You can often settle dog bite claims in a small claims court with little help from an attorney. However, such courts offer compensations not exceeding $10,000. If you incur severe injuries from a dog bite, you’ll need to involve an experienced personal injury lawyer.

A dog bite claim payout will depend on the injuries and consequential damages. Usually, large payouts are given if the dog bite leaves a visible disfigurement or scarring. In these cases, claimants can get up to $100,000 or in damages.

Your lawyer can also help you claim $200,000 or more if the injury results in permanent disability. Other cases that may offer higher payouts include bites that require emergency medical care or extended procedures, such as surgery.

Claims are often for medical bills, including payments for mental health therapy if the incident results in post-traumatic stress disorder. Also, you can get compensation for pain and suffering or lost wages.

Learn why hiring a personal injury lawyer is vital.

1. To Get Fair Compensation

Dog owners have insurance policies to cover them in case of an incident. However, the insurance carrier will not always issue payouts upfront. Usually, they’ll provide an insurance adjuster to investigate the case and bargain for lower compensation.

Some cases don’t end up in trial, but you may have to go to court if you have no other choice. Fortunately, a personal injury lawyer who deals with dog bites knows what’s required to get fair compensation.

Victims of a dog bite don’t always know what damages to sue for except for the medical bills and lost wages. Your attorney can help you explore all angles to claim compensation deserving of the extent of injury and damages incurred.

2. To Ease the Burden

Getting bit by a dog can be a traumatic experience, especially if you incur severe injuries with permanent scarring or disability. As the victim, your priority is to get proper healthcare and begin your recovery.

Filing a compensation claim on your own should be the last resort. A personal injury lawyer already knows how to go about gathering evidence and preparing the claim forms. The lawyer will also handle negotiations with the defendant’s insurance company.

Involving a lawyer frees you from the burden of filing the compensation claim so you can focus on getting well. On the other hand, using small claim courts will mean handling everything independently, including case presentation and attending court dates.

3. To Minimize Expenses

Most personal injury lawyers use a No Win, No Pay arrangement, which means they get nothing if you lose the claim. As such, they’ll only take on cases they think are winnable in court. More importantly, you won’t pay for anything.

The attorneys will deduct their fees and other expenses directly from the compensation you receive from the court’s verdict. You don’t have to worry about paying lawyer fees from your pocket.

However, you should know the rates to avoid losing more of your compensation to law firms. Work with a trustworthy law firm with experience in dog bite cases. Make sure you know about upcoming appointments to avoid unnecessary meetings and charges.

Dog owners are liable for bite injuries, and you can sue them if you get bit. Their insurance companies may settle the claim, but only if you have a compelling case. An experienced personal injury lawyer gives you a better chance of getting compensation.

Compensation for dog bites shouldn’t take too long. You’ll need to submit the claim within two years, although some exceptions exist. The attorney will get you up to speed on what’s required.

Don’t waste any more time. Contact Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney today to start building your dog bite case in Northern Nevada.

No matter how technologically advanced an aircraft, or how skilled and experienced the airplane’s operators, aviation accidents occasionally happen. While the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic obviously reduced air travel, 2019 saw 1,302 aviation accidents and 444 onboard deaths.

If you or someone you love sustained devastating personal injuries or other losses due to an aviation accident, you may have grounds for legal action against the responsible party. To gain a better understanding of this somewhat complex subject, consider the following questions and answers about aviation accident lawsuits.

Why Do Aviation Accidents Occur?

Aviation accidents can occur for a wide range of reasons. Many people might automatically associate such accidents with pilot error. However, while pilots can make critical mistakes, so can flight service station workers, air traffic controllers, and ground crew employees, which could result in anything from collisions to mechanical failures.

A mechanical failure that forces a plane to crash might stem from undetected design faults and weaknesses such as malfunctioning flight-control systems or other defective onboard equipment. On other occasions, violent storms or unpredictable flying conditions can lead to aviation accidents.

What Kinds of Damage Can Aviation Accidents Do?

An aviation accident such as a plane crash can cause serious injuries or deaths. Common injuries to passengers, pilots, and crew members may include fractures, debilitating spinal injuries, burns related to fuel combustion, and brain injuries that occur when individuals bang their heads against cabin walls or other structures.

The damage caused by an aviation accident may extend beyond physical injuries. Passengers subjected to frightening or traumatic aircraft experiences may suffer from emotional scars. These experiences may trigger a crippling form of chronic anxiety known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Who Do You Sue in an Aviation Accident Lawsuit?

Negligence on the part of the pilot team or flight attendant crew that leads to injury provides clear grounds for a lawsuit. Examples might include getting hit by improperly secured overhead bags, reckless flying, and beverage cart spills that cause burns. Mechanical failure due to faulty maintenance may also draw legal action.

