Parents all over Las Vegas send their children to school via school bus every day, and perhaps few of them stop to consider just what level of trust they are placing not only in the school bus driver, but in the public at large.  Every now and then, we are reminded that everyone who encounters traffic also encounters risk, and while thankfully no one was killed, four children were injured when a truck slammed into a school bus yesterday.

According to KTNV:

“Four children were rushed to the hospital after a truck slammed into a school bus on Ithaca Avenue between Tropicana and Hacienda. 32 children were on-board at the time of the accident and were headed for Courtney Middle School. Four students and the bus driver suffered minor injuries. Police arrested the driver. They say he had been using drugs or drinking before the crash.”

If the suspicions of authorities are proven correct, the driver of the truck will face substantial criminal liability if he’s ultimately convicted.  Regardless of that possibility, the driver of the truck could and perhaps should face substantial liability in civil court for the injuries he caused.  Negligence would be the theory, but if the driver had been drinking prior to the crash, it would only raise the level of negligence displayed.

If your child has been harmed in a traffic accident, you need to take immediate steps to protect his or her legal rights.  You should do so with the help of a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has years of experience in successfully fighting for the rights of the injured of all ages.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Las Vegas has always been known as a place where people like to have a good time.  When you combine that constant with the holiday season, it may create a festive atmosphere, but it also tends to lead to more risk for anyone who’s behind the wheel in the area at any given time.  Unfortunately, two people paid a price for the risks that are inherent on the local roads this time of year when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver and sent to the hospital.

According to KTNV:

“Police arrested a man for DUI after an accident near Desert Inn and Eastern. Police say they tried pulling over a mini van and it wouldn’t stop. Police say the van ran a red light and then hit another car. Two people were taken to the hospital with back and head injuries. The driver of the mini van was arrested.”

Clearly, the man driving the mini van could face a host of criminal charges given the conduct that led to the injuries occurred during what appears to have been a police chase.  Regardless of the criminal charges, however, the driver could also face significant civil liability for the damages and injuries he caused while attempting to flee the police.

If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of being hit by a drunk driver, you need the help of Las Vegas personal injury lawyers who understand how to hold those responsible for these types of injuries accountable.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

On June 20, 2009, Dale Criske died while riding his motorcycle when it was struck by an SUV. The Nevada Highway Patrol has reported that Silvano Rodriguez of was driving a Nissan Armada sport-utility vehicle when he swerved across both lanes of northbound traffic and into a motorcycle Criske was driving on the southbound Beltway approaching Ann Road with his wife of only a few weeks . Criske was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife suffered serious injuries and remains hospitalized. Trooper Kevin Honea said Rodriguez failed a field sobriety test and was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence. Trooper Kevin Honea said Rodriguez failed a field sobriety test and was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence.

The statistics regarding the number of deaths and injuries caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs is staggering. According to MADD, on average, someone is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes. It is estimated that 12,998 people died in drunk driving related motor vehicle accidents in 2007.

The trial lawyers at Jack Bernstein & Associates in Las Vegas are outraged by the deaths, injuries, and mayhem done by drunk drivers and battle hard to send a message on behalf of the victims of drunk drivers that driving while impaired will not be tolerated in this society. The lawyers know that drunk driving destroys innocent lives and families. It is profoundly personal to Jack Bernstein. He witnessed first hand the destruction and grief that is left in the wake of a drunk driving accident. His cousin, Mike Weinberg, was killed by a drunk driver. Accordingly, these cases are vigorously and aggressively pursued. The team at Jack Bernstein & Associates works quickly and efficiently to obtain the crime scene evidence from the police. The police often videotape a drunk driver while he/she performs roadside sobriety tests. These tapes often capture outrageous behavior. Evidence such as this is then presented to the defendant’s insurance company in a manner that clearly shows that a jury will be inflamed by the defendant’s conduct. As a result of their aggressive representation, the accident attorneys at Jack Bernstein & Associates have a highly successful track record of obtaining the maximum insurance limits in drunk driving cases.

If you or a loved one is the victim of a drunk driver, you should immediately contact a Las Vegas accident attorney who has experience representing the victims of drunk drivers.

Wishing you and your family the best,

Scott L. Poisson, Esq.

Las Vegas injury attorney, Jack Bernstein, and associate, Glen Howard, successfully obtained a six figure settlement in a premises liability case. Bernstein’s client, Ralph Aguado, had recently moved into a multiunit rental community. On a December evening, while walking towards the parking lot, Aguado tripped on a metal pole that inexplicably was fastened to the outer gate to the ground. As a result, Aguado suffered a fractured hip which required surgery followed by 15 days in a rehabilitation center.

As soon as Aguado contacted Jack Bernstein & Associates, the firm immediately worked on trying to secure physical evidence that could help win the case. Aguado told the lawyers that the complex had already removed the metal pole. Fortunately, the lawyers successfully obtained a photo of the pole prior to its removal that an acquaintance had taken on a cell phone. In order to put maximum pressure on the complex’ insurance company, Bernstein decided that the prudent strategy was to quickly file a lawsuit. Once suit was filed, settlement negotiations were initiated which led to a successful resolution of the case. Bernstein was also prepared to argue that the lighting in the area was deficient.

Jack Bernstein is pleased that he was able to obtain an amount of money to fairly compensate Mr. Aguado for his injuries and the pain and suffering that he has endured. The key to this case was the firm’s aggressive work to secure the picture of the pole from someone’s cell phone before it was deleted combined with Bernstein’s effective litigation and negotiation strategy.

Jack Bernstein has more than 25 years experience and handled thousands of trip/slip and falls. Bernstein’s partner, Scott L. Poisson, has more than 16 years experience representing individual’s injured as a result of negligence. Jack Bernstein & Associates aggressively pursue trip/slip and fall cases because the firm believes that property owners have a duty to properly inspect and maintain their properties to remove hazardous conditions so as to prevent serious injuries. If you have been injured due to the carelessness or negligence of another person or business, contact Jack Bernstein & Associates to discuss your potential case. The consultation is free.