If you have been injured in a car accident in Las Vegas, or anywhere within the state of Nevada, you are hoping that the insurance company will honor its end of the bargain and pay your claim. While sometimes this happens smoothly, many times it does not.
Know Your Rights
We purchase insurance coverage — sometimes voluntarily, other times by mandate — with the expectation that when it is needed, the carrier will pay out. When you are involved in a car accident due to the fault of another, the law states that you should be made whole again. This includes monetary compensation, referred to as “damages,” for past and future expenses such as property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The problems that come with a car accident can be many and can escalate quickly.
Many drivers across the nation place their trust and confidence in the insurance system; Nevada drivers are no exception to this trend. Unfortunately, many insurance carriers use tactics to avoid paying out claims such as blaming the policyholder for the accident, minimizing damages, and deemphasizing injuries, to name a few. The goal of the insurance company is to collect premiums and deny or reduce claims.
Filing an Insurance Claim
When you are involved in a Las Vegas car crash, you should report the accident and file an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s carrier. Once that is done, an insurance adjuster will be assigned to the claim. He or she will review evidence regarding the collision. This will include police reports, surveillance videos, driver and passenger statements, and medical information.
An insurance adjuster may reduce the payout of the claim by shifting the blame, alleging pre-existing medical conditions, or offering a quick settlement without addressing all of your expenses, or by using other tactics. A skilled personal injury lawyer knows the insurance companies’ tactics and can deal with the adjuster and manage all negotiations for a better result.
Dealing With a Claim Denial
If your insurance claim is denied, or the insurance company offers you a settlement that is less than what you think you deserve, you have choices.
First, be sure not to sign any settlement offer without first consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney. A skilled lawyer will work with you to gather evidence to support your case. This will include determining your full damages resulting from the crash, obtaining medical records, seeking out expert testimony, among other evidence. If the insurance company does not respond to your attorneys’ demands, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to seek the monetary compensation to which you are entitled.
Contact Us
Do not take a reduced settlement for your personal injury claim. The experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at H&P Law will fight for you.
