It's a common reaction after a crash. You were hit by someone who made a mistake. You walked away feeling okay. Maybe the other driver seemed to be struggling, and the last thing you want is to make a bad day worse for them.
That's a decent instinct. But it's usually based on two misunderstandings: who actually pays, and how quickly crash injuries show up. Before you sign anything, here's what you should know.
Feeling fine today doesn't mean you're fine
Right after a crash, your body is full of adrenaline, which can hide pain for hours or days. Many crash injuries don't show up right away:
- Whiplash and neck injuries often start as stiffness a day or two later and can get worse over the following weeks.
- Concussion symptoms like headaches, trouble concentrating, irritability or sleep problems can take days or weeks to show up.
- Back and disc injuries may start as mild soreness and turn into real pain or numbness weeks later.
That's why getting checked by a doctor after any crash is smart, even if you feel okay. And if something new shows up in the following weeks, go back and get it documented.
Once you sign a release, that's it
This is the part most people don't know. Soon after a crash, the other driver's insurance company may offer you a check, sometimes just for your car and sometimes with a little extra "for your trouble." To get it, you'll be asked to sign a release.
A release ends your claim permanently. If your neck starts hurting three weeks later, or an MRI shows a disc injury two months later, you can't reopen the claim. The insurance company knows this, which is why quick offers come early, before injuries have had time to show up.
There's no reason to rush. Nevada generally gives you two years to bring an injury claim. Take the time to make sure you really are okay before you sign anything.
In most cases, the other driver doesn't pay. Their insurance does.
Nevada requires every driver to carry liability insurance: at least $25,000 per person for injuries, $50,000 per crash, and $20,000 for property damage. That coverage exists for exactly this situation. The other driver paid premiums so that if they ever caused a crash, their insurance company would pay for it instead of them.
When you make a claim, you're dealing with an insurance company, not knocking on the other driver's door. Most claims are resolved within the policy limits, and the driver never pays anything out of their own pocket.
If the other driver had no insurance, the claim usually goes to your own uninsured motorist coverage instead. Learn more about claims against uninsured drivers.
The claim is already open
If the other driver's insurance is paying to fix your car, a claim already exists. Whatever happens to the driver's insurance rates, the crash itself caused it, not you. Making sure your full losses are covered doesn't create a new problem for them.
What a claim can cover
Depending on your situation, a claim can include:
- Medical care, starting with that first checkup and anything that comes up later
- Repairs to your car, or its value if it's totaled
- A rental car or the loss of use of your vehicle while it's in the shop
- Loss of value. A car with a crash history is often worth less, even after it's repaired.
- Time missed from work for repairs, appointments or recovery
For more on how these claims work, see our Las Vegas car accident page and what to do in the first 72 hours after being rear-ended.
Call More Money Morales before you sign
We recommend calling More Money Morales right after any collision, even if you feel fine. The call is free. If the insurance company calls you or sends you something to sign, just say: "You can talk to my lawyer, Morales Injury Law." We'll make sure nothing gets signed until you know you're okay.
Call More Money Morales at (702) 781-4848. Hablamos español.