Personal Injury Lawyer Help in Reno, NV

Injury claims in Reno: what to know first

Reno is a community of roughly 241,445 people in Washoe County, Nevada. Like every town its size, it sees its share of car and truck crashes on local roads and nearby highways, falls in stores and apartment complexes, injuries on job sites and, too often, medical errors and fatal accidents. When those injuries are caused by someone else's carelessness, Nevada law gives victims the right to seek compensation, and the process starts with knowing the rules that apply in Washoe County.

Our role is simple: you describe what happened in Reno using the free claim review form, and your request may be shared with participating attorneys or legal services partners who handle that type of matter in Nevada. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney, and everything below is general legal information to help you make a decision, not legal advice about your specific situation.

Injury claims in Reno: key facts

Injury lawsuit deadline: two years from the injury date (NRS 11.190(4)(e))
Medical malpractice deadline: three years from the injury or two years from when it was or should have been discovered, whichever comes first, for injuries on or after October 1, 2023 (NRS 41A.097(3)); for injuries from October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2023 the discovery period is one year (NRS 41A.097(2))
Fault rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
Auto insurance system: At-fault (liability insurance pays)
Minimum auto liability: 25/50/20 (thousands: per person / per accident / property)
Where lawsuits are filed: Washoe County District Court
Tell your employer: Within 7 days
Workers' comp claim: 90 days (NRS 616C.020) — Nevada Division of Industrial Relations
Fatal crashes, 2020-2024: 102 in Reno, 104 people killed (NHTSA FARS)
Attorney fees: Injury attorneys commonly work on contingency; confirm fee terms before hiring

Which roads in Reno have the most fatal crashes?

From 2020 through 2024, federal crash records list 102 fatal crashes inside Reno, in which 104 people died. The roads with the most were McCarran Blvd (State Route 659) with 8 fatal crashes, S Virginia St with 5 and State Route 659 with 5.

Roads with the most fatal crashes in Reno, 2020-2024
Road	Fatal crashes, 2020-2024	Deaths	Latest year
McCarran Blvd (State Route 659)	8	8	2024
S Virginia St	5	5	2024
State Route 659	5	5	2023
State Route 667	5	5	2023
Military Rd	4	4	2022
Stead Blvd	3	3	2024
Ralston St	2	3	2024
4th St (State Route 647)	2	2	2024
E Peckham Ln	2	2	2024
I-580	2	2	2024

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2020-2023 Final File and 2024 Annual Report File (ARF), national data files downloaded from NHTSA on November 3, 2026. A crash counts for a road under the trafficway the reporting agency recorded, with variants of the same road name combined; roads with fewer than two fatal crashes are not listed. The 2024 figures are NHTSA's first release for that year and may change in its Final File.

The yearly count was 22 in 2020, 8 in 2021, 21 in 2022, 21 in 2023 and 30 in 2024; 60% of the crashes happened after dark. 44 involved a pedestrian, cyclist or other person outside a vehicle, and 38 happened at or near an intersection.

Across Washoe County, the same records show 244 fatal crashes and 251 people killed over those five years.

A high share of the fatal crashes in Reno involve pedestrians or cyclists. Those claims often turn on where the person was crossing or riding, the lighting and whether the driver should have seen them, so photos taken at the same time of day and any nearby camera footage matter.

Deaths by year and the same roads table: Fatal car crashes in Reno, NV: deadliest roads, 2020-2024.

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Types of injury claims in Reno

Different attorneys handle different claims, so identify the type of accident early. Reno shares its court and its Nevada rules with the rest of Washoe County; the detailed guides below, apply equally to accidents in Reno.

Nevada's two years statute of limitations

Nevada generally gives an injured person two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (NRS 11.190(4)(e)); medical malpractice is different (three years from the injury or two years from when it was or should have been discovered, whichever comes first, for injuries on or after October 1, 2023 (NRS 41A.097(3)); for injuries from October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2023 the discovery period is one year (NRS 41A.097(2))). Wrongful death claims follow their own deadline, which can differ from the one above. Claims against a city, county, school district or state agency follow separate and often much shorter deadlines. Once the deadline passes, the Washoe County District Court will dismiss the case regardless of how clear the fault was, so the practical rule in Reno is to get legal advice early.

How fault works: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)

Nevada follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar). In plain terms, you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Insurance adjusters apply this rule from the first phone call, which is why the way an accident is described and documented in the days after it happens in Washoe County has a direct effect on what a claim is worth.

Auto insurance in Nevada: an at-fault system

After a crash in Reno, the at-fault driver's liability insurance is the primary source of compensation. Nevada requires drivers to carry only 25/50/20 in coverage (thousands of dollars for bodily injury per person, per accident, and property damage), which serious injuries quickly exhaust. Underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy and claims against additional responsible parties often make the difference in Washoe County cases.

Where Reno injury cases are filed

Lawsuits arising from accidents in Reno are typically filed in the Washoe County District Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Washoe County, although cases can sometimes be filed where the defendant resides or does business, and claims against out-of-state trucking companies or manufacturers may end up in federal court. Most claims settle before trial, but the credible ability to try a case in Washoe County is what moves insurers to pay fair value.

Workplace injuries: Nevada Division of Industrial Relations

Employees injured on the job in Reno are generally covered by Nevada workers' compensation, administered through the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations. Report the injury to your employer within 7 days — that notice deadline is short and missing it can end the claim before it starts — then file the formal claim within 90 days (NRS 616C.020). Workers' compensation does not pay for pain and suffering, so when a third party such as a subcontractor, driver or equipment manufacturer caused the injury, a separate personal injury claim is often worth pursuing alongside it.

Frequently asked questions

Is there 2025 fatal crash data for Reno?

Not yet from the federal census of fatal crashes. The newest national file is NHTSA's 2024 Annual Report File, the first release for 2024, used here with the 2020-2023 Final Files; NHTSA had not published 2025 FARS data when this page was updated on November 3, 2026. FARS counts every crash on a public road in which someone died within 30 days, and a crash counts for Reno when the reporting agency coded it there. Some cities and states post newer counts on their own crash dashboards, which use their own definitions.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Reno, NV?

Generally two years from the date of injury under Nevada law (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). Medical malpractice is different: three years from the injury or two years from when it was or should have been discovered, whichever comes first, for injuries on or after October 1, 2023 (NRS 41A.097(3)); for injuries from October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2023 the discovery period is one year (NRS 41A.097(2)). Exceptions apply, so confirm your deadline with an attorney.

What is my Reno injury case worth?

Value depends on medical expenses, lost income, the severity and permanence of injuries, how clearly fault can be proven under Nevada's modified comparative negligence (51% bar) rule, and the insurance available. A free claim review request is a no-cost first step toward a realistic assessment from a participating attorney.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor accident in Washoe County?

Not always, but getting a case reviewed costs nothing, and injured people who are represented often recover more net of fees than those who are not, especially once injuries require ongoing treatment.

Is Ask Legal Matters a law firm?

No. Ask Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Requests may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Nevada, and submitting a request does not hire an attorney.

Where would my case be filed?

Most injury lawsuits from Reno are filed in the Washoe County District Court; some cases belong in other venues or federal court. An attorney will determine the right court.