Amtrak is a national passenger train line that has come under scrutiny many times over the years for Amtrak accidents that have caused injuries and fatalities.  However, Amtrak appears to have been wronged with regards to a Nevada train accident that occurred last Friday that took the lives of six people and injured at least 20 others.  Lawsuits have begun to be filed already, including one filed by Amtrak against the trucking company that employed the driver involved in the fatal crash.

According to the authorities, this Nevada Amtrak accident occurred last Friday afternoon about 70 miles east of Reno along U.S. Highway 95.  The driver of a truck that was owned by John Davis Trucking Co., Inc. of Battle Mountain apparently attempted to stop before driving his tractor trailer into the side of the train that was moving west, but he was unable to avoid the collision.  As a result, six people were killed including the truck driver, and at least 20 people were injured.  Amtrak has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by the trucking company, and there are sure to be additional legal claims forthcoming.

Fatal Train Accident Statistics

First and foremost, we’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the people who were killed in this Nevada Amtrak accident.  We also hope that the difficult aftermath will reach a conclusion soon for the sake of everyone involved.  In addition, this incident will now become part of the overall statistics regarding train accident fatalities.  Every year, at least 800 people are killed in these types of crashes somewhere in the United States.

Nevada Personal Injury Lawyers

Clearly and as evidenced by the lawsuits that have already been filed, numerous potential plaintiffs exist in the aftermath of this Nevada Amtrak accident.  If it’s proven that the truck driver and/or the trucking company were negligent in causing this crash, those that file legal claims could recover damages that compensate them for their different forms of loss.

If you have lost someone in any type of accident, you need to seek the help of Nevada wrongful death lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of grieving families for many years.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Motorcyclists face risks that are greater than those in larger vehicles every time they navigate through traffic.  Their bodies are exposed completely both to any other vehicle that may collide with them and the surrounding elements that include concrete.  Tragically, a motorcycle driver was killed in a hit-and-run accident yesterday.  It appears that he was hit by a large truck that did not stop after the accident occurred.

According to the Las Vegas Sun:

“A motorcyclist died in a hit-and-run collision with a semi-truck this afternoon on Interstate 15, closing several northbound lanes and creating long delays for motorists.

The accident scene was cleared shortly before 7 p.m. and traffic has resumed as normal.

Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chelita Rojas said the crash happened at 4:02 p.m. near the Sahara Avenue exit on northbound Interstate 15. The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash was recorded on a traffic camera and troopers are searching for the semi-truck that struck the motorcyclist, Rojas said.”

In the interests of justice, the only ‘good’ news to come out of this tragedy so far is that cameras caught an image of the truck involved.  This increases the likelihood that the driver will ultimately be identified and apprehended so that the criminal prosecution for this situation can commence.

In the meantime, if you or someone you love has been harmed by a hit-and-run driver, you should not wait to begin protecting your legal rights.  Contact a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has decades of experience in holding hit-and-run drivers accountable.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

How often has a doctor or accountant answered the phone when you called? How often have you dealt with a lawyer who picked up the phone when you called? Your silent response is deafening!

A few years ago, Las Vegas accident attorneys and partners Jack Bernstein and Scott Poisson decided to do something radical. As many of you may have already experienced, it is rare if not impossible to find a personal injury lawyer that actually answers the phone when a new client calls. The injury lawyers at Jack Bernstein & Associates decided to change that. Bernstein and Poisson decided that when someone has recently suffered an injury or death, the last thing that he/she wants to do is suffer through the maze of receptionists and secretaries trying to get to a lawyer that can answer questions to determine if there is a case. Also, the long time legal team decided that the last thing that they wanted was for a secretary to screen a prospective client by asking some basic questions. The wall needed to come down. The lawyers wanted to hear the client’s voices and their stories for themselves. After all, who is better at reaching initial impressions and evaluating a case: a receptionist/secretary or the trial lawyer. Accordingly, they decided that they would personally answer calls from prospective clients.

A separate new telephone line was created exclusively for potential new cases. All new case calls go directly to this number which goes to Bernstein’s or Poisson’s cell phone at all hours and seven days a week. The responses have been overwhelming. Clients love it. During difficult times, they get to actually tell their story and have their questions answered immediately by a partner of the law firm. A typical response following the lawyer’s greeting is the following: “is this a recording”; people cannot believe that a real lawyer actually took the time to answer their call. The benefits are mutual. Bernstein and Poisson would prefer to make their initial impressions of a potential case unfiltered without the comments of a receptionist or a secretary.

If you have a question involving a personal injury or wrongful death matter, do not hesitate to call 702-434-4444 or 888-592-4529. Your call and your questions will be personally answered by Jack or Scott. If they are both unavailable, leave a message with the answering service and your phone call will be returned by Jack or Scott the moment they are available.

On February 9, 2009, Marcus Delon Harris died when struck by a pickup truck while crossing East Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to reports, a 1998 GMC pickup truck traveling west on Sahara in the center lane struck the pedestrian as he attempted to cross Sahara Avenue from the south to the north curb west of the intersection with South 17th Street. Unfortunately, Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. This was already the 6th traffic related fatal accident in Metro Police jurisdiction in 2009.

I offer my sincere sympathies to the family and friends of this young man for their tragic loss. We should all keep them in our prayers during this difficult time.

Pedestrian accidents are far too common throughout Las Vegas and Clark County. Motorists need to maintain a proper lookout as they drive. They need to be vigilant for pedestrians especially in the vicinity of busy intersections and high traffic areas such as Las Vegas Boulevard. Far too often, operators of motor vehicles are on the lookout for other cars but fail to pay attention to pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. In this day of cell phones, Blackberries, and iPhones, drivers often believe that they can multi task while driving. In the blink of an eye, a momentary lapse in judgment or a moment of distraction can lead to tragic consequences.

Pedestrians also have a responsibility to use due care while walking across streets and to abide by traffic laws. At this time, there are not enough facts available to cast judgment on either the pedestrian or the driver in this tragedy. However, if a driver is found to have been negligent, then he could be held accountable for a pedestrian accident. If you believe that you or a family member is the victim of a negligent, careless driver, I would urge you to contact an experienced Las Vegas accident attorney as soon as possible. A skilled personal injury attorney can evaluate the evidence to determine if a negligence claim can be pursued. Time is often of the essence since evidence, including key witnesses, often disappear as time passes. In addition, Nevada has time deadlines to pursue negligence claims. There is a two year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in the state of Nevada. Once the time passes, it becomes too late to successfully pursue a claim.