Two Fatal Accidents Occur Within 12 Hours

On November 27, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas

Two families will associate this past Thanksgiving week with tragedy after two people lost their lives in separate car accidents in Las Vegas within about a 12-hour period.

On Tuesday night, a 52-year old man turned his car into the path of a sport utility vehicle in Las Vegas. A Honda Accord was trying to turn left onto Duneville Street from Tropicana Avenue (just west of Club de Soleil) when the vehicle was rammed by a Chevrolet Trailblazer. The 61-year old driver of the SUV suffered injuries and was transported to University Medical Center.

Police are calling the wreck an accident. It’s hard to determine which driver failed to yield the right of way. This detail might be the determining factor in figuring out which man was responsible for the fatal SUV-truck accident.

Then a few hours before sunrise on Wednesday morning, a car smashed into a light pole in eastern Las Vegas, killing the 31-year old driver. According to police, the unidentified woman struck the pole with her vehicle in the 5600 block of East Sahara Avenue, which is near Sloan Lane and the Desert Rose Golf Course. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident, and authorities say speed was a contributing factor. So it appears that this fatal auto accident was the fault of the driver and no one else. 

If you or someone you love has been hurt or killed in an auto accident, contact a qualified personal injury attorney to see about getting compensation from those responsible.

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Hoover Dam Bypass Opens, Drivers Must Exercise Caution

On October 24, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Personal Injury Lawyer in Nevada

If you were tired of sitting in traffic on U.S. 93 driving from Las Vegas to Arizona because of the Hoover Dam bottleneck, then this is a week of celebration for you

Officials recently opened the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge which offers travelers an alternative to crossing the Hoover Dam. At 1,900 feet, it is the longest single-span concrete arch bridge in the Western hemisphere. It is estimated that a vehicle trip from Las Vegas to Phoenix will now be reduced by 30 minutes or more.

The bridge is part of a 4-lane bypass that reroutes traffic away from U.S. 93 for about 3.5 miles. But traffic officials are warning that the bridge may present some challenges for motorists.

  • The speed limit on the bridge is 55 miles an hour. So drivers who are used to driving at higher speeds on nearby highways will have to slow down.
  • Like similar bridges, heavy winds blowing through the canyon can have an effect on the traffic on the bridge. High-profile vehicles like RVs, campers, buses, and tractor-trailers may be blown sideways by high wind gusts, causing the drivers to lose control of those vehicles. (In fact, high-profile vehicles will be prohibited on the bridge if winds are measured at speeds greater than 50 mph.)
  • Because cold winds frequently blow through the canyon under the bridge, the roadway is more likely to be slippery or littered with icy patches during the wintertime. This could result in an increase in car, truck, SUV, and/or motorcycle collisions. 

So if you are driving across the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, be sure to exercise caution. Even if a patch of ice or a gust of wind causes you to lose control and initiate a serious car accident, you are still liable for the damage to other vehicles and the injuries to their occupants.

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Accidents and Serious Injuries Could Occur Due to High Volume of Moving Vans, Trucks on Las Vegas Roads

On September 4, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas

If you think you’ve been seeing more trucks owned by moving companies or transport rental firms while you’ve been out driving, you’re probably right. Because of the lackluster economy in the Las Vegas area, many residents are relocating to other parts of the country.

Some statistics bear this out. The Census Bureau reports a jump in outward migration from Clark County over last year at this time. Moving companies like Mayflower Transit and United Van Lines are reporting a drastic difference between “move-ins” to the Las Vegas area and “move-outs” away from it, while U-Haul says that outgoing rental trucks outnumber incoming rental vehicles by about two percent.

Economic repercussions aside, what this means for motorists in and around Las Vegas is an increase in moving trucks which could cause an increase in car and truck accidents.

Large moving trucks can be difficult to control if they have to stop or swerve suddenly. Self-serve rental trucks are often smaller but the drivers operating them generally have little experience with vehicles that size – meaning they are more likely to cause a wreck.

In addition, some U-Haul managers in the area are seeing a hike in walk-in rentals, which implies that more people are moving with little notice. If this is the case, such individuals may not be taking the time to properly secure their loads before getting on the road. An unsecured or suddenly-shifting load can lead to a deadly motor vehicle accident. 

If you have been hurt in an accident involving a commercial or self-service moving truck, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. Be sure to seek out a qualified truck accident lawyer to handle your case.

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Tire Blowout Leads to Terrible Truck Crash on I-15 in Las Vegas

On August 15, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas

A family of five was driving along Interstate 15 (I-15) in Las Vegas when their right tire blew out. In many instances, when this happens, the driver and passengers are inconvenienced since they have to replace the tire or wait until AAA shows up. Unfortunately, this was not the case for the family on I-15.

Their pickup truck traveled across multiple lanes and eventually slammed head-on into a parked paving truck. Both parents were killed and the three children suffered serious injuries, according to fox5vegas.com.

My deepest sympathies go out to the injured children. Their lives will be changed forever after this awful accident. Not only will they need time to recuperate from their injuries, but they’ll now be forced to grow up without their parents; truly heart breaking.

