How an Injury Attorney Can Help With Your Car Accident Insurance Claim

Every year, car accidents cost American drivers more than $240 billion in damages. Victims can struggle under the weight of injuries, lost work time and wages, and complicated insurance claims.

Many motorists assume that they should be able to handle claims themselves. Yet doing so is rarely in their best interests. Working with the best injury attorney can improve your post-accident experience and outcomes.

Here are the top five ways a great attorney can help with your claim.

Attorneys Manage Information Flow

Personal injury cases involve a tremendous amount of information and communication. Even simple cases tend to include:

• Police reports
• Medical records
• Insurance policy and claim information
• Vehicle repair estimates
• Communications with employers about time off and the impact on wages or salaries
• Calls, letters, and emails from insurers and other parties involved

This flurry of communications back-and-forth could be overwhelming for anyone. For accident victims also dealing with severe injuries and their complications, it can be impossible.

To make matters worse, even small mistakes in handling communications around an accident can have big consequences. A misspoken word or misunderstanding of what you are signing can potentially cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost compensation.

When you hire a personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas, NV to help you with your injury claims, they take over the flow of communication. They work with your insurance company and other involved parties on your behalf. With years of experience in working with insurance companies, your attorneys will easily side-step verbal traps and avoid the pitfalls that can ensnare unsuspecting victims of car accidents and truck accidents.

Personal injury lawyers keep your options open. They also free you from the administrative burdens associated with your claims. This allows you to focus on healing and getting back on your feet.

The Best Injury Attorney Will Investigate on Your Behalf

Navigating the aftermath of an accident in Nevada can be daunting, especially when determining liability and understanding your rights. Hiring the best Nevada injury attorney ensures that your case is thoroughly investigated and that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Understanding Nevada’s “At Fault” and “Shared Fault” Laws

Nevada operates under an “at fault” insurance system. This means that the party responsible for causing an accident is legally obligated to cover the resulting damages. While this principle is straightforward, the intricacies of Nevada’s shared fault rules can complicate matters.

Shared fault laws in Nevada dictate that if a motorist is more than 50% responsible for an accident, they cannot file an injury claim against other parties involved. Conversely, if a motorist is less than 50% responsible, they are eligible to file claims, albeit with certain limitations.

How Shared Fault Impacts Your Injury Claims

Consider a scenario where two drivers, Molly and Sarah, fail to negotiate a stop sign properly. The police report indicates that Molly is 80% at fault, while Sarah bears 20% responsibility.

• Sarah’s Eligibility to File a Claim: Since Sarah is less than 50% at fault, she can file for damages against Molly.
• Compensation Limits: Sarah’s compensation is limited by her percentage of fault. If Sarah incurs $50,000 in damages, she can only receive up to 80% of that amount, totaling $40,000, as Molly’s liability is reduced by Sarah’s 20% fault.

This example illustrates the importance of understanding how shared fault can affect the compensation you receive.

Why You Need a Skilled Injury Attorney

A proficient injury attorney in Las Vegas, NV will meticulously investigate the details of your accident, ensuring that all aspects of liability are accurately assessed. They can help maximize your compensation by:

• Analyzing Police Reports: Ensuring that the fault percentages are fair and accurately reflect each party’s responsibility.
• Gathering Evidence: Collecting witness statements, medical records, and other critical information to support your claim.
• Negotiating with Insurance Companies: Advocating on your behalf to secure the best possible settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens if I’m partially at fault for an accident in Nevada?

A: If you’re less than 50% at fault, you can still file a claim for damages. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re 20% at fault and your damages total $50,000, you can receive up to $40,000.

Q: Can shared fault laws affect my ability to sue for injuries?

A: Yes, in Nevada, if you’re more than 50% at fault, you cannot file an injury claim against other parties involved in the accident.

Q: How can an injury attorney help in a shared fault situation?

A: An attorney can help accurately determine fault, gather supporting evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation based on your level of responsibility.

What This Means for Accident Victims

What this means for car accident victims in Vegas is that insurers will look for any possible way to lay blame on a driver. Misallocated blame can prevent drivers from receiving compensation. Alternatively, it can unfairly limit the compensation they can receive.

This can leave motorists dealing with the costs of catastrophic injuries and pain and suffering on their own.

Las Vegas personal injury attorneys investigate cases on their clients’ behalf. They use the facts to counter insurance companies’ claims of liability. Your attorney will make sure you keep your rights to compensation, regardless of insurers’ efforts to the contrary.

Why Hiring a Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer Keeps Your Case on Track with Critical Deadlines

After experiencing an accident, navigating the legal aftermath can be overwhelming. A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer plays a crucial role in managing the myriad of deadlines that can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Here’s how a skilled attorney can keep you on track:

Understanding the Importance of Deadlines in Personal Injury Cases

Following an accident, victims often face numerous deadlines, each critical to building a strong case. Some of these key deadlines include:

• Filing Police Reports: Timely submission of official accident reports is essential for legal proceedings.
• Vehicle Inspections and Repair Quotes: Assessing vehicle damage and obtaining repair estimates must be done promptly.
• Initial Injury Claims: Submitting claims for injuries within a specific timeframe is crucial for compensation.
• Medical Records Submission: Providing comprehensive medical documentation supports your injury claims.
• Responding to Insurance Communications: Timely responses to insurance companies can prevent delays or denial of claims.

