Costs of living with spinal cord injuries are astronomical
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Nov 17, 2017
Spinal cord injuries are devastating to their victims. An injury to a victim’s spinal cord can render a Reno resident unable to move their arms and legs, unable to breathe on their own and unable to live the life that they had worked so hard to achieve prior to their injury-causing accident. In addition to the potentially devastating personal losses a victim may sustain as a result of a spinal cord injury, there is the secondary and no less devastating issue of the financial costs victims of spinal cord injuries must take on in order to keep themselves alive.

According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation , the lifetime costs of maintaining a person with a severe spinal cord injury can reach into the millions of dollars. A number of factors can influence the exact financial burden that a victim will be forced to pay, and those factors can include but are not limited to the severity and extent of the victim’s injury and paralysis and the age of the victim at the time they suffer their spinal cord injury.

For example, it is estimated that a 25-year-old victim of a very serious spinal cord accident may have lifetime medical costs in excess of $4.7 million. A 50-yeear-old person who sustains a similarly devastating injury may have lifetime medical costs of more than $2.5 million.

Even less pervasive spinal cord injuries may result in victims paying millions of dollars over the course of their lives just to keep themselves functional. It is truly heartbreaking that victims of spinal cord injuries can face financial hardship simply for having the bad luck of sustaining a devastating injury at the hands of another person. However, those whose injuries were caused by negligence on the part of others may have legal rights to seek compensation for their spinal cord injury costs.

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Why is visual recognition such a problem for motorcyclists?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Nov 09, 2017
Vehicles on American roads come in practically all shapes and sizes. From the massive commercial trucks that haul goods across the country to the petite smart cars favored by city dwellers, it is not unusual for a Reno driver to see an array of automobiles when they take to the streets and highways of the city. Though drivers tend to look out for other cars, trucks and multi-person vehicles when they are behind the wheels of their automobiles, there is one means of transportation that tends to disappear from the sights of individuals on the roads: motorcycles.

Drivers struggle with visual recognition of motorcycles. There are a number of reasons for this dangerous phenomenon. One reason is that in the great scheme of motor vehicles motorcycles are small. Their relative size compared to other autos makes them easier to miss and harder to spot in traffic.

Additionally, many drivers do not anticipate encountering motorcycles and their riders when they drive their cars. Because drivers are conditioned to respond to other large vehicles they can become surprised when they come across motorcycles. The unfamiliarity with driving near motorcycles may cause them to misjudge or miss seeing motorcycles in their vicinities.

Finally, obstructions in large vehicles can block the drivers’ capacities to see motorcycles behind or next to them. Many vehicles have blind spots, which are areas next to the vehicles where the vehicles’ mirrors fail to provide visual access. Also, glare from the sun, blurriness from rain and other natural events can cause drivers to miss motorcyclists in their purview.

It is an unfortunate fact that visual recognition of motorcycles is lacking for many drivers. As a result motorcyclists can suffer significant dangerous accidents when drivers lose them in the details of operating their motor vehicles. Victims of motorcycle accidents can, though, seek the support of legal representatives to learn more about their options for litigation and seeking compensation.

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Speeding can be a factor in dangerous vehicle accidents
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Nov 03, 2017
Despite their best intentions many Reno residents find themselves running late. Whether they decide to hit the snooze button one too many times or simply lose track of time while getting ready for an event, they can find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having not enough time to get to where they must go. If getting to a location requires them to drive, those individuals who have too far to go and too little time may find themselves tempted to speed.

Speeding involves driving faster than the speed limit or faster than driving conditions safely permit. Speed limits often vary depending upon the type of terrain the roads cover, the amount of congestion the roads generally contain and the situation of the roads in communities and neighborhoods. While freeways may have speed limits in excess of 65 miles per hour, speed limits near schools and parks may max out at 25 miles per hour.

Speeding is dangerous for many reasons. First, a driver who is operating a speeding car is at a greater risk of losing control of their vehicle than a driver who is maintaining a safe speed. Also, vehicles that travel at high rates of speed take longer to stop than vehicles traveling more moderately and, because of this, accidents that happen at high rates of speed often result in more serious injuries to victims that experience accidents at lower rates of movement.

When a speeding driver causes a car accident it is often possible for law enforcement officials to determine how fast the responsible party was operating their vehicle and if that behavior contributed to the crash. Speeding is often a form of negligence and can be used as an example of fault in a personal injury-based vehicle accident lawsuit.

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What treatment options are available for my spinal cord injury?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Oct 27, 2017
There are different types of drugs, therapies and experimental procedures that Nevada doctors may utilize to improve the condition of a person who has suffered a spinal cord injury. Since different injuries may respond better to different treatment options it is important that readers consult with their own doctors to determine the best manner in which to remedy their injuries. This post will offer an overview of some of the ways individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries may be treated after their incidents but it is not intended to be used as medical or legal advice.

