A pedestrian, who was seriously injured in an accident on the 25^th of November, died this week at a Las Vegas hospital. The pedestrian, Scott Alan Bard, was crossing highway 95, when he was hit by a white Buick. Police believe the motorist did not notice Bard, and was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash.

Pedestrian accidents in Las Vegas have been a matter of concern to auto accident lawyers here. Pedestrians are at great danger when they walk the streets from intoxicated drivers leaving the Strip, as well as taxis in a hurry. As Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorneys, we are always looking up the newest means and procedures to reduce these accident rates. While most auto safety advancements tend to focus on Electronic Stability Control systems and airbags that protect occupants of vehicles from injuries in an accident, there has been very little advancement in the use of technology to prevent pedestrian fatalities. This is in spite of the fact that pedestrians are at risk for some of the most serious and catastrophic injuries in accidents. Most pedestrian accidents end either in fatalities, or serious injuries, like spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, paralysis, broken bones, amputations, internal injuries and other serious injuries.

Volvo Cars is introducing an anti-collision system with an advanced pedestrian detection technology and full auto braking. While other cars, including Volvo’s earlier models also come with an anti collision system, the new technology is far more advanced.  The system is designed to react when a pedestrian walks in front of the car. The car’s full braking power is activated to bring the car to a stop if the driver fails to manually apply the brakes. The technology was revealed in January this year, and is part of Volvo’s commitment to developing and designing cars that have a minimal rate of accidents.

It’s very encouraging to Las Vegas pedestrian accident lawyers to see automakers finally focusing more strongly on preventing collisions between pedestrians and automobiles.

As auto accident lawyers who represent victims of car accidents in Las Vegas, we follow with great interest technological innovations in auto safety that can help save lives in accidents. We came across this report that provides a brief summary of some remarkable new auto safety features that car buyers can expect in the next couple of years. The new safety features were on display at the New England International Auto Show that was held in December in Boston.

As Las Vegas personal injury lawyers, we are concerned about the fact that our city has some of the highest drunk driving crash rates in the country.  We were therefore, especially pleased to see some new safety features that might help minimize the risk of alcohol-related car crashes. These systems include lane departure warnings that detect when your car is veering off from your lane of traffic, and immediately warn you by sounding an alarm. One step ahead is the stay-in-lane system that automatically veers the car back into the lane when a drunk motorist begins to veer off.

Las Vegas motorists fatigued after non-stop partying will also find face recognition monitors especially useful in preventing accidents. These monitor systems come with a camera that takes a picture of your head in position, and sounds an alarm when your head begins to shift position, i.e. when you begin to nod off. A safety warning immediately wakes you up, and alerts you to the risk of an accident from dozing off.

There are several other safety systems in the works, including:

• Forward collision warning systems that warn you if you get too close to the car in front of you
• Newer cruise control systems that let your vehicle cruise in relation to the speed and distance of the vehicle in front of you
• Active head restraints to cushion your head in an accident
• Improved brake systems that automatically increase braking power when you are not placing enough pressure on the  brakes
• Parking assistance systems that sound a warning when you get too close to a wall or car

Not all of these features may become as popular as airbags, but there is definitely reason to be encouraged by the fact that many of the new features are more focused on preventing crashes than minimizing injuries.

Repeat offenders are a major factor in serious or fatal alcohol-related accidents, and a new report shows that how serious the problem is, in and around Las Vegas.  A study by the Reno Gazette Journal shows that approximately 50 percent of serious or fatal drunk driving accidents in Washoe County are caused by repeat drunk driving offenders.  