Nevada Highway Troopers wanted to stress the importance of remaining calm when a tire blows out. The best way to avoid an accident is not to panic and keep your vehicle going straight until it can safely come to a complete stop.

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Las Vegas Truck Company Negligence: Overworked Drivers

On August 2, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Truck Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas

The correlation between fatigued driving and higher car accident rates has been well documented. Because collisions involving tractor trailers cause more property damage and injuries than those involving passenger vehicles, the federal government has taken steps to reduce truck accidents.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates the trucking industry in the U.S., has established rules governing how often and for how long truck drivers can operate their vehicles before taking mandatory rest periods. These rules apply to truckers on I-15, I-215, Highway 95, Clark County roads, or Las Vegas-area sidestreets. These regulations are designed to prevent driver fatigue, which is a leading cause of Las Vegas trucking accidents.

Here are some of these rules:

  • Each day, a driver must cease operation of his or her truck for at least 10 consecutive hours.
  • Drivers are only allowed to operate their trucks for 11 total hours in a given day.
  • Drivers cannot log more than 60 hours of operation in any consecutive 7-day period (unless they rest for at least 34 consecutive hours during that time period).

Unfortunately, some truck drivers and trucking companies choose to disobey those federal “hours of service” rules. Since truck drivers are often paid by the mile, they may be tempted to drive longer than they are allowed to. And since companies are motivated by schedules and deadlines, they may pressure their drivers to reach their destinations no matter how many driving hours it takes to get there.

If a truck accident occurs and it is discovered that these hours of service regulations were breached, the trucking company is guilty of negligence. This is also the case if the driving logs (which record how long a driver operates his or her vehicle each day) are revealed to be falsified. If trucking negligence exists, the company and/or the driver would likely be found liable in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. 

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Are Victims of Rear-End Collisions Ever at Fault?

On July 27, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Car Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas

One of the most common types of auto accidents is the rear-end collision. These can be dangerous for the driver of the front vehicle because he or she can potentially suffer shoulder, neck, or spinal damage – or even a traumatic brain injury.

In all but a few cases, the driver of the “rear-ending” car or truck will be at fault. Therefore, this driver would be liable for property damage to the “rear-ended” vehicle, as well as any injuries sustained by the victimized driver.

The underlying logic behind this determination lies in traffic laws which state that all drivers must be given room to stop when a vehicle stops in front of them. With that in mind, it is the responsibility of the “trailing” driver to follow at a safe distance in order for such a stop to occur safely.

There are a few exceptions, depending on the circumstances of the case, to this hard and fast rule.

  • If a pickup truck causes a five-vehicle “chain reaction” rear-end collision in Green Valley, the driver of the pickup is liable for the damages to all of the wrecked vehicles (as well as the injuries of the corresponding drivers).
  • If a car backs into a van on a sidestreet in Pahrump, the car is to blame for the collision.
  • If a minivan suddenly stops in the middle of I-15 for no reason and is struck by the traffic behind it, the minivan’s driver might be responsible for the accident.*
  • If the driver of a sports car stops in the middle of a North Las Vegas roadway to drink alcohol, smoke marijuana, or engage in some other illegal activity, he or she may be responsible for any ensuing rear-end accident that may occur.

If you have been the victim of a rear-end collision in the Las Vegas area and have suffered injuries as a result, contact a qualified personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. 

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Truckers Who Text and Drive Cause Serious Wrecks

On June 25, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas

You’ve undoubtedly heard about the dangers of texting while driving. You’ve probably seen drivers doing exactly that while out on Highway 93, Interstate 15 (I-15), or I-515. A recent study revealed that individuals who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than the average driver.

Now imagine if the texting driver is operating a tractor trailer. The potential for severe damage and injury is enormous.

The state of Nevada does not have any laws restricting the use of cellphones or other devices that allow texting while driving. However, there is a federal regulation which bans operators of 18-wheelers from texting while they are behind the wheel.

This rule was announced in January of 2010 by Ray LaHood, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The directive states that any big rig driver who violates the ban is subject to a fine of up to $2,750.

Because of this federal regulation, it is highly likely that a civil court would throw the book at any truck operator or trucking company who was found responsible for an accident involving texting while driving. It is very conceivable that a judge or jury would order such a defendant to pay for car repair costs, medical bills, and lost wages. In addition, the party who was found liable might even be subject to punitive damages.

Because the federal ban on “texting while trucking” is relatively new, there is no quantifiable guideline that exists regarding how much damages might be awarded in a case where this practice caused a collision. But a qualified personal injury lawyer will fight for every possible reimbursement dollar you are entitled to if you are victimized in this type of accident. 

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Truck Spills a Common Cause of Serious Wrecks

On June 24, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Truck Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas

Imagine that you’re driving along a sidestreet in a warehouse district in Pahrump. Or down a major thoroughfare in Clark County. Or on a freeway passing through Las Vegas.

Now pretend that an 18-wheeler in front of you loses its load (as it did on I-15 in February of 2010), and you are unable to avoid an accident. Whose fault is it?

