If you’ve been involved in an accident and are pursuing damages against GEICO and their insured, this article has been developed to help you gain a better understanding of what to expect in terms of settlement negotiations for your accident injury claim in the State of Nevada. We will expose common tactics they’ll use in an attempt to pay out as little as possible. So, sit back and enjoy learning about the typical GEICO settlement offers after an accident as of June 2024.
A Brief Introduction to GEICO Negotiations
Negotiating with GEICO following an accident is not for the faint of heart. Ask any injury attorney — they’ll likely agree. If your objective is to increase the value of your personal injury claim in Nevada, it is imperative that you understand the actual value of your case.
Will GEICO pay on your accident injury claim fairly? It depends. Afterall, they are in the business of making money, not giving it away. Therefore, if you have been hit by a GEICO insured driver, you should become proficient in how GEICO values and fights accident claims brought against them.
An important note to remember: the further you get into the claims process with GEICO, the more money they tend to offer–within reason, that is. What we mean by this is if they offer you a settlement within days or weeks after the accident, that usually means they are admitting fault and that initial settlement offer you received is going to be much less than what you’re actually entitled to collect on.
If you have an accident injury claim against GEICO or a GEICO insured driver in Nevada or California, please feel free to contact us at any time at (702) 800-0988 for a complimentary consultation or contact us online.
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- Average GEICO Settlement Amounts
- Assessing GEICO’s Initial Settlement Offer
- Suing GEICO for Fair Compensation
- Historical GEICO Settlement Amounts
- Common Questions Regarding GEICO Settlements
- Getting the Most from Your GEICO Claim
- Hiring a Lawyer for Your GEICO Claim
Average GEICO Settlement Amounts
As with most insurance companies, GEICO does not employ a fixed blueprint for determining damages. To assess the total value of your claim, a few things must be taken into consideration.
Your Injuries
First, and most importantly, they will evaluate your injuries. Are they new or pre-existing? How serious is the injury? How long will the recovery take? Will they prevent you from working?
The Policy Limits
Unless an insurance bad faith claim is filed against GEICO to open the policy limits, they are only required to pay you, at most, the total amount of their insured policy limits. In the State of Nevada, the minimum auto insurance coverage is $25,000 for bodily injury or death of any person in one accident; $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident; $20,000 for destruction of property in any one accident.
It is important to note, however, that these are only the state minimum required coverages. Those who have assets to protect or those who utilize corporate insurance policies typically carry higher policy limits.
In the event you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may still be able to collect on your own insurance policy if you carry UM/UIM coverage. Otherwise, your only option for recovering damages is to file a lawsuit against the individual who hit you.
Your Percentage of Fault
The State of Nevada is considered an at-fault state for car accidents. What this means is that the driver who is found to be responsible for the accident is held liable for damages. If the driver is insured, this responsibility is passed on to their insurance company. That said, Nevada also abides by a modified comparative negligence standard, which means that more than one party in an accident can be found at fault.
For example, if Driver A is 20 percent at fault and Driver B is 80 percent at fault, Driver A could recover damages from Driver B, but their settlement would be reduced by 20 percent. This system can become quite complex so it is in your best interest to hire an experienced Las Vegas car accident lawyer for help regarding your auto injury claim.
Suing GEICO for Fair Compensation
As mentioned above, GEICO is a for-profit business. This means that their main objective is to keep as much money as possible by minimizing the amount they pay in claims. Bearing this in mind, it only makes sense that their initial settlement offer is going to be low. At Brian Boyer Injury & Car Accident Lawyer Las Vegas, we will take the reins of insurance negotiations and demand nothing less than fair compensation for your injuries. If they fail to offer you a fair compensatory award, we have no file taking them to trial.
Below is an example of policy limits vs. initial offer vs. final settlement award with the help of an injury lawyer.
Policy Limits | Initial Offer | Final Award |
$25,000 | $8,500 | $25,000 |
$50,000 | $18,995 | $50,000 |
As our most recent trial victory of $4.65 million awarded for a motor vehicle accident, we have an impressive and reputable track record of winning. If you’ve received a lowball offer from GEICO, please feel free to contact our law firm for a free case review.
Hiring a Lawyer for Maximum Compensation
As seen in the example offer chart above, an experienced lawyer will be able to counter GEICO’s initial settlement offer with a strongly build injury claim to demand damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In most instances, an experienced attorney will be able to achieve significantly more than the initial settlement offer, aiming to reach or exceed policy limits.
The insurance companies may contact you within days or weeks following an accident with a fast offer. This is a great sign to look out for. If they are quick to offer you money, that typically means they are hoping you accept the lure of a quick payday so they can close their books and pay out as little as possible.
This is why it is in your best interest to at least consult with an experienced and highly-rated law firm following an auto accident. They can advise if your case is worth pursuing or if you should accept the initial settlement offer. Most attorneys, including ours, will do this for you free-of charge.
Common GEICO Settlement FAQs
Our dedicated auto accident lawyer has been handling GEICO claims for over a decade. He has successfully recovered millions in compensation for his clients. Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions for injury victims who are up against GEICO:
Is GEICO Difficult to Win Against?
The answer to this is completely situational, unfortunately. GEICO’s primary objective is to minimize risks and pay on claims responsibly. In some cases, they can be pretty reasonable. However, from our experience, they are pretty difficult to deal with up until a lawsuit is filed. As mentioned above, they are in the business of making money, not giving it away. That said, if liability, causation and damages are all clear-cut, it can make the process a bit more bearable.
Does GEICO Usually Settle Before Trial?
Again, this is a situational answer. However, most of the time they do prefer to settle outside of trial as a means of keeping costs down. This is a favorable outcome for all parties involved in the lawsuit.
One way of settling outside of trial is through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as trial can become quite costly.
That said, if they are being completely unreasonable and/or a bad faith insurance claim is filed against them, you can bet on the fact that your case will go to trial.
Contact our Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Case Review
At Brian Boyer Injury & Car Accident Lawyer Las Vegas, we have ample experiencing fighting — and winning — against insurance giants like GEICO. We have successfully recovered millions in compensation for our clients and we are prepared to do the same for you.
If you have questions regarding your recent accident, contact us at any time by calling (702) 800-0988 or request a complimentary consultation online.
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