After getting into a car accident I called Barbara and it was the best decision I ever made. She is amazing! I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer to represent me. She got me the best settlement to pay back my medi...
The fight with insurance companies is just as hard as fighting for your life after an accident. As long as you dont give up on yourself Barbara will fight for you. The staff at Kidwell and Gallagher were great as well. I...
These two are specialists in two related fields, personal injury and workmen’s comp. Both they and their staff were VERY responsive to me and my questions, and handled my case with patience and competence. I would,...
I feel like kidwell & Gallagher went above and beyond for me. Craig himself and his staff are so nice and helpful. I would highly recommend this law office for your workmans comp/injury needs. You will not be disappo...
The best place to go if you need good hometown lawyers. They are very informative and kept us updated on what was going to happen through out our case.
Was the best experience, we told them the problem and they took over everything, was such a relief. Always there to answer any questions and help is fast is possible.
I was at my job mountain crew changes there in the basement of kidwell and Gallagher
They weren’t able to help with my case, but they directed me to someone who could.
Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers hears this question more often than almost any other from injured Reno drivers: how long after a car accident can I claim injury? Nevada generally gives crash victims two years from the collision date to file a personal injury lawsuit, though reporting the crash and seeking medical care should happen right away. A Reno car accident lawyer can explain the difference between notifying your insurer and filing suit before that window closes.
Nevada gives most crash victims two years to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Under NRS 11.190, a lawsuit for injuries caused by someone else’s carelessness or wrongdoing must be filed within that window, covering car accident claims throughout Reno. Miss it, and a court will almost certainly dismiss the case no matter how strong the evidence looks.
The clock generally begins running on the date of the crash itself, not the date treatment ends. A driver hurt on a Tuesday in March has until that date two years later, no matter how long recovery takes.
It helps to separate two clocks running at once. Reporting the crash to your insurer only opens a conversation with an adjuster, and most policies expect that within days or weeks. A lawsuit is different: it is a formal court filing, and the same two-year deadline applies no matter what happens with insurance. Acting early on both fronts keeps every option open if a fair settlement never comes through.
A missed deadline ends a case before it starts, but damage to a claim often begins earlier. Skid marks fade, security cameras overwrite footage within days, and repair shops fix or scrap damaged vehicles within weeks, erasing evidence that could have helped the claim.
Someone who watched another driver run a red light on Virginia Street might recall it clearly a week later and barely at all a year on. Insurance adjusters know how the deadline works, and they often slow negotiations, betting you will accept less as the two-year mark approaches. Building a case early keeps that leverage on your side rather than theirs.
Yes, some injuries do not surface until days or weeks after impact, and Nevada law still allows those claims to move forward. Whiplash, soft tissue damage, and concussions frequently take time to announce themselves, sometimes only appearing after imaging or a follow-up exam.
A delay in treatment does not end a claim automatically, but insurers often use it to question whether the crash caused the injury. Gaps between the accident and the first medical visit invite that argument. Seeking care as soon as symptoms appear, and returning promptly if new symptoms develop, ties the injury back to the collision rather than to something that happened later.
Most Reno drivers only need to track one date: two years from the crash. Vehicle property damage follows a separate three-year window under that same law, so repair and injury claims can run on different timelines from the same accident.
So, how long after a car accident can I claim injury when a loved one has died? Fatal crashes change how the deadline works. When a collision takes someone’s life, Nevada law lets the deceased person’s heirs, or personal representatives (the people legally authorized to handle the estate), bring a wrongful death claim under NRS 41.085. That claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of death under NRS 11.190, not the date of the crash.
Nevada’s filing deadline will not wait for a busy schedule or a slow insurance negotiation, and once it passes, the courthouse door closes on even the strongest case. If you are still asking, “How long after a car accident can I claim injury?” the answer is simple: do not wait. Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers has represented injured Nevadans for more than three decades and knows how quickly evidence can slip away.
Call (775) 323-2667 today for a free consultation. We will look at your accident and tell you exactly where your deadline stands.
Craig W. Kidwell is the managing partner of Kidwell & Gallagher, Ltd., and exclusively represents injured workers in Nevada. Mr. Kidwell has been practicing workers’ compensation law in Nevada since 1999 and has acted as lead counsel on over 2,000 contested workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Kidwell represents injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. Craig regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and has represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Managing Partner, Craig W. Kidwell who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.