Negligent driver may have caused loved one’s spinal cord injury
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Dec 15, 2016
Many drivers are unaware of the dangers that exist on Reno roads today. While normally aware and careful, some drivers may not grasp the potential for serious injury on Reno roads. The reality is that there are plenty of opportunities for a driver or a passenger to become seriously injured in a car accident. If a car accident causes a person to suffer a spinal cord injury, the injured person or their family may be wondering about how a potentially negligent driver could have affected the situation.

Not all car accidents are due to another driver’s negligence. But when it comes to an injury as serious as a spinal cord injury, it is certainly worth looking into. Spinal cord injuries will vary greatly in severity, but one thing they usually have in common is the need for some level of rehabilitation or physical therapy. Costs associated with that type of medical care can pile up quickly, and all of the costs may not be covered by a medical insurance plan.

This is where proving fault of another driver is important. If an injured party can prove that another driver’s negligence contributed to the car accident and the resulting injury, the blame and damages can be partially, if not entirely, their legal responsibility. Their insurance company or lawyer will likely dispute their client’s involvement, but if a person is liable for an accident it can be proven with facts gathered through an investigation.

With medical costs soaring and insurance premiums covering less and less, it is certainly something for a family to think about. In terms of spinal cord injury , the injured could be looking at months or even years of physical therapy and rehabilitation. The goal is always to restore the injured to the best of health. But sometimes that is not possible, and monetary damages are the only available recourse.

The attorneys at Bradley Drendel and Jeannie know how to prosecute these kinds of cases, and work vigorously on behalf their injured website. Our website has more information about the firm and how we handle cases involving severe injuries like a spinal cord injury.

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Hazards abound for motorcyclists on Reno roads
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Dec 08, 2016
Motorcycles are dangerous. While this may be true, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be ridden and enjoyed by the thousands that call themselves motorcyclists. The sad fact is, however, motorcyclists are much more susceptible to injury than the average motor-vehicle driver. According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcyclists are 26 times more likely than motor-vehicle drivers to die in a crash and five times for likely to be injured.

The hazards facing motorcyclists on Reno roads today go beyond potholes and unmarked turns. Drivers in motor-vehicles can be, at times, inattentive and this carelessness can lead to motorcycle accidents. The resulting injuries from these accidents can be catastrophic to the injured and the people they love. There are more than a few ways motorcyclists could be injured on Reno roads.

In two-thirds of all motorcycle accidents where another motor vehicle is involved, the driver of the motor-vehicle violated the motorcyclist’s right-of-way and caused the accident. This can usually be attributed to negligence or a related offense which is grounds for seeking damages. Damages can be sought in a personal injury suit in which the injured party can recover for the financial repercussions after an accident injury. Because motorcycles are much smaller than motor vehicles, drivers in motor vehicle can fail to see a motorcycle.

Head injury is a common complaint after a person is involved in a motorcycle injury. Head trauma can have serious and lasting effects that can reverberate for years. Negligent drivers, in cases of injury, need to held accountable for the serious lasting effects such an injury can have on an innocent motorcyclist. While finances are a top priority, access to medical care and the costs associated are important to consider as well.

Source: FindLaw, ” Motorcycle Accidents: Overview ,” Accessed Dec. 5, 2016

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What is considered negligence after a Reno car accident?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Dec 02, 2016
After you or a loved one have been involved in an incident where personal injury has resulted, you may be unsure of what to do next. Bodily injury resulting from a Reno car accident can be severe, and even if the injuries are described as moderate, it can have a huge impact on the injured person’s life.

One word often tossed around after someone suffers car accident injuries is negligence. Negligence is a term given to behavior that fell below a certain standard of care when a person or a third-party owed a duty to the injured.

Because personal injury suits seek to recover damages from those accused of negligence, it is important that those seeking those damages have a basic understanding of what negligence is. Do not be confused by the term ‘duty of care,’ either. Reno citizens are expected to exercise care for themselves and those around them. Even if there was no malicious intent behind an accident, one can still be found negligent after a car accident.

