Las Vegas Injury & Accident Attorney Blog

Sunday Morning, April 5^th, it is alleged that Noel Laredo, a 26-year old now-former teacher of first graders was driving her 2005 Acura on Spring Mountain Rd. in Las Vegas. Witnesses say that the Acura she was driving ran a red light and skidded, then ran off the road and crashed into a bus stop where 15-year old Conan Obenchain was waiting. Mr. Obenchain’s left leg was severed in the crash and his right was nearly chopped off – attached only by some muscle and skin. The boy was rushed to the University Hospital. Police performed sobriety tests on Ms. Laredo, in which she failed four of them. Two open containers of vodka were in found in Ms. Laredo’s Acura. At a recent pre-trial hearing, Ms. Laredo’s attorney offered up many alternatives to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department’s assertion that she was drunk. Some of the theories proffered were improperly inflated tires, uneven pavement, malfunctioning breaks and diabetic shock. If you or someone you love have been injured or killed in a Las Vegas DUI accident, contact Benson and Bingham today.

The past few months have been very difficult for Conan Obenchain, understandably. The doctors attending him initially felt that the 15-year old’s leg was lost. The Obenchain family estimates that over $1,000,000 has already been spent on healthcare for Conan since the accident. As Conan Obenchain detailed his injuries during Ms. Lardeo’s recent pre-trial hearing, the former first grade teacher sobbed. While the accident is a tragedy for all involved, the Obenchain deserves recompense for the pain and suffering they have been through, the medical bills they have incurred, the work the parents have missed and even for care for Conan as he lives his life. If you have been in a similar Las Vegas automobile accident, please contact Benson and Bingham.com for a free legal consultation today.

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Despite repeated warnings and admonitions from Las Vegas and South Valley’s police departments, Super Bowl weekend was  particularly deadly on Southern Nevada streets and highways. If you or a loved one has been critically injured or killed in a Las Vegas car accident, contact Benson and Bingham for a free legal consultation today.

One person was killed and another injured in a Las Vegas DUI accident on Sunday evening after the Super Bowl. The accident occurred near the intersection of W Wigwam Ave and S. Rainbow Blvd at 8:48 pm when a Toyota 4 Runner driven by Veronica Arana crossed into oncoming lanes and struck a 2004 Ford Mustang and a 2011 Honda Pilot. The driver of the Mustang was killed in the accident and pronounced dead. The 17-year old driver of the Honda Pilot suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized. Ms. Arana was rushed to University Medical Center due to moderate injuries suffered in the crash and was later charged with a DUI and faces reckless driving charges as well. If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar Las Vegas DUI accident, contact Benson and Bingham today.

Earlier on Sunday, a Las Vegas elementary school teacher is alleged to have struck and critically injured a 15-year old teenager waiting at a bus stop. The teacher, 26-year old Noel Lardeo, was alleged to be speeding and running a red light. Las Vegas Metro Police are reporting the young woman swerved and lost control of the vehicle, eventually hitting the teen boy, whose leg was later amputated. Ms. Lardeo faces a litany of charges including driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without a license, failure to stop, DUI and having an open container in a moving vehicle. Benson and Bingham have  successfully represented many victims of  Las Vegas driving while intoxicated.

A leading Las Vegas personal injury law firm, Benson and Bingham secured over $24,000,000 in injury awards for its clients in 2010 and 2011. When choosing a Las Vegas injury attorney, try to find one that emphasizes communication between its attorneys and clients. Legal journals show that the most successful cases are those where the level of communication between client and attorney is high.

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Drunk driving incidents happen in Nevada every day, with a large proportion of DUIs in Las Vegas. Sometimes, drunk drivers make it home without incident. Other times, a drunk driver is pulled over by Las Vegas Metro Police. Property damage (other cars, fences, signs, even sides of houses) are also common results when people make the mistake to drink and drive. Unfortunately, thousands of innocent individuals suffer brain injury or even death when struck by drunk drivers. If you or a relative have suffered serious brain injury due to a Las Vegas DUI or other accident, contact Benson and Bingham for a free legal consultation today.

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest days of the year for parties, and one of the biggest days of the year for drunk driving. Other than New Year’s Eve, police departments across the Nevada South Valleys report that post game Super Bowl Sunday is one of the deadliest times to be on the road. Southern Nevada police departments like Boulder City, Henderson, NHP, Las Vegas Metro and North Las Vegas are planning saturation patrols to stop nab drunk drivers. A DUI checkpoint has also been announced, near Flamingo Rd and Decatur Blvd. All of these precautions will likely not nab all the impaired drivers or prevent all the DUI accidents this Sunday. If you have suffered a debilitating brain injury due to a Las Vegas DUI accident and want to protect your personal injury rights, Benson and Bingham can represent you to get you reimbursed for hospital costs, lost work and pain and suffering.

Benson and Binhgam are one of the most successful Las Vegas personal injury law firms. While we can never promise the successful outcome of your case, we do strive to ensure all our clients are entirely satisfied. In 2010 and 2011, Benson and Bingham secured over $24,000,000 for the clients we represent.

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A heart wrenching story of a combat decorated Marine Captain who caused a fatal DUI accident when he drove his car into oncoming lanes is turning into a question much bigger than once anticipated.  At first it seemed simple enough to assume that alcohol was to blame for the reckless actions that led to the death of a motorist.  But, as the details of the intoxicated driver’s experiences have come to light the question may be whether or not the driver suffered from severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and whether or not it contributed to the motor vehicle accident.

Before the fatal accident the Marine Captain spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan where he was severely wounded and nearly bled to death, had severe head trauma, and suffered extreme emotional stress during his deployment.  He received the Bronze Star for his heroism during service.  But while the Marine Captain recovered well from his physical injuries; emotionally and mentally the wounds may have been too deep heal. Sleep talk, forgotten trips and waking up in unknown places were symptoms of a greater problem that some think led a once brave Marine into the situation he finds himself in today, awaiting trial for manslaughter.

PTSD, while not often visible, is a serious condition that requires attention.  Most people of course don’t suffer from the experiences previously mentioned, but many still experience PTSD from Nevada car accidents, Las Vegas animal attacks or other excessively stressful situations. At Benson & Bingham we have experience dealing with injury and accident cases involving Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in part because Nevada has more than its share of workers employed by the military and working at various military installations. In a situation as complicated as one that involves PTSD one owes it to themselves to find the best representation possible. Even though the person responsible for the Nevada accident may have been impaired by a condition like PTSD, affected families still have the right to pursue compensation under Las Vegas wrongful death laws.

If you or someone you know is showing any sign of PTSD, please get them the attention they deserve.  If you or someone you know needs counsel concerning damages resulting from or influenced by PTSD, please call our Las Vegas personal injury office and we will be glad to help in any way possible.

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Car Accidents can be avoided if everyone uses proper care.  The problem is that we are human and we err.  Often we go beyond just making careless mistakes, but do things that personal injury attorneys love:  reckless behavior.    So what is the difference between reckless behavior and negligent?  Under definition, negligence equates to just breaching a duty owed—in essence being stupid:  day dreaming through a red light, grabbing that spilling coffee as you hit the yellow light that turned red, simply missing the big red stop sign, or playing with the radio as you crash into the rear end of the family wagon on the highway.  These are the mistakes we make as drivers.  The problem is when we do the next level of culpability: encountering a dangerous situation that you know to be dangerous, and do it anyway—that is recklessness.  This is a very fine line to adjudicate.  Is it reckless to drive a car after you have been drinking—many think so.  In fact, public policy finds that we want to discourage this behavior so much we will assign punishing damages to those persons.  Elements of punitive damages are designed to punish drivers or their employers for conduct that is “reprehensible.”

We find it reprehensible to get intoxicated and drive a deadly weapon.  We find it reprehensible to shoot a gun into a crowd thinking we will miss.  We find it reprehensible for a truck driver to do crystal methamphetamine and drive for 48 hours straight, or for airline pilot to cockpit the airplane after a few beers.  So, the question begs:  is it reprehensible to drive a vehicle using a cell phone?  We know it is dangerous.  We know it is distracting, but yet most of us do it.  Cell phones while driving cause deaths.   In California last year, the engineer on a train was “texting” on his cell phone when the train collided with another.  Reprehensible?  Yes.   What do you think?

Employers also must be careful not to condone or encourage cell phone use for its employees on the road.   The consequences are dire.

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As this wonderful time of the year approaches alcohol related accidents increase. Part and parcel to holiday gathering is social drinking. Unfortunately just a few drinks can change an individuals ability to make good decisions. Pursuant to Nevada Statute an individual may not operate a motor vehicle upon which the public has access when their blood alcohol level is 0.08 or greater. In most individuals this equates to two beers consumed within one hour. While an individuals blood alcohol level may not exceed 0.08, just a few beers may impact an individuals perception and reaction time. This error in judgement often results in substantial bodily harm and/or death when vehicles collide.

Following a few simple guidelines can ensure you and your family make it home safely this season. As a general rule of thumb, if you know you are going to be out drinking, be sure and have a designated driver. In the alternative, program a taxi cab companies telephone number in your phone with the intention of using that number before you leave your home. Most people leave their social gathering unsure weather or not they are they are safe to drive. While it is always best to play it safe, here is the general rule:

For every alcoholic beverage consumed, it takes an hour for the beverage to leave your body. For example: If the average individual consumes 4 beers in 2 hours, it will take 4 hours before the alcohol leaves their body. However, the effects of consumption may still be present.

Play it smart this year and make good decisions when it comes to getting behind the wheel. Waking up in the hospital or in jail is no way to spend your season. From all of us at Benson & Bingham we wish you a safe and Happy Holiday.

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Even with a down economy Las Vegas continues to offer the best party for the money.  As 2009 begins, the party season kicked off with New Years where the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) reported its usual amount of arrests and alcohol related accidents.  The Superbowl then brought out the beer drinking drivers. President’s day weekend was another big weekend for personal injury attorneys as the drunk drivers just don’t know how to limit themselves– Now that we have past Valentine’s day (which fell on a Saturday-President’s weekend), we await the other big drink fest:  St. Patrick’s Day, the mother of all drinking days.

The Nevada Highway Patrol and other police agencies are trying to protect the public by doing DUI checkpoints, but until our District Attorneys and judges do their part, we are stuck with repeat offenders.  Did you know, that first time offenders will likely get probation for their first offense if the blood alcohol is 1.5 or less?  The legal limit is .08.  Now, Las Vegas prepares for its version of Mardi Gras–start throwing the moon pies, because that’s about the extent of the punishment for these criminals who drink and drive.

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Drunk Driving in Clark County, Nevada accounts for more than 8,000 DUI arrests. If you have been injured due to a drunk driver call a Las Vegas personal injury law firm that can help you get justice. It appears that everyone is not immune to drunk driving arrests however. Boxer Diego “chico” Corrales was driving drunk on 06/13/2007. In other news, Drunk driving from Nye County, Nevada District Attorney Robert Beckett caused two accidents. He is facing a drunken driving charge in California after crashing two vehicles on the same desert highway six hours apart. Beckett, 49, totaled his county-issued sport utility vehicle in the first rollover accident, which occurred about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2008 on California Route 127 just south of Shoshone, California. Then there is the infamous, Heidi Fleiss who was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in Nevada, possession of drugs without a subscription and driving without a license. The 42-year old former Hollywood Madam was booked at Nye County jail, near her home in Pahrump and released after posting $1,376 bail. Yes, folks, this is a dangerous activity, but these public figures are not setting a good example.

But what about texting in cars. California has banned the practice as well as talking on cell phones. Nevada is now looking at banning both practices as well. Statistics show that texting is one of the largest causes of accidents. Looking at the cell phone for such a long period of time causes a huge distraction from the concentration of the driver. The focus is not the road, it is on the keypad. Imagine if your doctor spent half his time texting during a surgery—a bit dangerous huh?

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