Depending on where the injury is to a victim’s spinal cord, whether the injury is a bruise, incomplete tear of the spinal cord or a complete tear, medical professionals may try different protocols to improve their patient’s health. Their first priority will be to stabilize the patient and ensure that they are breathing and maintaining all bodily processes necessary to sustain life. Then they may work toward improving the patient’s condition.

Damage to the spinal cord generally cannot be repaired, though certain drugs may improve the functioning of a damaged spinal cord and help a victim get back to where they were before they sustained their trauma. Surgeries can promote healing in some patients whose injuries leave them in pain or who need more stabilization in their bodies. Some professionals in the medical field are working with stem cell therapies to determine if nerve cell regeneration may help victims of spinal cord injury accidents.

The road to recovery after a spinal cord injury can be long and may never end. Some victims spend their lives permanently harmed after vehicle collisions, work accidents and other incidents deprive them of the full use of their bodies. When an accident-related spinal cord injury impacts a victim’s life and livelihood it is possible for them to explore their legal rights to sue those who have created their harm.

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Truck accident victims may pursue compensation for their losses
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Oct 20, 2017
The law firm of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] is committed to representing victims of personal injury accidents in and around Reno, Nevada. The attorneys of the firm, in cooperation with the compassionate and professional staff that serves their clients, are available to work with new clients who have suffered serious and life-altering harm at the hands of others.

One area of personal injury law that the firm focuses on is truck accident litigation. While some readers of this blog may assume that truck accident cases are just like other motor vehicle cases, their assumptions may be inaccurate. Truck accidents and the legal issues that surround them can be drastically more complex than vehicle accidents between private parties.

One way that truck accident litigation can be complicated is through the assessment and identification of possible defendants. A single truck may be driven by one individual, owned by another person or corporation and operated for the benefit of a third entity. Because the chain of responsibility may extend to multiple parties it is imperative that truck accident victims properly identify those whose negligence may have caused their losses.

Additionally, truck accident litigation can involve federal laws that govern the appropriate conduct of commercial vehicle drivers. These laws are significantly different that the negligence and traffic laws of the state and therefore can require truck accident victims to comprehend a greater breadth of information.

The attorneys of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] confidently advocate for the rights of their truck accident victim clients. Readers who wish to learn more about the practice’s truck accident litigation process as well as its other personal injury practice areas are welcome to visit the firm through its website.

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What is tetraplegia?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Oct 12, 2017
An injury to a person’s spinal cord can be a life-changing event. Depending upon where the injury occurs along the person’s spinal cord and the severity of the injury the extent of their associated symptoms can vary greatly. This post will address one of the most serious consequences of a spinal cord injury – tetraplegia – and how it may permanently affect the life of a Reno resident.

There are many vertebrae in a person’s spinal cord, divided between those in the cervical spine (upper spine of the neck), thoracic spine (middle spine of the torso), lumbar spine (lower spine of the torso) and sacral spine (from the pelvis and lower). Generally speaking, the higher on the spine that a victim suffers an injury, the more of the victim’s body that will likely be impacted by the damage their spine endured.

For example, when a person suffers an injury to their cervical spine it is possible for all nerve impulses to stop at the point of injury and for no sensations to be sent down to the lower portions of the corpus. When this happens, important bodily functions such as respiration and digestion may be impacted as those body systems are no longer receiving communications from the brain.

Additionally, a high spinal cord injury can cause a victim to lose the ability to use their appendages. When a person cannot move their arms or legs due to a spinal cord injury then they suffer from tetraplegia, also referred to as quadriplegia.

Injuries to the spinal cord can be devastating and can result from vehicle accidents, slips and falls and other cases of negligence. Victims can often seek damages from the parties whose negligence caused their harm through civil personal injury lawsuits.

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Changes in weather require changes in careful driving habits
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Oct 05, 2017
Each winter snow blankets the mountains of the Sierra Nevada range and Reno residents take to the slopes to ski, snowboard and sled on their favorite runs. In order to reach many of the most popular spots, though, individuals must take to the roads and drive through weather-affected areas. For some, transitioning to winter driving is easy as they slow down, take extra precautions and ensure that they are not creating hazards for others. For others, aggressive and dangerous driving on weather-affected roads becomes a perilous problem for everyone near them.

Just a week ago the mountains were hit with an early season snow and hail and a major accident occurred on Interstate 80. Sixteen different vehicles were involved in the crash and one man lost his life when his pick-up truck hit another vehicle. The collision closed the interstate’s westbound traffic for some time as rescue crews and authorities addressed the mess.

While the cause of the crash remains under investigation this story is a good reminder to drivers that the long days of summer are over. Despite changes in weather conditions drivers are responsible for maintaining control of their vehicles and ensuring that they are operating them safely given the conditions present.

