“You are not injured.”
“Your injuries are not the fault of our client.”
“Your injuries were pre-existing.”
Following a motor vehicle collision, insurance companies launch into “cost-containment” mode. They will do anything in their power to discredit the claimant, prove the fault of the other driver, and save (their own) money. In a perfect world, the insured could present to their insurer some traumatic injury suffered at the hand of another, and the insurer would provide the as-agreed-upon coverage, be it medical bills or lost income. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Unfortunately, insurance companies are businesses, acting for-profit. These cost-containment strategies encourage the claimant to accept low-ball settlements. The best way to protect your right to full compensation is to seek the auto accident lawyer Las Vegas trusts. When you make claim against your medical payment coverage, for example, your insurer may request or even require that you submit health care records for review or be examined by a doctor of their choosing. At this “Independent Medical Examination,” the insurer’s medical professional may decide that you are no longer injured or that the accident was not the proximate cause of your injury. An attorney can guarantee that the insurance company is acting according to the law in this matter.
Another strategy used by insurance companies is making a very early offer on your claim. That sudden lump sum can be very tempting! Remember that for the insurer, settling early and settling cheaply often go hand in hand – as any expenses incurred after settlement become your obligation. Consider the following when deciding on a Las Vegas auto accident attorney:
- As stated above, once you have accepted a settlement, all further expenses are your problem, whether these are in the diminished value of your vehicle, future medical expenses, or compensation for long term disability.
- One common mistake is cashing a check for property damages – when the fine print reads that doing so releases the insurance company from all other claims. Read carefully! If you are concerned about your understanding of any document from an insurance company, it is better to be safe and have it looked over by the best Las Vegas car accident lawyer.
- Signs and symptoms don’t often appear immediately after the traumatic event. Many ailments take weeks to manifest, and some limitations will not be fully realized until months after. It is important to pursue medical treatment that manages both acute and chronic problems. Do not stop treatment until you and your medical care provider agree that you are again functioning at pre-accident levels. Insurance companies point to delays in initial treatment and gaps in continuing care as examples of how not injured you are.
There is much rhetoric on the corrupting ability of money and power, and this is sometimes a built-in function of the system. In dealing with an insurance company, don’t hope for the company to “do the right thing”; they won’t give you the benefit of the doubt! Your best bet is an experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney.