Nevada’s lack of movement on outlawing text messaging or other dangerous driving behavior was one of the main topics of conversation at the last national Distracted Driving Summit, on Sept. 21 in Washington, D.C.

Advocates say banning text messaging, and/or hand-held cell phone use while driving, could reduce the number of serious and fatal Reno car accidents and accidents elsewhere in Nevada. Nationwide, an estimated 6,000 people according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in 2008 that the state estimates up to 30 percent of fatal accidents are caused by distracted driving. That article was in regards to a possible text messaging ban that never materialized.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Association reports that Nevada is one of only a few states who have done nothing about the issue. Others include Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina. Thirty states now ban text messaging by all drivers –11 of those states have enacted laws this year.

The government hopes the  summit can be used as a tool to induce states to enact tougher safety measures.

“Working together, we can put an end to the thousands of needless deaths and injuries caused by distracted driving each year”, said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary – Ray LaHood; “By getting the best minds together, I believe we can figure out how to get people to put down their phones and pay attention to the road.”

If asking nicely doesn’t work, all signs point to the use of the stick; withholding federal highway dollars was the primary means used to get states to fall in line when it comes to speed limits and a uniform standard for drunk driving offenses.  Most Reno injury attorneys and Reno wrongful death lawyers concur with these tactics.

Media reports indicate that Congress is already considering the use of highway funding as a motivator for states that have been slow to act.   It worked in Nevada, where recently legislation went into affect banning texting while driving and the use of a hands-free device for all phone calls.  As of Oct 1^st, drivers will be given a warning.  After the 1^st of the year, citations with fines will be handed out to drivers breaking the new law.

If you or a loved one is injured or in an accident, call Joey Gilbert & Associates today for a free confidential consultation – 775-473-7171 or Toll Free 1-888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case!  Se Habla Español.

A hit-and-run Reno car accident has left a road worker critically burned and suffering life-threatening injuries.  Reno Gazette reported that the hit-and-run accident critically burns man in south Reno, while the suspect is sought.

Reno injury lawyer should always be called to represent anyone who is seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident.  In this case, a Nevada workers’ compensation claim may also be filed since the victim was injured while on the job.

The Reno Police Department is searching for a gray vehicle, possibly a Toyota or Scion, that was involved in the accident at Double R Boulevard and Prototype Drive in South Reno.  The accident happened about 12:40 a.m. on a Thursday.  Police said two men, who were working either for the City of Reno or the Regional Transportation Commission, were re-striping Prototype Drive.  The operator of the re-striping machine saw a vehicle run over several lane-closure cones as the vehicle veered toward the machine. The operator jumped out of the way but the car hit the machine and the other road worker. In addition to blunt-force trauma, he was splashed with plastic heated to 400 degrees.

The victim was transported to Renown Regional Medical Center with severe injuries, including broken ribs and extensive burn injuries. He has since been transported to the UC Davis Burn Center in Sacramento, where he is listed in critical condition.

The suspect vehicle is missing its front bumper and should have white plastic spray on it.  Anyone with information is asked to call the police department’s traffic division at 334-2141 or Secret Witness at 322-4900.

The NBC4 report is available here.

If you or a loved one is injured or in an accident, call Joey Gilbert & Associates  today for a free confidential consultation – 775-473-7171 or Toll Free 1-888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case!  Se Habla Español.

The driver who caused a Reno semi accident has been cited for driving too fast for conditions, KOLOTV reported.

The crash happened on Mount Rose Highway on Monday. The driver was headed downhill toward Reno with a truckload of debris from the Tannenbaum Event Center — formerly the Christmas Tree Restaurant. The driver of the truck was not hurt in this case but the road was closed for several hours.

Our Reno car accident lawyers urge motorists to use extra caution when traveling around large semis or dump trucks. Their extreme weight and unsecured loads pose a significant threat to other motorists on the road. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 1 in 9 fatal accidents in the United States involves a large truck or commercial vehicle.

Nationwide, 380,000 crashes involving semis and other large commercial vehicles killed 4,229 motorists and injured more than 90,000 in 2008.

Traffic accidents are also a significant cause of Nevada work accidents for truckers, law enforcement officers, postal workers, delivery drivers and other employees who drive as a part of their job.  Speaking with a Reno work accident attorney or Nevada workers’ compensation lawyer is critical to protecting your rights and the future financial well-being of you and your family in the wake of a serious or fatal work accident.

