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No Pay, No Play Laws In Nevada

A bill was passed by the Nevada Assembly in April 2016 that could have a significant impact on Nevada drivers, particularly uninsured motorists. Lawmakers claim that the No Pay, No Play laws will encourage uninsured drivers to get insurance while lowering insurance rates in the state. Critics believe that the laws unfairly target minority and poor drivers.

What Is No Pay, No Play?

The No Pay, No Play laws target drivers who were breaking the law when they were involved in an accident and sustained injuries – even if they were not at fault. This includes driving while intoxicated and driving without insurance. It limits the amount of compensation they are entitled to after financial damages such as property and medical costs. They would not be able to collect on other types of payouts like pain and suffering.

There are exceptions to the measure. Hit and run crashes, drunk driving, and wrongful death claims are not included. Additionally, people who have expired insurance are given a 45-day window to correct it. This makes the law a little more palatable for some of the critics that claim it is too harsh and punishes certain groups.

No Pay, No Play In Other States

The majority of states incur harsh penalties for motorists who are caught driving without insurance. If they are involved in an accident, those penalties are often increased. States that have adopted the No Pay, No Play laws up the ante by imposing even more penalties on uninsured motorists if they are involved in an accident. The number of uninsured motorists has decreased in these states and it is attributed to the adoption of the No Pay, No Play laws.
 

states with blue on chosen states

There are 11 states that have passed No Pay, No Play laws.

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon

While some aspects of the law may vary from state to state, the basis is the same. Oklahoma was a No Pay, No Play state, but in 2014, it was overturned. The Oklahoma Supreme Court found the law to be unconstitutional. The reasoning was by denying uninsured accident victims the ability to collect on pain and suffering, thus requiring them to be given special treatment. The court ruled that this created a special class and that was a violation of Oklahoma’s Constitution.

What Does This Mean To Nevada Drivers?

If you are an uninsured driver in Nevada and are in an accident you could lose out on certain types of compensation that you would otherwise be entitled to pursue. If the No Pay, No Play laws are passed in Nevada then it would be in your best interest to get insurance – even if it is only the minimum that the state requires. The long term perk to this is that insurance costs will decrease, based on the drop in insurance rates in other states that have passed the laws. Still, even with no drop in insurance rates, if you are a driver in Nevada you are required by law to carry at the very least liability insurance.

What If I Have More Questions?

If you have been injured in an accident, you need to know your rights. A personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and help you get what you deserve. At Eric A. Stovall, Attorney at Law, we care about you. Call us and make an appointment for a free consultation to discuss how we can help you. Let us handle the insurance companies and courts while you work on your recovery. We care and we are here to help.