NV-Attorney Blog

Toyota announced last Thursday January 21st, the latest, and perhaps largest recall in the history of the Automotive industry when coupled with the previous recall to related issues with their cars.  The company is recalling approximately 2.3 million vehicles to correct the problem of the acceleration pedals sticking on selected Toyota models.  This is in addition to the the already 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled due to various floor mat issues and the sticking of pedals of selected automobiles.  That’s 6.5 million combined recalls due to issues of the acceleration devices, not a minor recall to say the least.

There have reportedly been over 2,100 separate accidents due to the sudden acceleration issue the recall was targeted to correct.  Whether or not an accident has resulted in a fatal injury, similar to the Ford Roll-Over accident recalls of recent history, is unknown.  Why so many individual accelerator accidents had to occur prior to a recall is also an unknown, especially to the victims that had to have experienced, depending on the circumstances of their cases, what must have been quite horrific feelings.  Imagine not only being able to not stop your car, but the ill euphoria of actually speeding up during these occurrences; at the very least, one would think there would be some level of PTSD due to the accident.  There has been speculation that the managements of both Toyota and Nissan, another Japanese  company said to have issues with their throttle systems, knew well before the NHTSA report issued their final conclusions on the acceleration issues in the vehicles.

To date, it is unknown how many crashes in the State of Nevada were due to accelerator issues with the aforementioned vehicles, however with over 2,100 accidents nationally, there is no doubt someone in Las Vegas, Reno or the surrounding areas of Southern NV experienced such an event due to an issue with their pedal causing an  accident or injury.   This is clearly a form of negligence on the behalf of the manufacturer, and injured victims are due compensation due to this oversight, especially since it was understood and could have been prevented prior to the accidents.  If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident in Nevada due to  workmanship or a defect in the manufacturers’ product, contact the Las Vegas Law Offices of Benson & Bingham, experienced product liability attorneys.

For more information on the Toyota Recall in NV:

• Toyota Attorneys and the Toyota Recall in Nevada
• Toyota Motor’s Recall and the Safety Epidemic Created

A Shuttle bus driving on I-80 through the Sierra Nevada Pass crashed yesterday, resulting in another horrific bus accident in Nevada.  The shuttle bus, provided by the Resort at Squaw Creek, careened off the freeway hitting a guardrail and the bus rolled several times, coming to rest in ditch along Interstate-80, about twenty miles west of Reno, NV.

There were approximately30 passengers on the shuttle bus when the accident occurred, several of which were thrown from the bus while it rolled resulting in the death of one man.  In addition, 27 of the passengers were taken to hospitals throughout Northern Nevada shortly after the accident, with the majority at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.

The bus was ferrying employees from Reno to resorts in the Sierra Nevada’s when the accident happened.  The bus driver suffered injuries during the bus accident and were being questioned by officers after the accident.  According to Reno Police, the driver had a clean record and there were no mechanical issues with the shuttle bus.

Many of the passengers suffered broken bones, head injuries and assortment of other ailments after the accident.  While this is a tragic accident, there are some cases where the accident never should have occurred in the first place.  If you believe you have been an accident in public or private commuter transportation vehicle, contact the Law Office of Benson & Bingham, experienced ground transportation accidents/injury attorneys.

A fisherman was hit by a train near Lockwood, at the east end of a trestle that crosses the Truckee River.  The man was fishing with some friends when the train, carrying one other locomotive, caused the men to scamper off the bridge.

Unfortunately, one man failed to clear the bridge in time, as the train struck the man as it passed.  Careflight was dispatched and brought him to Renown Medical Center for surgery.  His leg was severed below the knee and he is being rushed to the hospital in attempt to mend the severed limb.

Trains and other Commercial Vehicles are constantly on the move near city centers, as well as in the suburbs and countryside.  Sometimes train or commercial truck accidents are the fault of operator negligence or impairment from alcohol or other drugs.  If you are a victim of a  Commerical vehicle accident in the State of Nevada, understanding the law is the first step in determining your course of action:  Contact the Law Offices of Terry Friedman and Associates, Nevada Lawyer, Nevada Law.

