Nevada car accident claim words, explained from A to Z

Last updated October 18, 2026.

After a Nevada crash you will hear words like UM, UIM, SR-1, proof of loss, lien, subrogation, release and trial de novo, often in the same week. Most come from a specific Nevada statute, regulation or court rule, and the exact meaning there is what controls your Las Vegas car accident claim. This glossary defines each term in plain English, cites its source, and points to the page that covers it in depth.

Adjusters, doctors' billing offices and court clerks all use shorthand. When a letter says the insurer is "awaiting a properly executed proof of loss" or a hospital "has perfected its lien," the words have legal consequences. Knowing what they mean helps you spot what is being asked of you and which deadline might be running.

Where do these words come up, step by step?

The terms tend to arrive in the same order as the claim itself.

At the scene and the first 10 days: crash report, SR-1, financial responsibility, hit-and-run.
Opening insurance claims: first-party and third-party claimant, notice of claim, policy limits, declarations page, UM, UIM, medical payments.
While you treat: health care records, hospital lien, Medicaid lien, subrogation.
Negotiation: proof of loss, total loss, comparative fault, demand, release.
If a lawsuit is filed in Clark County: complaint, early case conference, court-annexed arbitration, trial de novo, short trial, offer of judgment, costs.
At the end: settlement statement, trust account, attorney's lien, minor's compromise.

The terms at a glance, by stage of the claim

Term	Stage	Short meaning	Source
SR-1 (DMV crash report)	First 10 days	Driver's own report to the DMV for injury, death or $750 or more in damage	NRS 484E.070
Minimum liability limits	Insurance	$25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, $20,000 property	NRS 485.185
UM (uninsured motorist)	Insurance	Your coverage when the at-fault vehicle is uninsured or a hit-and-run	NRS 690B.020
UIM (underinsured motorist)	Insurance	Your coverage for injury damages above the other driver's limit	NRS 687B.145(2)
Medical payments	Insurance	Optional coverage for crash medical bills; at least $1,000 must be offered	NRS 687B.145(3)
First-party / third-party claimant	Insurance	Claiming on your own policy, or against someone else's	NAC 686A.625, 686A.650
Proof of loss	Negotiation	The documents that start your own insurer's 30-working-day decision clock	NAC 686A.675(1)
Total loss	Negotiation	A car not worth repairing; valued by set methods	NAC 686A.680
Comparative fault	Negotiation and trial	Your share of fault reduces your recovery and bars it if greater than the defendants'	NRS 41.141
Hospital lien	Medical bills	A hospital's claim on your settlement for the reasonable value of care	NRS 108.590
Subrogation	Medical bills	A payer stepping into your shoes to recover what it paid	NRS 422.293; 616C.215; 690B.020(5)
Release	Settlement	The document that ends your claim against those it names	NRS 17.245
Early case conference	Lawsuit	Required meeting of the parties within 30 days after the first answer	NRCP 16.1(b)
Court-annexed arbitration	Lawsuit	Mandatory, nonbinding hearing for cases up to $100,000 per plaintiff	NAR 1, 16
Short trial	Lawsuit	Fast-track trial with time limits and a small jury	NSTR 21, 22
Offer of judgment	Lawsuit	A formal offer that shifts costs if rejected and not beaten	NRS 17.117; NRCP 68
Punitive damages	Lawsuit	Damages to punish oppression, fraud, malice, or impaired driving	NRS 42.005, 42.010
Statute of limitations	Throughout	Generally 2 years for injury or death, 3 years for property	NRS 11.190

Words at the scene and in the first days

Crash report. The police report written by the officer who investigated, usually LVMPD inside Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County. See which agency handles your crash and how to get the report.

SR-1. The driver's own crash report to the Nevada DMV, due within 10 days when a crash causes injury, death or apparent damage of $750 or more to any vehicle or property (NRS 484E.070(2)). It is not required if a police officer investigated and the officer's report lists each person's insurer, policy number and coverage dates (NRS 484E.070(3)). The report itself cannot be used as evidence in a trial arising from the crash (NRS 484E.070(7)). Details are on our page about filing an SR-1 with the Nevada DMV.

Hit-and-run vehicle. For UM purposes, a vehicle whose owner or driver is unknown or cannot be found, if there was physical contact and the crash was reported to police within the required time (NRS 690B.020(3)(f)).

Insurance words

Policy limits. The most a policy will pay. Nevada's minimum liability limits are $25,000 for one person's injury or death, $50,000 for two or more people, and $20,000 for property in one crash (NRS 485.185). Read what the 25/50/20 minimum pays.

Declarations page. The summary page of a policy that lists the named insureds, vehicles, coverages and limits. It is not a statutory term, but it is the first page to ask for.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Coverage in your own policy for injuries caused by an uninsured or hit-and-run vehicle. Nevada auto liability policies must include it unless a named insured rejects it in writing on the insurer's form, and the limit must be at least the minimum bodily injury limit (NRS 690B.020(1), (2)). A vehicle also counts as uninsured if its insurer denies coverage or is insolvent (NRS 690B.020(3)(c)). See being hit by a driver with no insurance.