Victims of vehicle accidents can experience a range of harm and endure significant injuries any time of year, though the perils of driving in snow and on ice can exacerbate roadway dangers when reckless drivers drive too fast, follow too closely and stop too suddenly. Those who have suffered injuries while driving or riding in motor vehicles are encouraged to discuss their potential legal claims with personal injury attorneys in their communities.

Source: rgj.com, ” Sierra snow update: Fatal 16-vehicle crash closes part of I-80 ,” Sept. 21, 2017

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As a victim, what must I prove to win my car accident lawsuit?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Sep 29, 2017
Car accidents occur when drivers commit dangerous mistakes during the important task of operating their motor vehicles. Reno residents have been injured and suffered extensive losses to drunk drivers, distracted drivers and drivers who simply failed to acknowledge the conditions present around them and created hazards for others on the roads. It can be a natural step for the victim of a car accident to seek legal recourse against the responsible party or parties so that they may be compensated for what they lost.

In order to prevail in a car accident case it is generally the responsibility of the suing party to prove that the other party or parties were liable for the incident. Liability assigns blame to the parties whose negligence caused the car accident to happen. In order to prove liability an accident victim must provide evidence of the other parties’ actions.

Different types of evidence can demonstrate liability in different ways. If law enforcement officials respond to a vehicle accident then they may generate police reports that discuss the details of the incident. Those reports can offer important insights into what happened at the time the accident occurred.

Additionally, evidence can come from the testimony of witnesses who were involved in the collision or who saw it occur. A witness may be able to provide an account of the negligent driver’s actions from their first-hand knowledge.

Even if an accident victim provides a solid case against another party for their accident-related losses that victim may still have to contend with the negligent party’s defenses and prepared arguments. As no vehicle accident case can be considered a guaranteed win it is important for victims of car accidents to discuss their legal options with attorneys who practice in the personal injury field. They are excellent resources for those who wish to pursue claims for their damages and who wish to understand what options they may have.

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Drunk driving is a deadly problem in Nevada
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Sep 22, 2017
Vehicle accidents with intoxicated drivers are an unfortunate problem for Americans all throughout the country and Nevada residents are not immune from feeling the devastating effects of these collisions in their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control , 1,025 people were killed in Nevada in drunk driving crashes between the years 2003 and 2012.

This works out to more than 100 individuals in the state losing their lives each and every year during the mentioned stretch of time. While individuals from every age bracket can become the victims of these preventable and senseless crashes, young adults between the ages of 21 and 34 are most likely to lose their lives in alcohol-related crashes, with adults over the age of 35 having a lower rate of mortality from similar collisions. These statistics do not factor in the devastating and often life-altering injuries that accident victims who survive their crashes can experience and then carry with them for the rest of their lives.

When a person is involved in a crash with a drunk driver they can face a multitude of challenges as they struggle to get their lives back on track. They may be forced to take time away from their jobs in order to heal from their injuries and recover from their accident-related harm. They may witness their medical bills mount and their losses compile as the days and weeks pass after their collisions. If one of their loved ones lost their life in the crash they may struggle with how they will move forward without the support of their deceased relation.

Drunk driving accidents are shattering and create incredible challenges for the people who are unlucky enough to become victims of them. While it is possible for civil lawsuits based on personal injury theories of law to assist victims in recovering their losses, victims of drunk driving accidents are advised to discuss their potential cases with their attorneys in order to assess the strength of their legal arguments.

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Your motorcycle accident injuries may avail you to civil damages
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Sep 15, 2017
Just as the drivers of cars, trucks and other automobiles are required to follow the rules of the road so too are motorcyclists expected to abide by the laws that govern safe driving in the state of Nevada. Additionally, just as vehicle drivers have rights to seek compensation when they are harmed in collisions with other automobiles so too may motorcycle accident victims pursue their losses when they are injured in crashes with motor vehicles. The law firm of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] proudly represents victims of motorcycle accidents and works zealously to attain damage awards for its clients.

A victim’s damages in a motorcycle accident can differ from those experienced in different types of vehicle crashes due to the unique characteristics of motorcycles. Because motorcycles have no frames those who ride them can be thrown from their motorcycles if they are hit by other vehicles, may suffer road burns if the force of their collisions throws them to the pavement, and can suffer significant injuries if they are hit by moving vehicles once their motorcycles are down. The potential for a motorcyclist to suffer significant injuries in a crash can be high and the costs associated with recovering from such an incident can be immense.

No victim of a motorcycle accident should have to carry the expenses of their recovery when those losses resulted from other people’s negligence. Personal injury-based civil lawsuits can provide victims with opportunities to recover what they lost when they became the victims of motorcycle crashes.

The law firm of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] is conveniently located in Reno, Nevada and is available to consult with new clients. In addition to providing superlative legal assistance to victims of motorcycle accidents the attorneys of the firm represent victims of vehicle accidents with large trucks, drunk drivers and other negligent parties.

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