What are the symptoms of a spinal cord injury?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Sep 07, 2017
A spinal cord injury can be a very serious medical condition that may result in serious complications, and even death, if not properly treated. Reno residents who believe that they may have suffered spinal cord injuries as a result of the negligence of others are strongly encouraged to contact medical professionals to have their health conditions assessed. The contents of this post are offered only as information and should not be used as medical or legal advice.

When the victim of an accident or incident suffers a spinal cord injury, there are two ways that the injury may be classified: complete or incomplete. While a complete spinal cord injury is indicated by the absence of feeling or sensation in the victim’s body below the site of the injury, the victim of an incomplete spinal cord injury may have some feeling in his or her body below the affected part of the spine.

There are certain symptoms people may feel or not feel if they have suffered damage to their spinal cord. They may experience an inability to move parts of their bodies and they may lose the ability to feel sensations such as temperature and pressure. Their muscles may seize up or spasm, and depending upon the site of their injuries, they may have difficulty breathing and clearing out their lungs.

Any time a person is involved in an accident it is a good idea for him or her to be checked out by a doctor. If an individual has suffered a spinal cord injury , the early treatment of that damage can be critical to any recovery. Once medical needs are addressed , it is not unreasonable for spinal cord injury victims to seek the assistance of legal professionals to pursue compensation for their accident-related losses and medical costs.

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Tired truck drivers are a danger to other motorists
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Aug 30, 2017
Readers of this Reno personal injury legal blog have probably experienced this situation: while driving down the road, their attention may start to wander as their eyelids begin to feel a little heavy. When exhaustion begins to influence one’s ability to drive, most individuals stop their vehicles, take a break from driving and either rest or engage in other activities that may stimulate their attention and make it once again safe for them to operate their cars.

However, in one occupation, stopping and taking a break from driving can be a costly matter. Truck drivers and drivers of other commercial vehicles are often placed on schedules that may require them to cover certain distances during specific periods of time. If they fall behind schedule they may feel compelled to drive their rigs when their bodies are too tired and their minds too distracted from the important task of operating their trucks.

Truck driver fatigue is a dangerous problem that can cause accidents on American highways and roads. As such, the federal government has enacted hours of service requirements that limit how long drivers of commercial vehicles may operate between their periods of rest. The hours of service mandates were created in order to prevent commercial drivers from driving while tired and causing injuries to others.

In order for a commercial or truck drivers to demonstrate compliance with the federal hours of service requirements they must often complete a log book that indicates when they were driving, when they were resting and how they spent their time during a given day. Log books can be useful pieces of evidence for individuals who have been hurt in truck accidents and may give injured victims’ opportunities to show fault on the part of the commercial and truck drivers whose actions caused their harm.

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Car and bicyclist collide in Reno, cyclist killed
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Aug 23, 2017
A recent early evening collision caused a Reno-area bicyclist to suffer serious injuries when his bicycle was involved in an accident with a car. The incident occurred shortly after 5 o’clock in the evening and happened near Airway and Garden Homes drives. The victim, a 30-year-old man, was taken to an area hospital where he died from the significant harm he sustained in the crash.

Although the driver of the vehicle that was involved in the fatal accident stayed on scene when police arrived, law enforcement officials are continuing to investigate this matter to determine how and why it occurred. They do not believe that the driver of the involved car was impaired at the time of the crash, though this does not necessarily mean that the driver will be able to avoid liability for his role in the deadly incident.

When an accident of this nature occurs, it is not uncommon for law enforcement personnel to evaluate the evidence they collect from the crash, and in some cases, to make a recreation of the incident to determine its cause. As they work through the facts of the case the data they encounter may reveal that the driver of the involved car exhibited negligence in his driving conduct and was responsible for the fatal collision.

Motorists who operate on Nevada streets and highways owe a duty of care to all of the other motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and others with whom they share the roads. When they breach their duty to others through negligence or recklessness, their conduct may make them liable for the losses others experience. As investigators sort out the facts of this story, their findings may reveal instances of negligence and possible civil claims for the family members of the deceased victim.

Source: rgi.com, ” UPDATE: Bicyclist dies after Reno bike-vs-vehicle crash ,” Aug. 15, 2017

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Compensation may be available after a spinal cord injury accident
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Aug 16, 2017
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating, and in worst-case scenarios, life-threatening. They can limit the control Nevada residents have over their ability to move their bodies, and manage necessary bodily functions, such as respiration and reflex. The law firm of [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] has represented many victims of spinal cord injury accidents and advocated for their recovery of damages after suffering harm at the hands of others.