It is crucial that the behavior, actions or inaction of the driver accused of negligence directly caused the harm that the injured has suffered. For instance, a driver may have been engaging in distracted driving at the time of the accident, in near proximity to the injured. However, if the distracted driving did not directly affect the plaintiff, or if it didn’t set off a chain reaction ultimately injuring the plaintiff, the plaintiff may not have a viable legal claim. It must be proven that the defendant’s behavior directly or indirectly caused the injuries one may have suffered in a car accident. Damages one may seek after a car accident are related to financial, physical or emotional hardship the injured has suffered as a result of the accident.

Car accidents can have lasting effects beyond what one may be able to initially comprehend, and it is important to take the unknown long-term affects into consideration.

Source: FindLaw, ” Proving Fault: What is Negligence ,” Accessed November 28, 2016

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Nevada driver suspected to be impaired at time of deadly crash
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Nov 25, 2016
Of the car accidents that are seemingly senseless, those involving intoxicated or drunk driving are particularly cringe-worthy. All other factors aside, it would appear that any car accident, and the resulting injuries, could have been prevented had the driver chosen to get behind the wheel sober. Because your physical and mental state is affected by alcohol, this is a legitimate claim. The legal way to state this claim is by filing a personal injury suit after you or loved one suffers injury or fatality due to a drunk driving accident.

Car accidents involving intoxicated drivers are more common than some are aware of. Just the other week, two people lost their lives in a Nevada car accident where the other driver is suspected of intoxicated driving. According to police, the driver had been drinking before getting behind the wheel. In addition, it’s alleged the driver was street racing and exceeding the legal speed limit.

It is very possible that had the driver not been allegedly impaired at the time of the fatal crash, he wouldn’t have made the choice to street race. Bad decisions and intoxication tend to go hand-in-hand. However, most people choose not to get behind the wheel after a few drinks. A person who has been drinking can call a friend or a driving service for a ride, or even stay the night at a friend’s house or hotel. There is no excuse or explanation for drunk driving and the law will treat that decision as such.

This particular incident has yet to be decided in Nevada state court. While criminal charges are pending, the deceased person’s family may be thinking about bringing a suit of their own. It seems so senseless, the loss of life of a loved one. Many people in the community will mourn the early and unfortunate deaths. A full investigation can help to bring more closure to exactly what or who was the reasoning behind the deadly crash.

Source: lasvegasnow.com, ” Driver in deadly crash accused of DUI, speeding ,” Accessed Nov. 21, 2016

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Federal trucking regulations important to consider after accident
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Nov 18, 2016
Did you know that semi-trucks, eighteen-wheelers and other commercial trucks are held to a higher standard of safety and regulation than are the average passenger-vehicle driver? This is due to the higher potential for injury that truck accidents have been known to cause. Truck accident injury sufferers often complain, and rightly so, of the serious injuries they sustained in a trucking accident. In order to help determine the cause or causes behind a truck accident, it can be helpful to look towards federal trucking regulations that govern all type of truck driver, owner and maintenance behaviors that commercial trucks are required to follow.

The reason the laws are enacted are generally for safety reasons. Keeping people safe and saving human life and injury are at the top of the list for federal trucking regulation. After yourself of a loved one has suffered a truck accident injury there are a few places to investigate that can help determine if the truck driver or truck company were negligent. Trucking logs are required by federal law and record daily driver activities such as break periods, maintenance and miles traveled.

For example, if a truck driver did not stop for mandated breaks prior to a crash, he or she could be found negligent. If the truck was required to be pulled in for maintenance and was not, this could also have contributed to truck accident injury. This negligence could be attributed to fault on behalf of the truck company. There is even the potential to attribute negligence to third parties who use a trucking company to haul their product, especially if they knowingly over-filled the truck past legal weight limits.

