Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer
When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel drunk, Nevada law treats it as more than an accident — and it can open the door to punitive damages most crash victims never know exist. We build that argument from day one, pursuing every dollar beyond your medical bills the law allows, and you pay nothing unless we win.
A drunk driving accident claim in Las Vegas can recover more than a standard car accident claim. When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel impaired, Nevada law lets victims pursue punitive damages — money on top of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Most crash victims never learn this option exists. Their insurers are counting on that.
You were hit. You didn't choose any of this — the driver did. Now their insurance company is making its own choice: to close your file fast and cheap, before you understand what you're actually entitled to under Nevada law.
Howard Injury Law represents drunk driving crash victims across Las Vegas and Clark County. We build the punitive damages argument from day one — not as an afterthought when negotiations stall — and pursue every dollar the law allows. The consultation is free, we're available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win.
$80M+
Recoveredfor Nevada injury victims
20+
Yearshandling Nevada accident cases
1,000+
Clientsrepresented across Las Vegas
$0
No Win, No Feezero upfront cost to you
In most Las Vegas drunk driving crashes, the primary defendant is the impaired driver. But depending on the facts, more than one party can be responsible — and finding every one of them is how you reach every available source of compensation.
The person who chose to drive drunk is the primary at-fault party in nearly every case, and their auto insurance is usually the first source of recovery.
If the drunk driver was working, driving a company vehicle, or on a delivery or commercial run at the time of the crash, the employer may share liability for what happened.
When someone knowingly hands the keys to a person who is impaired or has a history of DUI, Nevada's negligent entrustment doctrine can extend liability to the owner.
If the driver was uninsured, underinsured, or fled the scene, your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may become your primary path to recovery.
What about the bar, casino, or restaurant that served the driver? In most cases, no. Nevada is one of the strictest states in the country on this — it shields licensed alcohol vendors from civil liability for serving an adult who later causes a crash, even one who was visibly drunk. The one narrow exception involves service to a minor under 21, and we break down exactly when it applies further down.
Las Vegas drunk driving crashes concentrate where alcohol and traffic overlap around the clock — Las Vegas Boulevard and the Strip, Flamingo Road, Koval Lane, and Tropicana Avenue — while wrong-way collisions, almost always DUI-related, occur with disturbing regularity on the I-15, US-95, and the I-215 Beltway. That geography matters for your case: casino, bar, and traffic-camera footage along these corridors can establish the driver's impairment and the sequence of the crash — but it overwrites in as little as 24 to 72 hours. The sooner it's preserved, the clearer the liability picture becomes.
An insurance company's goal after a drunk driving crash is to pay you as little as possible — and in DUI cases specifically, that means one thing: keeping punitive damages off the table and closing your file before you learn they exist. Here's the playbook they run.
None of this is about whether the driver was drunk — it's about how little the insurer has to pay for it. An attorney who knows how these companies evaluate and defend DUI claims from the inside can neutralize the playbook: preserve the evidence before it's gone, refuse the early offer, and build the punitive damages argument from day one.
“Drunk driving crashes are almost never minor. When someone gets behind the wheel impaired, the wrecks tend to be violent — and the injuries are serious, life-changing, or worse. That’s not bad luck. It’s the result of a choice that driver made.
Nevada law takes that choice seriously, and so do we. It’s why these cases can be worth more than a standard crash — and why you shouldn’t face the insurance company alone. You focus on healing. Holding them fully accountable is our job.”
Liability in a drunk driving case is often more straightforward to prove than in a standard crash. When a driver is over Nevada's legal limit and causes a collision, they've violated the state's DUI statute (NRS 484C.110) — and that violation establishes their negligence automatically, a rule called negligence per se. You're not fighting a he-said-she-said case. You're showing a broken safety law caused your injuries.
You don't have to prove the driver was impaired — your attorney does, using evidence that is strongest immediately after the crash and disappears fast. These are the sources that matter most.
Proving impairment does more than establish fault — it's what unlocks punitive damages. The stronger the evidence of a conscious choice to drive drunk, the stronger the argument for compensation beyond your medical bills. That's why the evidence has to be preserved now, before it's gone. You focus on recovering; we handle every piece of it.
The most important thing you can do after a drunk driving crash is protect two things at once — your health and your evidence — before the insurance company starts building its case against yours.
Nevada gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under NRS 11.190. That sounds like plenty of time — but it isn't, not when toxicology records, surveillance footage, and witness memories start disappearing within 24 to 72 hours. And if a government vehicle was involved, a separate claim procedure applies under Nevada's Tort Claims Act, with its own filing requirements — one more reason not to wait.
