Reno Insurance Lawyer

When your insurance company refuses to pay what it owes, delays a legitimate claim, or acts in ways that put profits over your well-being, you need experienced Reno insurance lawyers who understand how insurers operate from the inside out.

At Leverty & Associates Law Chartered, we have spent more than four decades holding insurance companies accountable under Nevada law. Whether you are dealing with a denied claim, an unfair settlement offer, or outright bad faith conduct, our firm has the deep insurance knowledge and trial-tested experience to fight for the outcome you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

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Why Choose Leverty & Associates as Your Reno Insurance Lawyers

Our firm was built on a foundation of insurance law knowledge that most law firms simply do not have. Here is what sets us apart:

• Multi-generational family firm since 1979. Gene Leverty, a former Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the State of Nevada, and Patrick Leverty, who holds an LLM (a master’s degree) in insurance law, bring unmatched insight into how insurers evaluate and handle claims.
• Leaders in Nevada’s legal community. Gene Leverty previously served as President of the State Bar of Nevada and remains on its board. Patrick Leverty previously served as President of the Nevada Justice Association, remains on its board, and is board-certified in personal injury law.
• More than $150 million recovered for clients. Our team’s combined results reflect a long history of holding insurers to the promises they made in their policies.
• Proven insurance coverage analysis. The value of a loss often exceeds the money readily available to cover it. Our ability to identify and demonstrate that coverage applies to a loss is what separates us from firms that only dabble in insurance cases.
• Willingness to go to trial. We continuously stay current with trial practices through seminars, trial manuals, and focus groups so we are always prepared to present your case to a jury if necessary.

When you work with us, you are getting a caring, client-centered team that collaborates on every case to pursue the strongest possible result.

How Nevada Law Protects You Against Unfair Insurance Practices

Nevada takes the relationship between policyholders and their insurance companies seriously. Every insurance contract in this state carries an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, which means your insurer has a legal obligation to treat you honestly and process your claim promptly and fairly.

When an insurer violates that duty, you may have grounds for a bad faith claim. Nevada recognizes two primary paths for holding an insurer accountable. The first involves proving the insurer breached its implied duty of good faith by denying or delaying your claim without a reasonable basis. The second falls under NRS 686A.310, Nevada’s Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, which spells out specific prohibited behaviors such as misrepresenting policy provisions, failing to investigate claims promptly, and offering far less than what a reasonable person would consider fair.

It is important to know that Nevada is one of only a handful of states that gives policyholders a private right of action under the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. That means you can take your insurer to court directly for violating the law, not just for breaking the contract. If you suspect your insurance company has acted unfairly, our Reno insurance lawyers can review your situation and help you understand your options.

Types of Insurance Cases We Handle

Our firm represents clients across a wide range of insurance disputes in the Reno area. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we tailor our strategy to the specific type of coverage and conduct involved. Our practice areas include:

• Homeowner’s insurance bad faith
• Auto insurance bad faith
• Commercial insurance disputes
• Property insurance disputes
• Fire and wildfire insurance issues
• Life insurance disputes
• Disability insurance bad faith
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist disputes
• Insurance coverage analysis and disputes

Each of these practice areas involves its own set of policy provisions, legal standards, and insurer tactics. We encourage you to explore our individual practice area pages to learn more about how we can help with your specific situation.

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Recognizing Bad Faith Insurance Tactics in Nevada

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and some will go to great lengths to avoid paying what they owe. Knowing the warning signs of bad faith conduct can help you act quickly to protect your rights. Common tactics that may amount to bad faith under Nevada law include:

• Unreasonable delays in processing your claim. If your insurer is dragging its feet without explanation, that delay may violate Nevada’s requirement for prompt claim handling.
• Denying a claim without a clear, written explanation. Under NRS 686A.310, insurers must provide you with a reasonable explanation, grounded in your policy language, for any denial.
• Offering a settlement far below the actual value of your loss. Lowball offers designed to pressure you into accepting less than you deserve can be a sign of unfair practices.
• Failing to conduct a thorough investigation. Insurers have a duty to investigate your claim fairly and in good faith before making a coverage decision.
• Misrepresenting what your policy covers. If your insurer is telling you something is not covered when the policy language says otherwise, that may constitute a violation of Nevada’s insurance code.
• Pressuring you not to seek legal counsel. Nevada law specifically lists advising a policyholder not to hire an attorney as an unfair practice.

If any of these situations sound familiar, reaching out to experienced Reno insurance lawyers sooner rather than later can make a significant difference. There are time limits for filing bad faith claims in Nevada, with the statute of limitations for a bad faith tort claim generally running four years from the date of the insurer’s wrongful conduct.

What to Do If Your Insurance Company Is Treating You Unfairly

Dealing with an insurer that is not acting in good faith can be stressful and confusing. Taking a few practical steps early on can help protect your rights and strengthen any potential claim.

