We often forget about our garage doors in the summertime when it’s easier to park a vehicle in the driveway than it is to pull it inside. But when it starts to get cold in the winter, more Las Vegas residents start to park inside their garage at night. 

Shockingly, garage doors can cause injuries—about 30,000 per year in the US. And it is saddening that a number of those are injuries to children. If you or a loved one have been hurt by a garage door, you may deserve financial compensation from those responsible. Contact Ahlander Injury Law to hire a garage door injury attorney in Las Vegas.

How Can You Be Injured By a Garage Door?

Garage doors can weigh about 200 pounds. They are equipped with automatic machinery to move that weight, and there are many components of the system that can fail. Garage door accidents can include: 

• Crushing: Adults can be struck by a closing garage door. And children sometimes run underneath garage doors as they are closing. Though some garage doors are designed to reverse automatically when meeting an obstruction, this feature can malfunction.

• Pinching: Fingers or hands can be pinched between sections of a garage door as it is moving, leading to major injuries, including amputation.

• Breaking Glass: Windows in garage doors can break, and the falling glass can cause cuts. 

• Being Trapped: There are several garage door spring accidents that can occur. When a spring breaks or fails, the garage door can fall, and someone inside may be unable to raise it, becoming trapped if there is no other door.

Garage door accidents can break bones, lacerate tissue, leave bruises, pinch nerves, dislocate joints, injure the spinal cord or other parts of the back, damage the head and brain, lead to an amputation, or cause a combination of any of these types of trauma. Sometimes, they can lead to death or disability. 

What Legal Actions Are Available for Garage Door Injuries?

If you have been injured by a garage door through no fault of your own, you need to discover who is responsible. This could be a property owner or landlord. Or it could be the garage door: 

• Installer
• Seller
• Manufacturer
• Designer

The cause may have been a manufacturing defect, a poor installation, negligence in maintaining the garage door (possibly by a landlord), or some other factor. How much investigation will be necessary to discover the reason you were injured? 

Do you have time to perform this yourself while you are injured? Because of the difficulty of such work, you should contact an injury attorney for a consultation, at the very least.

What to Do After You’re Injured

After you or your team have found out who is responsible for your garage door accident, you can either file an insurance claim, a lawsuit, or both. Negotiating with an insurance company can be difficult, and an attorney can navigate the process for you. 

If you file a lawsuit, your attorney can use that process to find even more evidence to strengthen your case. This may lead to a financial settlement that can help you pay for your medical needs. Plus, your case can be heard by either a judge or jury, rather than just by an insurance company.

No matter what caused your accident, you are facing financial and medical challenges right now. But you don’t have to face them alone. Ahlander Injury Law is experienced in all types of personal injury cases, including garage door accidents. 

We recommend you call us now to set up an appointment. Get an experienced attorney to fight for you. Call Ahlander Injury Law.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the US. This is extremely important to public health and safety because: 

• About 8 Americans are killed every day because of distracted driving.
• Nearly 2 American non-motorists are killed by distracted drivers per day, including bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Of teenage drivers involved in fatal crashes, 8% were distracted.
• About 400,000 Americans were injured because of distracted driving in 2018.

After only one second of driving at 55 miles per hour, a vehicle travels about 80 feet. To read a text message, a driver might take his or her eyes off the road for five seconds. In that time, the vehicle can travel 400 feet without the driver checking for obstacles—a serious accident risk.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving means operating a motor vehicle while also focusing on a distraction. Examples of distractions include: 

• Talking on a phone
• Drinking or eating
• Sending and/or reading text messages
• Putting on makeup
• Looking at a map or GPS device

A distraction can involve any activity that occupies one’s hands, eyes, or mind in a way that impairs their ability to drive safely. Because texting while driving causes all three types of distractions simultaneously, it is illegal in many US states and territories.

