Anyone in Nevada can be involved in a personal injury case. Maybe you sustained injuries in a car accident, workplace accident, or due to a property owner’s negligence. Whatever the situation, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit and recover compensation from the at-fault party.
If you’re in this position, you need to understand that Nevada law limits how long an injured individual has to pursue legal action. In this guide, we’ll explore Nevada’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases and the situations where the deadline can be extended.
What Is a Personal Injury Case?
Before we discuss the statute of limitations in Nevada, we need to understand the nature of a personal injury lawsuit.
Personal injuries refer to physical, psychological, and emotional harm inflicted on a victim due to someone else’s negligence or misconduct. Common personal injury cases include:
- Auto accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home negligence
- Police brutality
- Defective drugs and medical devices
- Premises liability cases
- Sexual abuse and harassment
- Workplace injuries
- Wrongful termination
When you file a personal injury lawsuit in Nevada, you can seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future care needs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
What Is the Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in Nevada?
Generally, Nevada law gives you two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. For example, if you were injured in a car accident on July 1, 2026, you need to file your suit before July 1, 2028.
This two-year time limit applies to most personal injury cases. If the deadline passes before you file your lawsuit, it may be dismissed even when there is strong evidence to support your case.
Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations
There are certain circumstances where Nevada law allows you more time to file your lawsuit. They include:
Nevada’s discovery rule
In some cases, an injured person may not realize that they’ve been hurt until later on. For example:
- A patient receives a medical device that appears to work properly at first but later fails, causing them harm. In such situations, they may not discover the defect until the symptoms develop.
- A worker is exposed to toxic chemicals in their workplace and develops a respiratory illness years later. The worker could not have known about the injury when the exposure happened.
- A doctor misreads test results, causing a serious illness to go untreated. The patient only discovers the error years later, after they seek a second opinion.
In situations where the victim is unaware that they’ve been harmed, the statute of limitations may begin to run after they discover, or should have discovered, the injury.
- Minors. In many personal injury cases involving a minor, the statute of limitations may be paused until the child turns 18, depending on the type of case. After that, the applicable filing deadline generally begins to run.
- Mental incapacity. Nevada law protects individuals who are legally disabled. For instance, a person with a mental illness may lack the capacity to pursue a lawsuit and make sound legal decisions. As a result, the deadline does not run out while their condition lasts. Instead, the statute of limitations may pause during this period.
The defendant is not in Nevada
If the at-fault party has left Nevada, the statute of limitations may pause while they’re out of state. The purpose of this tolling rule is to prevent defendants from leaving the state just to avoid responsibility for their actions.
What Happens If You Miss the Filing Deadline
Once the statute of limitations expires, the injured party generally loses their right to pursue compensation through the courts.
In most instances, courts will uphold these deadlines and dismiss the case, regardless of the severity of the injuries or the strength of the evidence in your case. When an injured victim fails to file their lawsuit on time, their medical bills, lost income, and other damages may become their responsibility.
Nevada Pre-Settlement Funding Offers Financial Support Before Your Case Is Resolved
When you suffer harm due to someone else’s negligence, you probably hope for speedy compensation. However, the reality is that it can take months or years to obtain a fair settlement. In the meantime, plaintiffs need funds to cover medical bills, lost wages, daily expenses, and other injury-related costs. This is where Nevada pre-settlement funding comes in.
Pre-settlement funding is a financial product that allows plaintiffs with pending lawsuits to access upfront cash. Here are some notable features of lawsuit funding in Nevada:
- It is a non-recourse loan. This means the funds are only repaid if your lawsuit results in a settlement. If you lose, you won’t repay your legal funding.
- It is repaid from your settlement. While your lawsuit is in progress, you’re not required to repay pre-settlement funding. Instead, the amount you owe is deducted from your settlement proceeds once your case is resolved.
- You do not need a good credit score or an income to qualify. Unlike traditional loans, approval for litigation funding is not based on your credit rating or employment status. You may qualify for Nevada lawsuit funding if you have a strong case and are working with an attorney.
Contact High Rise Financial Today for Nevada Pre-Settlement Funding
Understanding Nevada’s statute of limitations is an important part of protecting your right to seek fair compensation. Waiting too long to take legal action can prevent you from pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to. That’s why it’s important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.
At High Rise Financial, we understand that lawsuits often take longer than expected. That’s why we offer plaintiffs in Nevada pre-settlement funding while their cases are still pending. Our upfront funding does not require credit checks, application fees, monthly payments, or repayment if you lose your case. Contact us today to learn more about legal funding in Nevada.