There are many people in the San Fernando Valley who make a quick drive over to Nevada for a short vacation. Some need a weekend in Las Vegas to unwind, while others want to check out the Hoover Dam and some of the other major tourist attractions in the state. Most people never even think about what would happen if they are in an auto accident while they are there.
The instinct after an out-of-state crash is to deal with everything once you are home. That is understandable — and it is exactly where many claims go wrong, because the lawyer you call at home may not be able to stand behind your case at all.
The licensing rule most people learn too late
Nevada courts are very specific about who is allowed to represent clients within the state. Attorneys who handle personal injury claims in Nevada must be licensed in the state. If you are selecting a California attorney to represent you, you need to make sure that they have completed the various requirements to handle your case. A firm that cannot appear in a Nevada courtroom is negotiating without leverage — the insurer knows it cannot actually take the case to trial there.
A firm that cannot appear in a Nevada courtroom is negotiating without leverage.
How a dual-licensed firm changes the posture
At Asatryan Law, one of our attorneys — I am licensed in both California and Nevada, including the Supreme Courts of both states — handles these cases from our Van Nuys office. You meet with us here at home; your case moves under Nevada law where it belongs. We work diligently to resolve claims by negotiating with the insurers involved, and we take the case to trial if they refuse to cooperate.
- You do not travel back and forth to Nevada for meetings — we handle the case from Van Nuys.
- Your claim is filed and litigated by counsel actually admitted in Nevada.
- Negotiation and trial strategy stay under one roof, with one team, in your language — Armenian, Spanish and Russian are spoken at our firm.
If you were injured due to another's negligence while visiting Nevada, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help you. The consultation is free, and there are no upfront costs.