After a crash on Reno’s streets, one question surfaces almost immediately: should I get a personal injury lawyer after a car accident? At Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers, we hear this question from Reno drivers every week, and the answer depends on the details of the collision. It is worth speaking with a lawyer when injuries, disputed fault, unclear liability, or a difficult insurance company could affect the outcome of a claim.
A Reno car accident lawyer can look closely at the facts of the crash and help protect the right to pursue compensation under Nevada law. Not every fender bender requires a lawyer, but knowing which ones do can prevent costly mistakes.
Whether someone is wondering “Should I get a personal injury lawyer after a car accident?” depends on the details. Injury severity matters, and so do the evidence available and the specific circumstances of the crash. A minor tap with no injuries and a clear at-fault party rarely calls for legal help, while a crash involving any of the following elements usually does.
Fault matters in Nevada, though being partly at fault does not automatically end a claim. Under NRS 41.141, an injured driver can still recover compensation as long as they are not more at fault than the driver they are suing. When more than one driver shares the blame, each one generally pays only their own share of the damages.
Evidence from a car accident does not last long. A security camera at a business along Kietzke Lane or South Virginia Street might record over that footage within days, and skid marks wash away with the next rainstorm. A personal injury lawyer moves fast to pull the police report and track down that footage, then follows up with witnesses while the crash is still fresh in their minds.
When the evidence is thin, a lawyer can still build a case. Accident reconstruction professionals can analyze vehicle damage and roadway conditions to establish how a crash unfolded, filling gaps a police report alone cannot close.
Nevada law gives injured drivers a limited window to file a personal injury claim. Most car accident claims must be filed within two years of the crash under NRS 11.190, and missing that deadline typically ends the right to recover compensation, regardless of how strong the case might have been.
Waiting also weakens a claim before the deadline arrives. Contacting a lawyer soon after a crash means the case moves on the client’s timeline, not the insurer’s.
A Reno car accident lawyer typically starts a case review with a plain conversation about how the crash happened, what injuries resulted, and what has already been said to the insurance company.
By the end of that conversation, an injured driver should walk away with a plan: what documentation to gather next and what to avoid saying to an insurance adjuster. Anyone still wondering whether they should get a personal injury lawyer after a car accident usually gets a direct answer once they see where the case stands.
Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers has represented injured Nevadans for more than three decades, and our team understands what it takes to build a strong car accident claim in Reno. If a crash left someone with injuries, disputed fault, or an insurance company unwilling to offer a fair outcome, waiting is not the answer. Call (775) 323-2667 today for a free consultation, and let us look closely at the case and walk through the options available under Nevada law.
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.