When a victim’s spinal cord is injured, the damage may prevent the victim’s brain from sending messages to other parts of their body. A serious spinal cord injury may prevent people from moving their arms and legs, which alone may keep victims from walking, dressing themselves, feeding themselves, and doing the many other personal care tasks that individuals with full mobility are able to do for themselves each and every day.

A spinal cord injury may also impact a person’s emotional wellness. Losing one’s ability to move and care for oneself can be detrimental to the victim’s mental health as one is forced to rely on others to ensure that the most basic needs are met. People injured in this way may suffer stress and anxiety over their lost abilities and may endure pain as they rehabilitate and work to regain the functionality their spinal cord injuries deprived them of.

Spinal cord injuries can be very serious and very expensive to recover from. No victim of a spinal cord injury accident should be victimized a second time by being forced to pay for the costs of his or her recuperation and care. In some cases, victims of spinal cord injuries are able to receive compensation for their losses, and readers who wish to explore this possible means of recovery in the wake of their accidents are invited to seek more information on our website.

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First Hearing for Little Valley Lawsuits
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Aug 15, 2017

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Could conduct bar me from recovering after a motorcycle accident?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Aug 09, 2017
Negligence is the basis for many of the personal injury lawsuits that are filed in Nevada courts. When a person has a duty to another individual and fails to fulfill that duty to the injury and detriment of the other, then it can be possible for the victim to recover compensation for his or her losses from the breach.

It is not unusual for motorcycle accidents to be caused by negligence. Drivers generally have a duty of care to others who are out on the roads with them; when drivers fail to yield to motorcyclists, fail to check their blind spots for motorcycles, or otherwise act irresponsibly in the presence of motorcyclists, their actions can be deemed negligent and they may be held liable for their victims’ injuries.

However, the state of Nevada recognizes an extension of the general negligence law that can, if proven, inhibit a victim’s chances of fully recovering accident-related losses. Contributory negligence can limit a victim’s recovery if a court finds that the victim also acted negligently, or otherwise contributed to the harm that they suffered.

For example, during proceedings on a negligence-based motorcycle accident claim, the defendant may allege that the victim failed in his or her duty to drive responsibly as well. After reviewing the facts of the case, a court may determine that while the defendant was 75% responsible for the accident the victim was 25% responsible for the harm that was suffered. In such a case, the victim would only be able to recover a portion of the damages that may have otherwise been received.

If a victim is found to be more responsible for an accident that the actual defendant, then under Nevada law the victim may receive no recovery. Contributory negligence is not only applicable to motorcycle accidents, but other forms of personal injury-causing incidents as well. Individuals who have concerns and questions about their personal injury cases are encouraged to discuss their legal needs with their personal attorneys.

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Alcohol impairs drivers in dangerous and predictable ways
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Aug 02, 2017
Drunk driving accidents claim thousands of lives every year. That statement is not an exaggeration. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration more than 10,000 people lost their lives in alcohol-related vehicle accidents during the 2015 calendar year. Many of those victims were known and loved by Nevada residents who still carry the pain of loss in their hearts.

Drunk driving is against the law because it is dangerous. There is no question that drunk drivers are a threat to themselves and others who must share the roads with them. When consumed responsibly, alcohol can be a reasonable drink of choice for adults of legal age, but due to the drastic effects it may have on a person’s body, it should not be ingested before or during the operation of a motor vehicle.

A small amount of alcohol, just enough to elevate a person’s blood alcohol concentration to .02 can have a perceptible impact on the drinker’s concentration and motor function. The individual may not be able to concentrate on multiple tasks, and he or she may lose some of the mental alertness possessed otherwise, when not intoxicated.

Ingesting more alcohol, enough to raise a person’s blood alcohol concentration to .08, creates major problems for a driver and those around them. The drunk driver may have lapses in memory and may be unable to process information, such as hazards in the road or speed limits, in a timely enough manner to react to dangers near them. As a driver’s blood alcohol concentration continues to rise he or she may lose the ability to control the vehicle and may lack the reaction time to respond to driving responsibilities.

Though the speed at which impairments due to alcohol can impact drivers may vary, the effects most intoxicated drivers will experience are dangerous and predictable. Victims of drunk driving accidents understand how life-altering these events can be and are encouraged to consider discussing their legal rights with personal injury attorneys.

