Easy to Follow Halloween Safety Tips

October 12th, 2010

Halloween will be here soon. When buying or making costumes, you should keep safety in mind. Here are some easy to follow safety tips that will help keep your kids safe.

Make sure that the costume is visible. If possible, avoid dark colors. In any event, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape or designs that reflect car headlights. Avoid loose fitting costumes that could be fire hazards. Many houses have pumpkins lit with candles. A loose costume can catch fire if it comes into contact with a candle. In addition, all costumes should be fire resistant. Fire resistant materials can still burn but they do not burst into flames and are easier to extinguish.

Go trick-or-treating with your kids and keep a close eye on them. Go trick-or-treating in a group. Carry a flashlight as an additional warning to cars that you are there. Walk on the sidewalks and not in the road. Costumes should not drag on the ground or be tripping hazards. Kids should wear shoes that fit well and that are not tripping hazards. Decorate your kids’ faces with makeup instead of masks that block or obstruct their vision. Check your kids candy for your favorite candy. You should get it, don’t you think? Check their candy to make sure that it has not been tampered with in any way.

By following these simple to follow safety tips you can ensure that your kids and you have a safe and fun Halloween.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 131 Comments »

Shocking News. Laws Making it Illegal to Drive and Text Increase Number of Accidents!

October 11th, 2010

A recent study shows that in states that have laws making illegal to text a drive the accident rate from distracted drivers texting while driving has increased. Most people expect that accident rate would go down. Afterall, once the laws was passed large numbers of people would stop texting while driving. Those who continue to text while driving would be caught and arrested or at least given a ticket. That would cause the number of people who text while driving to go down and the roads would be safer.

However, that is not the case. Accidents caused by people texting while driving have increased in states that have banned or outlawed texting while driving. Instead of stopping texting while driving, the laws banning the activity have caused people to attempt to hide the fact that they are texting while driving (so they won’t get caught I suppose). The act of hiding the fact that they are texting while driving is another factor increasing the distraction for these drivers. Not only are they distracted because they are texting while driving, they are ow distracted because they must hide the fact that they are doing it. The attempts to hide the texting increases their distractions and is leading to more crashes.

The only real deterrent to texting while driving will be juries. If jurors do not let the distracted drivers off the hook and return jury verdicts for the full and fair amount of injured people’s injuries and damages, people will learn that texting while driving could really cost them. Moreover, when the press starts reporting all of the incidents where people have been seriously injured or killed because of texting while driving, changes in behavior may result.

If you text while you drive, please stop. Don’t risk your life and the life of innocent people. If you, a family member or friend have been injured by a driver who was texting while driving, call me today. We will take your personal injury case personally too.

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Posted in 18-Wheeler Crashes, Auto Accidents, Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries, Impaired-Distracted Drivers, Motorcycle Crashes, Wrongful Death | 147 Comments »

Distracted Driving Kills. Now You Know So Don’t Do It.

October 6th, 2010

I have continually written about the risks and dangers of distracted driving and impaired driving. I wrote a lengthy article about the death of Dr. Frank Ryan, a famous Hollywood plastic surgeon, who crashed his Jeep over a cliff because he was sending a text about his dog. Yet people continue to text and drive. I saw a man texting and driving this morning on my way into the office.

The National Highway Safety Administration released its data regarding distracted driving crashes across the country.  Last year distracted driving crashed caused 448,000 injuries and 5,474 deaths. That is one in every six highway deaths caused by distracted driving.

Why do people continue to drive while texting? Is it that they think they are more important than basic safety considerations? Is it that they are so important that their text just can’t wait? Is their social network just dieing to hear the latest bit of trivial about their day? I would say no. The truth of the matter is that most people do not think they will cause a crash. A distracted driving crash happens to other people but not to them. However, it does. No one is immune. If you engage in dangerous and hazardous activities, you will eventually pay the price. You will cause a crash. The only question is who will you injure? Will you kill? Will it be you or someone else. An innocent person. A mom or a dad. A young child with his or her entire life ahead of them.

Think about the consequences of distracted and impaired driving. If you do it, STOP. If you do not, don’t start. Tell your friends and family not to do it. Promote safety. Help protect the innocent. 

