Nevada Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: Is 25/50 Enough?

Nevada requires every registered vehicle to carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per crash, plus $20,000 for property damage, under NRS 485.185. That coverage pays for injuries the driver causes to other people. If you were hurt by a driver carrying only the minimum, an experienced auto accident injury lawyer in Las Vegas can help you see where the rest of your recovery may come from.

Key takeaways

• Nevada's minimum liability limits are 25/50/20: $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for all injured people in one crash, and $20,000 for property damage (NRS 485.185).
• Bodily injury liability coverage pays for injuries the insured driver causes to others. It doesn't pay the at-fault driver's own medical bills.
• Serious injuries can cost more than $25,000, so the at-fault driver's policy may not cover the full claim.
• Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and medical payments coverage can fill gaps, but only if you bought them (NRS 687B.145).
• Most injury lawsuits in Nevada must be filed within two years (NRS 11.190).

What are Nevada's minimum car insurance requirements?

Nevada requires 25/50/20 liability coverage on every motor vehicle registered or required to be registered in the state (mopeds are excluded). NRS 485.185 says the owner must "continuously provide" insurance from a company licensed in Nevada, in these amounts:

The Nevada DMV adds practical rules: the registered owner must be a named insured, the policy must be written for Nevada (out-of-state insurance isn't accepted), and proof of insurance must be in the vehicle on paper or a phone (Nevada DMV).

What does bodily injury liability coverage actually pay for?

Bodily injury liability coverage pays the injured people when the insured driver is legally responsible for a crash. The statute describes it as coverage "for the payment of tort liabilities arising from the maintenance or use of the motor vehicle."

In plain terms, if another driver causes a crash and hurts you, their bodily injury liability coverage is usually the first source of payment for your claim. That claim can include medical bills, lost income and other losses Nevada law allows an injured person to recover. The policy's terms and the facts of the crash decide what is actually paid.

It's just as important to know what this coverage doesn't do. It doesn't pay the at-fault driver's own injuries, and it doesn't repair anyone's car. Property damage liability is a separate $20,000 limit.

How do the per-person and per-crash limits work?

The per-person limit caps what any one injured person can receive, and the per-crash limit caps the total for everyone. With a minimum policy, no single person can collect more than $25,000 from that policy, and all injured people together can't collect more than $50,000.

Here's an illustration (not a real case). Three people are hurt in a crash caused by a driver with a minimum policy. Even if each person's injuries are worth far more, the policy pays no more than $50,000 in total, and no more than $25,000 to any one of them. The insurer and the claimants then have to divide a limited amount of money.

This is why the order and handling of claims after a multi-injury crash can matter. A lawyer can review how the available limits are being split before anyone signs a release.

What happens when the at-fault driver's coverage isn't enough?

When the at-fault driver's limits run out, the remaining options usually come from your own policy or from the driver personally. A hospital stay, surgery or months away from work can easily cost more than $25,000.

The main sources to check are:

• Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Under NRS 687B.145(2), Nevada insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured vehicle coverage up to your bodily injury limits. If you bought it, UIM can pay the part of your damages that is more than the at-fault driver's bodily injury coverage, up to your own UIM limits. Our guide to uninsured and underinsured motorist claims in Nevada explains how those claims work.
• Medical payments coverage. NRS 687B.145(3) requires insurers to offer at least $1,000 of coverage for reasonable and necessary medical expenses from a crash. It's optional, so check whether your policy has it.
• The at-fault driver personally. Insurance limits cap what the insurer pays, not what the driver may owe. Whether collecting more is realistic depends on that person's assets, which a lawyer can help you evaluate.
• Other responsible parties. If an employer, a vehicle owner or another driver shares fault, their insurance may also apply.

Some people only learn they declined UM/UIM coverage after a crash. Look at your declarations page now, while you still have time to change it.

Does Nevada's fault rule change how much you can recover?

Yes. Nevada uses modified comparative negligence under NRS 41.141. You can still recover if your share of fault is not greater than the fault of the people you're seeking money from, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.

If a jury finds you more at fault than the defendants combined, you recover nothing. Insurers know this rule well, and arguing fault is one way claims get reduced. Our article on insurance company tactics in Las Vegas injury claims covers what to watch for.