Some aviation accidents require a full investigation to determine the underlying cause, potentially leaving you in the dark as to the responsible party. The investigation might hold the aircraft manufacturer or air controller team at fault, in which case you would have to sue the manufacturer or even the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

On close examination, you may find that you can’t hold any party liable in an aviation accident. For example, unavoidable turbulence might cause injuries even after the pilot has warned the passengers and the flight attendants have followed all safety procedures, in which case you wouldn’t have grounds to sue.

What Damages Can You Claim in an Aviation Accident Lawsuit?

Aviation accident lawsuits can include multiple damage claims. As in other personal injury lawsuits, an aviation accident lawsuit may claim damages related to loss of income, medical expenses (including anticipated future expenses), pain and suffering, and loss of consortium (disruption of marital relations).

If you lost a family member in an aviation accident, you may have grounds for filing a wrongful death lawsuit. The damages in a wrongful death lawsuit may resemble those listed above while also including funeral expenses and survivors’ pain and suffering. The court may also decide to award punitive damages.

How Do You Pursue an Aviation Accident Liability Claim?

The procedures you and your attorney must follow in pursuing an aviation accident lawsuit will depend in part on whether the defendant works for the FAA. If so, you must follow the rules set down by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which governs all lawsuits concerning federal employees.

Lawsuits against private pilots or airlines may proceed more along the lines of standard personal injury cases. However, according to the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, you can’t sue the pilot of a plane seating less than 20 passengers once the airplane has seen at least 18 or more years of service.

Unusual legal issues such as aviation accident lawsuits call for attorneys with skill and experience in this specialized area. You’ll find that expertise here at Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney. Contact our law office today to learn more and arrange a consultation

Riding a motorcycle exposes a person’s body in a lot more ways than inside a vehicle. Without car frames, seat belts, or airbags providing protection, the head of a person is more vulnerable to injury in a motorcycle accident. One of the main concerns in a motorcycle accident is a brain injury. A brain injury could dramatically change the way a person functions on a daily basis.

Learn about various brain injuries that come from motorcycle accidents and how those injuries could impact a person’s quality of life.

1. Traumatic Brain Injury

One general brain injury that can occur in a motorcycle accident is a traumatic brain injury. A key marker of the brain injury is a loss of consciousness. If a rider has passed out for any length of time, then a brain injury likely occurred.

Some of the mild forms include a concussion, but the amount of time a person is passed out for will likely relate to the severity of the brain injury. Along with the unconscious state, doctors will look for signs of post-traumatic amnesia. A rider may not remember the accident or recent events in their life.

Brain injury problems may appear in the days that follow an accident. More severe injuries could see problems extend for weeks or months. Someone who suffers brain damage could have trouble with everyday functions. Beyond memory, problems could include physical issues like walking or dizziness. A person may have trouble with focus and completing basic tasks.

A doctor may order a CAT scan or MRI to see the direct impact on the brain. Scans will highlight specific areas and showcase where problems have occurred.

2. Hydrocephalus

While a traumatic brain injury is a more general physical impact on the brain, a motorcycle accident victim could suffer from more specific injuries like a hydrocephalus. An accident could cause pressure on the skull and spine, which leads to fluid buildup in the brain. As fluid builds up and creates pressure, acute hydrocephalus occurs.

Hopefully, doctors are able to diagnose and treat the fluid buildup quickly after an accident. The longer the fluid applies pressure, the more brain damage can occur. Some of the more obvious signs of acute hydrocephalus include double vision, confusion, memory loss, and slower reactions to questions.

Physically, people with acute hydrocephalus may suffer from blurred vision, a lack of proper coordination, nausea, and chronic headaches. If acute hydrocephalus is discovered, then a person may need to undergo surgery to properly drain the fluid and reduce the extra pressure on the brain.

Even after the fluid drains, the brain damage could become permanent or take a lot of extra time to heal properly and recover.

3. Brain Hemorrhage

The fluid from hydrocephalus is different than if a blood vessel bursts in the brain and causes a hemorrhage. Also known as a brain bleed, a hemorrhage is an emergency situation where doctors must do everything they can to stop and contain the bleeding.

The severity of a brain hemorrhage all depends on where the injury occurs. Signs of a hemorrhage are similar to other brain injuries, so a complete exam and scans are necessary to discover the cause of the issue. At first, a person may not show any signs of a brain bleed, especially if the hemorrhage is small and slow.

A sign could take weeks to show up. This is why motorcycle crash victims should follow through with emergency room visits, doctor check-ups, and any scans that have been ordered. Stopping a brain bleed is essential to preventing long-term brain damage.

