This is another in a series of articles that deal with the basic legal concepts that apply when you're in an automobile accident in Nevada.
Ever wonder whether it's necessary to show another driver your license after you're both in an accident? Some might think that this is a matter of courtesy. In fact, it's the law.
N.R.S. 484.223 requires that drivers who are involved in auto accidents cooperate with each other and with the police and provides:
484.223. Duty to give information and render aid
1. The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle or other property which is driven or attended by any person shall:
(a) Give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle he is driving, and shall upon request and if available exhibit his license to operate a motor vehicle to any person injured in such accident or to the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle or other property damaged in such accident;
(b) Give such information and upon request manually surrender such license to any police officer at the scene of the accident or who is investigating the accident; and
(c) Render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of such person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary, or if such carrying is requested by the injured person.
2. If no police officer is present, the driver of any vehicle involved in such accident after fulfilling all other requirements of subsection 1 and NRS 484.219, insofar as possible on his part to be performed, shall forthwith report such accident to the nearest office of a police authority or of the Nevada highway patrol and submit thereto the information specified in subsection 1.
The statute thus requires not only that driver's cooperate with each other, but also that they render aid to one another in appropriate circumstances. There will be more on the legality of rendering aid in future columns.
To access this statute and others, you can view the Nevada Legislature's law library at http://leg.state.nv.us/law1.cfm