Las Vegas Bad Faith Car Insurance Attorney

Why Choose Us?

Since 1979, Leverty & Associates has protected clients like you from predatory insurance companies. Our 42 years in the business have provided us with experience combating some of the tricks and shenanigans that insurance companies will employ to deny or reduce your claim.

But we prefer to let our results speak for themselves. In one case, we settled for $9.3 million on a bad faith claim involving an insurance company going to trial without their customer’s approval. Then, the insurance company sued our client, claiming she wasn’t driving an insured vehicle.

We recouped the initial claim, $600,000 for emotional distress, and a further $8.7 million in punitive judgment against the insurance company to penalize their bad actions.

When you have an attorney focusing on bad faith insurance claims, you can overcome the dishonest tactics insurance companies use.

How We Can Help

Navigating the aftermath of a car accident can be a daunting experience, especially when dealing with insurance companies. As a client of Leverty & Associates, you benefit from our knowledge about how insurance companies operate, how they deny or downplay claims, and the “doublespeak” they may use to confuse people who don’t understand their policies. Here are ways we help;

• Thorough Investigation: Our experienced attorneys will comprehensively investigate the circumstances of your claim. This includes reviewing policy documents, accident reports, and any communication with the insurance company to identify instances of bad faith.
• Expertise in Insurance Laws: Understanding the intricacies of insurance laws is essential in challenging bad faith claims. Our attorneys possess in-depth knowledge of Nevada’s insurance regulations and consumer protection laws, enabling us to build a strong case on your behalf.
• Negotiation Skills: Our attorneys are adept at negotiating with insurance companies to seek a fair and just settlement for your claim. By presenting a compelling case and leveraging our negotiation skills, we strive to secure the compensation you rightfully deserve.
• Litigation if Necessary: Our attorneys are prepared to take your case to court when negotiations fail to yield a satisfactory outcome. With a proven track record in litigation, we will advocate for your rights and pursue the compensation you are entitled to through the legal system.
• Advocacy for Maximum Compensation: Whether it’s property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering, our attorneys will diligently pursue all avenues to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available under your policy.

What Is Considered Bad Faith?

In Nevada, “insurance bad faith” refers to any wrongful actions committed by insurance companies to evade fulfilling their policyholders’ claims. When individuals purchase insurance policies, they trust that the insurance provider will compensate them when a claim is filed. Policyholders are entitled to coverage under the specified terms of their policy, and when insurance companies fail to fulfill this obligation, they are engaging in bad faith practices.

Essentially, bad faith insurance occurs when an insurance company unreasonably and unlawfully mishandles a claim, indicating a lack of genuine effort to resolve it in good faith. Unfortunately, many insurance companies neglect their duty of due care more frequently than one might expect, leaving numerous unsuspecting victims in their wake.

Nevada’s laws on bad faith insurance explicitly stipulate that all insurance companies must extend an “implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing” to their policyholders. If a company neglects this legal duty and fails to handle a claim fairly, the affected policyholder can likely pursue a bad-faith insurance lawsuit.

Recognizing Bad Faith Insurance Practices

A Car Insurance Bad Faith Attorney Helps You Get Justice

When you select your car or motorcycle insurance policy, you expect the insurance carrier to deal with you in good faith if you are involved in an accident. Insurance companies are legally required to operate in good faith, called a covenant of fair dealing. Good faith practices by insurance carriers include:

• Paying a reasonable claim on time
• Ensuring that the claim’s payout is sufficient for the damages
• Conducting a thorough investigation of the accident circumstances
• Communicating often with clients
• Presenting valid reasons in writing if a claim is denied.

If an insurance company doesn’t follow these basic requirements for dealing with its customers, it may be considered to be acting in bad faith. You can spot potential bad faith actions by paying close attention to what your insurance company is doing — and what they aren’t. This includes:

• Delayed or incomplete payments
• A low settlement offer
• Insufficient investigations or procrastination in investigating an accident
• Not responding to your communications
• Denials with no good reason
• The insurance agent or adjustor made mistakes when handling your claim
• Your auto insurance policy is canceled after you file a claim.

These aren’t the only bad-faith insurance practices. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous insurance companies are out there, and bad faith can take many forms.

Sometimes, agents may make an honest mistake, but often, insurance companies that make these kinds of errors and omissions are intentionally acting in bad faith. A car insurance bad faith attorney can give you a better perspective on what is and isn’t bad faith.

You may think that the insurance company is there to protect you because you’re insured. They are not. They are a business, and their business is to make money by paying as little money as possible, as rarely as possible. Some insurance companies have a bonus structure for claims processors that rewards them for saving the company money on customer claims!

Bad faith insurance practices are rooted in the desire for companies to improve their bottom line. This can take precedence over paying their customers the settlement they’re rightfully owed.

When you purchase insurance coverage, you enter into a contractual agreement with the carrier to fulfill their obligation. If they don’t hold up their end of the bargain, you may need services from a bad-faith insurance lawyer to get your entitled money.