If you’ve suffered any form of brain injury due to a motorcycle accident, contact us at Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney to see what your legal options are when moving forward with a case.

Motorcycle rallies are enjoyable, but they can also be dangerous. Keep that in mind if you plan to participate in such rallies. Use the following tips to reduce your risk of a crash.

Plan

Don’t just show up at the rally if you plan to ride. Meet with your riding friends and plan your day. During the meeting, you can:

• Go over the route
• Specify meeting points
• Agree on hand signals
• Select lead and sweep riders

The idea is to avoid surprises that increase the risk of accidents.

Ride in Small Groups

Riding in big groups increases the risk of crashes. Say you have a tight group of twenty riders and one of them crashes into a ditch. If the other riders were too close to the fallen rider, you risk having multiple crashes. If you have a big group, divide it into smaller and manageable ones.

Stay in Formation

Riding in formation is safer than letting everyone chose their riding position. A staggered formation, for example, allows riders to react to emergencies without putting other riders in danger.

Although a staggered formation is a norm, some situations are better suited to single file formations. For example, a single-line formation is ideal on a winding road or with poor visibility. In such conditions, a single-line formation allows you to leave room for other road users who might not see you in time.

Ride Safe Bikes

Ensure your bike is mechanically sound, whether it is a conventional or classic ride. Some parts of concern include the:

• Brake system
• Lights
• Tires

Check your bike at least a day before the rally to avoid surprises.

Don’t Drink and Ride

Rally organizers mean them to be fun, which means food and alcohol are usually in plenty. Unfortunately, alcohol and riding don’t mix well. Alcohol intoxication:

• Impairs judgment
• Reduces reaction time
• Impairs vision
• Impairs sense of balance

Make a conscious and intentional decision not to drink and ride.

Take Extra Care With Unfamiliar Routes

Unfamiliar routes tend to be more dangerous than familiar routes. For example, when riding in an unfamiliar route, you might not:

• Have a good idea of the expected traffic
• Know the dangerous sections of the road
• Know the status of the road, such as if it has potholes

Be extra careful on unfamiliar roads. Scan the road ahead to identify potential dangers. Keep to a reasonable speed to stop in case of an emergency.

Know Your Limits

A typical group of riders has individual riders with different skills and experiences. Understand your limits and stick to them. Don’t attempt things, such as stunts, just because other riders do them. Don’t take corners at high speeds beyond your skillsets. In short, maintain your individualism within the group.

Wear Protective Gear

The above tips reduce your risk of crashing, but you cannot eliminate the risk. Factors outside your control, such as other road users or the weather, can still cause an accident. Thus, you must wear relevant protective gear to reduce the extent of injuries in case of an accident. Relevant protective gear includes:

• A helmet
• Riding boots
• Gloves
• A riding jacket
• Long pants

Some of the protective gear also reduce your risk of an accident. For example, a good helmet will keep the wind and flying debris out of your eyes so that you can focus on the road.

Hopefully, the above tips will help you stay safe and enjoy rallies to the safest. However, don’t forget that you may be entitled to compensation if you fall victim to an accident. Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney will evaluate your injuries and help you pursue your damages. Contact us for a free initial consultation on your motorcycle accident.

Internal bleeding is a serious injury that can lead to severe complications or even fatalities. Internal bleeding can also leave you with long-term or even permanent health complications. Thus, you shouldn’t be surprised if an auto insurance adjuster questions your claim of internal bleeding after an accident.

Here are some things to help you prove internal bleeding in such a situation.

Type of Trauma

Two types of trauma can cause internal bleeding. Proving that you suffered either or both types of trauma shows a high risk of internal bleeding.

1. Blunt Trauma

Blunt trauma occurs if something hits you or you hit something at high speed. For example, a blow to the abdomen can damage blood vessels and internal organs, leading to internal bleeding. The impact doesn’t have to break the skin to cause internal bleeding. You can use videos or pictures of the accident and your injuries to show the blunt trauma in such a case.

2. Penetrating Trauma

Penetrating trauma occurs if something pierces your body. An example is if a metal piece pierces your abdomen and damages your internal tissues. In this case, the wound’s site and size can help prove internal bleeding.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of your injuries can also prove internal bleeding. Typical signs of the injury include:

• Lightheadedness
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Pain
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Weakness on one side of the body

The symptoms vary by different factors, including the location of the trauma and affected blood vessels or internal organs. For example, bleeding in the brain is likely to cause vomiting, seizures, and loss of consciousness, among other symptoms.

Diagnosis

Every auto accident victim should seek medical care as soon as possible after the crash. The medical care will help you get the correct diagnosis of your injury. You can use the diagnosis to prove your internal bleeding.

