Blog | Page 4 of 14 | Ahlander Injury Law

Tips for Driving Defensively

December 18, 2021 by Big Leap

Getting into an accident can be a frightening experience and you want to make sure you are doing all you can to avoid one. However, accidents are often caused by the actions of other drivers. The best thing you can do is learn how to drive defensively.

Prepare for Road Conditions

In order to drive defensively, you should start preparing before you even step into your car. You will drive better if you understand what you will be facing while driving. Take some time to look over the conditions of the road. For example, in the winter you might want to see if the roads will be wet. Similarly, you can see if there is any construction in your area that could lead to complications. Another way you can prepare is to look over your route before you drive. This way you’ll have a better understanding of what to expect while driving and you will not be worried about where you are going.

Scan Your Surroundings

While on the road, you need to make sure you are constantly scanning your surroundings. An accident can be prevented if you’re keeping your eye out for any dangers. This can include drivers that are swerving or brake suddenly. You could also avoid an animal or a person suddenly coming onto the road. There can also be other dangers on the road such as a large pothole. If you are paying careful attention, you can increase the amount of time you have to react and you can reduce the likelihood of getting into an accident. Because drivers also occasionally run red lights, you might want to wait a second or two before proceeding through the intersection on your green light.

Avoid Distractions

One of the most important ways you can drive defensively and prevent accidents is by avoiding all distractions. When you are distracted, you are more likely to be the cause of an accident and you will also have a reduced reaction time. First and foremost, you should make sure your phone is not a distraction. Turn off notifications and connect your phone to your car if you can. For example, if you are using your phone for navigation, hooking up to your car’s sound system can make it easier for you to follow along. In addition to limiting the distractions of your phone you must also avoid substances like alcohol and/or drugs that can inhibit your driving ability.

While you can’t control what other drivers do on the road, you can control the way you drive. When you drive defensively, you can protect yourself from getting into accidents.

If you have been in an auto accident, contact an attorney to help with your case.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation

December 1, 2021 by Big Leap

While many measures have been taken to create safe work environments, there are still jobs that may have unsafe working conditions that could result in an injury. In these cases, you are entitled to workers’ compensation to cover any financial impact your injury has on your health, life, and job.

Why It’s Beneficial

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that is required by all private businesses in Nevada. Under workers’ compensation, you are compensated for any injury you sustain while on the job. It is similar to no-fault insurance that will usually cover you unless a prior condition caused the injury or “horseplay” while at work is involved. Additionally, your employer is protected from any additional damages when you use workers’ compensation. The main benefit of workers’ compensation is that it covers anything that is impacted by your injury and it provides you with some security until your injury is healed.

What is Covered

One of the most obvious things you will be covered for is the medical bills you receive after your injury. Additionally, your workers’ compensation may also cover any physical therapy or medical care that continues after the initial injury. In many cases, you can also receive compensation for lost wages. This money covers all days you cannot work due to your injury. You can also receive money for varying degrees of disability that are the result of the injury and you can also be covered for any costs related to training for a new position because your injuries prevent you from continuing your original position.

Exemptions

While workers’ compensation will cover a great deal, there are a few exemptions. In Nevada, you are exempt if you fall into certain categories. If you have been brought into Nevada to work temporarily, you don’t qualify for Nevada workers’ compensation. Similarly, if you are working in between states you may not be covered. Casual workers who have worked less than 20 days will often not qualify either. It’s helpful to take some time to understand any other exemptions your workers compensation may have. For example, not everyone will cover chiropractic services.

If you are injured while on the job, you have protection. Workers’ compensation exists in order to provide employees with financial security and cover all costs that result from their injury. Once you’ve been injured, you should begin the process to receive workers’ compensation.

Contact an attorney for help filing for your workers’ compensation.

Everything You Should Do After a Defective Product Injury

November 17, 2021 by Big Leap

If you have been injured due to a defective product, you can build a case to defend yourself. For the best results, there are a few steps that you should follow immediately after your injury. This can help protect you and help you make a better case.

Document Everything

The thing you will need most for your case is plenty of evidence. To start off, you need evidence related to the product. Keep the product if you can. If not, take plenty of pictures. You should also hold onto the receipt and any packaging that came with the product. In addition to collecting evidence of the defective product, you will also need to thoroughly document your injury. Take pictures of everything you can and make a detailed account of the events. If and when you seek medical attention, retain any notes from your doctor that detail your injury. You want to make sure you have as much evidence as possible so you can make a strong case.

