You have enough to worry about after an accident without stressing over an attorney’s title. After all, how much of a difference can it make if the accident lawyer is known as an esquire? Isn’t this some fancy title some attorneys like to use, sort of like wearing a bow tie?
Some personal injury attorneys always rock bow ties while others are a little more relaxed. A bit more goes into this and understanding esquire as a legal title can make it easier to know if it’s going to impact your personal injury claim.
Why Some Nevada Attorneys Use Esquire as a Title
If you were living in Victorian England, having esquire as a title after your name meant you were only a step below a knight. Since Nevada or for that matter the United States doesn’t exactly have knights patrolling city streets, the title has taken on a whole new meaning.
Now, whenever you see esquire after someone’s name, it signals that they’re a licensed attorney and legally allowed to practice law in the state. The title also tends to go a bit further than simply letting you know you’ve found a licensed personal injury attorney. Seeing Esq. (esquire) as a title is also a sign of respect.
If you’re wondering if you need to add esquire to a sentence every time you want your attorney’s attention, the answer tends to be no. Esquire isn’t so much a spoken title as it’s a written one. Typically, the title only pops up on written correspondence or the personal injury attorney’s nameplate. For example, you may see esquire printed after the attorney’s name on a billboard or shingle hanging out in front of the law office.
This brings us to the question of whether an attorney, esquire can take on your personal injury claim. The simple answer is yes, and it doesn’t change the essential steps you follow for filing an accident claim. Remember, the simple title only lets you know the lawyer is licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction.
Key Steps for Filing a Personal Injury Claim
You’ve tackled a crucial step, you’ve found a personal injury attorney licensed to practice law. Since your attorney is an esquire, you can skip checking with the Nevada State Bar for the lawyer’s licensing credentials.
Your attorney can also answer a crucial question. Do you have grounds for filing a personal injury claim? If you can’t answer this question, you can’t start the claim process.
Do You Have a Legal Right to File a Nevada Injury Claim?
This is a crucial step in any personal injury claim. Even though personal injury law covers a broad range of accidents, it doesn’t automatically give you the right to sue for compensation. The Silver State requires accident victims to meet a few requirements.
Nevada is an at-fault state so you turn to the defendant’s insurance provider for compensation. You must suffer damages caused by the at-fault party’s actions. An individual’s inaction can also be considered grounds for filing a personal injury claim. An example of inaction is if a store employee fails to clean up a known spill, resulting in a slip-and-fall accident.
You’re the injured party. In other words, you can’t file a personal injury claim for someone else’s accident. There can be exceptions but these must be approved by the court. Parents or guardians may be able to file a claim on behalf of their minor child. An experienced personal injury attorney, Esq. can walk you through potential exceptions to this requirement.
Anyone filing a personal injury lawsuit must be a legal adult. This means you’re at least 18. You must also have the physical and mental capabilities to understand what’s happening with your claim. As noted earlier, the court can appoint someone to file on behalf of a minor. This can also apply if an accident victim’s injuries are preventing them from participating in their claim.
Don’t Miss the Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is something you don’t want to overlook. The Silver State gives you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury claim. What happens if you miss the filing deadline? There’s a pretty good chance you won’t be able to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
Sometimes, the statute of limitations can be paused or extended. Some examples include pausing the statute of limitations for minors. Remember, you must be a legal adult to file a personal injury claim. This also applies if your claim turns into a lawsuit.
If the defendant (at-fault party) can’t be located, the statute may be temporarily paused. Legally, the defendant must be notified of your intention to file a compensation claim. Once the defendant is located, the statute of limitations kicks back in.
Even though there can be times when it’s necessary to pause the clock on your claim’s statute of limitations, it’s rarely a good idea. Witnesses can move away and evidence can get lost. All of this can impact the value of your personal injury claim.
File Your Claim and Start Negotiations
Filing your claim is the easy part. You simply send the paperwork and your supporting evidence off to the insurance adjuster. This is when the waiting game begins. Insurance companies typically have a few weeks to review a submitted claim before issuing a response.
Sometimes, insurance companies pay out the full value of a personal injury claim but don’t hold your breath. There’s a good chance you’re going to end up in negotiations, and this can take a few months. During negotiations, you and your attorney, Esq. present the insurance adjustor with your claim’s value and they make a counteroffer. This back-and-forth is common and hopefully, you can reach an acceptable settlement.
An Attorney, Esq. Can Help You Resolve Your Personal Injury Claim
Sometimes there isn’t much in a title and other times it can indicate you’re at the right place. When you see an attorney with the title of esquire, you know they’re licensed to practice law in your state. This also means you’ve found an experienced Nevada accident attorney ready to take on your personal injury claim.
