Category Archives: Uncategorized

Las Vegas Sinkhole Accidents

Posted on by

Sinkhole
Sinkholes are becoming more common throughout the country including here in Nevada. They occur whenever there is a breakdown of limestone or other rock beneath the earth’s surface. When this happens, the ground may cave or buckle due to a lack of structural support, thereby resulting in sinkholes.

A common sinkhole here in the Las Vegas area is Devil’s Throat. Thought to have formed in the last 10 to 25 years, this sinkhole is found on an otherwise flat basin and is approximately 100 feet deep and around 75 feet wide. It is said to have formed because circulating ground water from Lake Mead has caused erosion underneath the earth’s surface.

In 2010, a woman was injured when her vehicle became stuck in a sinkhole in a Las Vegas street. As she waited, the sinkhole opened up even further, doubling in size by the time rescue workers were able to free her. Fortunately, the woman sustained only minor injuries.

Property owners have a duty to warn others about potential safety hazards including sinkholes. One of the first signs that a sinkhole is forming is doors and windows that do not open or close properly due to “settling” of a building. Trees, light poles and fences might also lean to one side or another.

If sinkholes are suspected, the area should be evacuated until it can be inspected by geological experts. Those who have been injured after falling into a sinkhole may have a cause of action available in a court of law.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Attorney in Las Vegas

Posted on by



 

Traumatic brain injuries result after an accident that involves severe trauma to the head. One of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury is automobile accidents. These injuries can also happen during a fall or being hit by falling objects. The full effects of a head injury may not be apparent for some time.

Those who suffer from traumatic brain injuries may face devastating life changes. They may find it difficult to write or speak after an accident. Some patients also have a loss of motor skills, and many people are unable to hold down a job or care for their families.

Don’t Fight These Battles Alone, Call for Professional Representation Today!

After suffering a traumatic brain injury in Las Vegas, patients may need extended hospital stays or a series of surgeries. They may also require home health care for some time afterwards. The medical expenses incurred by family members can often be overwhelming, especially if the victim is the primary breadwinner in the family and consequently unable to provide.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, it’s important to seek help right away. By talking with a personal injury attorney early on, you’ll be in a better position to understand your legal rights

Calling a TBI Attorney in Las Vegas may not solve the medical issues you and your family are facing, but it can relieve the financial stress so you can focus on your loved one!

Call Ed today for a Free Initial Consultation!

Dealing With Food Poisoning Injuries

Posted on by

Although the Las Vegas Health Department generally does an excellent job of ensuring food safety, unsanitary conditions nonetheless occur. These unsanitary conditions can stem from untrained restaurant workers or general uncleanliness. Improper food storage or preparation techniques can also spur the growth of bacteria, thereby leading to food poisoning.

Food poisoning may require a trip to the hospital emergency room, or if left untreated, may even result in death. Signs of food poisoning might not be apparent right away, as it sometimes takes two or three days for the effects to become noticeable. It’s not uncommon for some members of a group to be affected while others show no signs whatsoever.  Since there are so many variables involved, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of food poisoning.

If you have recently suffered food poisoning, you may not be alone, because other patrons might have sampled the same food and also become ill after doing so. A personal injury attorney may be able to connect these dots where individuals are unable to. By speaking to one of these lawyers, you can better determine whether a remedy is available to you under Nevada law.

Another Lawsuit Filed Against the Makers of GranuFlo®

Posted on by

It appears the makers of GranuFlo®, Fresenius Medical Care North America is heading to court again. Bettye Alexander filed suit in Boston Federal Court due to the death of her late husband after using this product. GranuFlo® had been used at dialysis clinics all over the country, even after an internal memo demonstrated the maker of the drug knew there was an increased risk for cardiac arrest or stroke. The maker failed to warn patients of this risk and an alarming 947 people were injured during the year which this internal memo covered.

The deaths from GranuFlo® were commonly sudden and would occur within the dialysis clinics or within a few days after receiving treatment at such a center. Mrs. Alexander is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages for the sudden and unnecessary death of her husband Gary.