Drunk driving is one of many crash types we handle as Las Vegas motor vehicle accident lawyers. The sooner we're involved, the more of your case we can protect.
Two years from the date of the crash under NRS 11.190. But waiting is a mistake in drunk driving cases specifically — blood alcohol evidence, surveillance footage, and witness memories deteriorate within days. If a government vehicle was involved, a separate claim procedure applies under Nevada's Tort Claims Act. The sooner an attorney is involved, the stronger your position.
Yes. A civil drunk driving claim is completely separate from the criminal case. The criminal standard is proof beyond a reasonable doubt; your civil claim requires only a preponderance of the evidence — more likely than not. A driver can avoid conviction and still be fully liable to you in civil court, so there's no reason to wait for the criminal case to resolve.
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may become your primary path to recovery. Nevada requires insurers to offer it, and many drivers carry it without realizing how to use it after a crash. We review your full policy as part of every case evaluation, at no cost.
Yes, when the facts support it. Under NRS 42.005, Nevada allows punitive damages when clear and convincing evidence shows the driver acted with conscious disregard for the safety of others — and choosing to drive drunk frequently meets that standard. A high BAC, a prior DUI, or driving the wrong way strengthens the argument. Not every case qualifies, and the free consultation is where we assess yours honestly.
In most cases, no. Under NRS 41.1305, Nevada shields licensed alcohol vendors — bars, restaurants, and casinos — from civil liability for serving an adult who later causes a crash, even one who was visibly intoxicated. The one narrow exception involves knowingly serving alcohol to a minor under 21. In nearly every adult DUI crash, the claim runs against the driver, not the establishment.
Two legal tools. First, negligence per se: when a driver violates Nevada's DUI statute (NRS 484C.110) and causes a crash, their negligence is legally established — you don't have to prove it the way you would in a standard crash. Second, punitive damages, available on top of full compensatory recovery when the driver's conduct reflects conscious disregard for safety. Together they can raise the value of a DUI claim well above a standard car accident claim.
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You can face the insurance company alone, or put a team that knows how to hold them fully accountable on your side. The consultation is free, we're available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win.
I had a great experience with Howard Injury Law. Anytime I had questions, they were always there with an answer ready to help. They were super attentive towards me. I'm very grateful I went to them after my car accident.
Car AccidentHighly recommend. I worked with James and Vanessa. They both are very nice and patient if or when you have a million and one questions. They make sure you are updated and not wondering where you stand.
Personal InjuryI can't say enough great things about Howard Injury Law. From start to finish, Glenn Howard and his amazing team James and Natalie were there every step of the way. They made a stressful situation feel manageable ... read more
Injury CaseI would like to thank Glen Howard and James for taking such great care of me during my case. They're knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely caring. My family and I are truly grateful for the outcome they achieved.
Injury CaseThis team was amazing. They took care of everything I needed with my personal injury and made it so easy for me. I never felt alone during the process. I would highly recommend Howard Injury Law to anyone.
Personal InjuryI had a really bad accident in March 2023 and was referred to this amazing team. This being a new experience, Howard Injury Law walked me through every single step. They truly fought for me and got me more than I expected.
Car AccidentFounding attorney Glen Howard has spent his career standing beside Las Vegas drivers and families after serious crashes turned their lives upside down — and that's shaped the compassion he brings to every case. He and his team understand that a serious drunk driving crash isn't a case file; it's a life-changing event for you and the people who love you, and it's treated that way here. He has recovered more than $80 million for injury victims and their families, and you'll work directly with Glen and a dedicated case manager who handle you with care and respect — not a rotating cast of paralegals.
Read Glen's full storyYou never expected to be here. No one is supposed to know how to fight an insurance company, preserve evidence, or navigate Nevada injury law while recovering from a serious crash.
That's what we do.
Howard Injury Law is available 24/7. The consultation is free and confidential. You pay nothing unless we recover for you. And because Nevada sets a deadline to act, reaching out sooner keeps more of your options open. However you found us — searching for a drunk driving accident lawyer in Las Vegas, or referred by someone who trusted us with their case — we're ready when you are, and there's no pressure to decide anything today.
If you're unsure what to do after a crash — or want to help protect the people you love — HIL Helps is our free 24/7 community resource, open to everyone, not just clients.
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Howard Injury Law
6330 Spring Mountain Rd Ste D, Las Vegas, NV 89146