In 2008, nearly 1 in 4 fatal work accidents in the private sector involved a highway accident, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reported that 1,044 of 4,670 fatal work accidents involved traffic fatalities.

It is important for employees to understand that car insurance is not the only means of available recovery following a Nevada car accident while on the job. However, attempting to handle an accident or workers’ compensation case yourself is not the best course of action for protecting your rights and ensuring that you receive the compensation necessary to pay for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitative care and other expenses resulting from the accident.   Most people want to know the answers to 3 questions when their injured in an accident:  Who is fixing me?  Who is fixing my vehicle or machinery?  How do I get paid?

If you or a loved one is injured or in an accident, call Joey Gilbert & Associates  today for a free confidential consultation – 775-473-7171 or Toll Free 1-888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case!  Se Habla Español.

A Reno man has died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Highway 20 near Sutter, the Appeal-Democrat reported.

The 54-year-old was riding with a passenger, westbound on Highway 20, when a 39-year-old motorist made a left turn in front of him, according to authorities. The motorcycle crashed into the side of the Chevy Tahoe, killing the biker. His 49-year-old passenger was transported to the hospital by medical helicopter.

The Tahoe driver could face manslaughter charges, depending on the outcome of the investigation. A 48-year-old rider was killed in a motorcycle accident at the same intersection last spring.

Nationwide, 5,290 riders were killed and more than 96,000 were injured in motorcycle accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Fifty-nine riders were killed in Nevada motorcycle accidents, while California led the nation with 537 fatalities.

The summer months are the deadliest time of year for motorcycle accidents; the majority of serious and fatal riding accidents occur between Memorial Day and the end of September or shall we say, the end of the Street Vibrations motorcycle rally.  This 16^th annual event is the 6^th largest in the nation and attracts motorcycle riders and enthusiasts by the tens of thousands to the Reno/Tahoe area.

The following information is adapted from the Motorcycle safety Foundation’s 10 things every car and truck driver should know about motorcycles:

• Look for motorcycles:   There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road and riders are easy to miss. Check carefully, especially at intersections.
• Appearances can be deceiving:   A motorcycle’s small size often makes it appear farther away than it is and can make judging speed difficult.  Predict a motorcycle is closer than it appears, and, if in doubt, wait for it to pass.
• Beware of blind spots: Motorcycles can be easily hidden by a vehicle’s blind spots or masked by outside obstacles, such as trees, vegetation, traffic or parked cars. Check thoroughly before proceeding.
• Speed:  Because of their small size, motorcycles often appear to be traveling fast.  Don’t assume a motorcycle is speeding.
• Brake lights:  Riders often slow down by rolling out of the throttle — not by using the brake.  So brake lights are a poor indication of a rider’s intentions. Allow extra room when following a motorcycle and predict that it may slow without warning.
• Turn signals:  Turn signals on motorcycles often do not shut off on their own.  Don’t rely on a turn signal to determine a rider’s intentions.
• No crowding:  Motorcycles often adjust positions within a lane to obtain a better view of the road or to avoid small road defects that would not bother a passenger car. Motorcycles are entitled to their own lane. Do not crowd them.
• Maneuverability:   Is one of a motorcycle’s best characteristics. But don’t expect it to always be able to dodge out of the way.
• Stopping distance: Motorcycles require about the same distance for stopping as cars — slippery roads can make stopping especially difficult. Allow more room when following a motorcycle and don’t assume it can always stop on a dime.
• Vulnerability:  View a motorcycle in motion as a person on the road. They are just as vulnerable.

Street Vibrations can be a fun, but dangerous time.   If you or loved one is injured in a motorcycle accident, you need a personal injury attorney who will help you answer those 3 important questions:  Who is fixing me?  Who is fixing my bike?  How do I get paid?

Call Joey Gilbert & Associates today for a free confidential consultation.  Never a fee unless we win your case!   775-473-7171 or toll free 1-888-640-4313.  Se Habla Español.

Most people don’t cut their own hair.  They also turn to professionals for a thorough teeth cleaning once a year, and for a variety of other services. However, after being injured in an accident, some people decide that they don’t need to hire a professional to help them protect their interests.  In fact, they do.

The process of settling a claim following an accident involves conflicting goals:  the injured people’s goal is to receive full compensation for the damage done to their health and property, while the insurance company’s goal is often to pay out as little as possible.  The insurance adjusters are professionals, and they know when they are dealing with amateurs

What would an experienced attorney know that you might not, and that would help you reach the best possible outcome for your case?

