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How Long Does Your Insurance Company Have to Settle a Nevada Car Crash?

nevada insurance company car crash settlements

The moments during and after a car crash can pass in a blur—often leaving you unsure of your next steps. How will you get around until your car is repaired? Who will pay for the injuries and vehicle damage you’ve sustained? Will your insurance company handle this, or do you need an attorney?

Under Nevada law, insurance companies are held to strict time limits when it comes to settling a claim, but this doesn’t mean they’ll offer what you’re truly owed. Read on to learn more about how long your insurance company has to settle a Nevada car crash claim, as well as what you should do if you’re not sure whether the deal or settlement your insurance company is offering is a good one.

What’s the Nevada Insurance Claim Timeline?

Nevada insurance companies have just under three months—or 80 working days—to settle a car accident claim once it has been filed. Along with this timeline, Nevada insurance companies are also held to strict time frames involving acknowledgment and acceptance of the claim. 

Acknowledging the claim and sending paperwork

Insurance companies have 20 working days to acknowledge receipt of the insurance claim and to send out all relevant instructions and paperwork to the policyholder. Among the items the insurance company is required to send are proof-of-loss forms, which require the policyholder to make legally-binding statements about the scope of the damage and any injuries that have been suffered. 

It’s important to keep all documents pertaining to the accident and your injuries in one easily accessible file for your Nevada car crash claim. If you have suffered major injuries that required expensive visits to the doctor’s office or a drastic change in your daily life (i.e., inability to return to work or perform necessary tasks), these documents will be vital to negotiating a proper settlement. These documents include doctor’s notes, medical bills, communication from the insurance company, proof of lost income, and any other relevant records that further prove the scope of damages you’ve suffered as a result of the accident.

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Deciding the claim

After an insurance company receives the proof-of-loss forms and other relevant documentation from the policyholder, they have 30 working days to make a decision whether to pay, deny, or settle the Nevada car crash claim. 

One reason a Nevada car crash claim may be denied is due to the other driver failing to report the accident. According to Nevada law, all drivers involved in an accident are required to report the incident to the Department of Motor Vehicles in addition to their insurance company. If the other party fails to report the accident to the insurance company in a timely manner, your claim will be denied automatically. Another reason your Nevada car crash claim could be denied is that the insurance company believes that you were more at fault than the other driver, meaning that the other driver may have provided false evidence against you.

In the event that your claim is denied, a personal injury lawyer can help you appeal your case and provide professional legal support to get you the settlement you deserve.

Making final payment

Once a Nevada car crash claim has been approved, the insurance company has another 30 working days to make the final payment. 

Combining each of these timelines means that an insurance claim can be processed and settled within 80 days of the accident. However, delays in the receipt or submission of proof-of-loss forms can often extend this timeline, as can delays in communication between the at-fault driver, the insurance companies, the adjusters, and other parties. Insurance companies can also request 30-day extensions of their deadlines, further dragging out the claim. 

What Happens When an Insurance Claim Isn’t Settled?

As a policyholder, you’re never required to accept a settlement offer. And if you’re not being offered a fair settlement for your Nevada car crash claim, if your insurance company refuses to settle the claim by arguing that you were at fault, or if your insurance company is taking far too long to make a decision on your claim, you may be able to file a lawsuit against your insurance company yourself. This is called a “bad faith lawsuit.” If you’ve been offered a settlement for your Nevada car crash claim that you believe to be inadequate, we’ve outlined some tangible steps you can take to move forward.

What To Do When a Settlement Offer is Inadequate

Find a Personal Injury Attorney: An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to walk you through your legal rights and help you understand what a reasonable settlement is for your Nevada car crash claim.

Present a Counter-Offer: Your attorney will also be able to help you communicate with the insurance company to reject their initial settlement offer, accurately present the details of your Nevada car crash claim, and negotiate a counter-offer. It’s important to enlist the help of an experienced attorney who is well-versed in how to protect your rights and ensure that insurance companies don’t take advantage of you. At Hale Injury Law, we’re committed to representing you with honesty and integrity while ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.

In Insurance Contracts, “Good Faith” is Required 

Insurance companies that operate in Nevada must adhere to various “good faith and fair dealing” requirements. These include:

  • Paying legitimate claims, up to the limit, on a reasonably prompt basis when the policyholder suffers a covered loss
  • Promptly investigating claims to determine liability
  • Defending the policyholder against liability or other insurance claims brought by third parties
  • Making efforts to settle claims in good faith

An insurance company may violate this good faith requirement and act in bad faith when it denies benefits to a policyholder while knowing that the policyholder is or should be entitled to those benefits. This can also cover negligence; an insurance company that fails to adequately investigate a Nevada car crash claim may also be guilty of bad faith.

What bad faith doesn’t cover is a mistake. If a policyholder alleges that their insurance company committed a minor oversight, made a mistake that was later corrected, or made an assessment that was reasonable at the time but turned out to be wrong, they’re unlikely to prevail in a bad faith lawsuit.  

As a policyholder, it’s important to understand your rights as you navigate your Nevada car crash claim. Some key rights include the right to hire an attorney or public adjuster, the right to a fair and unbiased evaluation of your claim, and the right to file a lawsuit if you were not able to get a fair settlement.

The Role Of Legal Representation In Speeding Up Your Nevada Car Crash Claim

Filing a Nevada car crash claim can become stressful and overwhelming. Hiring an attorney with an in-depth understanding of insurance policies, your rights, and the overall claim process can be a key resource to ensure that you receive adequate settlement in a timely manner. They’ll help you gather all required documentation, negotiate with your insurance company, and avoid common mistakes that could negatively affect your Nevada car crash claim. Among the many reasons why an automobile accident lawyer would benefit you is that they’ll also help alleviate much of the stress that comes with going through a complex legal process.

