In This Article
In Nevada, the clock starts running the moment you are injured. Under NRS 11.190(4)(e), most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury. This covers car accidents, slip and falls, most premises cases, and many other injury claims. Miss the deadline and a court will almost certainly dismiss your case, no matter how strong the underlying facts are.
The General Rule: Two Years
Two years can feel like plenty of time, but it disappears quickly when you are focused on recovering, fighting with insurers, and trying to get back to work. Evidence fades just as fast: witnesses relocate, surveillance footage is overwritten on a 30-day loop, and memories blur. The practical deadline to start building a strong case is far earlier than the legal deadline to file it.
Claims Against Government Entities Move Faster
If your injury involves a government entity — an RTC bus in Las Vegas, a city vehicle, a hazard on a state road, or a fall in a public building — different and shorter timelines apply under the Nevada Tort Claims Act (NRS Chapter 41). Notice requirements and filing windows are strict, and a defective or late notice can bar your claim entirely. Because so many Nevada incidents involve some government component, it is dangerous to assume you have the full two years.
The Discovery Rule and Other Exceptions
Nevada recognizes a discovery rule that can delay when the clock starts. Where an injury is not immediately apparent — a surgical error or a slow-developing condition — the two years may begin when you knew or reasonably should have known of the injury and its cause. For minors, the deadline is generally tolled until adulthood. These exceptions are fact-specific and aggressively disputed by insurers, so they should never be relied on without legal guidance.
Why Acting Early Protects Your Claim
Beyond the deadlines, early action preserves the evidence that wins cases. An attorney can send litigation-hold letters so a trucking company cannot quietly delete electronic logs, secure casino or storefront surveillance before it loops, and document a hazard before it is repaired. The sooner the investigation starts, the stronger your position at the negotiating table.