Frequently Asked Questions

The sooner, the better. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, a top priority should be hiring a personal injury lawyer.

Delays in discussing the case with a qualified Reno personal injury lawyer can harm your chances of a favorable outcome. We want our clients to speak to us before giving any statements to the insurance companies involved. While you should report the accident to your insurance carrier right away, you should keep in mind that any telephone calls with insurance representatives are being recorded. We also advise our prospective clients not to sign anything without first consulting with us.  

At Jensen Personal Injury Law, we specialize in the following types of cases:

• Vehicle Collisions: Big rig, motorcycle, bicycle, buses and trains, distracted & impaired driving, pedestrian accidents, and roadway defects
• Trip or Slip and Falls: Falls due to dangerous or defective conditions, such as broken stairs, improper lighting, damaged walkways and parking lots, spilled liquids, snowy and icy conditions
• Animal Attacks: Dog bites or knockdowns, injuries caused by other domestic or exotic animals
• Other Premises Injuries: Falling merchandise, elevator & escalator malfunctions, toxic chemical exposures, injuries caused by inadequate security, and dropped luggage on trains or planes
• Serious or Permanent Injury: Amputations, brain injuries, paralysis, scarring and disfigurement, spinal injuries, vision and hearing loss or damage, and burns
• Nursing Home Negligence: Bed sores, injuries from lack of supervision, sexual abuse, malnourishment, and physical abuse
• Products Liability: Defective consumer products, toys, medical devices, and medications

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee, which means they only get paid if they win your case. The fee will be a percentage of the settlement. This mutually beneficial arrangement allows the client to have legal representation without any upfront fees or costs. It also provides an incentive for the personal injury lawyers to represent their client to the fullest of their ability.

It is almost always helpful to have a free consultation with an accident lawyer. A personal injury can turn a person’s life upside down, and recovering is never easy. An accident lawyer can provide peace of mind and offer reassurance during an otherwise tumultuous time. Aside from serving as an ally, accident lawyers often provide quality legal support without requiring any upfront costs. By working on a contingency fee, accident lawyers only accept payment if they win your case, meaning you get all of the support without the risk of paying attorney’s fees upfront.

A personal injury attorney’s primary goal is to advise their clients on the best way to handle their personal injury case to achieve the best possible result. The support begins with an initial consultation between attorney and client to discuss the case details. During this time, the personal injury attorney will ask questions to better understand the accident, as well as the client. If the case is accepted, the personal injury attorney will perform the following tasks:

• Take over all communications with the at-fault party and any insurance companies involved
• Investigate the claim and gather evidence
• Provide the client with advice for discussing the case with others
• Once medical treatment concludes or the client’s condition stabilizes, advise the client on the value of the claim and begin settlement negotiations with the approval of the client
• If negotiations do not result in a settlement, your attorney may need to file a lawsuit, if necessary.
• Litigate the claim and take the case to trial in court if necessary

When working with a personal injury lawyer, you should expect clear and consistent communication, a detailed investigation of your case, and if the case goes to trial, aggressive litigation. Your personal injury lawyer will also act as your representative when dealing with the insurance company, which is why it’s crucial to obtain legal assistance as soon as possible. If your lawyer is not performing these duties, it may be time to reconsider the partnership.

A personal injury attorney works for you, so you can fire them with or without reason. Typically, a client will fire their attorney over poor communication, a lack of confidence in their ability, low levels of trust, or escalating disagreements.  

Your case hinges on an in-depth knowledge of insurance companies and personal injury law. Talented and knowledgeable personal injury lawyers provide both of these invaluable skills. Hiring a skilled and well-respected personal injury attorney will drastically improve your chances of success. A personal injury lawyer also serves as a pillar of support during a time when it seems like the world is against you.

While every injury is troublesome, not every injury is fit for a personal injury case, and there may be several reasons why an accident lawyer is not taking your case. If the accident was not the result of negligence, or if you were at fault, you may lack grounds for pursuing a personal injury case. The severity of the injury can play a role in determining whether or not the case will be economically feasible to handle. Finally, if too much time passes since the accident, you may lose the right to pursue the case. For most negligence actions in Nevada, the claim must be settled or a lawsuit filed within two years of the accident. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. You should not assume a two-year statute of limitations applies to your case. A lawyer should advise you on this.

You should assume that the opposing insurer will obtain anything you post on social media and use it as evidence against you. It is a best practice to avoid posting anything on social media after an accident and avoid having others take photos or videos of you that can be posted by them on social media until your claim has settled. Emotions run high after an accident, and you may write something that hurts your case. Even if you consider the post to be a harmless explanation of the situation, the slightest misstep could come back to haunt you.

Not all personal injury claims require the filing of a lawsuit, so the case may never reach court. Typically, the value of a personal injury claim cannot be fully analyzed until the injured person has completed their treatment, or enough time has elapsed to assess what future treatment and damages are likely to be involved. If a favorable settlement is reached with the insurance company, substantial time and money can be saved by avoiding court. However, if the insurance company refuses to pay a fair value, a lawsuit may be necessary. While there is no set timeline for legal proceedings, you shouldn’t expect the case to immediately end up in a trial.

While it is possible to make a personal injury claim without a lawyer, we do not recommend it. Personal injury law is extremely complex, and trying to handle the claim yourself could cause you to lose your rights and leave you vulnerable to the insurance company’s tricks. By enlisting the help of an experienced Reno personal injury lawyer, you gain thousands of hours of expertise and an intricate knowledge of applicable injury law. Working with a lawyer ensures that you are on course to obtain the best possible outcome.