While people can choose to manage their injury claims, it is a difficult and time-consuming process, especially when faced with the intricacies of Nevada law. According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), individuals who opt to handle a claim on their own usually end up with settlements 30% to 50% lower than those with similar claims that are dealt with through an attorney. And, self-represented plaintiffs tend to win only 51% of the time as opposed to those with legal representation who win almost 90% of the time (National Center for State Courts). Additionally, up to 70% of the self-represented cases are dismissed or do not reach a positive resolution (Legal Services Corporation). With these potential hurdles to overcome, we here to explain the importance of legal representation in a Las Vegas personal injury case, like those with Lerner and Rowe, who can help increase your odds of getting a good outcome.
How Working with an Injury Lawyer Results in a Better Settlement Amount
Legal representation from an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer lets insurance companies know you are ready to go the distance to collect what is owed.
To start, personal injury lawyers know Nevada law inside and out, relatively speaking—they know how to evaluate the different potential claims and defenses that a self-represented individual may miss. They also know how to calculate the full measure of damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, compensatory damages (pain and suffering), and long-term care costs that a non-lawyer might not fully understand.
Second, attorneys know how to negotiate with insurance companies. Attorneys are skilled negotiators, and these negotiation skills will come in handy, especially when it comes to settlement discussions. They are familiar with deceptive tactics often used with unrepresented victims to lowball and undermine chances of recovering a high-value settlement amount.
Experienced personal injury lawyers, however, can use their knowledge of prior cases and arguments to demand the best possible offer. An attorney can package the claim and convey the severity of injuries and losses suffered in negotiating a successful settlement offer. Such measures can help discourage lowball offers and make insurance companies start dealing in good faith settlement negotiations.
At Lerner and Rowe, our personal injury attorneys and support staff are experienced in handling complicated legal and administrative procedures. Our experience helps expedite the processing of our client’s cases, hence helping speed up the settlement process.
Why a Las Vegas Personal Injury Case Is More Likely to Receive a Settlement with Legal Help
When an attorney is involved, the insurance companies are more likely to take a claim seriously and offer a better settlement.
One of the main reasons you’re more likely to see recovery with legal help is that lawyers know how to progress through complicated processes in the legal world; from filing the proper paperwork to meeting deadlines. These skills reduce the risk of procedural mistakes that can prevent a case from moving forward.
In addition, lawyers have access to expert witnesses who can provide testimony and documentation that supports the validity of a claim. Among these are, of course, doctors and their associates—accident reconstructionists, when appropriate; and economists to help account for future financial impacts.
Personal injury lawyers know how to value a claim, including subjective non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. This step makes it possible for plaintiffs to obtain fair compensation for losses that they could not have won without the help of a lawyer.
Common Reasons Self-Represented Las Vegas Personal Injury Case Gets Dismissed
Plaintiffs without the benefit of representation are faced with several obstacles that all too frequently result in dismissal or delay in their cases. The biggest problem is procedural unawareness. Failure to file motions on time or to serve documents properly can result in your case being dismissed without ever getting an opportunity for a full hearing. Courts follow strict rules and timeframes, and an error could spell doom for a case.
With the legal jargon and procedures in the courtroom, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Injury victims who represent themselves may have trouble forming their arguments or even understanding motions and objections filed by the other side. The result can be unfavorable rulings that may end up undermining their case.
Another drawback is the inability to predict the other party’s strategy. The attorneys in the respective cases are all too familiar with how to outmaneuver such strategies, while individuals self-representing are unaware.
Consequently, this knowledge gap can result in incomplete claims and case dismissals. Courts can dismiss cases that don’t meet legal requirements, and without being lawyers, individuals may unintentionally fail to build a strong legal foundation for their claim.
The Time Investment Required for Self-Representation
Personal injury law can be complex, making filing a claim on your extra time-consuming. Another challenge is not understanding how to navigate legal processes.
For instance, injury claims must be filed with proper legal documentation within a certain timeframe (procedural rules vary depending on the jurisdiction). It is unlikely that someone without legal experience will know how to meet these standards. This can cause your case to be dismissed or at least delayed. Moreover, constructing a strong legal argument requires a detailed understanding of the relevant case law and statutes involved with the claim.
The next major obstacle is insurance provider negotiations. Insurance adjusters are trained to pay as little money as possible on every claim and will not hesitate to take advantage of a novice individual and try to confuse or pressure them.
You could receive less than you deserve or nothing without the help of an attorney who can accurately assess what your claim is worth by factoring in pain and suffering, wage loss, and medical costs down the road, among other things.
An experienced attorney may be able to negotiate a higher settlement amount than a self-represented victim would likely accept simply because they have dealt with these types of cases before.
And lastly, handling your case yourself can be emotionally traumatic, especially after you’ve suffered injuries in an accident. A lawyer brings objectivity to the table by helping one focus on recovery while at the same time steering clear of costly mistakes commonly made when one is not represented by a lawyer.
How Consulting with Lerner & Rowe Can Help Advance Your Case
By consulting Lerner and Rowe, you strengthen your case with a team of seasoned personal injury professionals. Rather than attempting to navigate the system yourself, we can help you better manage the legal process to avoid costly delays or oversights that could cost you your case.
Lerner and Rowe will assist in gathering important evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, and expert witnesses, needed to establish a strong case proving the true cause of your injuries. This thorough approach can lead to higher settlement offers from insurance.
In that respect, our team will also negotiate on your behalf, using years of experience in countering tactics to reduce payout amounts. Furthermore, the lawyers at Lerner and Rowe know how to correctly value your damages, including economic and non-economic damages, so you get complete compensation for every cost involved. We have a proven record for successfully representing Las Vegas personal injury victims.
Contact us today at 702-877-1500 to schedule a free Las Vegas personal injury consultation. You have nothing to lose and much to gain. Plus, per our “no fee promise,” you pay us nothing until you win compensation.
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.