Las Vegas Injury & Accident Attorney Blog

On New Year’s Eve, a 21-year old California man fell to his death from the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Found near the property’s tennis courts, police and medical examiners estimate the man fell from approximately 5 stories up. He was pronounced dead at 8:15am on January 1^st. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured due to negligence of a Las Vegas casino, contact Benson and Bingham today.

This is the second falling death from the Cosmopolitan Hotel in less than a year. In March, Sean Campe of New Jersey jumped to his death from a balcony on the hotel’s 14 floor.  While many Las Vegas hotels do not have balconies, the Cosmopolitan does. In addition, last year a man fell from one Planet Hollywood roof to another, and his body was not found for two days. If you have been injured in an Nevada accident and believe the owner of the premises to be negligent, please go to bensonbingham.com today. We offer free consultations.

Benson and Bingham is one of the top law firms in the South Valleys. We pride ourselves on customer service – working closely with our clients to ensure their satisfaction. Please contact us today for a free consultation.

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UC San Francisco recently released a report comparing the quality-of-care in nursing homes across the country. The report compared the ten largest for profit nursing homes with the care in other for profits, non-profits and even government run homes. In general, the report’s findings showed a  better quality of care and higher staffing levels at non-profit and government run facilities. If you believe your loved one has received sub-par care in a Nevada nursing home, contact us today.

In the ten largest nursing homes, the report found that patients had more complaints and incidents of pressure sores, weight loss, falls, infections, mistreatment by staff, unsanitary conditions and more. These higher incident rates stem from lower staffing levels at large, chain operations where patient care is secondary to making a profit. Please contact Benson and Bingham at Bensonbingham.com or 702-382-9797 to discuss the neglect of any Nevadan in a Silver State nursing home.

Benson and Bingham is a full-service law firm that strives to ensure our clients are entirely satisfied by our representation. In 2010, Benson and Bingham secured over $15,000,000 in awards for our clients. Please contact us today to discuss any personal injury case. We can be found online at Bensonbingham.com

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In 2008, 18-year old Hiroyuki Joho, ran across train tracks in an effort to catch another train. Distracted by torrential rains and a large umbrella, Mr. Joho was struck and killed by an oncoming train. At impact, parts of Mr. Joho’s body were thrown, striking Ms. Gayane Zokhrabo approximately 100 yards away. Ms. Zokhrabo suffered a broken wrist, arm and injured shoulder. In Nevada, innocent bystanders can be injured in cases of negligence. Contact Benson and Bingham today for consolation, free of charge.

Injured not only physically but also financially, Ms. Zokhrabo sued the estate of Mr. Joho, looking to recoup medical costs, lost pay and other expenses. While initially struck down, the case was reinstated on appeal – simply put, a person running across train tracks has an expectation that should he or she be hit, their body or belongings may strike and injure another person. If you have suffered a wrongful injury in Nevada, contact us today.

Benson and Bingham (www.bensonbingham.com) Attorneys at Law are one of Las Vegas’ leading law firms. While representing you, Benson and Bingham will do all we can to ensure you are extremely satisfied with your representation. In 2010, we settled over $15,000,000 in cases for our Nevada clients.

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Honda Motors recently announced a recall of an additional approximately 275,000 vehicles, adding to the over 600,000 previously announced for a faulty airbag issue with older model Accord, Civic, Odyssey, Pilot and Acura models. The parts being recalled were installed in 2001 – 2003 vehicles repaired by the Japanese Auto manufacturer. Contact us if you have been injured by a Honda airbag in Nevada.

When driving an automobile equipped with a driver’s-side airbag, it is important to wear a seatbelt and operate the vehicle a safe distance from the steering wheel. In an accident, an airbag can explode with a force that can break a nose, glasses or cause other serious injury. If you have been injured in a Clark County auto accident and would like representation contact Benson and Bingham today.

Benson and Bingham is one of Nevada’s leading product liability attorneys. We focus on ensuring our customers get top-tier service and satisfaction. If you or someone you know has been involved in an Las Vegas auto injury accident and need assistance with workman’s compensation, medical bills or recovering lost wages, contact us today.

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Yesterday, a 65-year old Las Vegas woman, Diana Chambers, was arrested on suspicion of Las Vegas DUI charges after striking a Nevada man, Shannon Newland, and his vehicle as he was filling the car with gasoline. The man is currently at University Medical Center being treated. If you have missed work, lost property or incurred medical costs due to a Nevada traffic accident, contact us today.

The accident, which occurred on Cheyenne Avenue near US95 has put Mr. Newland in critical but stable condition. While he is doing well and expected to recover, the Southern Nevada resident faces a difficult couple of months. He will likely miss significant work and need compensation for his damaged automobile and hospital costs. Ms. Chambers is currently being held in a Clark County jail and it is unknown how much insurance she carries.

Benson and Bingham are one of Southern Nevada’s premiere injury recovery firms. Our Nevada licensed attorneys pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and we work closely with our clients to ensure the best possible outcome for their case. Go to Bensonbingham.com today to start your case.

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The normally quiet capital city of Carson City, Nevada, was shattered by gunfire on this morning, September 6, 2011. The act of violence came days before the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks and it has shaken the entire community and state of Nevada. The investigation is ongoing even as families mourn this devastating incident of intentional harm to Nevadans.

A gunman with an AK-47 assault rifle walked into a Nevada IHOP restaurant around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning and started a shooting rampage.  The man, later identified as 32-year-old Eduardo Sencion of Carson City, shot at a group of five uniformed National Guard members.  Two of guardsmen were shot and killed along with another restaurant patron. Eight other people were wounded during the attack including a woman who was shot outside the restaurant just before the attack began. The gunman continued shooting after he walked out of the IHOP at other nearby businesses. He later shot and killed himself.

Authorities, fearing that the violence could spread to other places around Nevada’s capital, chose to lock down the Supreme Court and capitol buildings. As an extra safety precaution, more security measures were taken at other Nevada military and state offices and buildings including all 17 of the National Guard bases located in Nevada.

There is now an active investigation as to why the suspect went on a rampage. Authorities currently cannot cite a clear motive to what led to the shooting, especially as to why the gunman may have targeted the group of National Guard members. The man’s family indicated during initial discussions with police that Sencion has a history of mental illness but that nothing in his behavior indicated drastic actions in the immediate future. Nevada’s Governor, Brian Sandoval, has ordered that all flags around the state been flown at half-staff to honor the two National Guardsmen who were killed.

As Carson City and the state of Nevada begins to deal with this tragedy, our condolences go out to loved ones of those who were injured or killed in this tragic event. Several factors distinguish this incident from other violent episodes in Nevada history and as such they color the legal aftermath in different ways. Unlike the vehicular assault case of Priscilla Ford, the assailant in this case is now dead and as such wrongful death lawsuits are less likely unless details emerge that point to negligence on the part of Sencion’s family. And although several Nevadans suffered Nevada personal injuries, it is unclear against whom they would bring a civil lawsuit. So often our questions outpace the number of things we know, and this case seems no different. If you have legal questions for a Nevada personal injury lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation in one of our Nevada offices.

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The nation begins another challenging weak of slow economic growth and fickle stock markets with more bad news: five people are dead and many more have suffered personal injuries after a freak accident toppled a stage at the Indiana State Fair. According to reports and video of the event, a strong gust of wind compromised the poles supporting the roof of the stage and it came crashing down upon dozens of people with tragic results.

It is thankfully a rare occasion that an event such as this results in a stage show accident, but these tragedies are not unheard of. Especially in the state of Nevada, tourists are hurt every year in Las Vegas casino show accidents. That accidents like this have happened before is little consolation to the families affected by this tragedy that interrupted the celebratory air and calm of a state coming together during an annual fair.

Before a crowd of some 20,000 people, a strong gust first ripped the curtains from the stories-tall stage. The metal structure lurched from side to side and then one of the main vertical supports buckled. The stage roof collapsed upon itself and the heavy structure came crashing down upon those on and near the stage. Five people are dead and dozens more injured from the tragic event, and as investigations continue the obvious question is whether bad luck or negligent design is more to blame.

Our thoughts are with the families of those injured and killed in this tragic accident. A sad necessity of the aftermath will be investigations and the commencement of wrongful death lawsuits aimed at making whole again those who lost loved ones so abruptly. If you need legal advice in a Nevada personal injury case, contact us today for a free consultation.

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Because it is home to the lion’s share of the Silver State’s population and tourist activity, Las Vegas’ movement in recent years toward more family-friendly entertainment offerings has been encouraging. From the Las Vegas monorail and the Children’s Museum to a host of family-oriented shows and outdoor adventure vacation packages, there are more options than ever for groups of all ages to enjoy our lovely city. Unfortunately, much of this new entertainment infrastructure is more dependent on machinery and heights and other elements that provide thrills at the risk of Nevada amusement ride accidents.

Accounts from across the country highlight these risks. A beloved children’s amusement park in New Jersey was the scene of an unfortunate Mother’s Day accident that hurt a toddler along with his aunt and grandmother. When their car derailed from its track on a circular children’s ride, all three riders spilled out and suffered injuries that warranted a trip to the hospital. The 19-month boy now wears a splint on his leg, which is a bittersweet reminder that this accident could have involved more serious personal injuries such as spinal cord damage in the boy’s fragile back.

In another children’s thrill ride accident, the tragedy was not merely theoretical. in Illinois a family is devastated after one of their twin boys suffered fatal head injuries when he fell from his restraints on an indoor children’s rollercoaster. A wrongful death lawsuit is underway even as the ongoing investigation reveals that a ride operator attempted to engage the emergency brake mechanism but to no avail. The personal injury for the family is leading an aggressive lawsuit, alleging that the amusement park was negligent in not maintaining a ride that could be stopped immediately in an emergency situation.

These thrill ride injuries do not only affect children. A lawsuit is now taking shape to address a family’s shocking loss at a Cleveland Indians baseball game. An Ohio man suffered massive injuries including a fatal embolism after a 25-foot, 400-pound inflatable slide fell on him at a family event outside the professional baseball team’s stadium last summer. After an agonizing week in intensive care, the man died from his injuries. His survivors allege that the Indians organization as well as the ballpark’s owner and the company that furnished the inflatable slide all bear responsibility for commercial negligence in the case.

In each of these cases, an accident has changed a family forever — in some cases creating distrust that may never fade, and in others taking a loved one from their lives forever. At times such as these, financial and legal concerns are often far from survivors’ minds, but these devastating losses have not only emotional but also very urgent practical impacts. If a loved one has been hurt or killed in a Nevada thrill ride accident, contact us today for a free consultation.

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For decades Las Vegas has been building its reputation as the country’s play-place: first as an outpost of loose divorce laws, then as an unrivaled territory offering legalized prostitution and gambling, and now merging all this and more as it presents itself as a tourist destination for those seeking to push the limits of vice and wonder and largesse. But as a few recent incidents reveal, Nevada casinos that open their doors to all comers for all things entertainment do so at a risk of Nevada personal injury lawsuits.

In one case, a patron of a thrill ride fell from his seat and lost his life. Ride operators remain baffled by the case — they say that the ill-fated car returned to the launch area with its safety restraints still in place as they should have been — but the man’s family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit and are alleging that the ride’s operators/owners failed to take adequate care to avoid this tragedy. Roller coasters and other Las Vegas thrill rides are some of the newest additions to the city’s vast panoply of entertainment, but safety has to come before glamor and profits.

Adding a family-friendly element to the Strip, Nevada visitors can now enjoy the city’s monorail. These devices balance the power and speed of a locomotive with the whimsy of a futuristic craft, but that does not make them harmless and the risk of Las Vegas monorail injuries is very real. An accident at a famous theme park in 2009 resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit that recently settled for an undisclosed amount after a theme-park employee was struck by a monorail car moving rapidly in reverse.

We hope Clark County residents and out-of-state tourists alike will make happy, productive use of the many exciting amenities in our great city and that Las Vegas can begin to get back some of the “mojo” that it has lost in recent years as the economy has soured. But this rebirth has to come about without an attendant rise in injuries to the people seeking this entertainment. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a Las Vegas casino accident, contact our firm today for a free consultation about your case.

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We continue our look at the crashworthiness of child safety seats in the event  of a Nevada motor vehicle accident. In future posts we will investigate how the choice of a car seat can be influenced by the vehicle it is to be used in and by the size and weight of the child to be restrained. Today, we want to take a closer look at design features and flaws that can have significant impacts on the functioning of child car seats in the event of a collision.

Study after study has found that the best, safest type of restraint is a “five-point” harness, so called because there are five separate anchor points that hold the child in the seat. The five-point harness is the safety standard because it minimizes the risk of ejection in the event of a car accident and because it holds the child’s body in a stable position that lowers the risk of injury due to acceleration forces during a crash. (Of note: five-point harnesses are similar to the safety restraints used by race-car drivers.) Despite this body of evidence that the five-point harness is the safest design for these seats, some manufacturers continue to use outdated, unsafe child safety seats with one- and three-point restraints. In the event that a child is killed during an automobile accident where the child safety seat in use lacked a five-point harness, a wrongful death lawsuit is one of several options for legal redress.

Some alternative designs attempt to provide additional points of restraint while offering increased “functionality” with features such as tray shields. A child car seat tray shield typically rotates over the child’s lap and/or clips into place over the child’s waist. But when these trays are insufficiently padded or if they break off during a collision, a handy feature can become a lethal projectile. Studies have shown that traumatic head forces affecting a child passenger in a car seat with a tray can be more than four-thirds those seen a five-point harness. Another feature intended to facilitate ease of use is the T-shield, which is a plastic shield that encloses the occupant from the front while securing the child to the rest of the seat and to the automobile’s car seat. In the case of a crash, the T-shield can become a threat to the occupant by placing intense pressures on the child’s throat and increasing forces on the tissues in the back that can lead to back and spinal cord injury.

The emphasis on child safety seats was a major advance in the technology of automobile safety, but the gains from this progress are lost when manufacturers put profits ahead of research and make unsafe products. If your child has been injured in an automobile accident and you believe that the child safety seat failed to perform its stated role, contact us today. Our experienced Nevada child car seat defect lawyers will help you understand what elements of the seat you utilized might have been faulty and we will help you understand your legal options.

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