Las Vegas Car Crash? What to Do in the First 72 Hours
Frank Stucki, Esq., MBA
One minute you're merging onto I-15 near the Spaghetti Bowl. The next, your car is crumpled, your neck is stiff and your phone is already ringing with an insurance adjuster on the line. I'm Frank Stucki, Esq., MBA, and I grew up driving these roads. The first three days after a crash quietly shape everything that comes after, so here's a simple plan.
Day one: protect yourself and the scene
Your safety comes first, especially on a freeway shoulder. Once you're safe:
- Stop, stay and exchange information. Nevada requires it after an injury crash.
- Photograph the cars where they landed, the damage, skid marks, the nearest exit sign and the other driver's plate and insurance card.
- Get names and numbers from anyone who stopped. On the Strip corridor, many witnesses are visitors who will be home in another state within days.
- Ask the officer for the report number before you leave. Nevada also has DMV reporting rules for some crashes, so ask whether one applies to you.
Days one and two: get checked out
Adrenaline masks pain. Neck, back and head injuries often show up the next morning. See urgent care, your doctor or the ER, and tell them when the crash happened. A prompt visit protects your health, and it creates a record that links your symptoms to the crash. Insurers look hard at any gap before treatment starts.
Days two and three: be careful what you say
- Report the crash to your own insurer with basic facts. Your policy likely requires cooperation.
- Before giving the other driver's insurer a recorded statement, talk to a lawyer.
- Don't guess about speeds, distances or how badly you're hurt.
- Stay off social media about the crash. Adjusters read it.
Evidence that disappears first
Business surveillance video along streets like Charleston and Tropicana may be recorded over on a regular cycle. Dashcam clips, vehicle data and your own memory fade too. Write down what happened tonight, while it's fresh.
And if you think you were partly at fault, don't write off your claim. Nevada can allow a reduced recovery when fault is shared.
Filing deadlines apply to every injury claim, and some are shorter than people expect. Ask early, while the evidence is still there.
Read the full guide: https://bornandraisedlaw.com/articles/first-72-hours-after-crash-las-vegas
Call 702.702.2676
Frank Stucki, Esq., MBA
This article provides general legal information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
By Frank Stucki
Frank is a trial attorney licensed in Nevada, Washington, and Utah, handling personal injury, institutional abuse, and catastrophic injury cases. California and other states are handled with local co-counsel.