If you have been the victim of a crash caused by someone who was texting while driving, talking on their cell phone, or who was drunk or under the influence of drugs, call Murphy & Murphy Law Offices.  We sue distracted and impaired drivers. It is the only way that this dangerous activity will be brought under control. The statistics show that state laws prohibiting talking on cell phones and driving and prohibiting texting while driving have been relatively ineffectual. People do it regardless of the law. Causing the violators to be held personally responsible in a court of law will be the only real deterrent. If you have been

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Posted in 18-Wheeler Crashes, Auto Accidents, Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries, Impaired-Distracted Drivers, Motorcycle Crashes, Wrongful Death | 68 Comments »

Why Do You Need to Know a Good Parsonal Injury Attorney if You Live in Las Vegas? Las Vegas is Full of Bad Drivers Who Crash a Lot, That’s Why.

September 8th, 2010

Everyone in Las Vegas comments about how bad our drivers are. You have probably complained a time or two. I have had the opportunity to hear many people tell me about their experiences with bad Las Vegas drivers. Often the stories include terrible results with life-long injuries. But are drivers in Las Vegas really that bad?

Yes, Las Vegas drivers are really that bad. According to a survey compiled by Allstate Insurance, Las Vegas drivers are 21% more likely to have a car crash than the national average. A Las Vegas driver can statistically anticipate being in a car crash every eight years. Out of the 200 largest cities that were involved in the national survey, Las Vegas ranked 144 out of 200. That means we are the 144th worst city for driving and accidents. Only 56 cities in the entire country are worse than Las Vegas drivers.

You can take a number of precautions to reduce your chances of being involved in and being injured in a car crash in Las Vegas. For specific tips, see our website or view my earlier blog posts.

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Posted in 18-Wheeler Crashes, Auto Accidents, Impaired-Distracted Drivers, Motorcycle Crashes | 123 Comments »

School is starting. Drive Carfully and Avoid Accidents. Safety is Everyone’s Concern.

August 23rd, 2010

The school year is starting. This means that the school zones are going to busy. It also means that all drivers need to be on the lookout and they need to be extra careful. It also means that drivers should add a little extra time because of school zones, school bus stops and other unexpected delays. Children present risks around the schools because they can dart out in front of unsuspecting drivers. Often kids will be more interested in what they are doing or with whom they are talking than following traffic rules. Drivers therefore must always be on the lookout. In addition, when someone is running late, he or she may have the tendency to speed and use less care than is required. Being late can affect how safe a person drives whether it is in a school zone, near a school or any other place. Give yourself plenty of time and be careful.

Drivers must also be aware of school zones.  Speed limits are strictly enforced in school zones. The penalties and fines for speeding in school zones are very high. They are very high for a reason: to stop you from speeding and to protect children. So don’t speed. Pay attention. Most importantly, be safe.

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Posted in Auto Accidents | 64 Comments »

Don’t Text and Drive. Texting While Driving Leads to Death of Famous Plastic Surgeon. Do Not Become a Victim of Texting While Driving.

August 18th, 2010

For months and months Las Vegas accident attorney and injury trial lawyer Craig Murphy of Murphy & Murphy Law Offices has been warning people not to text and drive. Even Oprah Winfrey has taken on the cause by making a number of public information commercials warning of the dangers and tragic results of texting while driving.  Now we have another example. Hopefully it will cause people to stop and consider the dire consequences of texting and driving.

On August 17, 2010 Dr. Frank Ryan, a famous Hollywood plastic surgeon, died when his Jeep plunged off of a cliff near his Malibu beach home. It has now been learned that he was texting while driving. It is believed that his texting while driving caused him to accidentally drive over a cliff and plunge to his death. At the time of his death, Dr. Ryan was sending a Tweet about his dog.

Take a minute to let that sink in. A famous doctor plunges to his death while Tweeting about his dog. What was so important about that text message that it had to be done while he was driving? Why couldn’t it wait until he got home? He was only minutes away from his house. This is another case where common sense was ignored. The rules of the road that apply to everyone are ignored. For some reason people think that their texts are so important that they and anyone else in their social network cannot wait to hear the latest bit of trivia in their lives and they text while driving. Well texting while driving has severe consequences. This is a prime example. There was absolutely no reason that the text message could not wait. The doctor gambled his life and lost. All for a text about his dog.

