Speeding ranks among the most preventable causes of serious car accidents across Nevada, yet many drivers never consider how quickly a heavy foot on the accelerator can cross the line from a traffic fine into a criminal offense.
Understanding what is felony speeding matters far beyond the driver facing charges, for anyone hurt in a high-speed collision, whether a driver faces criminal charges can directly affect the strength of an injury claim. At Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers, our car accident lawyers represent victims of dangerous driving throughout Nevada and want you to understand your rights when another person’s recklessness puts your life at risk.
Most everyday speeding violations in Nevada fall under minor traffic violations, meaning they carry fines and demerit points rather than criminal penalties. However, under NRS 484B.600, Nevada law draws a firm line: driving 30 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit qualifies as a misdemeanor criminal offense. The statute also prohibits any speed greater than 80 mph, regardless of the posted limit. When a driver’s reckless conduct directly causes serious injury or death, the offense escalates to a category B felony, one of Nevada’s most serious criminal charges.
Many drivers go outside every day and never ask themselves What is felony speeding? and how it applies to their situation. Under NRS 484B.653(9), a convicted driver faces the following penalties:
A driver found guilty of felony-level reckless conduct has already had their dangerous behavior established in a court of law, creating a powerful foundation for pursuing full compensation. For a deeper look at the specific speed thresholds that trigger these charges, our blog How Much Over the Speed Limit is a Felony? explores exactly where the law draws the line.
Nevada operates as a fault-based state for car accidents, meaning the driver responsible for causing a collision bears financial responsibility for resulting injuries and losses. When excessive speed contributed to a crash, the legal consequences for the at-fault driver extend well beyond criminal court.
When a driver receives a citation or conviction under NRS 484B.600 for exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph or more, Nevada law treats the violation itself as evidence that the driver failed to operate their vehicle safely. This legal concept, known as negligence per se, means an injury victim does not need to separately prove the driver behaved carelessly. Higher speeds also correlate directly with greater force of impact, more severe injuries, and larger recoverable damages.
The most devastating car accidents in Nevada often involve drivers pushing well beyond the speed of traffic. When a felony-level speed causes catastrophic harm, including spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or wrongful death, victims and surviving family members deserve full compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
A felony conviction or even an arrest for reckless high-speed driving creates a direct link between the driver’s criminal conduct and the harm suffered. In Nevada, injured victims can still recover compensation under comparative fault rules if the other driver is more responsible for the collision. Families suffering a fatal high-speed crash can also file wrongful death claims to hold the responsible driver accountable for their loss.
Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers fight for people injured by reckless and dangerous drivers throughout Nevada. Our team understands how to connect a driver’s criminal speeding conduct to the full value of your injury claim, gathering evidence, working with accident reconstruction professionals, and standing up to insurance companies determined to minimize what victims deserve.
We offer a free consultation to every injury victim we speak with, so you can understand your legal options without any financial risk or obligation. Contact Kidwell & Gallagher Injury Lawyers today and let our team fight for the compensation you deserve. Call (775) 323-2667.
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.