Highway 20 was blocked for almost three hours on Thursday after a Big Rig overturned blocking traffic near Nevada City.  Two men, who we driving the semi when the accident occured, where flown to Trauma Centers in Northern Nevada.

The passenger was listed in stable condition, however the driver, who was found on the side of the road with possible head injuries, is believed to be in a more critical condition.  The 45 foot trailer loaded with pet food overturned Thursday mid morning on Harmony Ridge Road which caused a shut down of traffic in both directions.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, CHP, Nevada City Police and FIre and Calfire, among others, were callecd to the scene of the semi accident to assist with rerouting traffic and clearing the accident from the roads.  CHP were investigating the accident for violations; the accident occurred on a windy section of the freeway with a steep degrade which may indicate the truck was traveling at excessive speeds when the accident occurred.

Semi, Commercial Truck and Big Rig accidents are not new to Nevada freeways.  As the area has grown, so has the prepondence of commercial vehicle accidents within Nevada.  Often times, truck or semi accidents are caused from driver negligence or impairment and a qualified attorney in this arena  is neccessary.

If you have been injured in a Semi or Truck Accident in Northern Nevada: Contact the Law Offices of Terry Friedman and Associates, Semi, Big-Rig and Truck Accident Lawyers in Reno, NV.

If you have been injured in a Semi or Truck Accident in Southern Nevada:  Contact the Law Offices of Benson and Bingham, Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers located in Las Vegas, NV.

A recent report on the death rates in Northern Nevada hospitals found they are consistent with national figures according to the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  The report compared heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia death rates between the U.S. average and hospitals in Northern Nevada.

The heart attack death rate for 2006-2007 was 16.4 percent and all seven hospitals in the area were within one percentage point of the national average.  Similarly, heart failure death rates were within one and half percent of national averages.  Pneumonia cases in Northern Nevada hospitals were in the range of 10% and 14.4%, compared to a national average of 11.3%.

Although the report showed that regional hospitals were within the national averages, medical and hospital malpractice is still a common occurrence in hospitals in Nevada.  It is reported that the number three cause of death in the United States is medical doctor or hospital error.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice or hospital negligence in the Reno, Carson City or Sparks area, contact the Law Offices of Terry Friedman and Associates, Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Law.

If you believe you are a victim of similar actions in Las Vegas or Southern Nevada, contact the Law Offices of Benson & Bingham, skilled medical malpractice lawyers.

A commercial bus carrying dozens of casino and retail workers crashed on Interstate 15 Sunday night injuring many of the riders.  Dozens were injured in the bus accident, and four were in critical condition after the bus hit a guard rail, stopping on the medium of the freeway.

The bottom of the bus was ripped apart during the accident, Highway Patrol officer Kevin Hornea explained.  The cause of the bus accident is being investigated.

Emergency respondents transferred nearly 30 victims to area hospitals, with the critical condition victims being shuttled to the University Medical Center trauma unit.  Only four of the bus passengers escaped uninjured, and the bus driver is said to be on of the people in critical condition.

Bus accidents and other commercial passenger vehicles, such as taxis and limos, are frequent accident vehicles in Southern Nevada, including Las Vegas, Primm, Pahrump, Mesquite and Stateline.  If you have been injured from a bus, taxi or limousine accident, contact attorneys that specialize in commercial vehicle accident injury law.  Contact the law offices of Benson & Bingham.

Jeffrey Allen Ogburn, a 22 year old man from La Quinta California, was killed in a head-on auto accident July 2nd in Reno, Nevada. Ogburn was driving a company owned van on Highway 395 when his tire blew, leading the van to cross the median into ongoing traffic. He was working for the family business, Budget Blinds, at the time of the accident on July 2nd, near the Golden Valley Exit off 395 South.

Ogburn attended Middle School in Carson City and later graduated from Douglas High in 2004. A memorial account in Ogburn’s name has been set up with Wells Fargo Bank.

The northern Nevada area is prone to its share of accidents due to weather and its 24 hour lifestyle. To learn more about your rights as a motorist in the State, contact the Law Offices of Terry Friedman and Associates, Reno auto accident litigators.