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Founding Member & Managing Partner at Gina Corena & Associates
Practice Areas: Personal Injury
Picking car insurance in Nevada usually comes down to one line on the quote: full coverage or liability-only. The gap between them is small on paper and huge after a crash. Full coverage vs. liability-only insurance in Nevada decides who pays to fix your car and treat your injuries, not just the other driver’s.
Here is the part that surprises people. You can carry the exact policy the state requires and still be told your own damaged car is not covered. Whether that is you depends on which box you checked.
Liability-only insurance pays for injuries and property damage you cause to other people, up to your policy limits, and nothing for yourself. Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive coverage for your own vehicle, and it usually bundles in medical payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
As the Nevada Division of Insurance explains, liability protects you only if you are the one who is liable.
Nevada is an at-fault state, which means the driver who caused the crash is generally responsible for the damages. In most cases, compensation comes from that driver’s liability insurance.
The problem is that not every driver carries enough coverage to pay for a serious accident. If the available insurance falls short, your own coverage may make the difference between recovering your losses and paying part of the costs yourself.
Liability-only insurance pays for the other person’s losses when you cause a crash. It can cover their medical bills, lost income, and damage to their vehicle or other property. It does not pay for your own injuries or repairs to your own car.
Nevada requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/20 in liability coverage: $25,000 for injuries to one person, $50,000 for injuries to two or more people, and $20,000 for property damage. These are minimum limits, and many drivers choose higher coverage.
Driving without liability insurance is not an option in Nevada. A lapse in coverage can lead to fines, reinstatement fees, and other penalties, including an SR-22 requirement in some cases.
“Full coverage” is not a term you will find in any Nevada statute. It is shorthand for stacking optional coverages on top of the required liability.
On a Nevada policy, that usually means:
Insurance companies transacting motor vehicle insurance in this State must offer uninsured and underinsured vehicle coverage in an amount equal to the limits of coverage for bodily injury sold to an insured.
Did you sign something declining it? Check, because that one choice often decides a claim.
The type of insurance you carry can make a big difference after a crash.
If you cause the accident, liability-only insurance pays for the other driver’s losses, but it does not cover damage to your own vehicle. Collision coverage can help pay to repair or replace your car, subject to your deductible.
If another driver causes the crash, you would typically file a claim against their liability insurance. If they have little or no insurance, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may help cover your losses.
|
Who or what is hurt |
Liability-only |
Full coverage |
| Other person’s injuries | Covered (to limits) | Covered (to limits) |
| Other person’s property | Covered (to limits) | Covered (to limits) |
| Your own vehicle | Not covered | Collision / comprehensive |
| You and your passengers | Not covered | MedPay / UM/UIM |
| Hit by an uninsured driver | Not covered | UM/UIM |
Now flip it. An uninsured driver runs a red light and injures you, with bills of nearly $40,000. Liability-only recovers nothing from your own policy, but uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage would step in (roughly one in ten Nevada drivers carries none, so this is not rare).
Sorting out which policy pays first is where a Las Vegas car accident lawyer earns the fee.
No. Nevada only requires liability insurance with a minimum of 25/50/20. Collision, comprehensive, MedPay, and UM/UIM are optional, though a lender usually requires collision and comprehensive while you finance the car.
No. Liability insurance pays for the other person’s injuries and property damage if you cause a crash. Damage to your own vehicle is generally covered only if you have collision coverage.
Liability-only insurance does not cover your own injuries or vehicle. If the other driver has no insurance, you may have to rely on uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, if you purchased it.
No. “Full coverage” is a common insurance term, not a legal one. It usually means a policy includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, but the coverages and limits can vary from one policy to another.
The type of insurance involved can affect who pays, what is covered, and what options you have after a crash. Understanding your own policy is just as important as understanding the other driver’s coverage.
If you were injured in a Nevada car accident and have questions about insurance or your claim, Gina Corena & Associates offers free consultations. We can review the available coverage, explain your options, and help you determine the next steps.
As founder of Gina Corena & Associates, she is dedicated to fighting for the rights of the people who suffer life-changing personal injuries in car, truck and motorcycle accidents as well as other types of personal injury. Gina feels fortunate to serve the Nevada community and hold wrongdoers accountable for their harm to her clients.