It does not matter what your text is about. It cannot be worth risking your life and the lives of all the other people around your car. Do not text and drive. Text when you get home. If it is so important that it cannot wait, pull off the road. Park in a parking lot. Just do not text and drive.

If you or a family member has been injured by a distracted driver, someone who was texting or using their cell phone instead of paying attention, call Craig Murphy, Esq. at Murphy & Murphy Law Offices in Las Vegas today. Craig Murphy and Murphy & Murphy Law Offices sues distracted drivers, drunk drivers and impaired drivers for the injuries and damages they cause. In addition, we believe that the injuries and damages caused by distracted drivers, drunk drivers and impaired drivers are so significant that punitive damages are also warranted in these situations. You can contact Craig Murphy, Esq. and Murphy & Murphy Law Offices at 702-369-9696 or through their web site at www.nvpilaw.com.

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Posted in 18-Wheeler Crashes, Auto Accidents, Impaired-Distracted Drivers, Wrongful Death | 136 Comments »

Las Vegas Drunk Driving, Impaired Driving and Distracted Driving Can Ruin Your Life. Murphy & Murphy Law Offices Sues Drunk Drivers, Impaired Drivers and Distracted Drivers.

August 17th, 2010

Why do Las Vegas accident attorneys and injury trial lawyers at Murphy & Murphy Law Offices continually warn drunk drivers, impaired drivers and distracted drivers to stop driving? We hope that one or more will take a moment, think about what they are going to do and decide not to drive. If only one person follows our warning, it could mean one accident that does not happen in Las Vegas.

Why do we sue drunk drivers, impaired drivers and distracted drivers? Because so many people refuse to follow our warning. It is the only way to protect injured people who have been hurt through no fault of their own. It is the only way we can attempt to make our streets and roadways safer for everyone.

The Las Vegas attorneys at Murphy & Murphy Law Offices see the horrible injuries that happen in auto accidents. The lives of the injury victims  are disrupted in many ways. They have severe pain. They require medical treatment. They are unable to work. Their car is destroyed. Many have a lifetime of pain, discomfort and disabilities from their injuries.

But what about the drunk, impaired and distracted drivers? They also pay a significant price. So this is our warning:If you drive drunk, impaired or distracted, you risk destroying your life and the lives of your family and children. Think about that the next time you are about to drive in such a condition. It is not just me saying that. Here is a case in point. Miranda Dalton was sentenced to eight to twenty years in prison. Dalton killed a 28-year-old in a car crash where she was drunk. In fact, Dalton was more than two times over the legal limit when she caused the crash. The judge sentenced Dalton to the maximum penalty allowed by law. Dalton claimed that she was trying to escape her problems by abusing alcohol. Dalton said that all of her problems have now gotten much bigger. Dalton will not be able to see her daughter while she is in prison according to the father of Dalton’s daughter. What makes matters worse is that Dalton had a prior drunk driving conviction. Dalton did not learn from her prior drunk driving arrest.

Dalton refused to learn from a drunk driving arrest and conviction. Maybe eight years or more in prison will help her to let it sink in a little bit. That is why Murphy & Murphy Law Offices continues to warn drunk, impaired and distracted drivers. They refuse to learn. They continue until it is too late. Too late for their victims and too late for them. Lives and families ruined. Lifelong trails of tears. Lifelong questions of what might have been. Don’t let it happen to you. Stop before you drive drunk, impaired or distracted. If you are a victim of a drunk, impaired or distracted driver, call Murphy & Murphy Law Offices at 702-369-9696 or visit our web site at www.nvpilaw.com.

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Posted in 18-Wheeler Crashes, Auto Accidents, Impaired-Distracted Drivers, Motorcycle Crashes, Wrongful Death | 238 Comments »

Las Vegas Accident Attorney and Injury Trial Lawyer Tips: Murphy & Murphy Law Offices Sues Drunk and Impaired Drivers. Wrongful Death can Happen at Any Time in Las Vegas

August 4th, 2010

Las Vegas accident attorney and injury trial lawyer, Craig Murphy, here again with more practical tips to help keep you and your family safe and accident and injury free. The sad truth is that the streets and roadways in Las Vegas are not safe. Accidents can happen at any time or at any place. While always being aware of your surroundings and paying attention to traffic conditions and other drivers in Las Vegas can increase your safety and reduce your chances of being involved in a Las Vegas auto accident, some accidents in Las Vegas cannot be avoided. That is especially true when the Las Vegas accident involves a drunk, impaired or distracted driver.

