When there is an accident in Reno, there is the chance that there will be serious injuries and fatalities. Short of death, one of the worst injuries that a person can suffer is a spinal cord injury. Not only does this type of injury leave a person in need of rehabilitation with the potential for paralysis, but it will cost a significant amount of money for treatment. In addition, the family of the injured person will have to face the reality of caring for someone who needs constant attention. Understanding the spine, how it functions and the different kinds of injuries that can damage it is important to those who deal with this.

There are two different kinds of spinal cord injury with a complete injury and an incomplete injury. If there is a complete spinal cord injury, the victim will not have any function beneath the portion of the spine that was injured. Both sides of the body will be affected. With an incomplete injury, there can be some level of function below where the injury occurred. One limb might be able to move more than the other limb. There could be feeling in certain parts of the body.

There are many ways in which a person can suffer a spinal cord injury. It could be during participation in sports, because of a fall, a car crash or while taking part in numerous physical activities. There are an innumerable number of ways in which a spinal cord injury can occur and, in many cases, it is due to negligence on the part of another.

There are three prominent classifications of the aftereffects of this injury — quadriplegia, paraplegia and triplegia. Quadriplegia means full paralysis. Paraplegia means loss of movement in the lower part of the body. Triplegia can mean loss of movement in one arm and both legs.

Depending on the severity of the injury, a person’s rehabilitation success will vary. Those with severe enough damage will likely be limited in their progress. For them, paralysis is a real possibility as is the need for long-term medical care along with the accompanying costs both financially and emotionally.

When there is an accident that causes a spinal cord injury and it is believed to be the fault of another, discussing the matter with a legal professional experienced in personal injury cases can help with being compensated.

Source: John Hopkins Medicine, ” Spinal Cord Injury ,” accessed on June 2, 2015

After many years of combined personal injury law experience, we know firsthand how devastating injuries from a car accident can be. It can change every aspect of your personal, work and family life and can prohibit you from doing the things you once loved to do.

There could have been many reasons for the car accident that caused you or your family serious harm. We understand that the reasons for the car accident are not always cut-and-dry. This is why we undertake a full investigation into the true cause of the car accident. This investigation can show why or how someone could have possibly been negligent at the time of the accident.

Possible causes for a car accident include texting-and-driving, speeding or aggressive driving just to name a few. If the other driving was responsible for the negligence that caused the car accident and your injuries, it can be discovered during a full investigation into the crash. If you are considering looking into proving that your rights were violated during a car accident, consider all of your legal options before making a decision about how to proceed.

Examining all of your options before making a decision is the best way to ensure that you are making the right decision for you and your family when catastrophic injuries such as spinal injuries can alter the rest of a person’s life. Seeking the assistance of an experienced attorney can help iron out a solid plan of legal action in such stressful times.

We have all heard the horror stories surrounding what happens when a person decides to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. Sometimes people make it home okay without an accident or injuries. Other times that person, and others on the road, aren’t so lucky. Mothers Against Drunk Driving

No two car accidents are exactly the same. This is because there are so many factors that define the car accident. Some of these factors can help to determine who may be liable, or at fault, for the accident. Often both drivers are partially responsible for a car accident, to some degree. However, there are certain types of car accidents that can foreshadow the majority of the responsibility falling on the shoulders of one driver.

One of the most common types of car accidents is rear-end collisions. These collisions occur when the vehicle driving behind another is following too closely and strikes the vehicle in the rear. Fault, or liability, almost always resides with the driver of the vehicle that rear-ends the other. This is because they were probably not driving safely and following too closely.

Left-turn car accidents also fall into a similar situation as the rear-end collisions. It is almost always the fault of the driver taking the left turn instead of the driver coming from the other direction going straight. Of course, these are just rules of thumb as far as accidents go. There are exceptions that would change the liability percentage to both drivers or the other driver if certain factors occur.

Each collision may be subject to a police report. This is especially true if the accident resulted in injuries. The police will write up a full report if called to the scene of the accident and these reports can be helpful when arguing about the liability of each party for an accident.

Anyone in the Reno area who gets in a car accident should understand how legal liability works under Nevada law.

Source: FindLaw , ” Car Accident Liability: Finding fault in a car crash ,” Accessed May 11, 2015

Now that spring is officially here, it brings with it cause for increased caution on Reno roads. This is due to the increased number of motorcyclists out and about once the weather makes a change for the better. Most people love to enjoy the warmer weather and this does not exclude motorcyclists. Passenger vehicles, semi-trucks and even other motorcyclists need to be aware of the increased possibility for motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycle riders are more vulnerable to catastrophic injuries than people traveling in cars and trucks. This is a big reason motorcyclists are required by law to wear helmets. Besides helmets, there is other safety gear motorcyclists can use to protect themselves like boots, gloves and vests. Protective gear can be the difference between serious and minor injuries suffered during a crash.

The reality is that no one wants to be involved in any type of collision, whether traveling in a passenger vehicle, by motorcycle or truck. However, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to serious injury because motorcycles offer little protection from a collision. It is also up to the motorcyclist to be aware when driving, and also to drive in a safe manner. It is best for motorcyclists to avoid dangerous activities such as speeding or splitting lanes.

Consistently driving in a safe and aware manner is a great way for all drivers in Reno to approach the road. This includes those traveling by motorcycle. All drivers should keep in mind that the vehicle traveling next to them just very well may be a motorcycle and this fact could make them more difficult to see. Drivers in cars and trucks should always check their blind spots and mirrors before making a lane change. This could prevent a deadly accident from occurring.

Source: KTVN.com, ” Warmer weather signals more motorcycles on area roads ,” Paul Nelson, April 27, 2015

Consult with an attorney after motorcycle accident
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Apr 29, 2015
People in the Reno area who have been in a motorcycle wreck know that there are many difficult consequences of these accidents. First, your physical condition may be sub-par due to injuries you suffered during the accident. These could cause you to take some time off from work in order to recover, which may stint your finances. Not to mention the condition of your motorcycle; needless to say it needs some repair work. You may be able to recover damages for these problems.

This is true if a driver who struck you was negligent at the time of your motorcycle accident. If someone else was not practicing safe driving and was responsible for the accident, you are eligible for monetary damages. If recovered, these damages could help with the lost wages and medical or repair bills that you owe after a motorcycle accident.

This is where it may be wise to consult with an attorney such as the legal staff at Bradley, Drendel and Jeanney. We are well-versed about the law and your rights after a motorcycle accident. Do not allow an insurance company to fool you into accepting a low amount of damages for an accident. We can help you make educated decisions at every legal stage of the process.

Understanding the facts of your case and legal process is the start to initiating a legal claim after a motorcycle accident. After a full investigation, an experienced attorney can use the evidence to present a compelling case as to why the negligent party should pay for accident-related damages. Allow for the wrongs to be righted in the case of a motorcycle accident. Seek vindication and compensation after your or a loved one’s injury.

What is Nevada Highway Patrol doing about aggressive drivers?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Apr 22, 2015
truck accidents,

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The real costs associated with car accidents
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Apr 17, 2015
Every year, thousands of Americans suffer the medical disturbances associated with motor-vehicle accidents. Car accidents can happen so quickly and leave passengers with a wide-range of medical issues. But, what are the financial costs associated with such injuries? Recently, the Center for Disease Control compiled car accident data and financial statistics in order to answer this question.

One shocking statistic is that every 10 seconds a person is treated in a medical facility for a motor-vehicle accident related injury. For many, that could mean that in the time it took to read this far, someone was admitted to a hospital for just such an injury. Direct medical care costs related to car accident s exceeded $17 billion according to the CDC. This is just a portion of the total cost of $99 billion in 2005. This does include loss of wages and productivity due to car accident related injuries.

Teens and young adults are the most affected by car accident related injuries. Although they only compromise 14 percent of the total population, they accounted for $31 billion of total costs which is 28 percent. Young adults and parents of teens should take note of this actuality in statistics. This is cold hard proof that teens and young adults are more susceptible to injury behind the wheel of a vehicle than older age groups. Injuries affecting these people could cost them both financially and in other ways for the rest of their life.

It is important to be aware of the potential risks and consequences associated with motor vehicles and potential accidents. Many suffer from injuries related to a car accident for the rest of their lives. The CDC has officially put a number on the financial costs associated with these type of injuries. Sadly, financial burden is a real possibility for those affected by motor-vehicle related injuries.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ” CDC study finds annual costs of motor vehicle crashes exceed $99 billion ,” Accessed April 13, 2015

What are legal duties of a motor vehicle driver to a pedestrian?
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Apr 10, 2015
Consider the disadvantages a pedestrian has in comparison to a motor vehicle. Cars are faster, stronger and weigh more than humans. In fact, most are aware that a moving vehicle could easily injure or kill a human if they cross paths. There are a few reasons that this may happen. However, the law stands in favor of the pedestrian the majority of the time.

This is because drivers of motor vehicles are expected to exercise due care around pedestrians. This is a stricter level of care than used in accidents between two vehicles. Drivers are held to a higher standard than a pedestrian in the situation. For example, this is true of pedestrians located both within and outside of a crosswalk and if not adhered to the driver can face charges for a car accident with a pedestrian.

According to laws in Nevada, a driver must exercise caution when the driver sees a pedestrian in many situations. These situations include driving near highway and other roads, near bus stops or other transit hubs, near crosswalks and school crossings and more.

This essentially means that anytime a pedestrian is visible to a driver or in the vicinity of a motor vehicle, the driver must exercise proper caution. This is a strict standard of care and it helps ensure pedestrian safety.

While not all drivers will adhere to these strict standards of care, it is best that everyone try to be aware of them. Pedestrians are susceptible to injuries from motor vehicles because an accident can happen in the blink of an eye. Because of this, pedestrians may be unable to get out of the way despite their best efforts. Pedestrians should be aware of the risks posed to their health and wellbeing when in the vicinity of vehicles.

Source: N evada Legislature, ” Right-of-way in crosswalk; impeding ability of driver to yield prohibited; overtaking vehicle at crosswalk; obedience to signals and other devices for control of traffic; additional penalty if driver is proximate cause of collision with pedestrian ,” Accessed April 6, 2015

Grandmother, child killed by drunk driver while waiting for bus
On Behalf of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney • Apr 01, 2015
drunk driving accident

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