Calculate Damages and Identify Negligent Parties

In most defective product injury cases, you will be seeking some sort of compensation. First, you need to calculate all the damages. Obviously, you will need to calculate the costs of your medical bills and any other costs attached to your injury. For example, you could include the cost of physical therapy. You should also calculate any other damages that may have come to your property. Additionally, you need to identify the negligent parties. This will depend on the type of case you have. If the defect is due to a manufacturing error, the manufacturer can be held responsible. If there is a flaw in the design, then whoever designed the product is liable.

Contact an Attorney

The best way to receive fair compensation and win your case is by having a strong team behind you. A defective product attorney can help guide you through this process. They are familiar with the law as well as common defenses that can be used in defective product cases. Your attorney will also give you advice on how to make a strong case and what steps you will need to take.

Receiving an injury due to a defective product can cause many disruptions in your life. You suffer physical harm and it could even impact your ability to work. Taking the right steps after an injury can help you be fairly compensated.

Talk to a defective product attorney to start building your case.

Types of Defective Product Cases

November 3, 2021 by Big Leap

Unfortunately, there are injuries that are the result of defective products. If you have suffered one of these kinds of injuries, you can build a defective product case. However, you first need to determine what type of case you have to make.

Manufacturing Defects

In some cases, an injury can occur if a product doesn’t function the way that it’s supposed to. This is when the defect is due to the manufacturing of the product. Examples include using the wrong materials to manufacture a product, improperly wiring a product, or assembling a product incorrectly. These types of cases can be difficult to manage because you need to determine who the manufacturer was. Often, you will have to go through the supply chain to find the responsible party. There are also many defenses that they may use. Some may use the defense that you knew it was defective and used it anyway or you changed the product in some way. Understanding the defenses that can be used against you, can help you be successful in your own case.

Design Defects

Unlike manufacturing defects, design defect cases focus on the concept and design of a product rather than how it was made. Typically, these cases will point out flaws in the design that make the product dangerous for customers to use. In these cases, you will need to show that there is a flaw in the design that can’t be attributed to user error. Often, your case can be made more convincing if you offer an alternative design that could have been used. For example, if a handguard on a power tool has large gaps in it, you could show how a more effective handguard could have been designed.

Inadequate Warning Labels

Not all products are going to be absolutely safe. Sometimes there is risk to using certain products. Continuing with the power tools example, there are obvious risks to using this type of tool and it could lead to injury. In these cases, the company needs to make sure their product includes obvious warning labels. Otherwise, they could be sued for defective labeling. These labels need to point out hazards if the product is used improperly or even hazards that could occur during proper use.

Not every defective product injury case is the same. Determine what type of case you have and understand the best way to build your defense. Each type of case will benefit from a different approach.

Working with a defective product attorney can help yield the best results.

How Businesses Can Prevent Slips and Falls

October 13, 2021 by Big Leap

Slips and falls are common injuries, but they should be prevented. There are actions that businesses can take to help prevent slips and falls on their property. These actions can help ensure the safety of their customers.

Signage

It is often required for businesses to post signage about certain hazards on their property. An example would be a sign warning about a wet/slippery floor. There should also be signs indicating stairs, changes in incline, common tripping hazards, and anything else that could inhibit customers walking around. In addition to signs, a business could place reflective tape around hazards to draw attention to them. In addition to signage, businesses should have safety measures in place such as handrails and guardrails, non-slip floor mats, and adequate lighting.

Clean Up Spills

Spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible. The first step is identifying the type of spill and its size. Oil spills can be flammable and should be handled differently than a water spill. Large spills will also require more absorbent materials than a smaller spill. Identifying the source of the spill is also important. For example, if the spill is a result of a leak, the leak needs to be found and stopped. When cleaning up a spill, signage should be placed around it to indicate there is a hazard. If you come across any type of spill at a business, notify an employee immediately so it can be addressed.

Keep Floors Clear

Every effort should be made to prevent slips and falls at a business. Keeping floors clear and well maintained is essential. Clutter should be removed from walkways. If there are any cords for electrical equipment, internet, etc., they should run along the walls or behind furniture. If they must run along the floor, they should be largely out of the way and clearly identifiable. Often, you can run cords under carpet, but the carpet should still be flat. It is also important to maintain the state of the floor. Cracks and holes can be tripping hazards, so they need to be repaired as soon as possible.

There is a lot a business can do to prevent slips and falls. However, accidents can still happen. If you have been injured while on the property of a business, you can seek help to make sure you are fairly compensated.

If you have been injured, contact a slip and fall lawyer for help.