How to Avoid Becoming a Distracted Driving Statistic

If you find it impossible to avoid texting and driving, remember that an accident can occur in only a second or two. Find a place to park before texting. Or if you have a passenger, ask him or her to text for you. But if you’re alone, place your phone out of reach, perhaps in your trunk. 

In general, avoid any form of multitasking while driving. Do not eat, read, adjust music or mirrors, access smartphone applications, or engage in any other activity. Simply focus on the task of driving and staying safe. 

If you are a passenger, politely inform a distracted driver that you would feel safer if he or she did not multitask. Take over any necessary tasks. And if you are a parent, use Distracted Driving Month to educate your teen about the life-and-death urgency of driving without distractions. 

Ahlander Can Fight for You

If you have been injured because of distracted driving in either a car accident or a motorcycle accident, you should contact Ahlander Injury Law for a consultation. We may be able to win you the compensation you need for medical bills or vehicle repairs. Contact the firm in Las Vegas and Spring Valley that fights harder for our clients.

People who fall or slip in public may be the subject of many jokes, but slips, trips, and falls are actually very serious matters, and could even lead to a settlement. Keep reading for a few facts you should know about this type of accident.

The Risk of Slips, Trips, and Falls

A minor slip may incite a few laughs from those who witnessed it, but more serious slips, trips, and falls can result in serious injury or even death. Every year, thousands of people have to take time away from work because of injuries caused by slipping or falling. Some of these accidents result in death, making it vital for everyone to learn about how to create a safe environment.

Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls

There are many things that might cause a person to slip, trip, or fall, but most of the incidents involve obstructions in walkways or stairwells. Follow these tips to help avoid this type of accident:

• Clean up spills right away, and place a warning sign out while in the process of cleaning up.
• Avoid placing boxes, products, or storage materials in hallways.
• Secure all cabinets and shelves to the wall, and keep drawers shut when they aren’t being used.
• Keep hallways well lit by replacing light bulbs as needed.
• Install floor mats in areas that could become slippery.

Get Help From Ahlander Injury Law

If you’ve been in an accident, contact Ahlander Injury Law. And why hire us? Because we’re well experienced in a wide range of law practice areas, including slips, trips, and falls. We’ll do everything we can to get you a desirable outcome. Get in touch today.

’Tis the season to be jolly! The holidays are here, and you’re probably filling up your calendar with parties, travel, and other gatherings with the ones you love. This special time of year is perfect for spending quality time with friends and family, cooking delicious meals, and giving meaningful gifts.

But among all the festivities, it’s important to keep a few important safety tips in mind. Check out the following holiday safety tips that will help to keep you and your family safe this season.

1. Keep Your Tree Hydrated

Dry Christmas trees can be a serious fire hazard. If you pick up a live tree from the Christmas tree lot, make sure you keep it hydrated and water it every day. This will reduce the chance of dry needles catching on fire.

2. Unplug Lights When You’re Not Home

Christmas lights make any home cozy and festive, but it’s important to unplug the lights when you’re not around. These lights can be a fire hazard and will also run up your energy bill if they’re plugged in for extended periods of time.

3. Don’t Leave the House While Cooking

With all of the holiday parties going on, you may be spending more time in the kitchen. Remember to keep an eye on whatever you’ve got cooking in the oven or on the stovetop. Unattended cooking equipment can be another serious fire hazard.

4. Use Battery-Operated Candles

Candles are a great way to set the mood in the chilly season but opt for battery-operated candles instead of real ones. This will reduce the risk of any flames catching fire to something in your home.

5. Schedule Package Deliveries

Thieves are on the lookout for unattended packages during the holiday season. So if you’re ordering presents online, be sure to schedule the delivery for a time when you’ll be home.

Get Help from Ahlander Injury Law

Following these tips will reduce the chance of injury and more during the holiday season, but accidents can still happen. If you experience an injury during the holiday season, Ahlander Injury Law can help. Contact us today to learn more about our practice areas or to get the help you need.