In Las Vegas, there are thousands of car accidents per year. Nationally Nevada ranks 5th in the amount of car accidents. Retaining a competent and experienced car accident lawyer is vital if you are injured in a wreck. Unfortunately, we see many people attempt to represent themselves and generally that fails, badly. There are numerous studies illustrating a claimant who is represented by legal counsel, ‘net’ (after medical bills and attorney fees have been paid) in excess of three hundred percent more money has they handle their own auto accident claim. This number would be higher if we did not have so many Billboard attorney mills (usually the biggest advertising firms found on television and radio) who often leave significant money on the table at the time of settlement.
If you opt to handle your own accident and injury claim, the insurance carrier will offer you a minimal amount of settlement money intending for you to go away. Insurance carriers usually make such offers within days following the collision hoping to take advantage of the victim. At such a time, you will not have any idea as to the extent of your injuries, future prognosis or the need for future medical treatment. These propositions are known in the industry as “nuisance value offers.” In other words, the insurance carrier sees the claim as a mere nuisance. They view the unrepresented accident victim as one who has “no bite behind their bark.” The carrier will take the position that you have no ability to do anything beyond demand money as the unrepresented party does not know the lay of the land in litigation and will get chewed up by a seasoned insurance defense lawyer.
Sadly, I have seen many individuals take minimal settlements after executing a release of the negligent party. When they contact me months later after undergoing significant medical treatment; it is too late for us as they have signed away their legal rights.
Keep in mind that the playing field is not at all level. An unrepresented claimant lacks the experience or training necessary to properly negotiate with an insurance carrier. Further, such individual will not have a thorough understanding of negotiating the medical bills they will surely incur as a result of treating for their car accident-related injuries. Most claimants lack the financial resources to retain the best experts available (assuming they even know who they are) to illustrate the compensation that is commensurate with the injuries, harms, and losses suffered.
