Year: 2017

Auto Safety Issues Often Overlooked

Published on December 4, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Car Accident

Drivers often overlook important safety issues such as vehicle defects, recalls, and proper maintenance that contribute to dangerous auto accidents. A vehicle’s age and style, and the type and scope of a safety-related recall have a significant impact on whether or not a recall is addressed or repairs are ever completed. When motor vehicle owners fail to make repairs, perform maintenance or address safety-related recalls, they place themselves, their families and other motorists at risk for serious injury and death. Overlooked Safety Issues Ignoring important safety issues and [...]
+ Continue Reading

Does Your Disability Insurance Company Have You Under Surveillance?

Published on October 26, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Insurance Bad Faith

Surveillance is a common tool used by disability insurance companies during the claims process. Insurance companies often hire private investigators to follow the activities of claimants who file for disability insurance benefits. Surveillance and Claim Investigations Disability insurance companies often use surveillance tactics during the claims process to determine benefit eligibility. Insurers claim that surveillance is used only as a fraud prevention tool to ensure that a claimant’s disabilities are legitimate. However, in some cases, surveillance is also used to deny claims. Private investigators are often employed by [...]
+ Continue Reading

The Number of Consumers With Medical Bills Denied Might Surprise You [Infographic]

Published on September 27, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Health Care Litigation

As many as 53 million insured Americans are denied payment for medical bills by their health insurance company. Recent medical data shows that 24 percent of insured individuals are denied payment for prescribed medical treatments.   Denied Payment for Medical Treatments Over the last few years, many Americans have gained health insurance with the help of healthcare reforms through Obama Care (Affordable Care Act), however, many of those insured individuals with persistent conditions and chronic illnesses are facing medical billing denials for treatments. According to data from the [...]
+ Continue Reading

A Denied Insurance Claim Could Cost Your Life

Published on September 20, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Insurance Bad Faith

In states where assisted suicide is legal, some insurance companies are denying patient claims for expensive, life-saving medical treatments and offering cheaper payments for assisted suicide instead. Fatal Consequences of Denied Claims According to a physician in Nevada, insurance companies that operate in states with legal assisted suicide laws are denying medical claims for patients and offering cheaper assisted suicide options. Although these are life-saving treatments for many patients, insurance companies are focused on cheaper treatments that save the company money with no regard for patients’ care or [...]
+ Continue Reading

Is Time Running Out on Your Ability to File a Bad Faith Insurance Claim?

Published on September 6, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Insurance Bad Faith

The statute of limitations for bad faith insurance claims in Nevada is based on statutory grounds or common law. Claims filed under statutory grounds must be filed within three years of the violation, while claims filed under the common law must be filed within four years. Filing a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Nevada According to Nevada law, insurance companies have a duty to act in good faith and provide fair services to all policyholders. If an insurance company breaches its duty to provide a fair assessment of [...]
+ Continue Reading

Why Were My Disability Benefits Denied?

Published on August 30, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Insurance Bad Faith

Disability insurance claims are denied for a variety of reasons, including insurance companies acting in bad faith. Denial of disability insurance benefits can result in unpaid medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages.   Denial of Disability Benefits People with disabilities count on their disability insurance benefits to cover a variety of expenses. When benefits are denied or delayed, a disabled individual can end up with thousands of dollars in unpaid medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages, especially with long-term disabilities. If a claim is denied or [...]
+ Continue Reading

Is an Insurer Responsible for Pre-Tender Defense Costs? [Infographic]

Published on August 9, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Infographic, Insurance Bad Faith

In most Nevada bad faith insurance cases, an insurer is not liable for pre-tender defense costs that were voluntarily incurred by an insured party but may be liable to a co-insurer for pre-tender costs incurred before the defense was tendered to the insurer. (Article continues below Infographic) ______ What are Pre-Tender Defense Costs? Pre-tender defense costs are costs incurred by an insured policyholder to defend a bad faith claim before he/she tenders the claim to the insurance company. In most jurisdictions, the insured pays for pre-tender defense costs. [...]
+ Continue Reading

What Effect Do Bad-Faith Insurance Laws Have On First-Party Insurance Claims?

Published on August 3, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Insurance Bad Faith

Nevada law permits bad faith insurance claims between first-party claimants and insurance companies because the parties have a contractual relationship. If it is proven that the insurance company acted in bad faith, the claimant is entitled to damages. Bad Faith Insurance Claims In Nevada, the law states that every contract imposes the duty of good faith and fair dealing upon the contracting parties. A breach of contract or failure to perform duties in good faith constitutes “bad faith” between the parties in the contract. Bad faith insurance claims [...]
+ Continue Reading

A Roundup of Significant Bad Faith Insurance Verdicts

Published on July 13, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Insurance Bad Faith

It is a simple fact that many insurance companies have a financial incentive to slow-pay claims or deny them. When an insurer employs this or related tactics to keep from justly paying claims, it is called a bad-faith action. Holding such firms accountable is the work of attorneys. Unfortunately, such situations are not rare.It is a simple financial calculation for many bad faith insurers to determine the net return gained by delaying, contesting, or simply not paying a valid claim. As just one example, the Reno – Everest [...]
+ Continue Reading

Common Reasons Claims are Denied

Published on June 16, 2017, by Matthew Sharp

Insurance Bad Faith

Unscrupulous insurance companies often attempt to deny health insurance claims by either delaying payment or making the process so onerous that the claimant simply gives up and drops the claim. This type of bad faith insurance behavior is more common than people want to think, and the following are some of the most common ways it manifests. Patient Went “Out of Network” Some insurance companies will act in bad faith by creating very limited networks of physicians for patients to see. When a patient seeks care from a [...]
+ Continue Reading