Automobile Accidents

• Collateral Source Evidence in Nevada Medical Malpractice Cases

  Steve Klearman | March 20, 2006 5:25 PM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  The subject of collateral source evidence arises in every medical malpractice lawsuit. Basically, and in this context, collateral source evidence relates to any payment made for medical bills (or any bills) by someone other than the person who brings the suit. The most common type of collateral source payment is that made by an insurance company. Attorneys throughout the country like to argue...

• Get Drunk and Ride Free in Reno

  Steve Klearman | March 17, 2006 8:30 AM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  The Reno Gazette Journal http://rgj.com reports today that residents are encouraged by our local government to go out and tie one on for St. Patrick's Day.Well, more specifically, and with good intent: the Northern Nevada DUI Task Force and the Regional Transportation Commission are sponsoring free rides on Citifare to help reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents among St. Patrick's Day...

• Can a Computer Feel Your Pain?

  Steve Klearman | March 08, 2006 2:29 PM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  Did you know that many insurance companies use computers to evaluate your pain and suffering after an auto accident?That's right: insurance adjusters review your medical records for various key pieces of information (information that they think is key) and plug that information into a computer program that calculates the value of your injuries. While the distastefulness of this can be expounded...

• How Insurance Companies Defend Auto Accident Cases - Part II

  Steve Klearman | February 22, 2006 4:09 PM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  This article will cover some more ways in which insurance companies handle and defend auto accident cases.Medical BillsInsurance companies will always attempt to use your medical bills against you, often for the propositions 1) that you overtreated; and 2) that they should not be responsible for the cost of diagnostic tests that turned out negative.Neither concept makes much sense. Insurance...

• How Insurance Companies Defend Auto Accident Cases

  Steve Klearman | February 20, 2006 5:02 PM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  I've litigated auto accident cases in Nevada since 1988 and during that time I've seen patterns emerge in the way that insurance companies defend these cases. Here are some thoughts in that regard.Body DamageInsurance companies are fixated with the issue of body damage to your car after an accident. Or, more specifically, insurance companies often argue that severe damage to your car does not...

• Nevada Crosswalks

  Steve Klearman | January 05, 2006 3:45 PM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  Sometimes an understanding of the law can help to prevent an automobile or motorcycle accident. Ever wonder about the law that pertains to vehicles approaching crosswalks? In Nevada, there are both statutes and ordinances that apply.For instance, Nevada state law provides the following:NRS 484.325 Right-of-way in crosswalk; obedience to signals and other devices for control of traffic. ...

• Driving While Intoxicated A Problem For Nevada's Young

  Steve Klearman | December 24, 2005 2:57 PM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  The Reno-Gazette Journal reports that while the rate at which driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs jumped 43 percent for 17-year-olds from 2000 to 2001, the rate declined in 2002, a trend that held true for all other teenage groups.The Gazette-Journal's study found that the trend reverses itself as soon as drivers turn 20: The rate at which DUI contributes to accidents leaped 34...

• Nevada's Teen Drivers Get Into More Auto Accidents

  Steve Klearman | December 24, 2005 2:51 PM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  A Reno Gazette-Journal study of state and federal accident data shows accident rates among Nevada's teen drivers are increasing, with a particular increase among the state's 17-year-old drivers. Fifteen-year-old drivers also showed high accident-rate increases.The Gazette-Journal reported that this problem appears to be particularly bad in Washoe County, where the accident rate for teen drivers...

• Compensation After An Automobile Accident

  Steve Klearman | December 18, 2005 9:16 AM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  My clients often want to know what sort of compensation they are legally entitled to claim after an accident.Injuries from automobile accidents often have catastrophic consequences. Serious injuries can be disabling, and may affect not only the injured person but his or her family members as well. Even relatively minor injuries that necessitate lost time from work and medical care can have a...

• Insurance Companies Owe Insureds Special Duties

  Steve Klearman | December 11, 2005 8:46 AM | 0 CommentsReno, NV

  Insurance Companies Often Act in Bad FaithNevada laws recognize that insurers owe special duties to their insureds and protections are set forth, both in Nevada statutes and in Nevada regulations, to protect insureds from their insurance companies. Nevada law allows for punitive damages to be awarded against an insurer that breaches certain obligations to its insured. While numerous claims...