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Coverage that pays the bodily injury damages you are legally entitled to recover above the other driver's limit, up to your own limit (NRS 687B.145(2)). Insurers must offer it; you choose whether to buy it. Our page on underinsured motorist claims walks through one.

Medical payments coverage. Optional coverage for reasonable and necessary medical expenses from a crash. Insurers must offer at least $1,000 of it for passenger cars and motorcycles (NRS 687B.145(3)).

First-party and third-party claimant. A first-party claimant claims under his or her own policy (NAC 686A.625). A third-party claimant claims against someone else's insured (NAC 686A.650). Which one you are decides which deadlines and duties apply; see whether you owe the other insurer a recorded statement.

Notice of claim. Any notice, written or not, that reasonably tells the insurer the facts of a claim (NAC 686A.645). It starts the insurer's 20-working-day acknowledgment clock (NAC 686A.665(1)).

Unfair claims practice. Conduct listed in NRS 686A.310, such as misrepresenting policy terms, failing to settle promptly once liability is reasonably clear, or advising a claimant not to seek counsel. Complaints go to the Nevada Division of Insurance.

Claim and settlement words

Proof of loss. The documents your own insurer needs to decide your claim. Within 30 working days after receiving properly executed proofs of loss, the insurer must accept or deny, and it must pay an accepted claim within 30 days (NAC 686A.675(1)). Our page on how long an insurer has to respond lists every deadline.

Total loss. A vehicle the insurer will not repair. Nevada requires either a comparable replacement car or a cash settlement based on comparable vehicles, dealer quotes or a qualifying valuation source, with deductions itemized in writing (NAC 686A.680(1), (2)). See how a totaled car must be valued.

Comparative fault (comparative negligence). Nevada's rule that your own negligence does not bar recovery unless it is greater than the negligence of the defendants, and that the jury states each party's percentage (NRS 41.141(1), (2)). Each defendant is generally liable only for its own share (NRS 41.141(4)). Our article on comparative fault in Nevada gives the basics.

Demand. A written request to the insurer for a specific amount, usually with records and bills. It is a practical term, not a statutory one.

Release. The document you sign to settle. A good-faith release of one person does not discharge others liable for the same injury unless its terms say so, and it reduces the claim against them by the amount paid or stated, whichever is greater (NRS 17.245(1)(a)). Read what a fast settlement release gives up.

Wrongful death claim. A claim by the heirs and the personal representative when a death is caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another (NRS 41.085(2)). See who can bring a wrongful death claim.

Medical bill and lien words

Health care records. Reports, notes, orders, images and other data about your history, diagnosis or treatment (NRS 629.021); for copy requests, billing statements and ledgers count too (NRS 629.061(10)(b)). See how to get your records and bills.

Hospital lien. A hospital's claim on your judgment or settlement for the reasonable value of care before the settlement (NRS 108.590). It must be recorded and served to be perfected (NRS 108.610) and is capped at 55 percent of billed charges when you may be eligible for a public program (NRS 108.655). Our page on hospital liens has the details.

Subrogation. A payer's right to step into your shoes and recover what it paid. The Nevada Health Authority is subrogated for Medicaid costs (NRS 422.293), a workers' compensation insurer for its benefits (NRS 616C.215(2)), and a UM insurer to the extent it paid (NRS 690B.020(5)). A UIM insurer has no subrogation against the underinsured driver (NRS 687B.145(4)). See Medicaid repayment from a settlement.

Attorney's lien. An attorney's lien on the claim and its proceeds for the agreed fee, perfected by written notice (NRS 18.015).

Court words

Complaint and answer. The papers that start a lawsuit and respond to it. In Clark County, injury cases over $15,000 go to the Eighth Judicial District Court, since justice courts hear claims up to that amount (NRS 4.370(1)(b)). See what happens after a lawsuit is filed.

Early case conference. A required meeting of the parties, held within 30 days after the first defendant serves an answer, to plan discovery (NRCP 16.1(b)(2)(A)). Cases in the arbitration or short trial programs are among the exceptions (NRCP 16.1(b)(1)). When personal injury is in issue, each party's initial disclosures must identify relevant medical providers, and each party must compute the damages it claims (NRCP 16.1(a)(1)(A)(iii), (iv)).

Court-annexed arbitration. A mandatory, nonbinding program for certain civil cases in larger counties (NAR 1). The award cannot exceed $100,000 per plaintiff, not counting fees, interest and costs (NAR 16(b)).

Trial de novo. A new trial after an arbitration award, requested within 30 days; the deadline is jurisdictional (NAR 18(a), (b)). Our page on arbitration and short trials in Clark County explains both.

Short trial. A fast-track trial in which each side has 3.5 hours unless the parties agree to a different time and the judge approves it, with a jury of four, six or eight (NSTR 21, 22).

