With relatively few exceptions, personal injury cases in Nevada and throughout the United States generally do not end in court with a verdict from a judge or jury, but instead with a private settlement agreement made without a court ever getting involved. That said, settlements require all parties involved in the case to be willing to negotiate in good faith and stay within the boundaries set by state law. But, as many people unfortunately learn the hard way, insurance companies cannot always be trusted to do either of those things, let alone both.
Dealing with insurance companies in a Summerlin personal injury claim does not always have to be an antagonistic and time-consuming process. Still, it is absolutely not something you want to try handling entirely on your own. Getting the help of a seasoned personal injury lawyer at Shook & Stone will give you the best possible chance of achieving a favorable case result.
Preparing for Initial Conversations With Insurance Adjusters
The most important thing to understand when it comes to dealing with insurance companies during Summerlin, Rhodes Ranch, Sovana, or Sun City personal injury cases is that no matter how polite or sympathetic individual employees of an insurance company may seem, that company will always put its own well-being above yours. Since these companies only make profits when they take in premiums without paying out claims, they will do everything possible to minimize the value of your claim by:
- Causing unnecessary procedural delays
- Making bad-faith interpretations of statements
- Intentionally misleading you into misunderstanding your rights
With this in mind, you should always be truthful when asked direct questions about your accident by insurance adjusters. However, you should also provide only direct answers to those questions without volunteering additional information or speculating in any way about how the incident happened. Also, be very careful about accepting initial settlement offers or agreeing to give recorded statements without first discussing the matter with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you identify when the insurance company is trying to take advantage of you.
Advocating Effectively for Your Rights and Best Interests
When dealing with Summerlin insurance companies during personal injury litigation, it is also beneficial to have a very clear idea of your case’s true financial value—that is, you should identify the specific short- and long-term losses you need to recover. Put bluntly, the insurance company will have legal representation of their own, and those lawyers will be all too happy to take advantage of you if you think your case is worth less than it is or if you try to demand an unreasonable amount of money compared to what other people have gotten in the past.
It is also important to know that you have limited time to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company before you will be forced to file suit or just drop your case entirely. This is because the statute of limitations for personal injury claims typically allows injured people a maximum of two years to file suit over their injuries, and if an insurance company knows you cannot legally sue them, they have no reason to negotiate a settlement with you in good faith.
A Summerlin Attorney Can Help Deal With Insurance Companies During Your Personal Injury Claim
Dealing with insurance companies in a Summerlin personal injury claim can be stressful and time-consuming, even under the best circumstances. Fortunately, you have support from experienced legal professionals who know how insurers tend to handle cases like yours and can work diligently to ensure your claim has the best possible resolution. Call Shook & Stone today to schedule a free initial consultation with our team.
