The Driver Who Hit You Had No Insurance. Here's What Happens Next.

If the driver who caused your crash had no insurance — or not enough to cover what you've lost — you may still have a path to full compensation. Nevada law requires that your own auto policy include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and that coverage exists precisely for moments like this. We help injured Nevadans understand what their policy actually covers and pursue every dollar they're entitled to — including claims against their own insurer when necessary.

What Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Actually Does

Nevada is one of the states that bundles UM and UIM coverage together — when you purchase uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage is automatically included. The two work in tandem:

 

  • Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays your damages when the at-fault driver carries no liability insurance whatsoever.
  • Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits aren't high enough to cover your actual losses.

 

In practical terms, this means your own policy can pay for medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages — even when the person who caused the crash can't. Nevada law requires insurers to offer this coverage, and it attaches automatically unless you reject it in writing.

Nevada's 25/50/20 Minimum Limits — and Why They Fall Short

Nevada's minimum liability requirements are 25/50/20: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury when multiple people are hurt, and $20,000 for property damage. These are the floors — the least any driver is legally required to carry.

 

The problem is that a serious crash can generate medical expenses and lost wages that exceed $25,000 within the first week. A driver carrying minimum limits is, for legal purposes, "insured" — but their policy may cover only a fraction of what you're actually owed. That gap is exactly what UIM coverage is designed to close. If your own UM/UIM limits are also set at the minimum, however, the gap may remain. Understanding the interplay between the at-fault driver's limits and your own coverage is one of the first things we work through with every UM/UIM client.

The "Full Coverage" Myth — What Your Policy May Not Actually Cover

"Full coverage" is one of the most misleading phrases in the insurance industry. It is not a defined legal term. It is not a guarantee of complete protection. In most cases, it refers to a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage — and it says nothing about whether your UM/UIM limits are adequate.

 

Many drivers who believe they are fully protected discover after a crash that their UM/UIM limits are set at the state minimum, or that their coverage has gaps they were never told about when they bought the policy. If you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver and assumed your "full coverage" policy would take care of everything, we want to help you understand exactly what you have — and what you may still be able to recover.

What "Full Coverage" Typically Includes

  • Liability coverage: Pays others when you cause a crash — does not pay your own damages.
  • Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace your vehicle after a crash, regardless of fault.
  • Comprehensive coverage: Covers non-collision damage — theft, weather, fire, vandalism.
  • UM/UIM coverage: May be included, but the limits vary widely and are often set at the state minimum without the policyholder realizing it.

What "Full Coverage" Often Leaves Out

The combination above still leaves many injured drivers undercompensated after a serious crash. Medical payments coverage (MedPay), which covers your immediate treatment costs regardless of fault, is frequently excluded. Adequate UM/UIM limits — enough to cover a major injury — are rarely the default. And policy exclusions buried in the fine print can eliminate coverage in circumstances the driver never anticipated. If you're not sure what your policy actually says, an attorney can review it with you at no cost.

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There is a common misconception that a UM/UIM claim is easier than a claim against an at-fault driver's insurer — after all, it's your own policy, and you've been paying premiums for years. In practice, your insurer approaches these claims the same way it approaches any claim: as a cost to be minimized. Adjusters may dispute the severity of your injuries, question whether the at-fault driver was truly uninsured, or make an early lowball offer before the full extent of your damages is known.

 

We handle first-party UM/UIM claims regularly and understand the tactics insurers use to reduce payouts. Our job is to build the same kind of documented, evidence-backed demand we would present against any at-fault party — and to push back when your insurer falls short of what your policy requires.

How We Handle UM/UIM Claims

Every UM/UIM case we take follows the same disciplined approach:

 

  • Confirm coverage and limits. We obtain and review your full policy to identify every available source of recovery — including stacked coverage if applicable.
  • Document the at-fault driver's insurance status. We verify through official channels that the driver was uninsured or that their limits are genuinely insufficient to cover your damages.
  • Build a complete damages picture. Medical records, treatment costs, wage loss documentation, and expert input on long-term impact are assembled before any demand is made.
  • Submit a formal demand to your insurer. We present a documented claim that reflects your actual losses — not a figure designed to settle quickly.
  • Negotiate from strength. If your insurer disputes liability or undervalues the claim, we push back. If they refuse to pay what the policy requires, we are prepared to litigate.

 

Our fee structure on cases resolved without litigation is designed so that our fee never exceeds your net recovery — a commitment that applies to UM/UIM claims the same as any other case we handle.

Nevada Uninsured Driver Statistics — What the Numbers Tell You

According to the Insurance Research Council, approximately 10.6% of Nevada drivers were uninsured in the most recent reporting period — roughly one in ten vehicles on the road. Nationally, the figure is higher at 15.4%, but Nevada's rate still means that in a metro area the size of Las Vegas, tens of thousands of drivers are operating without coverage on any given day.

 

These numbers matter because they shape the risk every driver faces. A crash at a busy Henderson intersection, on the I-15, or on the 215 Beltway carries a meaningful chance that the other driver is uninsured. Knowing your own UM/UIM limits before a crash happens — and understanding how to claim against them after one — is the difference between a covered loss and an uncovered one.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Talk to a UM/UIM Lawyer — No Fee Unless We Win

  • What happens if the driver who hit me had no insurance at all?

    Your own uninsured motorist coverage steps in to cover your damages — medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses — up to your policy's UM limits. Nevada requires insurers to offer this coverage, and it attaches automatically unless you rejected it in writing when you purchased your policy.

  • What's the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?

    Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits are too low to cover your actual damages. In Nevada, these two coverages are bundled together — purchasing one means you have both.

  • Can my insurer deny my UM/UIM claim?

    Yes, and it happens more often than most people expect. Insurers may dispute whether the at-fault driver was truly uninsured, question the extent of your injuries, or argue that your damages don't reach the threshold required to trigger UIM coverage. An attorney can challenge these denials and, if necessary, litigate the claim against your own insurer.

  • Does "full coverage" mean I have adequate UM/UIM protection?

    Not necessarily. "Full coverage" is an informal term that typically refers to liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. It does not guarantee that your UM/UIM limits are sufficient to cover a serious injury. Many drivers discover after a crash that their UM/UIM limits were set at the state minimum — $25,000 per person — without their knowledge.

  • How long do I have to file a UM/UIM claim in Nevada?

    Nevada's general statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the crash, and UM/UIM claims are typically subject to the same deadline. However, your policy may contain shorter notice or claims-filing requirements. Waiting to consult an attorney can cost you coverage you're entitled to — contact us as soon as possible after the crash.