I have repeatedly stated the risks and hazards caused by drunk, impaired and distracted drivers in my previous blog posts on the Murphy & Murphy Law Offices web site at www.nvpilaw.com. The blog posts are archived for all Las Vegas residents and web site visitors to review. Anyone who has been injured by a drunk, impaired or distracted driver in Las Vegas should seek immediate legal help. There are some auto accidents and other injury cases where the injured person may not need to hire a Las Vegas attorney. However, in cases of injuries or death from a driver in Las Vegas who was drunk, impaired or distracted the victim and the victim’s family need skilled and experienced legal representation. Not every Las Vegas lawyer or attorney is qualified to handle such claims. You must fully investigate and interview Las Vegas lawyers and attorneys before you decide who to hire. Deciding which Las Vegas attorney or lawyer to hire is the most important decision you will make about your case. It will impact every aspect of the case. You must make sure that the Las Vegas attorney or lawyer you hire has a track record of success at trial. You do not want to hire a settlement mil for your case. You must also hire a Las Vegas attorney or lawyer with whom you will have a good working relationship. Make sure that you can talk to the Las Vegas attorney or lawyer. You do not want to be forced to only talking to non-lawyers. Know who is going to be doing the work on your case, the Las Vegas attorney or lawyer, or some staff person. It is your case and you must know these things.

The news from today proves that serious injuries and wrongful deaths can happen at any time and any where in Las Vegas. A 27 year old man was riding his bicycle in Summerlin in Las Vegas at approximately 8:00 a.m. The bicyclist was riding on the right hand side of the road where he was supposed to be riding. The Las Vegas bicyclists was hit from behind by a drunk driver at 8:00 a.m. The bicyclist was killed in the accident. Unfortunately, when Las Vegas pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles are hit by cars or trucks, it is the pedestrians, bicycleists and motorcycle drivers who are seriously injured, often times killed. They are just no match for a car of truck.

Las Vegas residents do not expect drunk or impaired driving accidents to happen in Summerlin at 8:00 a.m. This is just another situation that proves drunk, impaired and distracted drivers can strike at any time in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas drunk, impaired and distracted drivers leave a trail of death, injury and destruction in their wake. Families are shattered. Children’s lives are ruined. Mothers, fathers and children are left with lifetime injuries, scars and wounds that cannot be healed.

That is why Murphy & Murphy Law Offices sues drunk, impaired and distracted drivers on behalf of Las Vegas accident and injury victims. Murphy & Murphy Law Offices does not seek pennies on the dollar quick settlements. We are not a high volume settlement mill. We do not advertise on television, radio, billboards or the sides of buses. We are not a “discount”, ”cut-rate”, or “half-price” law firm. We are Las Vegas injury trial lawyers. We will pursue your case for its full value. We will sue Las Vegas drunk, impaired and distracted drivers for the full amount of your damages for your injuries or wrongful death case. We will also seek punitive damages against the Las Vegas drunk, impaired or distracted driver. It is only through such cases that we can hope to change Las Vegas for the better. If by suing one person for injuries or wrongful death because of drunk, impaired or distracted driving we are able to get one or more people to decide not to drive in such conditions, we have succeeded in making Las Vegas safer for everyone.

Ifyou or a family member has been harmed, injured or killed by a Las Vegas drunk, impaired or distracted driver, call Murphy & Murphy Law Offices today. We will take immediate steps to protect your rights and provide you with the highest level of personal attention and legal representation.

Posted in 18-Wheeler Crashes, Auto Accidents, Impaired-Distracted Drivers, Motorcycle Crashes, Wrongful Death | 162 Comments »

Las Vegas Disrupted Catheters: Infant Death Proves Medical Malpractice Tort Reform Harms Innocent Victims

July 27th, 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada. It was reported today that an infant has died as a result of a “disrupted catheter.” The cause of the “disrupted catheter” is the subject of an ongoing police investigation. Two nurses have had their licenses suspended and a reported to be persons of interest in the investigation. It is reported that there have been 14 reported incidents of disrupted catheters in a Las Vegas neonatal intensive care unit. The disruptions are believed to be intentional. The hospital involved, Sunrise Hospital, is reported to have notified the police of the situation and to have been cooperating with the Las Vegas police department investigation. Sunrise Hospital reportedly went as far as to have installed surveillance cameras as part of the investigation.