The study analyzed arrest records of 113 drivers arrested for drunk driving in Washoe County since 2000.  The analysis found that:

• Almost 25 percent of drivers charged with driving under the influence causing death or bodily harm in Washoe County, had several arrests for drunk driving on their record.
• At least one of these drivers was arrested after being released from prison.
• Of the drivers, 14 were found too young to drink legally.
• More worryingly to Las Vegas car accident lawyers, these arrested drivers had blood alcohol levels that were exceedingly high. In fact, in most of the cases, the blood alcohol limit was more than twice the legally allowed limit of .08

Those high statistics have galvanized legislators from Las Vegas, like Assemblyman Mark Manendo, into action.  Manendo introduced several bills, dealing with intoxicated driving in the Nevada Legislature during the 2009 session. He is extremely concerned about the high blood alcohol levels of some of these repeat drunk driving offenders, who are caught driving while intoxicated. These high blood alcohol levels don’t come from having a couple of beers.  Rather, they are the result of binge drinking, which is a major contributing factor in auto accidents in Las Vegas.

Alcohol-related car crashes are a major source of concern to Las Vegas auto accident attorneys.  Our city as the entertainment and holiday capital of the country, tends to encourage copious drinking, which is why we see some of the high BAC levels revealed in the RGJ analysis.  Such binge drinking also contributes to out-of--control drivers, leading to serious accidents and catastrophic injuries.

Auto accident lawyers would like to alert motorists about increased crackdowns on drunk driving over the holiday season in Las Vegas. Law enforcement agencies in the state began their annual holiday crackdown on drunk driving last week. Through the 2^nd of January, police officers and state troopers will be pulling motorists over if they suspect them of impaired driving. There is a zero tolerance policy in place, which means if you are found driving under the influence, you could be cited or arrested.

Around the country, most states have kicked off their holiday accident prevention program. Most of these programs include increased crackdowns on drunk driving and enforcement of seat belt laws. Other states have been using innovative new ways to get the anti-drunk driving message out. Michigan is experimenting with Twitter, using social media to get people to drive safe and sober.

We often notice Las Vegas residents complain about these crackdowns. It’s important to remember that these enforcement activities are not meant to target any particular group of motorists, or spoil the holiday for them.  Increased enforcement during the holiday season, when there are likely to be more drunk drivers around, increases the chances that these motorists –who are likely to cause serious accidents - will be caught and arrested. Motorists must know that if they choose to drink and drive, they will very likely be pulled over by a Patrol Officer and get cited, or even arrested.

New Year’s Binge Drinking Contributes to Accidents in Las Vegas

The New Year’s holiday weekend tends to be the deadliest in the Las Vegas calendar, because of the binge drinking that occurs during this holiday. More people are killed in drunk driving accidents over New Year’s, than other holidays.

This holiday as you begin the partying, remember that driving after you have had more than a few drinks is NOT an option. In fact, as Las Vegas auto accident lawyers, we would encourage motorists to plan how they will get home after an evening of partying much ahead of time. Take a taxi, hitch a ride with a friend or have one of your friends serve as the designated driver for the evening.

Better still, hire for a designated driver service in Las Vegas to assume the responsibility of picking you up and dropping you at your place.

The Las Vegas Sun is reporting that a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a multi-vehicle accident on North Las Vegas Boulevard. According to the news report, the motorcyclist veered into oncoming traffic and struck 4 vehicles. He suffered serious injuries, and was taken to the University Medical Center. None of the drivers or passengers of the other 4 cars sustained injuries. The accident is being investigated. Police have currently no information about why the motorcyclist crossed into the opposite lane.

Motorcycle accident attorneys in Las Vegas have been disturbed about the increasing rate of fatalities in these crashes every year. Across the country, fatalities in motorcycle crashes have been increasing steadily, while fatality rates in other types of accidents have been declining. Nevada has been no exception.

1n 2008, 59 people were killed in motorcycle accidents here, an increase from 51 in 2007.

Motorcycle accidents typically result in some of the most serious injuries. While motorcyclists can reduce their risk of being killed or suffering head and brain injuries in a crash by wearing an approved helmet, headgear may do nothing to protect from blunt force trauma injuries, fractures, amputations, and spinal cord injuries that can severely impact a person’s health and mobility.

Injured motorcyclists may be eligible for compensation, including damages for medical bills, pain and suffering as well as lost wages. However, for your Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyer to file your claim successfully, it’s important that you document all records that show the extent of your injuries. If there were witnesses to the accident, note down their phone numbers if you are able to. Note down traffic and weather conditions at the time of the accident. Retain all copies of medical expenses, including hospital records, therapy bills, and other medical expenses. If you have lost days from work because of your injuries, you will need proof of this to claim compensation for these lost wages. In case of serious injuries where an individual’s future wages may also suffer, your Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorney will also calculate future lost wages.

