Many people think that you should only hire a car accident lawyer as a last resort. This couldn’t be further from the truth. So when do you actually need to hire a Las Vegas car accident lawyer? Various factors can play a role in the answer, including the facts and circumstances of your case.
You can hire a Las Vegas, NV, car accident lawyer immediately after getting into a car accident. The earlier you hire the lawyer, the more likely you are to resolve your case quickly and get full compensation. Plus, you won’t need to deal with the headaches that come during the car insurance claim process.
If you’ve already started the claim process, don’t worry, you can still hire a lawyer at any point. In fact, Battle Born Injury Lawyers is ready to take on your case. Contact us at (702) 570-9000.
Car Insurance Requirements in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, has a fault-based insurance program. This means that when you get into an accident, you can file an insurance claim with the person who caused the accident.
Every person who registers a car in Nevada must have some form of car insurance. There is a 25/50/20 rule, which means each policyholder must have a minimum of:
- $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident
- $20,000 in property damage coverage
You can choose to get coverage above these minimums as extra protection. If your damages exceed the maximum of the policyholder, then you can seek compensation directly from the at-fault party. A Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help you understand the car insurance requirements.
Calculating Damages After a Car Accident
Before you file a car insurance claim, you need to calculate your damages. A Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help you with this as well.
In Nevada, you are eligible to recover money for monetary damages like:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages and future earning capacity
- Mental health treatment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
- Domestic help (if you can no longer perform the same tasks at home that you used to)
- Pharmaceuticals
You can also recover compensation for non-monetary damages. This is compensation for the emotional harm and trauma of an accident. This may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement and permanent disability
Unfortunately, many people who don’t hire a lawyer aren’t aware that they might be entitled to more money for their emotional trauma. That’s why it’s always a good idea to consult a lawyer when totaling your damages.
We handle all types of car accident claims, including:
- Distracted driving accidents
- DUI accidents
- Head on crashes
- Highway crashes
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Intersection crashes
- Multi-Vehicle crashes
- Rear-end crashes
- Single vehicle accidents
- Speeding
- Lane change crashes
- Red and yellow light accidents
- Self-driving accidents
- U-Turn Accidents
When To Hire a Car Accident Lawyer After a Crash in Las Vegas
There are many circumstances where it is likely in your best interest to hire an attorney after a car accident in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Since most Las Vegas car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, you won’t need to pay them anything unless you get a settlement. Then, you’ll pay a set percentage from the award. There’s no financial downside to hiring a lawyer early, but there is a huge financial upside.
Before Filing an Insurance Claim
The best time to hire a car accident lawyer is before filing an insurance claim. The lawyer can help you gather evidence and calculate your damages. This may include collecting medical records, documenting income records, and filling out tedious paperwork.
When you file the claim, you will speak to an insurance adjuster, who will probably take your statement. Insurance adjusters are looking for ways to get out of paying you money. You want to make sure that you don’t say anything that can put your claim at risk of denial. A lawyer can advise you on what to say and what not to say.
After Receiving a Claim Denial
If you’ve already filed the claim and it has been denied, you should hire a lawyer. Just because the insurance company denied your claim doesn’t mean the case is over. An attorney can look at the basis for the denial and negotiate with the insurance company to potentially overcome it.
Unfortunately, many people without a lawyer aren’t aware of this and just accept the denial as the end of the case.
During Negotiations
Sometimes insurance companies refuse to pay your full damages.
If an insurance company offers you a lowball settlement, you should hire a lawyer to engage in negotiations. The threat of a lawyer and lawsuit is often enough for insurance companies to consider a higher settlement.
To File a Lawsuit
If you can’t come to a fair settlement with the insurance company, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit. You should strongly consider hiring a lawyer by this time.
Personal injury lawsuits are highly technical and complicated for people without a legal background. Your lawyer will file a complaint with the court and then begin the discovery process. It might even go to trial if you can’t settle. This process can last months or even years.
If you are busy recovering from your injuries or have other responsibilities, you won’t have the time necessary to handle the legal case. Even if you do, you are likely to have a worse outcome without a lawyer.
It’s important to hire a car accident attorney that has experience and knowledge of the law so that you can maximize your chances of recovery. Plus, you can focus on healing and getting your life back in order instead of the monotonous details of a lawsuit.
Call Battle Born Injury Lawyers To Help You After a Car Accident in Las Vegas
Battle Born Injury Lawyers has over 85 years of combined experience helping car accident victims in Las Vegas and throughout the State of Nevada. We can help you navigate the insurance process and negotiations; we also aren’t afraid to go to trial. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients.
Don’t hesitate to give us a call for a free consultation with an experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney. We are ready to jump in and help you at any point in the process.
Additional Auto Accident Resources
- Airbag injuries
- Most dangerous road intersections
- Statistics
- Uninsured motorists claims
- Nevada car accident laws
Learn more about car accident FAQs:
