Tag: car accidents in las vegas

Insurance Company Tricks Used to Fool Car Accident Victims

Insurance Company Tricks Used to Fool Car Accident Victims

After a car accident, you file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. After that, an adjuster, either internal or external, investigates the details. The insurance agent will gather information about the scene, damages, weather, injuries, and any unusual circumstances to determine a settlement amount. One thing that many injury victims forget is that while adjusters may seem friendly and concerned, their priority is the insurance company’s bottom line, not your well-being. With that in mind, the Las Vegas car crash lawyers at The Paul Powell Law firm discuss various insurance company tricks used to minimize your claim payout.

9 Insurance Company Tricks Adjusters May Use Against You

While some people might believe that insurance companies are there to simply help them after an accident, their primary goal is profit, just like any other business. This can lead to what’s known as insurance company tricks–deceptive tactics adjusters use to minimize your settlement. Here are nine of the most common ones to be aware of:

Advising Against Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

While it may seem convenient to trust your insurance company to resolve a car accident claim on your behalf, it is much wiser to seek out and speak to an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer first. A knowledgeable injury attorney can help you with numerous issues of your injury claim, as well as recommend good doctors to treat your injuries and represent your best interests. Insurance agents, on the other hand, typically look for the fastest solution that costs their company the least amount of money. Their need to maximize profits is why many of them advise against working with an injury attorney.

Asking for a Recorded Statement

Insurance adjusters may reach out to you quickly because they want to obtain recorded statements before you’ve had time to organize your thoughts. They hope that you’re foggy about the details of the accident and may use your own statements to lower your settlement payout. Their goals include getting you to admit some level of fault and downplay the extent of your injuries. Some insurance agents even attempt to confuse people about the facts and details of the accident. A competent Nevada injury attorney can protect you from these types of insurance agents.

Pretending to Be On Your Side

Claims adjusters, and other insurance personnel, may indicate that they are doing everything possible to settle the claim and get you paid as much as possible as soon as possible. Their real goal may be to keep you appeased and distracted long enough to allow the Nevada statute of limitations to expire on the claim.

Related: When Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney?

Offering Quick Settlements


Insurance companies may try to take advantage of you by offering an on-the-spot settlement. In most cases, the amount of money is smaller than a fair settlement. Additionally, these “quickie settlements” usually require you to sign a full release that absolves the insurance company from other damages you may be entitled to. This most often happens at the scenes of accidents, while the victims are not yet aware of the full extent of damages or injuries and are willing to settle for less compensation without realizing it.

Delaying Payment of a Claim


Insurance companies may delay payment of a claim, hoping that you will settle for anything, just to gain the quickest payment possible to cover lost wages and medical expenses. This is part of a set of insurance company tricks known as “delay, deny, defend” designed to pressure injury victims into accepting a payout that’s a fraction of what they really deserve.

Conducting Surveillance to Minimize Your Injuries

The insurance company may hire private investigators to record video or take photographs of injury victims to disprove the severity of their injuries or damages claimed. These photographs and videos may be misleading, showing you under the best possible circumstances and downplaying the day-to-day struggles of your injuries.

Using Social Media Against You

Not only will car insurance companies hire private investigators to conduct surveillance, they will also follow accident victims on social media sites looking for information and posts to challenge their claims. Insurance companies want to see if you talk about the accident on social media, possibly suggesting that you have some degree of liability or disclose negative information. The insurance company wants to see if you are engaging in activities that you should not be able to do, given the extent of your injuries.

Misrepresentation of an Insurance Policy’s Coverage

Claims adjusters sometimes misrepresent the amount of insurance available for a claim. There is often more coverage than they lead you to believe. They are not the only experts when it comes to your vehicle’s insurance policy. Working with an accomplished Las Vegas injury lawyer can help make sure that you get every dollar owed to you by the insurance company.

Denying Claim Payment


An insurance company may deny or limit their liability for paying a claim by saying the accident was your fault or partially your fault. They may do this knowing that you had no part in causing the accident. This is part of the aforementioned “delay, deny, defend” tactics. These insurance company tricks are aimed to pressure you while you’re suffering from an injury, hoping that you’ll cave in and accept their lowball offer. Don’t let the insurance company bully you. Let The Paul Powell Law Firm fight back on your behalf today.

Contact a Top Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer Today

Dealing with insurance companies can be a stressful and complicated process, especially when you believe they employ insurance company tricks to cheat you out of money that’s rightfully yours. The car crash attorneys at The Paul Powell Law Firm have decades of experience fighting against these tactics and have a proven track record for winning top compensation for our clients.

Furthermore, our firm will never take more than you receive from your case. This is documented with the State Bar of Nevada. When we say “More Lawyer. Less Fee.” we genuinely meant it and are proud to put it in writing.

Free Case Evaluation

The Paul Powell Law Firm understands that you have many choices for a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer and hopes that you’ll consider us for your personal injury claim. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to discuss your injury claim and to schedule your free consultation. You can reach us by phone at (702) 728-5500, clicking the contact button above, or visiting our Las Vegas office.

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.
Reasons to Have Your Insurance Claim Filed by an Attorney

Reasons to Have Your Insurance Claim Filed by an Attorney

We have people who help us prepare our taxes. Yet amazingly, after an accident, we abandon that good sense; having professional help. Instead of using a qualified attorney to get our insurance claim filed, we step out from under the umbrella of safety and decide that we can file the insurance claim all by ourselves. It defies logic. 

Accidents Change Lives

An injury accident changes the course and heading of a person’s life. It gets disrupted. Sometimes drastically, severely, and irreparably. They are no longer going to be able to do what they used to do. Their achievements of the past become useless relics for the future. The skills they invested in and worked so hard to perfect can no longer be done. In one cataclysmic moment, their whole plan and their cherished goals get blown apart. 

Have Insurance Claim Filed by an Injury Attorney

When entering the world of insurance claims, do not act alone. Co-pilot with The Paul Powell Law Firm. You see, here at Paul Powell, we will actually file insurance claims for you. 

Even though insurance companies rank near the top on a list of “Companies You Are Most Dissatisfied With” (only cable companies or car dealers make a worse showing), people persist in going it alone. You have to give insurance companies credit. They do a terrific job of brainwashing and training us about what to do when we have an accident, especially in the automotive world. 

Free Case Evaluation

5 Things Automotive Insurers Care About

Take car accidents, for example. Insurance companies have five areas they care most about the most.  

When there are injuries, did you:

  1. Summon emergency services 
  2. Call the police 
  3. Exchange information
  4. Document with pictures, videos, witnesses, etc.
  5. Call and report the incident to the insurance carrier first

The one at the bottom of the list is super important to them. In their world, things would be perfect if we in fact called immediately. You cannot look at an insurance document or website without seeing “If you’ve been in an accident” numbers prominently displayed. Their ultimate goal is to have us dialing them while still sitting at the scene. 

Why? Because like a runaway horse, the best way to take control of the situation is to grab it by its head right at the start. And when we have had an auto, motorcycle, slip and fall, pedestrian or bicycle accident, we become an insurance company’s runaway horse.

Why Consumers Don’t like Working with Insurance Companies

Most consumers usually dread working with insurance companies after an accident because it usually goes something like this:

  • The injured party calls and reports the accident to a warm, caring, and concerned report taker who most likely transfers them to their own “personal claims adjuster.” 
  • The claims adjuster is very concerned and the first question they ask is “Are you okay?” Of course, at that moment, the average person does not know for sure and most often responds with “Yes.”
  • Then insurance wants informational answers to seemingly benign questions which they may inform you are being recorded. What time did the accident occur? Where? Was anyone hurt? Who was involved? What happened? Were police contacted? And so on.
  • They close out this phase of the process by giving out their personal contact information and offering words of comfort, but the “die has been cast.” 
  • You are on record and everything you just said can and could be used against you to erode or defame your claim.

Over subsequent weeks 

  • The insurance company will have multiple people contact you. Perhaps a repair specialist or a medical services representative.
  • You’ll file and process paperwork back and forth in regard to auto repairs and medical treatments.
  • Insurance will recommend and offer to facilitate getting the vehicle to one of their approved and preferred repair shops.
  • You might defer that to pursue one you know better.
  • Your vehicle gets towed.
  • You might be provided with a loaner car.
  • You may or may not receive status reports about ongoing repairs. 
  • You get news about more undetected damage, supply chain delays in delivering parts, and other issues.
  • You await the final return of your vehicle, which most often fails to meet the projected deadline.
  • Should the vehicle be totaled, should there be out-of-pocket expenses, should other financial burdens have occurred, the insurance company will make an initial payment offer and press to expedite things by sending a check overnight or doing an almost instantaneous account transfer. 

Now the drama escalates 

  1. Was the amount offered fair, considering the replacement value of your vehicle? 
  2. Do your injuries still give you persistent problems? 
  3. Are you sure your current discomfort will indeed heal? 
  4. Are the medical services you receive adequate or do you need to see specialists outside your immediate area?
  5. Have you been out of work and without pay?
  6. Has your future career been impacted?
  7. Have your commitments to others gone unfulfilled? 
  8. Do issues with other involved parties still remain?

Things Tend to Work out Differently than Planned

As you answer these questions, you will probably come to the realization that it makes sense to reject or negotiate some things with the insurance company. And if things have become disagreeable or reached an impasse, you no doubt want to seek legal counsel.

Now the Insurance Company has Become Your Runaway Horse

And like the insurance companies prefer to operate, you’ll find yourself thinking you should have grabbed the head of the runaway horse right at the start! 

That happens when you have your insurance claim filed by Paul Powell. The head of the horse, the ongoing process with insurance, is under control.

Smart People Get Their Insurance Claim Filed By an Attorney

When you get your accident insurance claim filed by Paul Powell, you’ll save time, save money, save tons of aggravation, and avoid errors by putting yourself in the best hands possible right at the beginning. So as soon as humanly possible after you have been involved in an accident, any kind of accident, contact Paul Powell.

Paul wants what is best for you. He strategizes, advocates, and, when necessary, litigates for you. You pay no fees until your case is won or settled. And Paul never makes more from your case than you receive. He puts that in writing. Paul Powell. More Lawyer. Less Fee.

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.

What To Do If You Are In A Car Accident In Las Vegas

What To Do If You Are In A Car Accident In Las Vegas

Just like other cities around America, car crashes are a major concern in Las Vegas. Car accidents are unexpected and stressful, and even the most careful drivers can be involved one.

It was reported that Las Vegas ranked 144 out of 200 cities for driver safety. As a result you are  more likely to be involved in an accident here than most other major metropolitan areas. It is estimated that a typical motor vehicle driver in Las Vegas will have at least one accident every eight years. A good way to protect yourself from traffic collisions is to know the main causes.

Why Are There so Many Accidents in Las Vegas?

Car accidents occur here for a variety of reasons, but they almost always involve some degree of negligence. More so than in any other city, drunk driving is a common cause for motor vehicle accidents. It was reported that 30 percent of all traffic fatalities involved a drunk driver with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit. But there are many other causes of car accidents that people may or may not be aware of.

Distracted Driving:

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents in Las Vegas. Just think about the millions of visitors streaming into town who have never seen anything like it before, with the jaw-dropping allure and constant visuals that assault them. Add into the mix all the normal distractions like talking to passengers, eating, texting, talking on the phone, or grooming; all qualify as distracted driving. Due to the high number of crashes and citations from texting or fiddling with a cell phone while driving, Nevada has issued a no tolerance approach to texting while driving with fines starting at $50. If any driver regardless of age is caught texting or talking on their phone behind the wheel, they will be issued a citation.

DUI Incidents:

Another leading cause of car accidents in the Las Vegas valley is drunk drivers. Maybe it’s due to Las Vegas’ party image, but DUI accidents continue to occur and are a major cause of road collisions in the city. With over 8,000 arrests for DUI every year, Las Vegas leads the nation for DUI related accidents. Although it’s impossible to avoid everyone who is driving under the influence, you can avoid them and protect yourself by looking for warning signs such as drivers swerving between lanes and erratic speed.

Las Vegas Gridlock and Saw-Toothed Streets:

A not-so-commonly known cause of car accidents in Las Vegas is that the city is arranged in square-mile blocks with six lane streets at one-mile intervals. As a result, Las Vegas tends to gridlock during rush hours. Then a glut of traffic builds up waiting at the stoplights at each one-mile cross street. Antsy drivers start making impulsive, bad decisions that frequently result in car accidents.

What’s a “saw-tooth?” Ever notice how many streets in the greater Las Vegas area suddenly narrow down from three lanes to one lane with little to no warning? Then a few block later they expand to two or three lanes again? Longtime locals know our streets have been that way for years, due to the laws about who is responsible to pay for streets as real estate is developed. Locals call these “saw-tooths” and we have a ton of them. Unfortunately, saw-toothed streets can lead to unnecessary accidents.

Following too Closely:

The DMV handbook in Nevada lists the safe following distance when behind another vehicle as two seconds, but this should change depending on many factors including road conditions and how fast you are travelling. Following vehicles too closely causes injuries and even fatal accidents. In a transient, growing city like Las Vegas with lots of people new to the area, it’s not unusual to see abrupt stops and last second lane changes.

Speeding and Driving too Fast for Conditions:

The posted speed limit applies in dry conditions when the roads are in good shape. When there is bad weather or the road is not in good condition, the law states that drivers should slow to an appropriate speed. Having only four inches of precipitation per year, area streets are notorious for collecting surface oil and other automotive fluids. When rain finally does come, the streets turn notoriously slippery. Drivers often miscalculate stopping distances, which can lead to disastrous results. Give yourself time to get where you are going during inclement weather. Speeds on Las Vegas roads are often much slower than the posted limit and that one person who is in a hurry or used to driving in other cities where rain is no big deal often cause accidents. Speeding is probably the biggest cause of spin-outs, hydroplaning, and rollover accidents during and after rainstorms.

Failure to Yield Right of Way:

Failure to yield the right of way when expected to often results in T-bone collisions, side swiping, or pedestrian accidents. This happens when a driver runs through a stop sign, yield sign, red light, turns left into oncoming traffic when it’s not their turn, or does not give right of way to pedestrians. As a result, Las Vegas area pedestrian accidents are at an all-time high in recent years.

Maintaining Lanes:

Failure to maintain a lane is a cause of serious motor vehicle accidents in Nevada. Even though we have those white bumps, with frequent road construction, wear and tear and the hot sun can make lanes tough to judge. Also an aggressive driver might change lanes unsafely or quickly while leaving little room between vehicles. Add in a little distraction and this can come as a big surprise to a not-so-with-it driver. People have been known to lane drift into other vehicles going their direction and even into oncoming traffic.

Defective Equipment:

Although driver error or negligence is the most common cause for car accidents, defective products, such as tires, air bags, seat belts, and seat backs have been known to cause more than a fair share. Negligently performed automotive repairs and maintenance are a definite factor. Three weeks into summer the roads are littered with blown out tires due to the extreme heat coming off of Las Vegas roadways. As a result, road debris and hazards cause a higher incident of accidents here than elsewhere. Highway dividers and desert landscaping call for lots of rock and gravel and it’s not unusual to encounter these would be “roadway land mines.”

What You Should Do After an Accident

It is easy to see how car accidents in Las Vegas happen. While you may not be able to avoid them there are some things to do if you are involved in an automobile accident including:

Be Prepared:

  • It helps to have a pen and a card with any relevant medical information for you and your family.
  • Keep an “accident kit” in your ride, including flashlights and accident documentation instructions.
  • Know what your insurance covers. Don’t wait until after an accident to find out your insurance will not cover the cost of repair, towing, or rental cars.
  • Call our office for an insurance screening before anything occurs. We will tell you if you have enough coverage based on the cases we see and our extensive experience fighting with insurance companies.

Immediately After an Accident:

  • Safety first. Only exit your vehicle if it is safe to do so.
  • Dial 911 if there are injuries, fires, or other emergencies.
  • Call the police by dialing #311 from your phone even if the accident is minor.
  • Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights.
  • Take photos of the accident scene, your vehicle, and any vehicles involved.
  • If there are witnesses to the accident, get their information (name, number and address).
  • Do not deny medical care. Even minor injuries may take days to become ailments. Get checked out. Most insurance policies will cover a screening whether you are at fault or not. Your health and well being matters most.

Other Important Things to Remember:

  • Be polite, but don’t tell anyone the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.
  • If possible, don’t leave the accident scene before the police and other drivers do.
  • Don’t sign any document unless it’s for the police.
  • Make immediate notes about the accident scene including witness information, signal conditions, weather conditions, and any other information you can think of.
  • Don’t take legal advice from your tow truck driver, paramedic, etc. They see a lot of accidents but they do not deal with insurance companies. Call a lawyer.

A vehicle crash, especially a car accident that’s not your fault, can change the lives of people and families in an instant. The injuries can be horrific. And the aftermath for all involved can be very sad. Who will handle your doctor bills? What about lost time from work? Have you lost the use of your car? That is a lot for anyone to handle.

After a crash, your focus should be on healing. Call our office and we will handle the rest. Our team at The Paul Powell Law Firm will make sure wrongdoers are held responsible. We will make sure you are made whole again.

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.