As auto accident lawyers, we are knowledgeable of  the several dubious safety distinctions that have plagued Las Vegas.

Given Las Vegas' status as a vacation destination, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Las Vegas is listed in these dubious categories:

• Some of the highest drunk driving rates in the country
• A disproportionately high number of pedestrian accident fatalities, aided by impaired driving and speeding taxis.

Lesser known is that Las Vegas also has some of the highest rates of fatal accidents involving teen drivers. In fact, according to a study by Allstate called “America’s Teen Driving Hot Spots,” Las Vegas ranks at number 15 in its rate of teen accidents. Teen drivers here are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than in most American metro areas.

Teen motorist safety in Las Vegas and nationwide is the focus of a new report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which shows that teen motorist safety continues to be a hot button issue. In 2005, an NHTSA study showed that motor vehicle accidents were the leading factor contributing to deaths in Americans between the age of 15 and 20. A new NHTSA report shows that teen drivers constitute just 9 percent of the American population, and 6 percent of the licensed driver population, but comprise 19 percent of all traffic accident fatalities in the country.

The report also found several other statistics that should be a matter of concern to Las Vegas parents and auto accident attorneys.

These fatalities account for 1/5th of all traffic accident fatalities in the country.

Two thirds of fatalities in these young driver related accidents are the motorist or passengers.

Most of these passenger fatalities are in the same age group as the motorist. In fact, 57 percent of passenger fatalities in these crashes are between 15 and 20 years of age. These numbers are not hard to understand because teen motorists prefer to ride with passengers their own age. Nationwide, studies have also shown that the risk of an accident for a teen driver increases with the number of teen passengers in the vehicle.

According to the NHTSA, there are several factors that are common in these crashes. Alcohol use was a common thread running through many of these accidents, with 31 percent of young drivers having a BAC of .01 of more, and 26 percent of drivers having a BAC of .08 percent or more. Speeding was involved in 31 percent of these accidents.

The Las Vegas auto accident attorneys at Oronoz Injury Law help injured victims of car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and taxi accidents recover their compensation that’s due to them.

As Las Vegas pedestrian accident lawyers, we have been very concerned about the high rates of such accidents in our city.  Most of these are caused by drunk drivers, while the rest can be traced to speeding taxi cabs. 

In the latest accident involving pedestrians, a person was killed when he was struck by a car on Desert Inn Road east of the Las Vegas Strip, on Wednesday night. Another person was seriously injured in the accident.  The motorist, Las Vegas-resident Mahmod Alseidamad has been charged with driving under the influence with death. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Alseidamad was driving recklessly and at excessive speeds, when he lost control of his Honda Accord and ran on to the sidewalk. The two pedestrians were walking on the sidewalk with their backs to the car. One of them was killed at the scene, while the other has been hospitalized for his injuries.

Las Vegas has High Incidence of Pedestrian Accidents

A nationwide pedestrian safety study conducted in October showed that Las Vegas is one of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians. Researchers, who conducted the study called Dangerous by Design for Transportation for America, devised a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) to denote the dangers to pedestrians from walking in a particular city.

Las Vegas had a Pedestrian Danger Index of 105.6, which is more than double the national Pedestrian Danger Index of 52.1 That means that pedestrians in Las Vegas are at a higher risk of accidents than the national average. The state of Nevada has a PDI of 81.3, while the Reno-Sparks area has a PDI of 64.5.

Overall, the state of Nevada fares terribly in pedestrian safety. In Nevada, 16.2 percent of traffic deaths between 2005 and 2008 were pedestrians. Nationwide, that number was just 11.8 percent. In Nevada, there were 2.10 pedestrian fatalities for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, there were 1.53 pedestrian fatalities for every 100,000 people.

