The Las Vegas Strip is known around the world as an attraction that draws gamblers, visitors who are here to see shows and people who just want to walk around and see the sights that are unlike any others in the world.  While many would feel that there is safety in numbers, that proved not to be the case last night when three people were hurt in a Las Vegas pedestrian accident that has been ruled a hit-and-run.

According to police, the latest Las Vegas pedestrian accident occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m. directly in front of Margaritaville Las Vegas, which is located at 3555 Las Vegas Boulevard South.  An unidentified man in a black pickup truck jumped the curb after traveling in a northbound direction on Las Vegas Boulevard and slammed into a group of pedestrians, injuring three of them.  The driver fled the scene after the incident and police are searching for this individual.

Nevada Car Accident Statistics

The police also stated that those who were injured did not suffer life-threatening injuries, which is obviously good news.  We hope those that were hurt are able to recover quickly.  In addition, this Las Vegas pedestrian accident will add to the overall statistics regarding Nevada car accidents.  Every year, more than 500 people are killed in Nevada car accidents and 50 people are killed in Nevada pedestrian accidents.

Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers

Unfortunately, many people who are hurt in Las Vegas hit-and-run accidents hesitate to seek legal help.  This is not an advisable step, as the majority of those who engage in this conduct are ultimately identified and apprehended.  In addition to the criminal charges hit-and-run drivers face, they could also face civil liability for the damages they cause.  If those who are injured by a hit-and-run driver file successful Nevada personal injury lawsuits, they could be awarded damages for medical costs, lost income and pain and suffering.

If you or someone you love has been harmed in a Las Vegas hit-and-run accident, you need to seek the help of Las Vegas personal injury lawyers who have been holding those responsible for this type of harm accountable for many years.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants is a serious crime in Nevada even if the person who is arrested for it does not cause an accident.  However, the penalties and potential liability for a defendant becomes much more severe if a DUI accident occurs and especially if a person is injured or killed as a result.  Such appears to be the case with a local woman who was arrested in connection with a fatal Las Vegas DUI accident that killed a man last Friday when her vehicle rear-ended the victim.  The defendant appeared in court and bail was set at $100,000.00.  The woman has a history in this regard as well, as she was convicted of a Nevada DUI in 2001.

The Nevada statute that governs this situation is relatively clear:

“NRS 484C.430 Penalty if death or substantial bodily harm results; exception; segregation of offender; plea bargaining restricted; suspension of sentence and probation prohibited; affirmative defense; aggravating factor. [

1.  Unless a greater penalty is provided pursuant to NRS 484C.440, a person who:

(f) Has a prohibited substance in his or her blood or urine in an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount set forth in subsection 3 of NRS 484C.110, and does any act or neglects any duty imposed by law while driving or in actual physical control of any vehicle on or off the highways of this State, if the act or neglect of duty proximately causes the death of, or substantial bodily harm to, another person, is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years and must be further punished by a fine of not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000. A person so imprisoned must, insofar as practicable, be segregated from offenders whose crimes were violent and, insofar as practicable, be assigned to an institution or facility of minimum security.”

Aside from the obvious criminal liability the woman faces, she could also face civil liability if the family of the deceased seeks help from a Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer.  If someone you love has suffered the same untimely fate, you need the help of a Las Vegas DUI accident lawyer who understands how to hold those responsible for these acts accountable.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Police officers have a difficult job and must often deal with hectic if not chaotic situations.  That becomes dangerous when guns and split-second decisions are involved, which appeared to be the case with the shooting of a person who seemed to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time several years ago.  Now comes word that the North Las Vegas City Council is considering whether or not to approve a large settlement as a result of a lawsuit filed by the man who was shot by police.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

“North Las Vegas has reached a $3 million settlement in a federal lawsuit over a 2003 shooting by police that seriously injured a then-18-year-old man.

The settlement with Lamar Kiles, who was shot during a chaotic scene at an apartment complex, is pending approval at tonight’s City Council meeting.

Officer Robinson Reed shot Kiles in the side with a shotgun on Aug. 13, 2003, after police were called to investigate reports of gunfire at the Judith Villas apartments at 711 E. Nelson Ave.

Reed and other officers bolted through the dark complex with guns drawn as young men ran in all directions. Kiles came up behind Reed and two other officers as they were trying to handcuff some of the men, police said at the time.

Police said Kiles made “a furtive movement leading the officer to believe his life was in jeopardy.” Reed fired a single blast from his 12-gauge shotgun.”

Kiles was permanently disabled as a result of his wounds.  The laws of personal injury extend to everyone, including the police.  If you or someone you love has been wrongfully harmed, you need the help of Las Vegas personal injury attorneys who have a track record of holding those responsible for these harms accountable.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Doctors are held to a high professional standard of conduct for obvious reasons, as are attorneys.  Generally, people assume that the two professions are generally pitted against each other given that attorneys can and do file lawsuits against doctors for medical malpractice.  However, that is not always reality, and when doctors and lawyers get together to prevent the law from governing, it leads to serious problems for everyone involved.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

“Las Vegas spine surgeon Mark Kabins left federal court on Thursday with a felony conviction and no prison time.

Senior U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush accepted the surgeon’s plea agreement Thursday morning and sentenced him to five years of probation. Kabins also received six months of home confinement but will be allowed to go to work during that time.

The conviction is the first in a 2007 fraud case involving allegations that a network of Las Vegas doctors and lawyers cheated clients out of honest services by protecting doctors from malpractice lawsuits and sharing kickbacks from legal settlements. Kabins became a defendant in the case in March, when he was charged with conspiracy and fraud.

According to a statement issued by U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden after Kabins entered his plea, Kabins “acknowledged that he used Awand to corruptly influence Gage not to sue him, and that he concealed the crime that Awand and Gage thereafter committed.”

Gage represented Simon in her medical malpractice case. Rather than sue Kabins or the other surgeon who operated on her, the lawyer sued an anesthesiologist. The case settled, and Simon received $1.3 million.”

These types of situations subvert justice as it’s meant to be administered.  If you have been harmed by misconduct either on the part of an attorney or a doctor, you need the help of a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has a track record of holding those responsible for causing harm accountable.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

The University Medical Center has found itself in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, and one of the issues we’ve been following involves the leaking of private patient information that’s protected by law.  As a result of this leak of information that includes birth dates, social security numbers and the like, the state initiated an investigation to find out how something like this could happen.  Early indications are beginning to surface, and they are not positive for UMC.

According to the Las Vegas Sun:

“University Medical Center has no system to track patient records, leading to numerous instances in which hospital paperwork containing Social Security numbers, birth dates and other private information goes missing, a state investigation has found.

The investigation was triggered by a Las Vegas Sun story revealing that patient records of traffic injury victims were being systematically leaked from UMC, allegedly to ambulance-chasing attorneys in search of clients. The breach, an apparent violation of federal law, is also being investigated by the FBI.

The state investigation also flagged UMC for not taking adequate measures to inform the Clark County Commission — the board that oversees the hospital — so the data breaches could be addressed. Hospital administrators said in interviews that commissioners are involved only in making decisions about clinical operations, the report said, and there was no plan to take the issue to the elected officials.”

Leaking this sort of private information can lead to serious problems for those whose information is not properly protected, particularly if no action is taken when such a leak is discovered.  If you or someone you love has been harmed by such an information leak, you need to take action against those responsible for your damages.  Contact the Las Vegas personal injury lawyers at Jack Bernstein & Associates to schedule a free initial consultation, as the firm has a long track record of successfully holding those responsible for this sort of harm accountable.

We posted recently regarding the issue of liability for a pharmacy if someone who has been abusing prescriptions ultimately causes harm to others.  The court has made its ruling, and it has decided that pharmacies can not be held liable for these types of damages.  The case has drawn national attention not only because of the legal theory involved but because of the steps that have already been taken by the state to regulate the administering of pharmaceutical medications.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

“The Nevada Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision Thursday, ruled that pharmacies cannot be held liable when a customer causes a fatal car accident.

The case, Sanchez vs. Wal-Mart Stores et al, asked whether drugstores must use information available to them to protect the public from potentially dangerous customers.

The customer, Patricia Copening, had purchased nearly 4,500 doses of prescription painkillers in one year, attracting the attention of Nevada’s controlled-substance task force. The state board sent letters to 14 pharmacies in the Las Vegas area in 2003 warning that Ms. Copening could be abusing drugs.

A year later, Ms. Copening was driving a Dodge Durango when she hit two delivery men who were standing on the shoulder of a highway, killing one and severely injuring the other. In Ms. Copening’s car, police found prescription bottles and loose pills. Police reports said she appeared confused, and a blood test detected the painkiller hydrocodone. Ms. Copening pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless driving and served nine months in jail.

In a footnote, the court added that a regulation amended by the state pharmacy board in 2006, two years after the accident, could change the relationship of pharmacies to third parties. But the court declined to decide whether that regulation definitely imposed any new duty on pharmacies.”