What if the other driver had no insurance at all?

Driving without the required insurance is illegal in Nevada, but it still happens. Under NRS 485.187, operating a vehicle without the insurance required by NRS 485.185 is a misdemeanor with a fine of $600 to $1,000 per violation. The fine can drop to $100 for a first violation if the person gets a policy by sentencing. The DMV also suspends registration and charges reinstatement fees for a lapse, with no grace period.

None of that pays your medical bills. If the at-fault driver had no insurance, your own uninsured motorist coverage is usually the main route to compensation. That's another reason to check your policy before you need it.

How long do you have to bring an injury claim in Nevada?

Most lawsuits for personal injury in Nevada must be filed within two years. NRS 11.190(4)(e) sets that limit for actions to recover damages for injuries to a person caused by another's wrongful act or neglect. Claims for damage to personal property, such as your car, generally have three years under NRS 11.190(3)(c).

Insurance policies also have their own notice and cooperation rules, and some deadlines can be shorter or longer depending on who is involved. Don't rely on the general rule alone. Talk with a lawyer about the deadline that applies to your crash.

What should you do if the other driver has only minimum coverage?

Start by finding out exactly what coverage applies, on both sides, before you accept any payment. A few steps help protect your claim:

1. Get the other driver's insurer, policy number and limits in writing. Insurers often won't share limits right away, so a lawyer may need to request them.
2. Pull your own declarations page and look for UM/UIM and medical payments coverage.
3. Notify your own insurer promptly, as your policy requires, even if you weren't at fault.
4. Keep every medical record, bill and proof of missed work, because they show whether your losses exceed the available limits.
5. Don't sign a release until you know whether a UIM claim is available. Some settlement steps can affect a later claim against your own insurer.

For the first hours and days after a collision, see our guide on what to do after a car accident in Las Vegas.

Is the state minimum enough coverage to buy?

The minimum keeps a vehicle legal to drive. Whether it's enough protection is a separate question. A minimum policy may not cover a serious injury you cause, and it does nothing for your own injuries unless you add optional coverage.

When you review your policy, consider:

• How much a serious injury could cost compared with a $25,000 per-person limit.
• Whether you carry UM/UIM coverage, and at what limits.
• Whether medical payments coverage is on the policy.

This article doesn't give insurance-buying advice. A licensed insurance agent can explain your options and prices. Our role starts when someone is injured and needs help with a claim.

Help after a crash in Las Vegas, Henderson and Spring Valley

Thomas Boley Attorney At Law represents people hurt in crashes across Las Vegas, Henderson, Spring Valley and Clark County. If the at-fault driver's insurer has offered its policy limits, or says the limits are too low to cover your losses, get advice before you accept.

For injury cases, the firm offers a free consultation and no fee unless we win. To talk about your situation, request a free consultation.

Frequently asked questions

It's shorthand for Nevada's minimum liability limits under NRS 485.185: $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for all people injured or killed in one crash, and $20,000 for property damage in one crash.

No. It pays other people when the insured driver is at fault. Your own injuries may be covered by the other driver's liability policy, your UM/UIM coverage, your medical payments coverage or your health insurance, depending on the facts.

Possibly. Your own underinsured motorist coverage may pay damages above the other driver's bodily injury limit, up to your UIM limits. The driver may also be personally responsible, though collecting depends on that person's assets.

Under NRS 41.141, you can still recover if your fault isn't greater than the defendants' fault, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If your fault is greater, you can't recover.

This article provides general information about Nevada law and is not legal advice. Reading it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its facts, so speak with a lawyer about your situation.

Sources

• NRS 485.185, minimum liability coverage (Nevada Legislature, rev. 4/15/2026): https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-485.html#NRS485Sec185
• NRS 485.187, driving without insurance; fines: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-485.html#NRS485Sec187
• NRS 687B.145(2)–(3), UM/UIM and medical payments offers: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-687B.html#NRS687BSec145
• NRS 41.141, comparative negligence: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-041.html#NRS041Sec141
• NRS 11.190, limitation of actions: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-011.html#NRS011Sec190
• Nevada DMV, Nevada Liability Insurance Requirements: https://dmv.nv.gov/insurance.htm