.
That’s because excessive speed makes it much harder to sell “shared blame” and a jury is less likely to punish a careful driver for not anticipating a missile.
However, speed doesn’t erase all questions of fault. But it can heavily tilt the field against the speeder.
Punitive Damages: When Speed Crosses the Line
Nevada allows punitive damages (extra money to punish and deter) when a defendant acts with oppression, fraud, or malice, which includes conscious disregard of safety.
In plain terms:
- If someone knows their behavior is very dangerous
- And does it anyway
- A jury may punish them financially beyond your actual losses
Extreme speeding can qualify, especially when combined with:
- Racing
- Street takeovers
- Aggressive weaving and tailgating
- Driving under the influence at high speeds
That doesn’t automatically mean you get punitive damages. But it changes how your lawyer will build and value your case.
Injured in an Accident Caused by a Speeding Driver? Let’s Talk
If a speeding driver turned your commute or road trip into a hospital stay, contact Mainor Ellis Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. We’ll explain how excessive speed affects fault, damages, and your chance to recover everything Nevada law allows. Call at 702-450-5000 to get a free case review.
Source:
leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-484b.html
