Many car accidents in Nevada (and throughout the United States) involve undocumented immigrants. This typically puts those immigrants afraid to hire a lawyer or file a lawsuit for fear of deportation. A common question I get is: “If I file a lawsuit and the insurance company finds out I am illegal, will they deport me?” The simple answer is, it is against the rules to do so. It is not relevant to your case and you SHOULD leave it alone. The practical answer is that some insurance companies are so evil that they may bow to this tactic, but personally, in over ten years of practice, I have yet to see it happen.
The plaintiff’s immigration status is irrelevant.
In Nevada it is allowed to file a preliminary motion in which the Judge is essentially asked (before the trial) to prevent the defense attorney for the insurance company from mentioning anything related to our client’s immigration status, since it is irrelevant to the facts of the case. Except for certain extreme circumstances, this motion has been supported in the Nevada state courts.
Don’t let fear rule you.
Thanks to this useful tool, the legal system guarantees the protection of illegal immigrants, as well as citizens and permanent residents when it comes to car accidents. This is why you should not live in fear of not being able to exercise your rights through the legal system, for fear of possible deportation as a consequence. This is not allowed and any mention of your status will be blocked during the trial. Don’t let fear rule your decisions, seek the help of an attorney today.