Pedestrian Accident Prevention is Low Priority in Las Vegas

To Las Vegas pedestrian accident lawyers, it’s not hard to understand why Las Vegas and the state of Nevada fare so poorly in pedestrian safety. Las Vegas pedestrians are at constant danger from intoxicated motorists irresponsible enough to get back behind the wheel in a drunken state. Besides, our state invests precious few funds in pedestrian safety. According to the report, while Nevada had $999 million in federal transportation funds available during the study period, just 1 percent of this was spent on pedestrian safety projects. That means that for every person in Nevada, 93 cents are spent on pedestrian safety enhancements.

With pedestrian safety occupying such a low place on the state’s list of priorities, it’s really no surprise that Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorneys are so busy.

As Las Vegas auto accident lawyers, we often see victims of drunk driving accidents and families of those killed in such crashes, struggle to understand their rights for compensation in an accident.

Last week, a 24-year-old woman was killed in a car accident in Las Vegas.  The victim, Angela Nichole Peterson suffered several traumatic injuries when her car was struck by a pickup tuck. The truck had allegedly run a red light just before it crashed into Peterson’s vehicle. The pickup driver has been booked on suspicion of DUI.

The number of drunk driving accident fatalities across the country has dipped in recent years, as law enforcement officials in Las Vegas and nationwide, have increased their crackdown on drunk driving, leading to more intoxicated motorists off the road and incapable of harming others. Last year, 107 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in the state of Nevada. That was a drop from 118 in 2007.

While we have been able to bring down the number of people dying every year in these crashes, there still remains a lot to be done.  Not surprisingly, as the nightlife destination of the country, Las Vegas has a high incidence of drunk driving. Younger motorists and teens continue to be at a high risk for DUI.

In case of a fatal drunk driving accident in Las Vegas, families of victims may have limited number of options to file a claim. Nevada is one of the few states that have no dram shop laws in place. Dram shops laws in many states allow a person injured in an alcohol-related accident to hold the drinking establishment (restaurant, club, or bar) that served the motorist the alcohol, liable. These establishments are prohibited from furnishing an already intoxicated motorist with alcohol.  The lack of such laws in Nevada means that injured victims and their families will not be able to hold the establishment accountable.

This limits your chances of recovery, and it’s therefore important that you consult with a Las Vegas auto accident lawyer to protect your rights.

The Las Vegas car accident lawyers at Oronoz Injury Law represent injured victims of auto, car, truck, bicycle and motorcycle accidents, in and around the city of Las Vegas.

A Clark County motorist, who struck and killed a runner in a drunk driving accident earlier this year, will be arraigned on the 7th of January.
 
On the 10th of October, Henderson-resident Joshua Salayich was driving a Nissan Altima when he struck Jeremy Kunz, who was participating in the Ranger Relay Las Vegas relay race at the time.  Salayich’s car careened into the dirt shoulder and hit Kunz, dragging him several feet. Kunz died at the site. He was married, and had three children
 
Salayich fled the scene of the accident, but was soon found and arrested. This week, Salayich, who waived his right to a preliminary hearing, had his arraignment date set for the 7th of January. According to the district attorney, he is expected to plead guilty to driving under the influence causing death.
 
Earlier this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that there had been a nationwide drop of 7 percent in drunk driving accident fatalities in 2008, compared to the previous year. In Nevada, we had a drop of 4 percent in drunk driving fatalities in 2008, with 107 people killed in alcohol-related car crashes compared to 118 in 2007.
 
However, it is a matter of concern to Las Vegas auto accident lawyers, that the state has a fatality rate that is higher than the national average. While the nationwide drunk driving crash fatality rate in 2008 was 0.40 per 100 million miles travelled, Nevada’s fatality rate was 0.51 deaths per 100 million miles travelled. That means that the number of people killed in drunk driving accidents in Nevada is higher in proportion to our vehicular traffic, when compared to the national average.
 
Nevada’s drunk driving statistics are much lower than they used to be. In 2007, one third of all fatalities in Clark County were linked to alcohol-related car crashes.  But, it’s clear to Las Vegas drunk driving accident lawyers, that we still have a long way to go.