Whether it happened due to an auto accident, an unexpected fall on someone else’s land, a mistake by a healthcare provider, or any other kind of negligence, the process of seeking civil recovery for a personal injury in Nevada is always complicated and usually time-consuming as well. Unfortunately, one of the main reasons for both those unwanted traits is the fact that, rather than dealing directly with the person responsible for your injuries, you will usually be dealing mainly with insurance companies in your quest for compensation.
As any experienced lawyer could tell you, dealing with insurance companies in a Las Vegas personal injury claim is often the biggest obstacle faced by injured plaintiffs. With that in mind, here is a brief overview of what you should expect when interacting with representatives of these companies and what you can do to maximize your chances of getting a favorable result from your insurance claim.
Be Honest Without Volunteering Information
Whenever you interact with insurance companies as a part of a personal injury claim in Las Vegas, it is vital to be truthful and accurate with everyone you say, since even the slightest inconsistency could be used to deny your claim altogether. At the same time, though, you should only provide information that you are directly asked for, refrain from offering guesses about what you think may have happened, and especially avoid saying anything that could be misconstrued as an admission of fault for causing the accident in the first place.
Be Careful About Accepting Initial Settlement Offers
If an insurance company knows that an injured person likely has strong grounds for a claim, they will often instruct their adjusters to offer a settlement very quickly in an attempt to end the case prematurely and pay out just a little bit of money rather than the large amount they should actually owe. While it is not always a bad idea to accept an early settlement offer, you should always discuss any offer you receive during settlement negotiations with a qualified personal injury lawyer before accepting it.
Avoid Signing Anything Before Talking to Legal Counsel
Along similar lines, it is important to review any documents an insurance company asks you to sign as part of settlement negotiations with legal counsel prior to signing them, especially if the insurance company is adamant that they need your signature to continue negotiating. Once again, it is not always a bad thing to sign a release form from an insurer or allow them to take a recorded statement from you, but no matter what they imply, it is almost never something you absolutely have to do either.
Be Patient with Delays During Settlement Negotiations
Finally, you should be ready for insurance companies to drag their proverbial feet at various points while you are negotiating with them for a fair settlement offer on your Las Vegas personal injury claim. These companies know how much injured people need money to cover accident-related expenses, and they are not above forcing people to wait an unreasonably long time for responses during the negotiation process. Fortunately, this is one of many underhanded tricks that legal counsel can help fight back against.
A Las Vegas Attorney Can Help Deal With Insurance Companies During a Personal Injury Claim
Nobody enjoys dealing with insurance companies during a Las Vegas personal injury claim, especially if—as is all too often the case—those insurance companies are willing to act in very underhanded ways to increase their own profits at your expense. Even if you have lots of evidence on your side, you may find yourself struggling to get paid anything at all for your damages if you try to go up against opposition like this alone.
Fortunately, you have help available from the seasoned personal injury lawyers at Shook & Stone, where we have years of experience fighting—and winning—cases like yours from multiple angles at once: personal injury, workers’ comp, and even Social Security benefits. Call today to discuss your options.