While this decision is a blow to those harmed by abusers of pharmaceutical drugs, the court left open the possibility of ruling differently in the future.  Regardless, you still have rights if you or someone you love has been harmed by a person who was under the influence of any sort of substance.  Contact the Las Vegas personal injury attorneys who have years of experience in successfully fighting for the rights of the injured.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

We’ve been following and providing you with updates regarding the serious problems caused by the hepatitis C outbreak that originated at a local endoscopy clinic, and on Monday a report was released by officials that tells a very disturbing story.  Not only is it alleged that staff members were negligent in their care, but now comes allegations that this negligence was at the behest of the clinic’s owner.

According to the Las Vegas Sun:

“The Southern Nevada Health District’s final report on the colonoscopy clinic at the center of the country’s largest hepatitis C outbreak details ways in which the greed of its owner, Dr. Dipak Desai, got in the way of sound and ethical medical practice.

Staff at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada were ordered to falsify billing records, reuse syringes and other equipment, and doctors rushed procedures to detect cancer, health officials wrote.

The long-awaited report, released Monday, may also provide the outline for pending criminal prosecution.

Nine cases of hepatitis C were genetically linked to the center, and 106 more were possibly linked to the clinic, which passed along infection by reusing syringes and single-use medicine vials. The outbreak forced health officials in February 2008 to urge about 50,000 patients to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.”

If these allegations are correct and accurate, criminal charges will not be the only problem that arises for those responsible.  This conduct goes beyond negligence and could be considered intentional both in the criminal and civil law contexts.  If you or someone you love has suffered as a result of improper medical practices, you need the help of a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has a long track record of successfully fighting for the rights of injured clients.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Generally, when a person or an entity is guilty of some sort of misconduct, the reaction by that entity can be telling.  Since the story broke regarding UMC’s alleged refusal to treat a pregnant woman who was in agony, the hospital has had to deal with other legal problems.  In response to this issue, word has been released that the hospital is working to terminate six employees in response to the incident that resulted in an infant’s death.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

“University Medical Center officials have moved to fire six employees involved in the care of a pregnant Las Vegas woman who went untreated in the emergency room for six hours.

The employees were all suspended pending termination proceedings for their roles in 25-year-old Roshunda Abney’s Nov. 30 visit to the hospital, said Kathy Silver, the hospital’s chief executive officer.

She would not identify the employees by name or job because the termination proceedings were ongoing.

Abney went to UMC with severe abdominal pain and went untreated despite pleading for help and moaning in pain. Abney and her fiancé eventually left the hospital and, after a brief visit to nearby Valley Hospital Medical Center, went home, where she gave birth to a premature baby girl. Paramedics revived the baby, named Angel, and took her to UMC, where she was pronounced dead.”

Even if these employees are terminated, it would still not alleviate potential liability on the part of the hospital.  If you or someone you love has been injured due to insufficient medical care, you need the help of a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who won’t hesitate to take on large business operations.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.

We’ve been posting about different topics recently, but more than once, the University Medical Center has come under fire for different reasons.  Now come allegations that UMC did not treat a woman in labor, and if her allegations turn out to be accurate, it could open UMC up to a substantial amount of legal liability on several fronts.  What’s worse about this story is that it ended in tragedy.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

“If Roshunda Abney is telling the truth about being ignored for hours at University Medical Center’s emergency room before she gave birth prematurely last week, Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly wants to know why it happened.

People who suffer from advanced Alzheimer’s Disease need constant care in order to be protected from harm, and many times this harm can come as a result of their own unwitting actions.  One of the foundations of proper care for these patients is a regular routine of medication, and when patients go without it, serious problems can arise.  According to one report, an assisted living facility that deals mostly with Alzheimer’s patients has had its license revoked for repeated findings that patients were not receiving their medication, leading to multiple injuries.

According to the Las Vegas Sun:

“State health authorities are revoking the license of Chancellor Gardens of the Lakes after a third investigation in two months revealed that residents were still not receiving proper medications.

Chancellor Gardens was notified of the revocation Wednesday, but the facility will appeal, which means its 109 residents will not be forced to move right away. A decision about the revocation could come within three months, state officials said, although there’s still a chance it could be shuttered immediately.

In mid-September an inspection revealed residents were in “immediate jeopardy” because they were missing medications. A month later another inspection revealed that residents were not receiving their drugs, resulting in three hospitalizations. State inspectors discovered technicians were throwing pills away rather than administering them to residents.

And the most recent inspection, between Nov. 18-19, found that 25 of 78 residents were not receiving medications as prescribed and nine of 80 did not have one or more medications available.”

The facility issued a statement that basically blamed the staff, but regardless of the reasons, neglect is an issue that gives rise to civil liability.  If someone you love has not been cared for properly in an assisted living situation, you need to hold them accountable by contacting a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who understands the laws that govern these situations.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.