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What are common causes of distracted driving car accidents?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Jul 31, 2017
Distracted driving can occur when a Reno driver chooses to take his or her attention away from the important task of watching the road and focuses that attention on another person or thing. Certain types of distracted driving can result in the distracted drivers receiving tickets from the law enforcement officials who catch them. More significantly, though, distracted driving is a dangerous practice that can lead to serious and sometimes deadly car accidents.

Any time drivers fail to look at the road ahead of them they are allowing chances for an unseen hazard or obstacle to get in their way. Often, distracted drivers are looking at their smartphones, global positioning devices, or other pieces of technology when they inadvertently rear end other vehicles, drive out of their lanes, or commit other driving offenses that put other motorists and their passengers in danger.

Sometimes, distracted driving results when people are distracted by their passengers, the music they chose to play in their vehicles, or other sounds and noises around them. Distractions can be tangible or consumable such as the food and drinks drivers eat, and the make-up and other grooming tools they use while operating their cars.

While it can be difficult to eliminate all distractions when operating a vehicle, drivers are responsible for maintaining control of their cars, trucks and SUVs at all times. If they are not observing their surroundings due to a distraction they can quickly put others in dangerous situations and can cause significant harm and injuries. Victims of distracted driving accidents may benefit from discussing their cases with personal injury attorneys and protecting their rights to accident-related compensation.

Additional Source: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/812_381_distracteddriving2015.pdf

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Spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Jul 19, 2017
The human body is composed of complex systems that must function together in order for a person to maintain his or her physical well-being. While many organs and systems play vital roles in managing the health of a person, the brain and associated nervous system are integral to almost every other process the body must complete. Reno residents who have been involved in vehicle crashes and other accidents may have sustained injuries to an important part of their bodies’ nervous systems: the spinal cord.

The spinal cord runs down the back of a person’s torso and is composed of a bundle of nerves. Those nerves extend from the brain, down the spinal cord and out to the far reaches of the body’s appendages and organs. When the spinal cord is in good health, the brain is able to effectively communicate with the body. However, when it sustains an injury it may be unable to send important messages from the brain to nerves throughout the rest of the body.

If a signal from the brain does not reach its intended body part because of a spinal cord injury , and the body does not respond , it is possible that the body has suffered paralysis. Paralysis is the immobility of a part of a person’s body and , depending upon the severity of the spinal cord injury , a person’s paralysis may be partial or widespread.

While this post is not offered to provide its readers with medical or legal advice, it is proffered to introduce one devastating consequence that some spinal cord injury victims will face. The costs associated with recovering from a spinal cord injury and living with paralysis can be very expensive and may threaten victims’ abilities to care for themselves and others. Spinal cord injury victims may wish to further explore their legal options for seeking recovery of their damages, and can consult with personal injury attorneys to attempt to determine that they are on the right track.

Additional Source: https://medlineplus.gov/spinalcordinjuries.html

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Wrong way car accident leaves one dead in Nevada
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Jul 12, 2017
Most Nevada highways are well marked to indicate to drivers where they may permissibly enter and exit the roadways. The signage used serves many purposes, including the protection of drivers from inadvertently driving the wrong way onto busy and high-speed throughways. Traveling at high speeds can be dangerous on its own, but when a driver ends up traveling the wrong way on such a road, the outcome can be deadly.

Just recently, the driver of a sedan made a tragic move by driving on to Interstate 80. The incident occurred at Pyramid Way in Sparks when the driver of the sedan drove the vehicle onto the interstate’s off ramp and into traffic that was traveling in the opposite direction. The wrong way vehicle crashed into a tanker truck on the interstate and caused a serious car accident.

There is no indication at this time if the driver of the wrong way car was under the influence of any substances that may have impacted his or her judgment, though that driver was killed. The driver of the tanker truck was hurt in the collision as well, but will recover from the injuries.

This story has a tragic outcome and highlights just how devastating vehicle accidents can be when drivers make deadly errors when behind the wheels of their cars. Whether this driver chose to enter the interstate at the wrong place, made a mistake due to a distraction, or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he or she went the wrong way onto Interstate 80 may be revealed through an investigation into the incident. Individuals who have been harmed in similar crashes may wish to look into their options for seeking damages from the parties that caused them harm in wrong way accidents.

Source: ktvn.com, ” NHP Investigates Deadly Wrong-Way Crash on I-80 Near Pyramid Highway ,” Nicole Jackson, July 6, 2017

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