• Keep detailed records. Save every piece of communication between you and your insurance company, including letters, emails, recorded phone calls, and claim documents. A paper trail often tells the story of how an insurer handled your claim, and it can be powerful evidence.
• Do not accept a lowball offer under pressure. If the settlement your insurer is proposing does not match the actual value of your loss, you have the right to challenge it. Accepting too quickly can close the door on recovering what you are truly owed.
• File a complaint with the Nevada Division of Insurance. The Nevada Division of Insurance investigates consumer complaints about unfair insurance practices. While the Division cannot force payment or act as your attorney, it can hold insurers accountable and sometimes help facilitate a resolution.
• Consult with Reno insurance lawyers who understand the industry. Having an attorney who can read your policy with a trained eye, identify applicable coverages, and evaluate your insurer’s conduct is one of the most valuable steps you can take.

Our team at Leverty & Associates is available for a free consultation to review your circumstances and discuss whether you may have a bad faith case.

Why Insurance Coverage Analysis Matters

One of the most overlooked aspects of any insurance dispute is coverage analysis. Many policyholders assume that if their insurer denies a claim, the denial must be correct. In reality, insurance policies are complex documents filled with provisions, exclusions, and endorsements that require careful legal interpretation.

Our firm’s deep knowledge of insurance coverage is the bedrock of everything we do. We review your policy in detail to identify every source of coverage that may apply to your loss. This is especially important when the value of a loss is substantial, because the amount of money available to reimburse that loss often depends on how thoroughly someone examines the applicable coverages.

This is where our background makes a real difference. With Gene Leverty’s experience as a former Deputy Insurance Commissioner and Patrick Leverty’s advanced degree in insurance law, we bring a level of policy analysis that most personal injury firms cannot match. This ability to demonstrate that coverage applies is what separates our approach and often makes the difference in whether a client receives fair compensation.

Committed to the Reno Community

Our roots in Reno run deep. From the banks of the Truckee River to the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, this community is home. Patrick Leverty serves as president of the Reno Aquatic Club, a competitive age-group swim team that develops young athletes across the region. Gene Leverty is a board member of KUNR, Reno’s local NPR affiliate, supporting independent journalism and community programming.

We believe that being invested in our community helps us serve our clients better. When we sit across the table from you, we see a neighbor, not just a case number. That is why we offer free consultations and contingency fee agreements, so that financial barriers never stop someone from getting the legal help they need.

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FAQs for Reno Insurance Lawyers

Here are answers to some of the questions we frequently hear from people dealing with insurance disputes in Nevada.

What is “bad faith” in the context of insurance law?

Bad faith occurs when your insurance company fails to honor its obligations under your policy without a reasonable basis for doing so. This can include unreasonable claim denials, unnecessary delays, inadequate investigations, and misrepresenting your policy’s terms. Nevada law provides both common law and statutory remedies for policyholders who experience bad faith treatment.

How long do I have to file a bad faith claim in Nevada?

In Nevada, the statute of limitations for a bad faith tort claim is generally four years from the date of the insurer’s wrongful conduct. For claims brought under the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (NRS 686A.310), the limitations period is typically three years. Because these timelines can vary depending on the facts of your case, consulting with an attorney promptly is important.

Can I file a bad faith claim against someone else’s insurance company in Nevada?

Nevada law only recognizes first-party bad faith claims, meaning you can bring a bad faith action against your own insurance company. There is no third-party bad faith cause of action in this state, so you generally cannot sue another person’s insurer for bad faith.

What kind of damages can I recover in a bad faith insurance case?

Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover the benefits your insurer should have paid, additional damages caused by the insurer’s misconduct, and in extreme cases, punitive damages. Each case is unique, so the potential recovery depends on the specifics of the insurer’s conduct and its impact on you.

Do I need a lawyer if my insurance company denied my claim?

Not every denial rises to the level of bad faith, but having a knowledgeable attorney review your denial letter and your policy can help you determine whether the insurer’s decision was reasonable. Insurance policies contain complicated language, and what your insurer tells you is not covered may actually be covered when a trained eye examines the policy.

What does a free consultation with your firm involve?

During a free consultation, we review the details of your situation, look at your policy and any correspondence with your insurer, and give you an honest assessment of your options. There is no obligation, and we handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money on your behalf.

Can I still pursue a bad faith claim if my insurer eventually paid my claim?

In some cases, yes. If your insurer unreasonably delayed payment or engaged in unfair practices before ultimately paying, you may still have a valid bad faith claim for the damages caused by that delay.

Talk to Our Reno Insurance Lawyers Today

If your insurance company is not treating you fairly, you do not have to face them alone in that fight. Leverty & Associates Law Chartered has been standing up for Nevada policyholders since 1979, and we are ready to put more than four decades of insurance law knowledge to work for you.

Call us at (775) 322-6636 for a free consultation, or reach us at (702) 507-0201 for insurance-related matters in Las Vegas. Let us review your policy, evaluate your insurer’s conduct, and help you understand the path forward.

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