Medical malpractice tort reform laws provide economic protection to hospitals and doctors in all cases. Even in cases such as this where a baby dies due to improper and perhaps criminal acts, the insurance companies are given protection and the victims are left with little or no recourse. In the case of the baby who died as the result of the disrupted catheter, the total amount of damages will be limited to $350,000 in non-economic damages. Since it is a wrongful death case involving a baby, there will be no loss of future income, there will be no future medical care, there will be no future loss of support from the baby. All the damages are limited to pain and suffering, grief and the emotional distress of the parents during the ordeal leading up to the baby’s death.

Would anyone trade the life of their baby for $350,000? Would the parents of a new born baby go through the agony of knowing their baby’s life was at risk for any amount of money? Does anyone believe that $350,000 is sufficient compensation for the loss of a baby who should have been happy and healthy?

Money cannot make up for the loss of a child. However, that is how our society has determined that injury victims are compensated. We no longer subject the negligent party to the same fate as the injured victim. Our society no longer extracts and eye for an eye. Yet doctors and hospitals are only required to pay minimal amounts when their acts or failures to act cause harm or death to patients. It is the victims who are left with the life long results and insufficient compensation for their losses. The injury victims and their families are left with the burdens of the unfortunate results while the doctors and hospitals go on with business as usual.

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Posted in Medical Malpractice | 106 Comments »

Las Vegas Accident Attorney and Injury Trial Lawyer Tips: Always Ask for a Lawyer’s Experience and Track Record

July 16th, 2010

Las Vegas accident attorney and injury trial lawyer Craig Murphy here with more practical tips for someone needing to hire a Las Vegas accident and injury lawyer. I recently came across a press release posted on the Internet by a Las Vegas attorney. The Las Vegas attorney’s press release made a number of statements that I found somewhat hard to believe. The Las Vegas attorney claimed to be ”the most respected accident attorney” in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. That is a pretty big claim. It may be true. However, I have never heard of the attorney. During my many years as an insurance defense attorney in Las Vegas, I never had a case against the attorney. During my many years now representing accident and injury victims in Las Vegas, I have never had any dealings with the attorney and have never read that the attorney has taken any case to trial and obtained favorable jury verdicts. Based on that, I think that the attorney’s claim to be “the most respected accident attorney” in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada is somewhat questionable.

My point is that anyone can say whatever they want on their web site, in a press release, or in their firm literature advertising their law firm. How can a Las Vegas accident or injury victim tell what is true and correct as opposed to a bunch of hype? Ask for the attorney’s experience on cases like yours. Ask for the attorney’s track record of getting jury verdicts and substantial settlements on cases like yours. In addition to reviewing the Las Vegas attorney’s experience and track record, meet with a number of attorneys in Las Vegas. Don’t just tell them about your case. Interview the attorneys. Ask about their policies and procedures. Find out how the Las Vegas attorney will communicate with you. Find out who will primarily be handling your case. If you are considering hiring a TV lawyer, you must know that the TV lawyer will not be handling your case personally. The Las Vegas TV lawyers have too big of a case load to handle your case personally. Your case will be handled by a case worker or an associate attorney in the office. Find out who. Find out who you should talk to if you have questions. Find out who your contact person is. 

Once you have received the answers to these and other questions that you have, you should see the value in hiring a lawyer who will personally handle your case. You do not want to be shuffled around to a bunch of different case workers. Also, you want to be confident in knowing that the lawyer and law firm have a solid track record, experience, and success. You do not want someone learning on your case, do you? On the job training is not for a serious Las Vegas injury case. If you have been injured in a Las Vegas accident and you need to hire a Las Vegas attorney for your injuries, hire the skilled and experienced Las Vegas trial lawyers at Murphy & Murphy Law Offices. You will get close personal attention to your case. You will also be hiring a firm with a proven track record of success.

Posted in 18-Wheeler Crashes, Auto Accidents, Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries, Impaired-Distracted Drivers, Insurance Bad Faith, Medical Malpractice, Motorcycle Crashes, The Truth About Lawyer Advertising, Trips/Slips/Falls, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death | 103 Comments »

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