Under federal law, the driver of the truck and the driver’s company are ultimately responsible for securing the load on any tractor-trailer. Therefore, you would most likely not be at fault for any accidents caused by a truck’s spilled contents.

Trucking companies are held to very high safety standards when it comes to making sure their cargo is secure during transport. Nevertheless, accidents caused by the spilled contents of tractor-trailers do sometimes occur. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Carelessness or negligence during loading
  • An overloaded truck
  • A truck that is traveling too fast
  • Inclement weather
  • The unanticipated shift of a load during transport

One thing to keep in mind is that the company which operates the truck itself may not have been the entity responsible for loading the vehicle. In many cases, trucks are driven to warehouses, docks, or other transport hubs where they are loaded with cargo by employees of another company. In these cases, it is quite possible that the party who transferred the freight onto the truck is partly or mostly to blame for an ensuing accident involving spilled cargo.

If your vehicle has been damaged from a truck’s spilled contents, or if you or your loved ones have suffered injuries sustained in an accident involving a lost load, contact an attorney immediately. He or she can help you receive compensation for your repair costs and/or medical bills.

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Las Vegas Truck Wreck and the Personal Injury Claims Process

On June 23, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Truck Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas

Here’s a scenario: let’s say you are traveling along a Las Vegas highway in your vehicle, when a tractor-trailer unexpectedly swerves into your lane and causes an accident. Because you suffered injuries in the truck wreck, you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against the trucking company.

Now, the question: does the truck’s cargo have any relevance to the damages in your case?

The answer? Yes and no.

Under the letter of the law, the type of cargo being hauled by a truck should not directly impact the amount of damages to which you are entitled. Those damages are based on traditional factors such as medical bills, property damage, lost wages from work, pain and suffering, and so on. Unless the cargo itself contributed to your damages directly (for instance, if spilled cargo caused damage to your vehicle or additional injuries to you), then it does not factor into the compensation equation.

But the answer to above question is somewhat different in practice.

To understand why, we must first look at the different federal regulations which govern various types of trucking cargo in the U.S. As with passenger vehicles, tractor-trailers are required by law to maintain a minimum amount of liability coverage at all times. But this minimum financial responsibility varies according to the type of cargo being transported.

Federal rules dictate that any tractor-trailer carrying nonhazardous materials must have at least $750,000 in insurance or surety bonded coverage. For trucks hauling certain substances such as petroleum, that minimum amount rises to $1 million. However, any company that transports substances that are classified as hazardous by the federal government must obtain coverage which provides financial responsibility of no less than $5 million.

So what does this have to do with your accident? As a rule, the dollar amount of trucking company coverage affects any accident claims the company may have to pay out. In other words, the higher the minimum financial responsibility amount of a truck involved in an accident, the larger the damage award will be to the victimized motorists if the trucking company is found to be at fault.

An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to figure out the minimum financial responsibility required for the tractor-trailer that was involved in your accident – and then leverage that result to help you collect as much compensation as you deserve. 

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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Nevada Negligence Laws and How They Can Effect Your Personal Injury Case

On June 8, 2010, In Nevada Personal Injury Information, By admin

By Farhan Naqvi, Las Vegas Injury Lawyer

Let’s look at some possible scenarios where people are injured in Nevada.

  • Hector is traveling at 85 miles per hour on a Las Vegas highway when a pickup truck sideswipes him while it was trying to change lanes. Hector sustains a concussion in the crash.
  • Barbara is standing in an area of a Clark County warehouse store which is clearly marked “Customers Keep Out” when some stacked boxes fall on top of her. Barbara suffers a broken arm and leg as a result.
  • David visits an outpatient clinic in Green Valley to get treatment for a severe skin rash, but then suffers a severe reaction to medication which he knew he was allergic to but failed to warn the treating physician about. David slips into toxic shock and winds up in the hospital for four days.

Now, the question: are Hector, Barbara, and David entitled to any damages in a lawsuit?

Though every case is different, the short answer is: quite possibly. This is true even though all three of them appeared to contribute to their accidents in a minor way.

That’s because the state of Nevada operates under what is known as a comparative negligence fault structure. This means that if two or more parties are at fault, a court can determine how much blame can be placed on each of them, and damages are adjusted accordingly.

For example, if Barbara was determined to be 20% at fault for being in a restricted area, then she would only receive 80% (100%-20%) of whatever damages a court decided to award her. So if she sustained $8,000 in medical costs, Barbara would actually receive $6,400 in compensation.

But there’s another aspect of Nevada negligence law that’s very important. The state has adopted what is known as “the 50% rule.” This corollary states that if any party is deemed to be 50% or more responsible for an accident then that party receives no damages. The idea is that a person or group which is mostly to blame for an accident should not be compensated.

If we look at the abovementioned scenarios again, it appears by the information supplied that though Hector, Barbara, and David were partly to blame for their accidents, they could still receive damages because they were not primarily responsible for the accidents.

Again, each case has its own unique set of facts. If you have been injured in an accident, you should consult a qualified personal injury lawyer who can answer specific questions about your unique case.

About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.

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