Strategies, Challenges, and Answers

What The Heck Is An Automobile Operator’s Insurance Policy?

The State of Nevada compels automobile drivers to have insurance.  You can learn more about Nevada’s Compulsory Insurance Law HERE. There are two ways to satisfy the compulsory insurance requirement. Most people are familiar with the Nevada law that requires the OWNER of a motor vehicle to continuously maintain insurance.  This “Owner’s” coverage is the type of insurance that most people are familiar with. However, Nevada law allows for an alternative way to satisfy the compulsory … [Read more...]

Nevada’s Auto Liability Compulsory Insurance Minimums To Increase

I have been practicing law in Nevada for nearly 30 years. For as long as I can remember, Nevada has required autos registered in this state to have bodily injury automobile liability insurance of at least $15,000 per person / $30,000 per occurrence.  The minimum automobile liability limit for property damages has been set at $10,000 per occurrence.  NRS 485.185 and NRS 485.3091. That is due to change on July 1, 2018. An increase in the minimum limits is set to take effect.  On that date, the … [Read more...]

Nevada Court Interprets California Family’s Auto Policy Using California Law Following Nevada Accident

Nevada often follows the lead of California when it comes to interpreting the law. But there are times when the law of the two states is irreconcilable. Take the case of Mr. and Mrs. Sotirakis for example. Mr. and Mrs. Sotirakis lived in California. They owned a home in California. They garaged and registered their cars there. The Sotirakis family bought their insurance from USAA. USAA issued the Sotirakis family its auto policy in California. As many Californians are prone to do, Mr. and … [Read more...]

Nevada’s Compulsory Auto Insurance Law and Nevada’s Financial Responsibility Law Working Hand In Hand

In the area of Nevada automobile insurance coverage, there are regular references to the Nevada’s Compulsory Automobile Insurance Law, N.R.S. 485.185 - 485.187, and its Financial Responsibility Law, N.R.S. 485.190 – 485.420.  In answering coverage questions, it is important to understand the purpose of each of these laws and to differentiate between the effects of that these laws have.  The case of State of Nev., Dep’t of Motor Vehicles v. Lawlor, 101 Nev. 616, 707 P.2d 1140 (1985) does a good … [Read more...]

The Nevada Supreme Court Reconciles Conflicts Between Nevada’s UM/UIM Law And An “Owned But Uninsured” Exclusion

In an earlier post HERE, we explained how the Nevada Supreme Court reconciled the conflict it found between Nevada’s Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance Law, NRS 485.185, and an auto policy’s household exclusion.  A few years later, the Nevada Supreme Court encountered the same type of conflict in a Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist setting. Like liability coverage, Nevada UM/UIM coverage has a compulsory element as well.  As we explained in an earlier POST, Nevada auto insurance … [Read more...]