Offer of judgment. A written offer served more than 21 days before trial; if it is rejected and the rejecting side fails to obtain a more favorable judgment, the rejecting side pays the offeror's post-offer costs and any allowed attorney fees (NRS 17.117; NRCP 68). See what a lawsuit costs in Clark County.

Costs. The expense items listed in NRS 18.005, such as clerk's fees, reporters, and up to five experts at up to $15,000 each.

Contingent fee. A fee that depends on the outcome, set by a signed written agreement that must state the percentage and how expenses are handled (RPC 1.5(c)). A client may be liable for the opposing parties' fees and costs.

Punitive damages. Damages to punish, available on clear and convincing proof of oppression, fraud or malice, generally capped at three times compensatory damages of $100,000 or more, or $300,000 otherwise (NRS 42.005(1)). A separate rule applies to impaired drivers (NRS 42.010); see punitive damages against a drunk driver.

Statute of limitations. The deadline to sue: generally 2 years for injury or death and 3 years for damage to property (NRS 11.190(4)(e), (3)(c)). Claims against the State or a local government must be filed with the right office within 2 years and are capped at $200,000 per claimant (NRS 41.036, 41.035). See every Nevada car accident deadline.

Minor's compromise. Court approval of a child's settlement, required before it takes effect (NRS 41.200(1)). Read court approval of a child's settlement.

What changes the answer

The policy wording. Statutes set floors, but your policy may define a term more broadly. Read definitions sections closely; for example, a provision limiting benefits across more than one policy must be in clear language and prominently displayed (NRS 687B.145(1)).
Whose policy it is. "Claimant" means different duties for first-party and third-party claimants (NAC 686A.625, 686A.650).
The vehicle. For-hire interstate trucks of 10,001 pounds or more hauling nonhazardous property must carry at least $750,000 under federal rules (49 CFR 387.9), far above Nevada's car minimum; see how much insurance a semi truck must carry.
The defendant. A government driver changes the cap and the claim office (NRS 41.035, 41.036).
The court. Arbitration and short trial terms apply only once a case is filed and assigned to those programs (NAR 3; NSTR).

For example: reading one letter from an adjuster

Imagine a driver named Jordan, hit at Sahara Avenue and Valley View Boulevard. Three weeks later a letter arrives from his own insurer: "We acknowledge your UIM notice. Upon receipt of a properly executed proof of loss we will evaluate the claim. Please note the tortfeasor's carrier has tendered policy limits of $25,000." Everything here is hypothetical.

Translated: Jordan's company has his underinsured motorist notice (NRS 687B.145(2)). Once he sends complete records, bills and wage proof, the 30-working-day decision clock starts (NAC 686A.675(1)). The at-fault driver's insurer has offered its full $25,000 limit, the Nevada minimum (NRS 485.185). Before Jordan signs the at-fault driver's release, he checks his policy for a consent-to-settle term, because the release ends his claim against that driver (NRS 17.245).

Common mistakes with claim terminology

Mixing up UM and UIM. UM is for no insurance or hit-and-run; UIM is for not enough insurance.
Thinking the police report is the SR-1. They are different documents, and the SR-1 deadline is 10 days.
Treating "tender" or "offer" as a deadline. An insurer may not tell a third-party claimant that rights will be impaired if a release is not signed within a given time, except to point out a statute of limitations (NAC 686A.675(6)).
Assuming "lien" means you owe the full bill. Hospital and workers' comp liens have statutory limits.
Ignoring "offer of judgment" papers. They carry a 14-day window and real cost consequences.

What to do this week

Pull out every insurance letter and circle any term you do not recognize.
Look each one up here and note the statute or rule.
Ask for your full policy and declarations page so you can read the policy's own definitions.
Write down every deadline the letters mention, and the 2-year injury deadline.
Keep a list of questions for a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

What does "tortfeasor" mean?

The person whose wrongful act or negligence caused the injury. Nevada's release statute uses it for people "liable in tort for the same injury" (NRS 17.245).

What is "bad faith"?

Adjusters and lawyers use it for an insurer's unreasonable handling of a claim by its own insured. Nevada lists unfair claims practices in NRS 686A.310 and makes an insurer liable to its insured for damages they cause.

Is "comparative negligence" the same as "comparative fault"?

People use them interchangeably. Nevada's statute speaks of comparative negligence (NRS 41.141).

What does "perfected" mean for a lien?

That the lienholder has done what the statute requires to make it enforceable. For a hospital, that means recording a notice and serving it by certified or registered mail before settlement (NRS 108.610).

Where can I find all the numbers in one place?

Our page on Nevada car accident law in 15 numbers lists the key figures with their statutes.

Where are Clark County injury lawsuits heard?

Most are heard at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas; see what to expect at the Regional Justice Center.

If a word in an insurance letter or court paper has you worried, attorney Maysoun Fletcher can explain what it means for your claim. Call 702-333-6339 for a free consultation; we answer 24/7.