Missing any of these deadlines can jeopardize your case, potentially reducing the compensation you deserve. Managing these tasks becomes even more challenging when you’re recovering from severe injuries and undergoing intensive medical treatment.

How a Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

A dedicated attorney and their support team can streamline the process by:

• Tracking Deadlines: Keeping a detailed schedule of all necessary filings and submissions.
• Handling Filings: Managing paperwork and ensuring all documents are submitted on time.
• Communicating with Insurance Companies: Acting as an intermediary to handle negotiations and correspondences.
• Organizing Medical Records: Ensuring all medical documentation is accurate and submitted promptly.

By entrusting these responsibilities to your lawyer, you can focus on your recovery without the added stress of legal deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What happens if I miss a deadline for filing my injury claim?
A: Missing a deadline can severely weaken your case, potentially leading to a dismissal of your claim. It’s crucial to adhere to all deadlines to ensure your case remains valid.

Q: How can a personal injury lawyer assist with insurance negotiations?
A: A lawyer can handle all communications with insurance companies, negotiate on your behalf, and ensure that you receive fair compensation without the hassle of dealing directly with insurers.

Q: Are there specific deadlines I should be aware of in Nevada for personal injury cases?
A: Yes, Nevada has a statute of limitations that typically requires personal injury claims to be filed within two years from the date of the accident. Your lawyer will ensure all deadlines are met to protect your rights.

The Best Personal Injury Attorney Will Push for the Money You Deserve

In an ideal world, no accident victim would ever have to fight for the money they need and deserve. Insurance companies would simply write a blank check to cover all victims’ costs and get them back to full functioning with no questions asked.

Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world. The burden of making sure that they get the compensation they are due falls on accident victims. It is a weight few victims are able to bear in the wake of the injuries and damages they’ve suffered.

This is why too many victims settle for only a fraction of the total amounts they might otherwise have claimed.

When you work with a personal injury law firm, you gain a team of qualified and capable fighters who will work on your behalf. They will push back against unfair offers and unjust claims of liability. Your attorneys will hold their ground and force insurers to recognize and respect your rights.

They will use their deep knowledge of the law to:

• Identify costs you didn’t know you could recoup on
• Prove other parties’ liability to maximize your ability to recover on damages
• Hold insurers and other parties accountable for what they owe

Your attorneys may also be able to connect you to solutions and supports you didn’t know were an option. This can be important in buying you time to push insurers for full compensation instead of settling too soon.

Trial Lawyers Can Represent You in Court

Around 95 percent of all personal injury cases settle out of court. Often, this is because insurers know that the costs of going to court will be higher than the cost of simply paying higher settlements. In other cases, accident victims avoid court because there is nothing to be gained by going.

For example, if you are hit by an uninsured motorist, you might be inclined to sue for damages. But if that motorist has no assets, going to court may be a bad idea. Even if you won, there wouldn’t be any money to recover.

Thus you’d have legal bills but no award to pay them from. A good attorney, then, does more than just represent you in court if it comes to that. They also offer key guidance on when going to court is not a good choice.

Medical Malpractice

In some cases, personal injury attorneys can assist you in secondary cases related to your accident. For example:

• Premises liability cases
• Product liability cases
• Medical malpractice cases

These cases might arise if your situation is due in part to:

• A person or business failing to maintain a property they were responsible for
• A manufacturing defect in your vehicle or the other driver’s vehicle
• Medical errors made during treatment for injuries received in a vehicle accident

These cases can be separate from your initial insurance claim for the accident itself. These claims may go to court individually or separately, or settle out of court. In any case, they will be too complicated to pursue alone.

Your attorney can advise on when such claims are appropriate and how to act on them.

Tips for Finding a Personal Injury Attorney

When filing injury claims in Las Vegas, NV, don’t settle for just any attorney. Choose a personal injury lawyer with experience in car accident cases specifically and a strong reputation for success. Consider also focusing your search on attorneys with good track records around the types of injuries you sustained.

For example, head injuries and their consequences can be complex. Attorneys with experience in head injury cases will be much more capable of managing the messy details and translating them into compensation than attorneys experienced in only more generalized cases.

Moreover, look for an attorney and law firm that you are comfortable with. A good legal team will make you feel heard and respected. They will communicate in ways that are easy to understand and help you feel confident about your case.

Finally, don’t be afraid to interview attorneys before choosing one to represent you. Most law firms make free initial consultations available. These appointments can provide an invaluable opportunity to ask questions, get informed, and make great choices.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you’ve been in an accident, don’t wait to secure the best injury attorney to protect your rights. We offer free initial consultations to help you get the information you need about how we can help in your specific case. Make an appointment today to learn more.

***Disclaimer: This blog is created by Heidari Law Group for educational purposes. This article provides a general understanding of the law. It does not provide specific advice. By using this site and reading through this blog, there is no attorney-client relationship created between you and any member of Heidari Law. Further, due to the constant change of the law, some parts of the information above may no longer be good law.