Doctors have different diagnostic techniques for internal bleeding. Below are some of them:

• Physical examination. The doctor will examine the injury site for signs of blood vessel damage.
• Medical history review. The doctor may review our medical history to determine if things other than your accident may be causing your symptoms.
• Imaging tests. Doctors use imaging tests to view internal structures that hide under the skin. Things like X-rays and CT scans can show internal injury and bleeding. Blood tests. Blood tests can determine the level of blood loss, which may indicate internal bleeding.

Your medical records will contain details of your diagnosis. Get a copy of the records and use it to prove your internal bleeding claim.

Complications

Internal bleeding might lead to several medical complications. The complications depend on the severity of the injury, your overall health, and treatment, among other issues. For example, you might suffer organ damage if your internal bleeding continues for a long time. An expert witness can connect your complications to your accident and help you prove internal bleeding.

Treatment

Lastly, you can also use your treatment records to prove internal bleeding. Internal bleeding treatment can include:

• Rest
• Control of symptoms
• Repair of the damaged tissues
• Surgery (in extreme situations)

The necessary treatment depends on:

• Your overall health
• The affected tissues
• The trauma’s severity

Use your treatment to prove both your injury and damages. For example, you might lose some income if your doctor prescribes several days of rest.

Hopefully, you won’t suffer severe injuries anytime soon. However, you deserve full compensation if you do suffer an accident. You can only get full compensation if you can prove your injuries and damages. Contact Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney to evaluate your case and help you pursue your settlement. You can rely on our skills and several decades of experience.

Some 294,000 Americans suffer from spinal cord injuries, with an additional 17,810 cases occurring every year. These debilitating injuries can cause a host of problems, from chronic pain to partial or total paralysis. These impairments can lead to loss of income even as medical bills and other related expenses mount.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury at the hands of someone else, you may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit against that party to obtain much-needed financial compensation. Take a look at some frequently asked questions about this type of injury and the legal issues surrounding spinal cord injury lawsuits.

What Forms Do Spinal Cord Injuries Take?

The spinal cord relays all the sensory data and motor commands between the brain and the rest of the body. This thick cable of nerve tissue runs from the base of the brain through the neck and back, surrounded and protected by vertebrae. Even with this protection, however, the spinal cord can sustain serious injuries.

The majority of spinal cord injuries count as incomplete injuries that may respond to treatment. These injuries may affect the front of the spinal cord, the cord’s central tissue, or one side of the spinal cord (a condition called a Brown-Sequard injury). A complete spinal cord injury involves the severing of the spinal cord.

How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Occur?

Some spinal cord injuries occur due to medical malpractice, infections, violent acts such as shootings, or undetermined causes. However, most cases involve traumatic accidents. According to SpinalCord.com, auto accidents account for 39.3 percent of all spinal cord injuries, with falls accounting for an additional 31.8 percent.

What Effects Can a Spinal Cord Injury Have on Your Life?

A complete spinal cord injury cuts off all communication between your brain and the body parts served by the nerve tissue below the injury site. Depending on the level of the injury on the spine, you might lose control of your arms, legs, bladder, or bowels. These forms of paralysis can make an ordinary lifestyle difficult or impossible.

Even an incomplete spinal cord injury can impact your ability to earn a living or pursue everyday activities. You may experience partial paralysis, muscle weakness in a limb, and loss of sensation or manual dexterity. Chronic pain, numbness, tingling, or other uncomfortable symptoms can hurt your quality of life.

How Do You Pursue a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit?

You must file your spinal cord injury lawsuit within the time limits established by Nevada’s statutes of limitations. In most accidental personal injury cases, you need to file your lawsuit within two years of the accident date. Beyond this point, you may find it difficult or impossible to get your case heard in court.

According to Chapter 41A of the state legislature, if your case involves professional neglect or malpractice, you must file your lawsuit either within three years of the injury or within one year of discovering the damage done by the injury.

In a typical spinal cord injury lawsuit, you must prove that the party named in the lawsuit caused the injury (or worsened an existing injury) either through negligence or in a deliberate attempt to injure you. Your attorney may need to summon medical experts to testify on your behalf, especially in a medical malpractice case.

What Challenges Could Your Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Encounter?

If your spinal cord injury occurred while you were engaged in a potentially hazardous activity, the defense may argue that you shouldn’t receive compensation. This defense, known as assumption of risk, may drastically reduce your award or cause you to lose your case.

Nevada follows the modified comparative fault rule in assigning liability for personal injury cases. If the defense shows that you share liability for the circumstances of your spinal cord injury, the court may reduce your damage award by what it considers your percentage of fault.

When you need genuine legal expertise in the area of spinal cord injury lawsuits, turn to our team at Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney. We can evaluate the circumstances and evidence surrounding your injury and present your case as compellingly as possible. Contact our law office today.