• What the law is. You can research this yourself, but you may not have either the time or the inclination; moreover, an attorney will be more familiar with the intricacies of the relevant laws.
• What the insurance companies need to see.  An experienced attorney can efficiently gather all the documents and other relevant evidence that should be presented to the insurance company as part of making a claim.
• What the various insurance companies are like.  No two insurance companies are the same; an experienced attorney would know when it would be best to work cooperatively and when to stand firm and not concede too much.
• How to negotiate.  Negotiation skills are learned and strengthened through experience.  Negotiation is most successful when backed by a thorough knowledge of what the alternatives to a negotiated settlement may be, and a complementary knowledge of what the law mandates.
• How to try a case.  Far fewer cases go to trial these days, and that’s something we should all be glad for; however, if an insurance company knows that it is dealing with an attorney who has successfully tried cases in the past, it will make a greater effort to settle, rather than risk the cost of a trial.
• The outcome of comparable cases.  Like the seasoned adjusters who are likely to face you, an experienced attorney can look to past settlements and jury awards to estimate what the outcome of your case is likely to be.

Finally, unlike hairdressers or dental hygienists, most accident attorneys will work on a contingency basis–meaning that they would be paid a percentage of whatever settlement or award you recover. 

If you or a loved one is injured or in an accident, call Joey Gilbert & Associates today for a free confidential consultation – 775-473-7171 or Toll Free 888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case!

With its casinos, its riverfront (complete with water park!), and its easy access to Lake Tahoe and more than a dozen ski resorts, Reno, Nevada attracts vast numbers of tourists year round.  Unfortunately, some of those tourists may be injured or otherwise involved in an accident during their visit.

Being involved in an accident is an extremely stressful experience even in the best of circumstances.  When a person gets into an accident in an unfamiliar location, the stress and confusion are multiplied.

If you are involved in an accident while visiting the Reno/Tahoe area, you should immediately contact both your own insurance company and an experienced Reno attorney.  Such an attorney would be familiar with local courts, local hospitals, local offices of insurance companies, and other local attorneys who may represent the opposing side.  Most importantly, an experienced local attorney would be familiar with local laws.  A Reno person injury attorney familiar with those laws and with the local lay of the land would be best suited to evaluate the facts involved in a local accident.

An experienced Reno attorney would serve as your guide through the legal process that may unfold as a result of the accident.  He or she could also advise you about the steps that you should take or avoid in order to protect yourself, whether or not you are the party at fault, and whether or not you have yourself been injured.

If you or a loved one is injured or in an accident, call Joey Gilbert & Associates, Ltd. Today for a free confidential consultation – 775-473-7171 or Toll Free 888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case!

When people have been harmed by a medical provider’s negligence, they may choose to sue that provider for medical malpractice.  The goals of such a lawsuit are to prove that the provider acted in a way that fell below the standard of care expected of similar professionals, and to help the patient recover money damages for the resulting pain, suffering, and expenses.

Media coverage of some unusual cases has fed the perception that people often file frivolous suits against doctors just to make some easy money.  The reality is that most lawsuits are filed by plaintiffs who were severely injured by clearly negligent practices:  people who had the wrong limb amputated due to miscommunication among hospital staff; parents whose children were given overdoses of medicine or radiation; or bereaved spouses of people who were not tested or treated in a timely manner for conditions that would have been obvious to any trained professional.

In fact, a recent study on medical malpractice published by Rand International (a nonprofit, nonpartisan institute) shows that in counties where adverse safety outcomes for patients decreased, the medical malpractice claims filed decreased as well.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are complex and lengthy.  They require expert testimony from medical professionals who understand the particular field at issue; the gathering of hundreds of medical records and other documents related to the patient’s health; and a thorough knowledge of the relevant laws of the particular state in which the suit is brought.  Hiring an experienced attorney who can bring together the factual evidence, the strongest expert testimony, and the best legal arguments is the key to winning a medical malpractice lawsuit.  In addition, as a skilled negotiator, an experienced attorney may be able to present the case effectively enough to generate a satisfactory settlement without requiring extensive litigation.