In short, federal regulations can help determine activities that negligent parties may have participated in prior to a truck accident. It is possible that multiple parties contributed to truck accident injuries, so it’s good to consider this possibility. Even if the injured suspects that they may have contributed to the truck accident doesn’t mean the truck driver or company cannot be found partially at fault. Each truck accident is different and will require a keen eye to determine answers many have after suffering truck accident injury.

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How texting and driving contributes to car accidents
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Nov 10, 2016
While sitting in morning or evening rush hour traffic, many Reno drivers have noticed other drivers’ inattention to the road. Some may wonder what could possibly be distracting Reno drivers from the very important task of driving? Many are aware of cell phone use and how dangerous using a cell phone and texting and driving is. Oftentimes, texting and driving is the reason for drivers’ inattention to the road and for Reno car accidents.

These car accidents can have serious implications for other innocent drivers and their passengers caught in the cross-fire. Serious injuries have been known to result in car accidents in which a driver’s inattention to the road contributed to the crash. The activities that texting and driving laws prohibit are the use of electronic devices to write, send or read messages while driving. Nevada state law regulates these behaviors and how these illicit activities related to negligence or liability after someone suffers car accident injuries.

It is possible that a driver found to have caused or contributed to a car accident due to texting and driving could also be cited for reckless driving or charges related to reckless driving. This could mean serious civil or even criminal ramifications for a person found to be negligent for car accident injuries. Those suffering from injuries related to a car accident could have other costs associated with their injury such as lost wages and, most obviously, medical expenses. These are potentially recoverable if it is found a person or third-party is liable for the accident.

While no-one can predict when another person’s careless actions could cause a car accident, there are some warning signs of a driver who’s inattention to the road is caused by texting a driving. Swerving, an inability to maintain speed and eyes or hands off the wheel or the road could indicate a distracted driver. Avoiding these dangerous drivers is a factor that isn’t completely within other driver’s control. If involved in a car accident with a driver and you suspect distracted driving activities, a full investigation can bring evidence to light.

Source: traffic.findlaw.com, “Texting while driving,” Accessed Nov. 7, 2016

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Which common causes can contribute to Reno truck accident injury?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Nov 02, 2016
We have all seen the news clips of the chaos and catastrophe associated with truck accidents on Reno roads. Usually when a semi-truck or other commercial truck is involved in a car accident, the outcome is a series of unfortunate events. Sometimes, it results in multi-vehicle accidents with the victims sustaining multiple injuries or even, fatalities. There are a few causes related to a negligent or an inattentive truck driver that could be behind such truck accident injury.

Most truck drivers are upstanding citizens and take their job very seriously. Safety should be, and is, at the heart of all decisions that most truck drivers make. However, stresses of the job or careless decisions can lead to a break down in the number one priority. This means the safety of everyone on the road can be at risk.

A truck accident can result from inattentive or reckless driving. The motivations behind these actions could be a push from upper management, urging the truck driver to stay on an impossible schedule that encourages the driver to skip breaks and driver for illicit periods of time. All truck drivers are obligated under federal regulation to take mandated breaks and rest periods. Those that do not take those much-needed breaks put everyone at risk. It could even cause a serious injury in a truck accident to a loved one.

It can be difficult to tell at first glance whether a driver was fatigued at the time of a truck accident. Federal regulations ensure that truck drivers keep logs of their driving behaviors, which include taking the mandated breaks. An investigation into this paper trail could lead to big conclusions. These conclusions could mean putting responsibility on the appropriate party after a truck accident.

Source: injury.findlaw.com, “Common Causes of Truck Accidents,” Accessed Oct. 30, 2016

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Protesters struck by pick-up truck during rally in Reno
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Oct 27, 2016
While most Reno car accidents are unfortunate, they are just that — unfortunate accidents. There isn’t typically any malicious intent behind the actions of the drivers who cause or contribute to these crashes. Once in a while, however, a driver intentionally causes an accident with intent to maim or harm. One such car accident appears to have happened recently between a pick-up truck and a group of protesters in Reno.