On March 29, 2012 the FDA issued a Class 1 recall to revise prescribing procedures of this product.

If you or a loved one suffered a heart attack or stroke after receiving treatment at a dialysis center, we would encourage you to check to see the treatment involved the drug GranuFlo or a similar product NaturaLyte®.

 

Some of the reasons people are now filing lawsuits in regards to GranuFlo® or NaturaLyte®:

  • Frenenius Medical failed to warn health care providers of risks when they knew the risks existed.
  • Intentionally withheld information and did not report these known risks to the FDA or public.
  • Failed to warn the most vulnerable, or “acute” patients of the known risks
  • Even after knowing the risks, continued to actively market GranuFlo® or NaturaLyte®

The truly unfortunate part of this case is that it appears Fresenius warned their own internal clinics of the substantial risk to patients, yet but did not warn independent dialysis centers who they were supplying the product to of the cardiopulmonary risks.

If you or a loved one were one of the victims affected by the use of the products, GranuFlo® or NaturaLyte®, call Ed to see if you may have a case!

Propofol coming back after an Extended Absence

Posted on by
Reply

In 2010, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries ceased production on the popular anesthetic Propofol. After nearly three years, this drug manufacturer has begun making this drug again, and distribution should begin sometime in February 2013.

The lapse in production was due to lawsuits that resulted from several endoscopy centers in Las Vegas improperly using syringes filled with this anesthetic. The improper use by these clinics resulted in an extensive outbreak of hepatitis C, largely due to the fact that syringes used to administer this medication was reused at the clinics.

Edward M. Bernstein and Associates was instrumental in Teva’s decision after obtaining $104 Million verdict (one of the 10 highest verdicts in the United States in 2012).

The ensuing lawsuits ended with Teva Pharmaceuticals paying out extensive damages to settle them. In all, more than $250 million in damages was awarded in more than 80 different suits. Many of these lawsuits alleged that the pharmaceutical giant actually encouraged physicians to reuse syringes l because they had discontinued production on 10ml vials. Litigants alleged that profit was a primary motivator in the company doing so, and this action directly resulted in physicians being persuaded to reuse the larger vials on multiple patients.

For information about this verdict or any other potential bad drug feel free to browse this site.

Can We Learn From the Tragedy of Others? — Child Car Seats

Posted on by
Reply

Do not use this style of seat for a child under 40 pounds

In the news recently was the tragedy that affected a local family.  A child was riding in her father’s vehicle at the intersection of Eastern Ave and Pebble Rd.  Her father was critically injured in the accident.  We are not yet certain of all the details of this particular accident, but we do know the child was in a booster seat and not in a car seat with a built in harness.

One of the unfortunate problems in accidents like this, is there are people who are using safety equipment they falsely believe will help them in the time of greatest need.  The consequences of using the wrong equipment can be life or death.   Authorities acknowledge in this particular case, it may not have changed the outcome, but for many families it would, so knowledge is the key.

In the midst of tragedy, what can we do? 

Obviously, keeping this family in your thoughts and prayers is a good place to start.  However, if you have children, it may be an opportunity to evaluate your own car seat situation and see if improvements can be made for the safety of your child.

Experts on car seat safety say a child who is under 40 pounds should never be placed in a booster seat as the safest option.  For small children, a better option is using a car seat with built in harnesses.  Most consumers are not taught the difference between what is legal and what is safe; so they make an invalid assumption that if a seat is legal it must be a safe option for a child.  There is little room for error when it comes to a collision, so having the best safety option is paramount to secure your child’s well being.

If you need an in-depth set of guidelines to help keep your family safe in an accident, the American Society of Pediatrics has web page giving their recommendations that can be found here.

As always, if you have been in an accident or injured, please call the office of Ed Bernstein to discuss the details of your case. 

Amusement and Entertainment Injuries

Posted on by
Reply

Fun Turned Disaster: Amusement Park Injuries

There are a number of amusement parks and rides in close proximity to Las Vegas. Locals and tourists alike flock to these theme parks in order to ride some of the thrilling rides these attractions have to offer. While doing so is normally safe, injuries can nonetheless occur whenever these rides are not properly maintained or if the right safety precautions are not taken.