DISCOVER: What To Do After A Car Accident

What Do Plaintiffs Need to Prove in a Bad Faith Lawsuit? 

A bad faith lawsuit is a sort of hybrid of a contract claim and a personal injury lawsuit. In order for a plaintiff to establish bad faith on the part of their insurance company, they’ll need to prove three key elements by a preponderance of the evidence: 

  • The policyholder’s insurance claim is considered a “covered loss” under the policy’s language
  • This policy obligates the insurance company to pay damages to the policyholder or a third party 
  • The insurance company acted in bad faith by denying the claim or failing to defend the policyholder 

To prove each of these factors, the policyholder will need evidence. This may range from correspondence from the insurance company to video or audio communications, personal notes about conversations had with insurance representatives, crash scene photos, and medical records. Through the discovery process, a plaintiff may also be able to take depositions (or sworn interviews) of key personnel, seek requests for admission and interrogatory responses from the insurance company, and even request internal insurance company communications. 

What Does Bad Faith Include?

Insurer bad faith can take many forms. Some of the most common types of bad faith claims involve: 

  • Refusal to promptly and fairly investigate a valid claim
  • Failing to establish or adhere to reasonable standards for investigation
  • Misrepresenting provisions of the policy or what is covered
  • Failing to communicate with the policyholder about a claim
  • Ignoring a claim after it has been filed
  • Providing misleading information about policy coverage to the policyholder or a third party 
  • Impeding the policyholder’s ability to defend against a third-party claim
  • Undervaluing a claim without adequate support
  • Requiring excessive or irrelevant paperwork from the policyholder before processing a claim 
  • Attempting to coerce the policyholder into settlement 
  • Failing to act in the policyholder’s best interests

It’s important to point out that bad faith only applies when there’s no valid reason to deny a claim. If a policy exclusion applies—for example, if you allow someone else to borrow your vehicle, drive while under the influence, or allow certain coverages to lapse—the terms of your insurance policy may allow your insurance company to decline coverage in good faith.

But because these types of actions can occur at any stage in the insurance claim process, it’s often a good idea to consult a personal injury attorney as soon as you can. Not only can your attorney give you a fair idea of how much your Nevada car crash claim is worth, but they can also help you fight back against the insurance company’s overreach or its failure to adequately investigate your claim or pursue damages from those responsible. 

What Damages are Available in a Bad Faith Lawsuit?

A plaintiff who is able to establish the three elements of an insurance bad faith claim may be eligible to recover both compensatory and punitive damages from the insurance company.

Compensatory damages are designed to cover a policyholder’s actual losses. They can include: 

  • The funds the insurance company should have paid initially
    • Medical bills
    • Property damage
    • Lost wages
    • Loss of future earnings
    • Other expenses stemming from the accident 
  • The costs of hiring an attorney to seek payment of the insurance claim 
  • Any amounts the policyholder was required to pay out of pocket to defend a claim
  • Emotional distress damages caused by the insurance company’s bad faith

Punitive damages may also be available in certain extreme cases. These damages aren’t necessarily connected with any out-of-pocket costs the plaintiff has suffered, and instead are awarded in cases where the insurance company is shown to have acted with fraud, malice, or oppression. Nevada has no cap on the amount in punitive damages a plaintiff may be awarded if an insurer is shown to have acted in bad faith. 

FAQs: Understanding Timelines of Nevada Car Crash Claims

What Factors Affect the Duration of Car Accident Settlements?

Some factors that affect the duration of a Nevada car crash claim include the severity of the accident, the extent of damages, delays in communication, and time spent negotiating the settlement.

What Are Common Delays in Settling Auto Insurance Claims and How Can They Be Mitigated?

Delayed communication between key parties and failure to promptly provide proof-of-loss documents can slow down the process of a Nevada car crash claim. Finding a reliable personal injury attorney can help you avoid these delays and secure an adequate settlement. 

How Does the Severity of a Car Accident Impact the Settlement Timeline?

Severe car accidents will likely take longer due to the increased time needed to diagnose injuries and damages properly. The time spent on negotiating a proper settlement amount may also take longer. Hiring an attorney can help expedite this process.

Talk to Hale Injury Law, a Nevada Personal Injury Attorney 

Even a straightforward car accident claim may be more complicated than it first appears. And insurance companies don’t have your best interest in mind—their focus is on settling claims as quickly as possible, for as little as possible.

An experienced personal injury attorney such as Hale Injury Law can help evaluate a Nevada car crash claim, assess responsibility, and take all the steps necessary to ensure that those who are responsible pay for the damages caused. But don’t just take our word for it — take a look at what one of our clients had to say about his experience.

I experienced a traumatic car accident and was pretty clueless as to what to do next since it was my first one. I came to Hale Injury Law and put my case in the hands of Leila Hall and Mayra Santos. I was taken care of 1000%. Along the way, I was told of every step, and the team was very transparent. I recommend them to anyone looking for a professional and compassionate lawyer team to look out for you.” – Travis C. 

There are strict time limits on when a Nevada bad faith insurance lawsuit may be filed. While there are exceptions to these limits that may apply in certain cases, it’s always a good idea to consult an attorney as soon as possible after an accident. You may be pressured to settle your Nevada car crash claim quickly, for less than it’s worth, and before the entire scope of damages has been appropriately assessed. At Hale Injury Law, we’re dedicated to understanding the full breadth of your Nevada car crash claim to ensure you can recover physically, emotionally, and financially. 

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