It occurred during a peaceful rally right in the city center under the arch. Approximately 40 protesters had gathered in support of Native American rights. According to reports, there was some type of exchange between the pick-up driver and the protesters and the driver began to rev his engine, eventually giving way to first gear and striking five people in the group. One woman was hospitalized due to the injuries she sustained in the crash, the other four were treated and released at the scene.

He took off from the scene of the car accident , later stopping a few blocks away to explain his side of the story to Reno officers on scene. It is unclear at this time what made the man decide to accelerate his vehicle into the crowd. Likely, a full investigation into the incident will follow. It is possible that the driver of the pick-up truck could face criminal, as well as civil, penalties for his alleged actions that day.

While people do make mistakes, a pedestrian is no match for a speeding motor-vehicle. That is why pedestrians have rights against drivers who intentionally or unintentionally strike them, causing injury. Some reports have called the man’s actions a ‘hate-crime.’ Whatever the motivation, if charged, the man will have a turn to tell his side of the story.

Source: tribtown.com, “The Latest: Reno mayor pledges justice after protest crash,” Oct. 11, 2016

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Accident resulting in spinal injury can be devastating, costly
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Oct 21, 2016
After a shocking and unexpected injury to the spinal cord, there can be a lot of uncertainty associated with the past, present and future. As far as the past goes, people may wonder just what exactly happened to them or a loved one that caused such a life-altering spinal cord injury. In the present, the emotional toll can make even getting up in the morning difficult. When it comes to the future, people may be wondering what it looks like for the injured and their family moving forward after a spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury can be sustained in almost an infinite number of ways. The most common spinal cord injuries are sustained in car accidents, work accidents or even other types of sudden traumatic injury incidences that are often associated with negligence. Negligence is a term given to an incident in which ‘but for’ another’s actions or inaction, the accident and injury would not have occurred. Most people and businesses have a duty of care to uphold.

At Bradley, Drendel & Jeannie we understand the stress that a Reno accident resulting in spinal cord injury can cause. Medical costs, property damage and lost wages due to a loved one’s, or a person’s own, inability to return to work after the injury can also be recovered. The silver-lining is that most costs can be recovered if attributed to a negligent party. This process begins by filing a personal injury suit against whoever is believed to be at fault.

Whatever stage people are at after a spinal cord injury , we have seen it all. You may have suspicions about the negligent party, but no concrete facts to go on. We can help take that burden off of a person’s shoulders by discovering the facts and evidence that need to be prepared for proving fault. People have been through enough after spinal cord injury.

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Nevada statute of limitations and car accident injuries
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Oct 14, 2016
After a car accident, there is typically a whirlwind of activity. Of course, health and wellness need to top the list and those injured in a car accident should take their injuries seriously. After immediate needs are assessed and treated for immediate danger, what should one do next?

Since there is a time limit on how long an injured person has to file a lawsuit, this might be a good time to explore this option. Not all car accident s are caused by another’s negligence, but for those that do involve another’s negligence, determining liability is crucial. An accident investigation, witness testimony and medical records are all great resources to utilize when building a personal injury suit. With the costs of medical care going up every year and insurance policies becoming less favorable for the average Reno resident, an injured victim may be looking to off-set the medical costs associated with car accident injuries.

Nevada’s statute of limitations is only two years from the time of the injury, which is a smaller time frame than most states. If the time window has closed, it can be nearly impossible to file suit against a person or company believed to be at fault. This is why time is of the essence after a car accident.

While two years may seem like a long time to some, it can go quickly for a family dealing with serious injuries after a car accident. Hospital visits, paperwork and other complications from injuries can make the extra step of filing suit all the more challenging. However, there is much to be reaped from the extra effort if a 3rd party is proven responsible or liable for the accident. There are financial gains to be had for the victim and their family.

Source: FindLaw, “Time Limits to Bring a Case: The ‘Statute of Limitations’,” Accessed October 10, 2016

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