Three Nevada Laws Taking Effect in 2025-2026 That Every Accident Victim Should Know

Between October 2025 and January 2026, three new Nevada statutes reshaped liability for inflatable device injuries, rideshare accidents, and rental car crashes. Here is what changed and how each law affects a victim's ability to recover.

AB198: Inflatable Device Operators Now Carry $1 Million in Coverage

Assembly Bill 198, effective January 1, 2026, targets the growing commercial inflatable amusement industry, which includes bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses, water slides, and similar recreational devices offered at events, fairs, and rental businesses. Under the new law, any operator of an inflatable device used for recreation must maintain at least $1 million in liability insurance and keep inspection records for a minimum of two years.

Before AB198, the industry operated without a clear statewide insurance floor. Families injured in inflatable device incidents sometimes discovered that the operator carried minimal coverage, or none at all, leaving little recourse beyond suing an individual operator with limited personal assets. The mandatory $1 million floor changes that reality: there is now a baseline fund from which legitimate injury claims can be paid.

The inspection record requirement is equally consequential. Operators must conduct documented inspections of their equipment and preserve those records for at least two years. In a personal injury case involving an inflatable device, those records become critical evidence. An operator who cannot produce inspection records, or whose records show a known hazard that was not corrected, faces substantially heightened exposure. AB198 created both a compensation mechanism and an evidence trail.

AB523: Rideshare Immunity and What It Means for Injured Passengers

Assembly Bill 523, which took effect October 1, 2025, introduced a specific immunity provision for transportation network companies, the category that covers app-based rideshare platforms. Under AB523, a rideshare company that provides at least $1 million in minimum bodily injury coverage gains immunity from vicarious liability claims. Vicarious liability is the legal doctrine that holds an employer responsible for the negligent acts of its workers.

The immunity is conditional, not absolute. It attaches only when the platform is meeting the $1 million coverage floor. A company that drops coverage below that amount or lapses on maintaining it cannot claim the immunity shield. And the direct liability of the driver involved in the crash remains fully intact. An injured passenger still has a direct claim against the driver and against the platform's own coverage fund for injuries caused during the ride.

For claimants injured in rideshare crashes, the practical shift is that the litigation strategy changes. A claim structured as a vicarious liability theory against the platform is now blocked for qualifying companies. Claims must instead be directed at the driver and at the platform's mandatory coverage policy. Experienced personal injury counsel understands the difference and structures the claim accordingly from day one.

SB194: Rental Car Renters Must Show Proof of Auto Insurance

Senate Bill 194, also effective October 1, 2025, added a new step to the rental car transaction in Nevada. Before a rental company hands over the keys, the renter must provide proof of personal automobile insurance coverage. This requirement changes the insurance architecture of rental car accidents in meaningful ways.

Previously, the interaction between a renter's personal auto policy and the rental company's supplemental coverage could be opaque at the point of sale. Some renters believed they were covered without understanding the gap between minimal state-required coverage and the actual cost of a serious injury claim. The proof-of-insurance requirement forces that conversation to happen before the car leaves the lot.

For accident victims hit by a rental vehicle, the change matters because it creates a documented insurance status for the renter at the time of the rental. That record is relevant to any liability analysis. For renters themselves, the law is a reminder that personal auto policies often, but not always, extend to rental vehicles. Confirming coverage with your own insurer before renting in Nevada is now not just prudent, it is the condition for completing the transaction.

How These Laws Interact With Injury Claims in Nevada

Taken together, AB198, AB523, and SB194 reflect a broader legislative effort to clarify insurance responsibilities in emerging and changing sectors of economic activity. Inflatable amusements, rideshare platforms, and rental vehicles are all areas where the traditional assumptions of motor vehicle or general liability coverage had not fully caught up with how these businesses actually operate.

