If you are hurt in Las Vegas, you do not have endless time to act. Nevada law gives you a strict window to file a personal injury claim. Once that deadline passes, you lose your right to seek money for medical bills, lost income, and pain. The clock usually starts on the date of the accident. Yet different types of claims can follow different rules. This can confuse and overwhelm you while you are trying to heal. This guide explains how long you have to file, what can shorten or extend the deadline, and what happens if you wait. It also explains special rules for crashes, falls, and injuries involving government agencies. You will see clear steps you can take today. For more help with your specific case, you can visit injuryfirm.vegas and review your options.
What Is The Statute Of Limitations In Nevada
Nevada has a law that sets strict time limits for personal injury cases. This law is called the statute of limitations. You can read the statute in Nevada Revised Statutes 11.190.
For most personal injury cases in Las Vegas, you have:
- 2 years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit for personal injury
- 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit
- 3 years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for vehicle damage only
If you miss these limits, the court will likely throw out your case. The judge may not listen to why you waited. The deadline is strict.
Common Time Limits For Las Vegas Injury Claims
The table below gives a simple view of the usual time limits. These are general rules and not a promise for every case.
| Type of claim | Typical Nevada deadline | When the clock starts
|
|---|---|---|
| Car, truck, or motorcycle injury | 2 years | Date of crash |
| Slip, trip, or fall injury | 2 years | Date of fall |
| Wrongful death | 2 years | Date of death |
| Injury on public property | 2 years for lawsuit | Date of injury, with extra notice rules |
| Property damage only from crash | 3 years | Date of crash |
| Child injury | Often extended | Usually starts when the child turns 18 |
These limits come from state law. They do not change because an insurance company is still talking to you.
Special Rules For Children And Hidden Injuries
Some injuries are clear on day one. Others stay hidden. Nevada law tries to handle both.
For children:
- The two year clock for a personal injury claim often does not start until the child turns 18
For hidden injuries:
- Nevada sometimes uses the “discovery rule”
- The clock may start when you knew or should have known that another person caused your injury
This rule can apply in cases like toxic exposure or some medical cases. It is narrow. You cannot wait simply because you hoped you would get better.
Claims Against Government Agencies
Injuries on public property or involving public workers can follow extra steps. This can include crashes with public vehicles or falls on public sidewalks.
Key points:
- You still face the usual two year lawsuit deadline
- You may also need to give written notice to the government body within a shorter time
- Notice rules can be strict and easy to miss
You can review Nevada guidance on claims against public entities in local codes and on the Nevada Attorney General complaint page. These steps do not replace the statute of limitations. They add to it.
Why Waiting Can Hurt Your Claim
The law sets time limits, but real life sets even tighter ones. Each month you wait, you risk losing proof that backs up your story.
Here is what often happens when you wait:
- Witnesses move away or forget key details
- Camera footage gets erased
- Skid marks fade and property gets repaired
- Medical records become harder to track down
Insurance companies know this. When you wait, they gain power. They may doubt your pain. They may argue that something else caused your injury.
How To Protect Your Time Limit
You can take three simple steps to guard your claim clock.
- Get medical care fast. This protects your health. It also creates proof of your injury and the date.
- Report the incident. File a crash report, incident report, or call the police when needed. Written reports mark the date and facts.
- Write down what happened. Keep a short journal of pain, limits at work, and daily struggles. This helps show how the injury changed your life.
You do not need to know every law to start these steps. You only need to act.
When The Clock Can Pause Or Change
In rare cases, Nevada law can pause or “toll” the statute of limitations. This can happen when:
- The injured person is a child
- The person is mentally unable to manage their case
- The person who caused the injury leaves Nevada for a time
These rules are narrow. Courts review them with care. You should not count on extra time unless a court has clearly applied it to your case. The safer path is to plan around the standard deadlines.
Key Takeaways For Las Vegas Injury Deadlines
You face a strict clock after an injury in Las Vegas. Nevada law usually gives you two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit and three years for a property damage only crash. Children, hidden injuries, and claims involving government bodies can change how the clock works. Yet no matter the type of claim, waiting only helps the other side.
You protect yourself when you act early. You seek medical care. You report the event. You collect proof while it is still fresh. Then you can review your rights and next steps with care. Time will not slow down for your pain. You deserve clear information and a fair chance to be heard.
