When you or a loved one suffers a personal injury in Nevada, you can file a personal injury claim for compensation. However, you have a limited amount of time to take legal action because of the Nevada personal injury statute of limitations. In Nevada, most claims have a two-year time limit. The earlier you reach out, the more time your legal team has to build your case before the clock runs out. The Nevada personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe explain these deadlines and how we can help.
What is the Nevada Personal Injury Statute of Limitations?
NRS 11.190(4)(e) sets the two-year deadline for most injury claims in Nevada. Examples of these include a Las Vegas car accident or a slip-and-fall in a Las Vegas casino. The timeline begins on the date of the accident and injury. When considering the personal injury claim process, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Medical treatment doesn’t pause the filing deadline
- Active insurance negotiations don’t extend your window to file a lawsuit
- The time limits are strictly enforced by Nevada courts.
- Nevada’s “discovery rule” delays claim start dates if injuries did not appear immediately after the accident. The discovery rule under NRS 11.190 starts the two-year period on the date you discovered your injury, not the accident.
Nevada Personal Injury Statute of Limitations For Different Types of Claims
Two years is the default under Nevada’s personal injury statute of limitations, but not every case follows that rule. Several factors can change this rule: the type of claim and who you’re filing it against. Here’s how the timeline breaks down for some of the most common claim types.
Nevada Personal Injury Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death
The same two-year rule applies to wrongful death cases, but from the date of death, not the accident. It’s not uncommon for families to write off their claim, thinking the deadline has passed when it hasn’t. Others go in assuming they have plenty of time and find out too late that they don’t. If someone survives an accident but dies weeks or months later, the deadline begins on the day of death
Product Liability
Product liability cases fall under the same two-year deadline. The discovery rule can apply here too, particularly when:
- The injury involved long-term exposure to a harmful material
- A product defect wasn’t apparent at the time of use
- Symptoms developed gradually rather than all at once
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice claims work differently. Under NRS 41A, the deadline is whichever comes first:
- Three years from the date of injury, or
- One year from the date the injury was discovered (or reasonably should have been)
That “whichever comes first” part catches many people off guard. If you knew about the malpractice early, your window may be much shorter than three years. These cases are also more complex to build, which is another reason not to wait.
Nevada Personal Injury Statute of Limitations for Government Entity Claims
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a government entity, there are additional rules involved. This includes cases like a bus accident involving an RTC transit vehicle or an injury at a Clark County park, library, or government building. Cases like these require additional steps before you initiate the claims process.
- The timeline in Nevada depends on which government entity:
- State agencies: two years
- Local government entities (cities, counties): You must file a notice of claim within 90 days of the injury under NRS 41.036
- Missing the notice deadlines can bar your claim entirely, regardless of when the accident happened
- Under NRS 41.035, damages against government defendants are capped at $200,000 per plaintiff
- That cap applies even when actual losses are far higher, which shapes how these cases are built and what recovery realistically looks like
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Meet the Nevada Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
Most people spend the months after an injury focused on getting better, not tracking legal deadlines. By the time filing feels urgent, there may be six months left. An experienced Nevada personal injury attorney can make sure that doesn’t happen and ensure that:
- Legal deadlines are met
- Evidence is gathered quickly
- You receive a fair settlement from the Insurance company
Don’t wait until the Nevada personal injury statute of limitations is about to expire to reach out for help. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more time your legal team has to build your case, gather evidence, and meet every deadline.
Contact a Nevada Personal Injury Attorney Near Me
No matter what type of injury claim you’re facing, the personal injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe are here to help. Our legal team gets results—we’ve won billions for clients nationwide and have earned hundreds of five-star reviews from satisfied clients.
Nevada’s personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury, so don’t wait to get started on your claim. Call (602) 667-7777 today. We work on contingency, so you won’t owe anything unless we recover compensation for you.
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.