19 www.lawyer-monthly.com Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2024 will get. In these scenarios, the general rule is for each party to get a portion of the settlement in proportion to their medical expenses accrued. We often refer to these types of settlement as “pro-rata settlement”. If we anticipate that a case may require a pro-rata settlement, we would have a discussion with our client beforehand and come to an agreement on a strategy that would secure a fair settlement for the client. One of the strategies we use is asking our clients to receive treatment using their health insurance. In Nevada, there is a legal doctrine known as the “collateral source rule”. I often call this rule the “none of your business” rule because this doctrine excludes evidence of alternative sources of payment for people injured in a personal injury claim. This means that if our client went to see a doctor using the client’s own health insurance, the evidence that health insurance has already paid for the doctor’s visit will not be relevant to our claim. This helps us go after the wrongdoer for damages our client sustained with no risk to the client if there is not enough settlement to pay for the medical expenses. What are some common mistakes people make immediately after being injured in a motor vehicle accident or another incident, especially when they assume it is not serious, and how can these mistakes impact their ability to win a personal injury case? One of the most common ways our clients mess up their personal injury claims is not preparing enough evidence at the scene of the collision. I met with potential clients who were injured in a minor accident but did not take any pictures at the scene of the accident at least once per week. In some fortunate scenarios, they were cautious enough to call the police and obtain a police report memorializing the entire incident. In the worst-case scenario, a potential client would come in with no photographs of the collision and no contact information for the other driver involved. We often strive to do everything we can to ensure our clients do not return home with nothing. However, evidence is necessary to establish that the at-fault party did something wrong. If there is no evidence that an accident ever occurred and the at-fault party was involved, there is little we can do to help. One thing I recommend every one of my clients to do after an accident is to stop and take a slow-panoramic video of their surroundings. If they can respond to the situation quickly, take photographs and/ or videos of each party’s position and the condition of their surroundings. This information is critical and can often make or break a case. Looking ahead, what are your goals for PT Law and how do you hope to further impact the legal community in personal injury? I already have a few plans in motion for PT Law in the next few years. One of which is to relocate to a more permanent location that is renovated to our specifications. I hope that PT Law will one day become a well-functioning, autonomous machine that does not require my direct supervision and is a pillar of the Las Vegas community, much like many other bigger law firms in town. As with any other major metropolitan city, Las Vegas’s personal injury market is saturated with law firms that provide adequate, albeit mediocre, representation. However, I do not find being adequate acceptable. I have already set my mind on creating a law firm I am proud to be a part of, so my goal is to make the firm excel in our specialty. I have recruited a team of competent paralegals and case managers that I can rely on, my goal is to continue this course of action until we become a well-oiled machine. Q Q One of the most important decisions I made was to switch school during my junior and senior year of high school. “ ptlawlv.com
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