If you’ve been in an automobile accident in the Las Vegas area serious enough to cause injuries, I have some important information for you to help you ensure that you are compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, automobile repairs and any other expenses, which can be extremely costly.
As a Las Vegas lawyer specializing in automobile accidents, I am an expert on best practices for those injured on the road. If you’re hoping an insurance company is going to pay off the costs you’ve incurred from an accident, including medical treatment, these are some important pieces of information you need to know.
- The insurance company is not your friend. Do not negotiate with them on your own, especially not right after the accident, when you may not thinking clearly. You are much more likely to say the wrong thing to an insurance adjuster when you are upset and angry after an automobile accident, and this will hurt your claim.
Many people misunderstand the nature of their relationship with their insurance company and assume that the company is acting in their best interest and is on their side. This is not the case.
An accountant does their job well when they maximize the amount of money you receive on your tax return. An insurance adjuster is the opposite: they are good at their job when they minimize the amount of money paid out in claims such as yours.
They are trained by their superiors to figure out how to interview you so that you divulge information that helps them reduce the seriousness of the accident and its impact on your life. This allows them to deny your claim or reduce the amount of your compensation. They may badger you for information, or they may seem kind and caring so that you “trust” them and talk more openly. - Do not sign any paperwork or submit to any recorded interviews with an insurance company without consulting an automobile accident attorney. Just because an insurance company asks you to do something, does not mean you have to comply.
They may also ask for contact information for your family members or friends or coworkers, in order to interview these people while processing your claim. This is an unnecessary intrusion into your life and you are not required to comply with this request. - Do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. In fact, you’re going to want to stay off social media altogether until your claim is processed and you’ve been awarded compensation from the insurance company.
You should know that insurance companies routinely employ investigators who will scrutinize your actions after the accident to ensure that you really are injured and are deserving of compensation. It is not unheard for these investigators to actually follow you and watch you going to work or school, and it’s even easier for them to track your actions on social media.
If you post about how excited you are for your ski vacation in Colorado, they’re going to conclude that your injuries must not be that serious. If you post about hitting the casinos over the weekend or playing with your grandchildren, they’re going to use this information against you with the insurance company.
Trust me when I say to stay off social media channels altogether until your claim has been settled. - Don’t delay seeking medical attention. This is crucial. A key aspect of your claim will be doctor’s notes and documentation of medical attention sought and expenses incurred. You want to visit the doctor immediately, and comply fully with any treatment prescribed for you, including keeping all appointments and taking all medications.
Remember, an insurance company is seeking out any opportunity to minimize the seriousness of your claim. If you don’t go to the doctor, or blow off appointments, you can rest assured that they will determine you must not be that injured after all. - Keep your own records. Write down how the accident is negatively impacting your life as it happens, including lost wages and work time, and any other expenses you incur because of the accident, such as transportation, the cost of home care attendants, medications, etc.
You will want to record the pain and suffering you are experiencing as a result of the accident each day, if possible. You can use a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least amount of pain and 10 being the highest. For example, an entry would read: “Today my pain level is a 7.”
Record the physical limitations you’re experiencing because of the accident and how they are affecting you. Also, save all receipts from purchases relating to the accident that clearly show dates and the vendor’s name.
This information will be extremely helpful to your case. The more details you provide, the harder it will be for the insurance companies to not take you seriously. - Hire a Las Vegas automobile accident lawyer to represent you. You can consult for free with us and we won’t see a dime in compensation unless your case is successful.
My firm, Day & Nance, offers free consultations to automobile accident victims with no obligation to hire us. We will review the facts of your case with you, and earn the privilege to represent you. We will negotiate with the insurance companies completely on your behalf, while you focus on healing from your accident.
Don't decimate your savings or your children’s college fund paying for the damages caused by an automobile accident.
The truth is that insurance adjusters are snapped to attention when a claim lands on their desk that has an automobile accident lawyer involved. This is because a lawyer is an extremely formidable opponent, and will know exactly how to push the adjuster to award your claim the maximum compensation amount allowed.
We’ve all had the infuriating experience of dealing with a cold and indifferent corporate employee: imagine having someone on your side to deal with this person and compel them to help you out, someone who knows all the complexities of the law and exactly how to use it to your benefit. This is my job, and I’ve been dealing with these auto insurance companies for 25 years now, saving countless people just like you a world of trouble and expense.
Don’t allow the insurance companies to treat your claim like just another number or to deny you the compensation and treatment you deserve. Let me get to work for you, while you focus on resting and recovering from your accident. No up front fee.
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