Explore average settlements and court awards for rear-end car accidents in Nevada. Find actual case examples similar to yours.

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of accident in the United States, accounting for 29 percent of all car crashes.¹

The average settlement for a moderate rear-end collision in Nevada is $21,161. Actual payout amounts ranged from $2,800 for minor soft-tissue injuries to $1,728,801 for serious head, neck, and back injuries.

Average Payouts for Nevada Rear-End Collisions

To get the average settlement amounts listed below, we analyzed a group of real Nevada rear-end accident cases involving a range of injuries. Our group only included cases that resulted in a payout to the injury victim.

Average Payout by Severity of Injury
Minor Injury	$7,931
Moderate Injury	$21,161
Severe Injury	$1,239,401*
Payout Range by Type of Injury
Back and Neck Injuries	$2,800 - $1,728,801
Head Injuries	$10,000 - $750,801

Some cases involve injuries in both categories. Payouts are intended to compensate the victim for all damages, not one specific injury.

Factors Affecting Nevada Rear-End Settlement Amounts

The extent and severity of injuries is the primary factor in the amount of compensation. Medical bills, lost income, out-of-pocket expenses, and an amount for the victim’s pain and suffering are included in settlement calculations.

Factors Affecting Payout Amounts

Other factors that influence rear-end injury payouts in Nevada include:

• Injury Severity – Extensive or permanent injuries resulting in chronic pain, loss of mobility, or disfigurement result in much higher amounts than minor soft-tissue injuries that will heal with no lingering effects.
• Shared Fault – Nevada is a modified comparative negligence state. You can file an injury claim against the other party even if you are equally responsible for your injuries. Your compensation will be reduced according to your percentage of fault. If you are more at fault than the other parties, you are barred from receiving compensation from the other parties.
• Auto Policy Limits – Nevada mandates all drivers carry insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident bodily injury liability, and $20,000 property damage liability. The other driver’s liability limit may not be enough to compensate for serious injuries.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage – Nevada requires insurers to offer uninsured (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, equal to the policy’s liability limits. The policyholder has the right to reject the optional coverages. If you decline UI and UIM coverage, you may have no source of compensation for serious injuries caused by a hit-and-run, or an at-fault driver with no insurance or not enough insurance.
• Multiple Claimants – The liability limits carried by the at-fault driver may not be enough to go around when more than two victims are seriously injured.
• Venue and Jurisdiction – Some court venues in Nevada have a history of high awards to car accident victims. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may offer a bigger settlement to keep your case from going to trial in a pro-victim venue.
• Punitive Damages: Nevada caps punitive damage awards at $300,000 when the compensatory award is under $100,000, or three times the amount of compensatory damages that exceed $100,000.  There are no limits to punitive damages in accident cases caused by a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Minor Injury Case Examples

Minor injuries from a car accident can include bumps and bruises, muscle sprains or strains and a few days of stiffness. Minor injury victims recover with no lasting effects, and only miss a few days to a week of work.

Rear-End Injury Award Reduced by 41 Percent

Type of Injury: Neck, back, leg and wrist injuries
Award/Settlement Amount: $2,800
Case Summary: Plaintiff was traveling south, when his vehicle was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by defendant. Plaintiff said he suffered injuries to his neck, mid and lower back, leg, and wrist, among other limbs and organs. Defendant denied the allegations, saying plaintiff’s own negligence caused the accident. An arbitrator found for plaintiff and awarded him $13,679. A jury echoed the arbitrator’s findings and awarded plaintiff $2,800. The jury, however, also concluded plaintiff was 41% liable for incident. Defendant was deemed 59% liable.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Lee v. Britt, A449212

Minor Rear-End Accident with Pre-Existing Injuries

Type of Injury: Neck injuries-cervical spine
Award/Settlement Amount: $7,428
Case Summary: Plaintiff was traveling north and came to a stop at a traffic light at an intersection. Defendant, who was traveling behind plaintiff, failed to stop her vehicle and rear- ended plaintiff. Plaintiff sustained injuries to her cervical spine. Defendant contended the accident was minor and did not cause the plaintiff’s claimed injuries. According to the defendant, plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident before, in which she struck a tree while operating a bus. Defendant added that plaintiff’s treatment for the prior accident continued through the subject accident, one year later. A jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded her $4,927.50 for her past medical expenses and $2,500 for her past pain and suffering.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Eriksen v. Girot, A572862

Rear-End Crash Arbitration Award Reduced by 25 Percent

Type of Injury: Aggravation of his chronic neck and back pain
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff said his vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by defendant 1. Two weeks later, plaintiff was involved in another motor vehicle accident with defendant2 and claimed he suffered aggravation of his chronic neck and back pain because of the two automobile collisions. The plaintiff contended the defendants negligently caused the accidents. Defendants did not dispute liability. An arbitrator heard the case and determined defendant1 was 75 percent at fault for the plaintiff’s injuries and defendant2 was 25 percent at fault. Plaintiff received a total of $8,000 in damages.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Affleck v. Gaines, 12-A-660580-C

Rear-End Victim Injury Treatment Ruled Excessive

Type of Injury: Neck and back pain; headaches and a sore and swollen left trapezius muscle
Award/Settlement Amount: $10,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff, who was stopped at a red light on eastbound route at an intersection, was rear-ended by a car driven by defendant after it was hit by another vehicle. Plaintiff claimed she suffered neck and back pain, headaches and a sore and swollen left trapezius muscle after the accident. Defendant denied liability and filed a cross-complaint against the driver who started the chain reaction by striking defendant’s vehicle. Defendant disputed the reasonableness and necessity of the plaintiff’s treatments. An arbitrator found in favor of the plaintiff but found the plaintiff’s treatment was excessive. He awarded plaintiff $10,000. The court entered judgment on the award, adding amounts for interest and costs.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Pacheco v. Williams, 13-A-693515-C

Rear-End Victim Wins Full Compensation at Trial

Type of Injury: Soft tissue back injuries
Award/Settlement Amount: $11,429
Case Summary: Defendant rear ended plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff filed a negligence lawsuit against Defendant because of the accident. The plaintiff claimed soft tissue injuries to her back and sought damages for medical care and treatment, lost earnings, and property damage. Plaintiff further claimed general, compensatory, miscellaneous, and incidental damages in excess of $10,000. Defendant stipulated to liability in the accident but disputed the plaintiff’s alleged damages. Defendant alleged contributory negligence, superseding causes, acts of a third party and failure to mitigate damages as affirmative defenses. Jury decided in favor of the plaintiff and awarded her a total of $11,429.24, including more than $10,500 for past medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering; and $884 for future pain and suffering.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Burns v. Wong, A423332

Moderate Injury Case Examples

Moderate car accident injuries are more painful and may take weeks or months to heal. Moderate injuries may include simple fractures, bulging or herniated discs, brain concussions, and extensive soft-tissue injuries. There may be lingering effects of the injuries and victims may be out of work for a few months, depending on the physical requirements of their employment.

Judge Increases Jury Award to Rear-End Crash Victim

Type of Injury: Back and neck injuries
Award/Settlement Amount: $12,121
Case Summary: According to plaintiff, defendant rear-ended her at an intersection. Plaintiff claimed she suffered back and neck injuries. Defendant answered and said plaintiff failed to mitigate her damages and that her injuries were the result of an unavoidable accident. A jury in the short-trial program found in favor of plaintiff and awarded $1,170 in damages. In an order, the court described misconduct by defendant’s counsel, including counsel’s failure to attend the mandatory pre-trial conference and inappropriate conduct at trial as having “tainted and infected the jurors’ deliberations.” The court entered judgment for plaintiff in the amount of $12,121.25, which included an additional $1,951 for past medical damages, an additur of $6,000 for pain and suffering and $3,000 in attorney fees.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Belanger v. Swinbourne, A509581

Jury Increases Rear-End Collision Arbitration Award

Type of Injury: Back and neck injuries-T6 compression fracture, cervical and lumbar radiculitis with fingertip numbness; headaches; cervical and thoracic strains
Award/Settlement Amount: $12,597
Case Summary: Plaintiff said the defendant’s vehicle struck the rear of his vehicle as it was stopped at an intersection and fled the scene of the accident. Plaintiff suffered a T6 compression fracture, cervical and lumbar radiculitis with fingertip numbness, headaches and cervical and thoracic strains, as a result of the accident. The defendant denied liability. Before the jury trial, an arbitrator awarded the plaintiff $10,000. Jury found for plaintiff in the amount of $12,597.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Gomez v. Caldejon, 11-A-636869-C