Your Bad Faith Car Insurance Attorney Will Stand Up for Your Rights

What You Don’t Know About Your Auto Insurance Policy Could Hurt You

Before starting an insurance claim, you may want to consult with a bad-faith insurance attorney. You may not realize this, but anything you say to your insurance adjuster may be construed as a reason for denying your claim or reducing the amount they offer.

However, when you have a car insurance claim denied lawyer, you have a legal advocate who understands the laws regulating insurance companies and has experience fighting for their clients against corrupt insurance companies.

You consider your insurance company and make sure to pay your premiums on time so that when you need their help, the carrier will come through. However, dishonest insurance companies often use predatory or underhanded tactics to minimize valid claims or deny or delay payouts.

How to Determine If You’re in a Bad Faith Situation

If you filed your claim without hiring an attorney but started to suspect something was wrong, getting representation from an auto insurance dispute lawyer is not too late.

If your claim was denied, the payout is lower than you need to fix your car and pay your medical bills, or if you have difficulty getting hold of the insurance company, then it’s time to contact one of our Las Vegas car insurance claims denied lawyers. We will evaluate your circumstances to determine the issues you’re facing.

Not every denied claim or hard-to-get-hold-of insurance adjuster means the company is acting in bad faith. Our legal team has the knowledge and experience you need to make that distinction, and we can help you get the money you’re entitled to if we find that the insurance carrier is not holding up their end of the coverage contract.

Then, we devise a strategy to hold that insurance company accountable. We may take over communication with the insurance carrier, acting on your behalf. We will also gather evidence to prove that the company isn’t acting in good faith and can appeal your claim with either the insurance company or even take them to court.

A Las Vegas Bad Faith Insurance Attorney Takes Action Against Auto Insurance Companies

Suppose that you decide to take action against your insurance carrier. In that case, it’s best to secure representation from a car insurance bad-faith attorney who has previously dealt with shady insurance companies. Once your lawyer looks your case over, you can proceed with your bad faith claim.

If the insurance company is found to be acting in bad faith, then not only will you be awarded the amount for your initial claim, but you may be given further compensation from the judge, such as:

• Statutory penalties, damages that have already been established by a state or federal statute
• Punitive damages, which are financial punishment for the company and a deterrent to keep them from acting like this in the future
• Damages for emotional distress or stress from not having a working vehicle.

If your withheld claim is larger than normal, the judge may impose stiffer penalties on the insurance company, as you suffered more harm than someone with a minor claim.

How We Prove Bad Faith

We Stand Up to Aggressive Insurance Carriers

To prove bad faith, your car insurance claim denied lawyer must first prove that the carrier breached its good faith obligation. At Leverty & Associates, we make a case that the company did not have a valid cause to deny your claim, as per your policy, and that they refused to pay the claim as per the terms of their obligation.

While this may seem straightforward, proving a bad-faith insurance claim can be complicated. Take a look at your insurance policy. Do you see the vague terms — or can you even read them in such small print? Sometimes, deciding whether your policy covers your claim involves interpreting the tricky language.

Luckily, our legal team understands how to interpret this cloudy language and can even use the insurance company’s own vague wording against them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Las Vegas Bad Faith Car Insurance Claim Denials

Although each case is different, many of our insurance bad faith clients share these common questions about their cases.

Do I need to use an insurance lawyer after a car accident?

After an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, property damage, time missed at work, and emotional trauma. An insurance company — either yours or that of the at-fault party — often pays these claims for the accident. If a bad faith insurance lawyer represents your claim, you benefit from their specific knowledge and litigation experience.

Do I have a case for a bad-faith insurance lawsuit?

Every set of circumstances is different, and even if your insurance carrier isn’t acting in good faith, they may not be acting in bad faith. That’s why we offer a free consultation at Leverty & Associates to determine whether you have a case.

How much will an auto insurance dispute lawyer cost?

Sometimes, a case against an insurance company can take weeks, months, or even years, depending on the circumstances. The legal team at Leverty & Associates believes that plaintiffs like you shouldn’t have to forgo their legal right to pursue a claim because of prohibitive expenses.

Therefore, we offer a contingency fee arrangement, which means we work with you to determine a percentage of any settlement we win to cover our legal fees. This means you won’t pay until and unless we win your case.

Will my bad-faith lawsuit go to court?

Fighting a bad-faith insurance claim in court is usually a last resort. While your Leverty & Associates bad faith car insurance attorney is fully determined to fight before a judge and jury on your behalf, we will start by working with the insurance carrier to negotiate a settlement or appeal the denied claim.

Sometimes, we will work through mediation. This allows us to see what the insurance company says about your case. We’ll take the case to trial if it doesn’t work out. If your case goes to court, we are right beside you, ready to answer your questions and explain each step of the process.

If you face a potential bad-faith car insurance claim denial in Las Vegas, it’s essential to act swiftly. Consulting with a knowledgeable attorney can provide valuable insights, guide you through the legal process, and help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve in these challenging situations.

Do You Need a Las Vegas Bad Faith Insurance Attorney?

If you’ve had a worker’s compensation claim denied or your car accident claim challenged, we can help. The legal team at Leverty & Associates has the experience you need to ensure that your rightful claim is paid.