Visitors to an amusement park can suffer from whiplash if a ride stops quickly or makes sudden turns. Since whiplash is an injury to the neck, it can easily occur if the head and neck are not properly braced throughout the ride. Many roller coasters have safety harnesses that hold the torso in place, but few offer precautions against sudden turning of the head and neck area.

Other times, injuries happen because a ride isn’t operating properly. This can be due to poor maintenance or an inadequate design. Unfortunately, amusement park owners might sometimes operate equipment even when they know it isn’t working properly because they are afraid that shutting down a ride could discourage people from visiting their park.

In some cases, injuries from an amusement park ride are obvious. Other times, they may take some time to manifest themselves as is the case with whiplash. If you’re afraid you might have suffered an injury from an amusement park ride, you may want to consider talking with a personal injury attorney to find out if there is a remedy available under Nevada law.

Dealing with a Dog Bite in Las Vegas

Reply

Don’t Suffer the Pain of a Dog Bite Without Compensation!

Handling Dog Bites in Las Vegas – Our Dog Bite Experts Can Address Your Case ASAP – Call

Pet owners sometimes allow their animals to roam freely, thereby putting others at risk of being bitten. It’s also not uncommon for people to own vicious breeds of dogs that are likely to attack others. Those who work in an industry that requires them to go onto private residences can inadvertently stumble upon these dogs during the course of their work and become mauled or bitten as a result.People who own vicious dogs have an obligation to keep them confined whenever it is reasonable to do so. They should also post warnings so that utility workers or mail carriers do not unexpectedly encounter these animals.

Those who have suffered an animal bite may need to seek professional advice from a personal injury attorney, to ensure their legal rights are protected.


Dog bites are injuries that should not be taken lightly. Injuries from a canine bite can cause permanent damage to the muscles or nerves along with potential scarring. Those who have recently been bitten may need medical attention in order to mitigate the potential damage caused by one of these attacks.

Skiing Injuries In Las Vegas?

Posted on by
Reply

Ski Injuries can be a Concern for Las Vegas Travelers

Although it’s located in the desert, Las Vegas is actually close to quite a few ski resorts. Many of these ski resorts have built exciting attractions such as ski jumps and half pipes in an effort to attract adventure-seekers. Skiing normally poses a risk of injury, and when risky attractions are built at a resort, the result could be an injury that results in a temporary or permanent disability.

Ski resorts have a duty to make their facility safe and to warn patrons of impending danger whenever possible. These resorts sometimes fail to put up signs that warn skiers of trees or other obstacles. They might also allow skiing or snowboarding in less-than-perfect conditions, when injuries are more likely to occur whenever there is too much or too little snow. Resort staff sometimes fail to check equipment on a regular basis or may issue faulty ski equipment to patrons. When these things happen, resort owners could be deemed negligent in a court of law.

Those who have been injured at a ski resort near Las Vegas should first seek medical attention. After doing so, it is important to speak to an attorney. Those who are visiting from out of town should speak to an attorney before returning home if at all possible. Every case is different, and an experienced personal injury lawyer is best qualified to tell you whether you have a remedy available under law.

Dialysis Patients Beware!

Posted on by

ATTENTION DIALYSIS PATIENTS!!!

If you or a loved one suffered a heart attack or cardiac arrest within 48 hours of undergoing dialysis treatment, you may be eligible for compensation. Evidence shows that dialysis patients face a 6 to 8 times increased risk of potentially fatal cardiac arrest due to and NaturaLyte dialysis treatment, according to the manufacturer’s own records.

Unfortunate Dialysis News

On March 29, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall of Fresenius Medical Care’s dialysis products due to these dangers.  Fresenius is the largest producer of dialysis products, treating more than 33% of the 400,000 Americans currently receiving dialysis.  As a leading supplier of dialysis products, Fresenius’ negligence put thousands of people at risk across the country.

If you or a loved one suffered a heart attack or cardiac arrest after undergoing dialysis, call Edward M. Bernstein & Associates at 240-0000 immediately for a free consultation.