Obviously, we should all hope for fewer instances of medical malpractice. However, as long as negligent acts continue to harm patients, those patients should be allowed to recover full compensation for their injuries.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident or hurt on the job, Call Joey Gilbert & Associates for a free confidential consultation……(775) 473-7171 or toll free 1-888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case!

Most people who have been injured in a car accident in Reno (as elsewhere) hope to settle their personal injury claim as quickly as possible. However, this goal may conflict with the parallel goal of receiving a settlement that would fully compensate them for their pain and suffering, their medical bills, and any wages lost as a result of the injury.

How fast a settlement would be reached depends on the nature and severity of the victim’s injuries, the nature of the accident (i.e. whether the other party admitted fault or the fault is obvious), and the ability of the victim or the victim’s attorney to collect all of the documents and additional evidence required to prove the extent of the injury and losses involved.

Other factors influence the timing of settlement as well: for example, some insurance companies move faster toward settlement than others.  Similarly, some people heal faster than others do, and settlements should generally be reached after the medical treatments have ended, when the extent of the medical bills is clear.  Because of this, many cases will take months before reaching a settlement.  More severe injuries will require more extensive medical treatment and cause a longer absence from work. 

Moreover, if the injuries sustained are extensive and the cause of the accident is not very clear, the potential defendant may be more likely to deny responsibility and reject, at least initially, the idea of a potential settlement.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Reno or the surrounding areas, an experienced Reno car accident attorney should be able to act as your expert guide through the standard procedures that insurance companies follow before reaching a settlement, avoiding the pitfalls that a person may fall into in the process.  Armed with effective negotiation techniques, information about other settlements in comparable cases, and knowledge about the cost-effectiveness of taking certain cases to trial, an experienced Reno car accident attorney should help you reach the best settlement possible with as little delay as possible. 

However, if your primary goal is to reach a fast settlement and payout, you should make that goal clear to the attorney.  To a great degree, how fast a case settles depends on you.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident or hurt on the job, Call Joey Gilbert & Associates for a free confidential consultation.  (775) 473-7171 or toll free 1-888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case!

In March, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a preliminary report showing that the number of miles traveled by vehicles on our nation’s roads increased by approximately 6.6 billion miles in 2009.  In 2008 (the last year for which data is currently available), more than 6 million vehicle crashes were reported to the police in the U.S.; injuries occurred in almost a third of those crashes.

Unfortunately, those numbers suggest that many of us will be involved in car accidents.

If you’re involved in a car accident, the first thing you should expect is confusion.  If the accident is severe, you will be confused, and probably in shock.  So will the other people involved, as well as any witnesses.  The shock will make it more difficult for all of those involved to remember the details of what happened.  The police will arrive–whether called by you or by someone else.  Paramedics might be called, as well.  Various people will ask you for information. 

You should expect to be asked for identification, as well as insurance information.  You should also be aware that your own insurance company will expect you to report the accident to them as soon as possible, and may refuse to pay if you unduly delay reporting. 

While it is important to provide thorough and truthful information to the police and rescue workers, it is also important for you to gather evidence, if at all possible.  In order to best protect yourself, you should try to jot down:

• the date and time of the accident
• the exact location
• the weather conditions at the time of the accident
• the license plate(s) of the other car(s) involved, or their make, model, and color
• the names and phone numbers of all of the people who were in your car and in the other car(s) involve
• the car insurance information of all the other drivers involved
• the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.

Gathering such information will make it easier for you to resolve any claims that arise out of the accident.

If you are involved in a car accident in Reno, Nevada, you should consider contacting an experienced Reno attorney who would be able to evaluate the situation and help you protect your interests.  Call Joey Gilbert & Associates, today for a free consultation – 775-473-7171 or Toll Free 888-640-4313.  Never a fee unless we win your case.

A 3 vehicle crash near the University of Nevada, Reno injured 5 people aboard an RTC bus along with a motorist.

RTC Ride Bus Operations Manager Garza stated that a little before 3pm on Monday, a vehicle broadsided a southbound RTC bus on Virginia Street and 10^th Street.  The driver and passengers in the vehicle that collided with the bus fled the scene on foot and are currently be sought after by Reno police.

The five injured passengers on the bus and the injured occupant in another vehicle that the bus hit after the crash were all transported to Renown Regional Medical Center with unknown injuries.

If you or a loved one is injured or in an accident, call Joey Gilbert & Associates, Ltd. Today for a free consultation – 775-473-7171 or Toll Free 888-640-4313.

Never a fee unless we win your case!