In minor car collisions, they’re ideally no-fuss. After the accident, there will be a quick exchange of contact numbers, insurance information, and other key details, and then that’s it. Drivers involved in the accident will let their respective insurance providers handle these matters. How convenient, don’t you think? So you might wonder, is there a need to call the police?

Actually, yes, parties involved in a car accident may still need to contact law enforcement officers. No matter how minor the accident was, you’ll still need to secure a police report on the collision. Truth be told, reporting the matter to the police will save you from the hassle later on.

While reporting to the police is imperative, what’s optional is informing the insurance provider. Parties to the accident may dispense with the intervention of the insurance companies. For instance, they may opt to have their respective damage repaired out of their own pockets.

The Importance of Securing a Police Report

A police report covers the circumstances surrounding the accident. With this document, it negates the likelihood of creating assumptions as to what happened. Thus, in the event of a legal action for recovery of damages, it effectively eliminates disputes on the turn of events.

It becomes easier to seek compensation because the police report can strengthen the case. Whether the car accident is a major or minor one, it is best to secure this piece of paper.

This unbiased account of the accident contains the following information:

• Names of the parties involved,
• Injuries sustained by the parties, if any,
• Damage to the vehicles involved,
• Time, date and place of the accident, and
• Statements of witnesses.

Here are tips when reporting a car accident to police officers.

Call 911 Immediately

If you’re involved or witnessed a car accident (especially a major, catastrophic one), the first thing you need to do is call 911. Do this even if there are no apparent injuries or damage. The purpose is to let the police officers ascertain the circumstances and write a report on the incident.

There will be an investigation as soon as the police officers will arrive. Searching questions will likely focus on who or what caused the accident and how.

Law enforcement officers will also want to obtain the personal and contact information of the involved drivers and passengers, if any. The police, however, will focus more on the driver; whether there was a likelihood that he or she drove under the influence.

Witness on the scene as well as injured bystanders will also be requested to give their personal and contact information. Statements will also be obtained.

Based on the investigation, the police officers responding at the scene will make the report.

What If There Are No Police Officers at the Scene

There may be instances when police officers don’t respond at the scene of the accident. Thus, you may need to file your own report to the police as soon as possible. In support of your narrative, taking photos and/or videos that cover all angles is highly recommended.

Collect as much evidence as may be available and necessary in support of your side of the story. This may be needed as it is not uncommon for the party at fault to change their story to evade liability.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

To cover your bases, seek legal representation from an experienced car accident lawyer. With his or her help, you can ensure that your interests and rights are protected during your action to obtain compensation for damages.

Looking for a highly experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney? Contact Dan Lovell of Empire Law Group.

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When a person dies as a result of the intentional or negligent action of another, the offender may be brought to court for a criminal charge. Unfortunately sending the person who caused the death of the decedent will not cover the costs related to the loss of support and care to the surviving family members.

So in addition to the criminal charge, a civil action may also be filed against the offender. Its purpose is to permit recovery of compensation for damages on account of the decedent’s death.

Normally, in lawsuits involving bodily injuries, it is the injured party who can file the civil and criminal actions. So who can file these court actions in wrongful death cases? Obviously it’s not the deceased.

The surviving family members may institute these actions in wrongful death cases.

In civil lawsuits connected with cases of wrongful death, the surviving family members may recover compensation for damages for the loss of support of their loved one. The amount of damages may also include medical and funeral expenses, among others.

So who are these surviving family members?

Most states define family members to include parents, spouses, and children. But some jurisdictions expand the definition to include domestic partners, siblings, and grandparents.

However, recognizing the proximity in terms of degrees of consanguinity or affinity with the decedent, not all surviving family members are entitled to receive the same or equal amounts or damages. In fact, the distant relatives may even be excluded from receiving damages should there be a family member closer in proximity.

As a such, a grandparent or sibling may even be excluded from receiving any court-awarded damages if the decedent has a spouse or child.

In addition, the amount of damages that a family member may receive greatly depends on the pecuniary or other losses that the latter suffered on account of the decedent’s death. As such, a minor child who is dependent on the decedent for support stands to suffer financially than a sibling who has the capacity to earn his/her own money. To alleviate this distress, the law permits an award of damages to the decedent’s minor child, which may be to the exclusion of the sibling.

The amount of damages to be awarded will also be computed based on the decedent’s earning capacity, in relation to the resulting loss of financial support that the dependents stand to suffer.

Las Vegas Wrongful Death Attorney

Figuring out who can file an action for wrongful death against the offender is easy. But here’s the tricky part: proving the fault or negligence of the offender to warrant a criminal conviction as well as an award of damages. Without the appropriate legal training, experience, and expertise, it can be a daunting task.

If you lost a loved one under wrongful death circumstances, would you risk losing a legal battle? Without any legal knowledge or training, you will stand to lose the fight in court if you take it upon yourself to handle the helm. As a result, you will suffer the loss of a loved one as well as a judgment of conviction and award of damages

Let a seasoned Las Vegas wrongful death attorney handle the legal battle. Contact Dan Lovell of Empire Law Group.

The post Who can Sue in Wrongful Death Case? appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.

Vehicle Falls on Employee of Las Vegas Auto Shop

An auto shop employee died when a vehicle fell on him. The police officers responded to the scene at around 4:50 in the afternoon of the 14th of May 2018. The unfortunate event occurred at the Alex Auto Shop, which is located in Fremont St. near Mojave Road.

Lt. Grant Rogers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said they have contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate the incident.

What Is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency under the U.S. Department of Labor. It is tasked to ensure workplace safety and the health of the workers.

Under federal law, every worker is entitled to have a safe workplace. Every employer shall ensure that the workplace is free from any safety or health hazards or any element that may impair the wellbeing of the employees.

If you or your loved ones are concerned about your health and safety on the job, you may contact OSHA. You may file a confidential complaint and request for an inspection of the workplace if you believe you are exposed to an unhealthful or unsafe working environment.

The employee who filed the complaint enjoys protection from retaliation. If the employer knows of the identity of the whistleblower employee, the employer is prohibited from firing, demoting, or discriminating the latter in any capacity.

If you or your loved one has been the subject of the employer’s ire and retaliation on account of the filing of the complaint with OSHA, you may file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA within 30 days from the time of the alleged retaliation.

Know Your Rights as an Employee

All employees are entitled to a safe workplace. Federal law provides that every workplace should be free of known safety and health hazards. In addition to these rights, all employees shall also have the right to be trained in a language that they understand.

The State recognizes the higher risk of injuries when operating machinery or working with toxic chemicals. To this end, the employer shall ensure the safety of the workers operating on machines.

Safety gear shall also be provided to employees working on high-risk activities; this includes gloves, harness and lifeline, etc. Adequate protection shall also be furnished to employees who are exposed to toxic chemicals.

Concerned about Your Hazardous Working Conditions?

If you believe your working conditions are unsafe or unhealthful, you may forward your concerns with OSHA by filing an appropriate complaint. You may also request for an inspection of the workplace. These complaints and inspection requests are treated with confidentiality.

As an added recourse, you may refuse to continue to work if the unsafe and unhealthful nature of the workplace clearly presents a high risk of serious injuries or death, and this was brought to the attention of the employer.

In the event of injury or death, get medical assistance ASAP. You may also need to inform the supervisor of the fact.

Contact a Las Vegas Workplace Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in the workplace on account of its unsafe or unhealthful nature, you may be entitled to recover damages. In the same way, heirs and other survivors of a deceased employee may claim compensation.

Get in touch with a highly experienced Las Vegas workplace accident attorney. Contact Dan Lovell of the Empire Law Group.

The post Vehicle Falls on Employee of Las Vegas Auto Shop – workplace safety appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.

DUI Results in Fatality and Multiple Car Crash

It’s never a good idea to drink then drive immediately afterward. Take the case of a Las Vegas DUI incident that occurred in April 2018. A driver had two vodkas before getting into the car. Later the drunk driver was involved in a multi-vehicle accident, resulting in one death, multiple injured individuals, and several crashed cars. Based on the accounts of her arrest, she did not dispute these allegations and admitted her fault, according to an article on the Fox 5 news website.

According to Las Vegas police reports, Sarah Lee drank two vodkas at around 4:30 a.m. at Santa Fe Station. As it followed, the road accident resulted in a car crash, involving six vehicles. The multi-vehicle accident happened on the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Warm Springs Road at around 10 a.m.

Lee’s Apprehension

The police report mentioned that Lee was held by a citizen after the car crash. The Las Vegas police officer who responded to the DUI scene said Lee had the smell of alcohol that early morning.

At the time of contact with the police officers, Lee did not know where she was. She appeared confused and had difficulty complying with instructions for alcohol testing after the incident. The police officers also observed that she had a hard time having her eyes open. She also complained that she was in pain. The report also mentioned Lee had minor bruises and scratches on her body.

Upon an examination on her person, the police officers noticed scarring and other marks on Lee’s arms, which is indicative of repeated needle injection. Lee, on her part, admitted she had been doing IV drug use. Two days prior to the accident, she smoked heroin. But she was on suboxone for relief from heroin cravings, she added.

One Fatality, Several Injuries, Six Cars, One Impaired Driver

Donneka Harris, of North Las Vegas, died as a consequence of the car crash incident, along with three others who were injured. According to the Clark County Coroner, Harris died due to injuries caused by multiple blunt force. She was 32.

Six vehicles were involved in the incident, which includes a black Mercedes, a red Ford, a silver Lexus, a gray Cadillac SUV, a blue Hyundai, and a Chevy Malibu.

Eyewitness’ Account

Victor Johnson was working at a nearby convenience store when the multi-vehicle crash occurred. As he ran out to help the people involved in the collision, he noticed Lee tried to run away.

Based on the report by the Nevada Highway Patrol, Lee’s Mercedes was westbound on Warm Springs Road and ran a red light at the intersection. She crashed her car against a Chevy Malibu, which was traversing on Las Vegas Boulevard’s southbound lane. The collision impacted the nearby vehicles. The driver of the Chevy Malibu was Harris who died at the scene.

Lee Could Face Severe Penalties

Under the laws of the State of Nevada, Lee could face imprisonment between 2 and 20 years in state prison with fines up to $5,000. On top of the criminal charge, a civil action for recovery of damages may also be filed against Lee. Her driving license may also be suspended or revoked.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been involved in a Las Vegas DUI incident, resulting in injuries or fatality, get in touch with Dan Lovell of the Empire Law Group.

The post 6 car crash, DUI results in death of woman appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.