For injury victims, each law creates both new opportunities and new constraints. AB198 creates a guaranteed insurance fund and a paper trail. AB523 narrows one litigation theory against rideshare platforms but preserves the core coverage fund. SB194 documents renter insurance status at the time of a crash. Each of these pieces of evidence becomes part of the investigation a skilled personal injury attorney conducts in the days immediately following an accident.

The lesson for anyone injured in Nevada involving one of these categories is to preserve evidence immediately. Photographs, witness contact information, ride-share receipts, rental agreements, and the operator's inspection certificates in an inflatable device case are all documents that can disappear or become harder to obtain with each passing week. Time pressure is real in Nevada personal injury investigations.

What to Do If You Were Hurt Under One of These New Laws

If your injury involved a commercial inflatable device, confirm whether the operator had AB198-compliant insurance in place at the time of the accident. Request any inspection records. An operator who cannot produce current insurance documentation or who skipped required inspections faces significant exposure, and that fact is valuable to your case from the start.

If you were injured as a rideshare passenger, document everything from the trip: the app screenshot, the trip receipt, the driver's name displayed in the app, and any communication with the platform. Under AB523, your attorney will need to assess whether the platform's $1 million coverage applies and structure the claim to reach that fund rather than attempting a vicarious liability theory that may be barred.

For rental car accidents, gather the rental agreement and any documentation provided at pickup. The renter's proof of insurance at the time of the transaction is a key document in establishing the coverage picture. Litigators for Justice is available for a free, confidential consultation at any time. We handle Nevada accident claims on a contingency basis, meaning no legal fees unless we recover for you.

6 Immediate Steps After an Accident Involving a Rideshare, Rental Car, or Inflatable Device

The evidence that matters most in these cases is often available only in the first hours and days. Do not wait.

1. Document the scene with photographs before anything is moved: Capture the inflatable device, vehicle positions, visible damage, signage, and any visible inspection certificates or posted warnings. This record cannot be recreated later.
2. Request the operator's or renter's insurance information immediately: For rideshare crashes, screenshot the app. For inflatable device injuries, ask for the operator's insurance certificate. For rental crashes, collect the rental agreement from the at-fault driver.
3. Identify all witnesses and get their contact information: Witnesses who saw the accident or the condition of the equipment before the injury can be critical. Their availability fades quickly after the scene disperses.
4. Seek medical evaluation the same day: Even if injuries seem minor initially, an immediate medical evaluation creates a contemporaneous record linking your condition to the event. Delayed treatment can be used to argue the injury was not serious or not caused by the accident.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer without counsel: Insurers for rideshare platforms, rental companies, and inflatable operators are experienced at claim management. A recorded statement given without legal advice can undercut a valid claim.
6. Contact an attorney before accepting any settlement offer: First offers from commercial liability insurers rarely reflect the full value of the claim. An attorney familiar with Nevada's new liability statutes can assess whether the offer accounts for all available coverage and legal exposure.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still sue a rideshare company under AB523 if I was injured in a crash?

You retain the right to make a claim against the platform's mandatory $1 million coverage fund. AB523 eliminates vicarious liability as a separate legal theory for qualifying companies but does not eliminate the coverage obligation. Your attorney structures the claim to target the coverage, not the corporate employer relationship.

What happens if an inflatable device operator does not have the AB198 insurance?

Operating without required coverage is a violation of the statute and may constitute negligence per se in a civil claim. If the operator lacked insurance, the injured party may pursue the operator personally and, depending on the circumstances, may have additional claims against the event organizer or property owner that hosted the device.

Does SB194 affect my existing personal auto insurance coverage for rental cars?

SB194 does not change the coverage your personal auto policy provides. It requires you to demonstrate that coverage exists before the rental is completed. Whether your personal policy actually extends to rental vehicles depends on your specific policy terms. Confirm with your insurer before traveling or renting.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim for these types of accidents in Nevada?

Nevada's general personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury. Some claims, particularly those involving government entities or certain products, have different deadlines. Do not rely on the two-year figure without consulting an attorney about the specifics of your case.