At-Fault Driver Fully Liable for Two-Truck Rear-End Collision

Type of Injury: Back injuries
Award/Settlement Amount: $15,220
Case Summary: Plaintiff was hauling oversized pipe when his truck was hit from behind by defendant, who was driving a fully loaded double concrete truck. Plaintiff reported back pains after the accident and said he is now forced to stop his truck once an hour to “walk around and relieve the tension in his back.” The defendants denied the plaintiff’s claims, asserting the plaintiff did not “exercise ordinary care, caution or prudence” to avoid the accident and his resulting injuries. A jury found for the plaintiff, awarding him a total of $15,220.00 in damages. The jury concluded defendant was 100 percent at fault for the accident and the plaintiff’s injuries.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Brott v. Cataldo, A427970

Rear-End Accident Victim Wins Against Negligent Driver

Type of Injury: Shoulder, head, neck and back injuries
Award/Settlement Amount: $26,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving east, when he stopped behind a vehicle that had braked for an ambulance. The emergency vehicle was traveling north with its siren on and its emergency lights flashing. Without warning, defendant, who was driving behind plaintiff, failed to stop and rear-ended plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed defendant’s negligent driving caused the plaintiff shoulder, head, neck and back injuries leaving him “physically and emotionally damaged.” The defendant denied the allegations. A jury found defendant negligent and awarded plaintiff $26,000. Of that amount, $20,000 was for past medical bills.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Anderson v. Headd, A452042

Jury Award to Rear-End Victim Despite At-Fault Driver’s Denial

Type of Injury: Injuries to neck, shoulder and back
Award/Settlement Amount: $39,866
Case Summary: Plaintiff and defendant were traveling south in separate vehicles near a Road off-ramp. According to defendant, he was traveling behind plaintiff, then switched lanes. When he attempted to move back behind plaintiff, who was braking as she approached traffic, defendant said he was unable to stop in time and “collided with the rear of plaintiff’s vehicle.” Plaintiff suffered injuries to her neck, shoulder and back. In her suit, plaintiff said defendant had driven recklessly and lost control of his vehicle prior to the incident. Defendant denied the allegations, asserting the affirmative defenses of insufficient facts, failure to mitigate damages and contributory negligence. A jury found for plaintiff and awarded her $39,866.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Hidalgo v. Soto, A420169

Severe Injury Case Examples

Severe car accident victims may suffer multiple injuries resulting in long-term impairment, chronic pain, or permanent scarring. Seriously injured rear-end crash victims can be out of work for months, and some can never return to the type of job they had before the accident.

Trucker and Employer Liable for Severe Rear-End Crash

Type of Injury: Soft tissue neck injury; head injury-skull fracture and brain contusion causing bell’s palsy
Award/Settlement Amount: $750,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving north when a vehicle in front of her stopped abruptly. She applied her brakes and avoided a collision with that vehicle, but a truck following behind her was unable to stop in time and struck her vehicle. Defendant was driving the truck at the time of the accident while working for co-defendant. Due to the collision, plaintiff suffered soft tissue neck injury with skull fracture and brain contusion causing bell’s palsy. Defendants answered the plaintiff’s complaint by generally denying the allegations and asserting multiple affirmative defenses. The Jury found in favor of plaintiff and awarded him $10,000 for past medical expenses; $100,000 for past pain and suffering; $340,000 for future medical expenses; and $300,000 for future pain and suffering.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Cannon v. Larkin, A444900

Rear-End Accident Victim Defeats Allegation of Shared Fault

Type of Injury: Headaches and injuries to cervical and lumbar spine
Award/Settlement Amount: $1,728,801
Case Summary: Plaintiff said he was stopped for traffic when he was “suddenly and unexpectedly rear ended” by a vehicle driven by defendant. Plaintiff claimed he suffered headaches and injuries to his neck and back because of the accident. These injuries later necessitated surgery and the placement of an occipital stimulator, he added. The defendant admitted liability for the accident. However, he argued the affirmative defenses of contributory negligence, among others. A jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, awarding damages in the amount of $1,728,801 in damages.
Location: Clark County, Nevada
Case Name and Docket Number: Messer v. Escamilla-Estrada, A467965

Methodology

We researched and analyzed real Nevada cases resulting from rear-end collisions. Many cases settled out of court, while some went to arbitration or trial and won a monetary award. Our group of cases did not include wrongful death claims or cases that were lost at trial.

Averages are calculated by adding all the payouts in a group of cases and dividing the total by the number of cases in the group. Unusually high payouts will skew the average higher. Final payouts reflect any reductions made after a jury determination of shared fault.