Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, an individual is allowed to sue the federal government for personal injuries and property damages, if negligent actions by the government or a federal employee were responsible. Suing the Government Most government agencies, including the state and federal government, have sovereign immunity which prevents lawsuits from being filed against them. However, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) allows private citizens to file lawsuits against the government. Under the FTCA, the federal government is liable for the negligent or wrongful acts of its [...]

Mall owners have a legal duty to provide a safe environment for customers and they are generally liable for accidents and injuries that occur on their premises. Liability for Mall Accidents and Injuries State and federal laws require mall and shopping center owners to protect visitors on their property from harm. This makes property owners liable for foreseeable accidents and injuries. Mall owners are not held liable for every injury that occurs on the premises, however. Foreseeable accidents are often caused by negligence on the part of the [...]

High-visibility motorcycle safety gear makes riders more conspicuous on the road. Motorcyclists who wear high-visibility clothing and personal protective equipment are approximately 37% less likely to be involved in a motorcycle crash. High-Visibility Motorcycle Safety Gear The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all motorcycle riders wear high-visibility safety gear to increase their visibility on the road. However, many riders choose not to comply with these safety recommendations. In recent studies, motorcycle riders of different ages and genders expressed objections about wearing high-visibility apparel because of [...]

When emergency exits and evacuation routes are not clearly marked in public spaces, patrons’ lives are put at risk for injury and death in building fires, explosions, and other dangerous incidents. What Are Emergency Evacuation Exits? In public buildings, emergency exits often mean the difference between life and death when people must evacuate quickly. Thousands of people die in building fires and explosions each year because emergency exits are not clearly marked, blocked by objects, or locked. Within the past few years, numerous deaths have occurred in nightclub [...]

Speeding and reckless driving, impaired boating, binge drinking, drug use, lack of sleep, and other reckless behaviors lead to thousands of Reno Spring Break accidents and injuries each year. Spring Break Dangers Teenagers and reckless behaviors often go hand-in-hand, especially during spring break when millions of high school and college students are out of school and looking for a good time. Every year during spring break, crowds of young people head to popular destinations to celebrate an entire week of no classes, no homework assignments, and no exams. [...]

Although April Fool’s Day pranks are meant to be funny or embarrassing, many go horribly wrong causing serious injuries, and even death. Last year, there were over 400,000 injuries related to pranks and stunts that were treated in hospital emergency departments. Can April Fool’s Pranks Be Deadly? April Fool’s Day is a fun holiday for many people who enjoy a surprise and a chuckle. Who doesn’t laugh at the candles that never blow out, the trick gum that snaps at a person’s fingers, or the fake flower that [...]

When people are exposed to hazardous substances they ingest, inhale, or have skin contact with, toxic tort cases may arise. Hazards may include contaminated drugs, consumer products that contain dangerous substances, or environmental toxins like contaminants in drinking water. What is a Toxic Tort? Exposure to toxic substances found in many chemicals, gases, inhalants, and drugs can result in injuries and illnesses. Millions of consumers and workers are exposed to dangerous toxins that cause various health problems every day. Many people come in contact with toxins while cleaning, [...]

State health officials and researchers found 88 different contaminants including lead, arsenic, uranium and coliform bacteria in Nevada’s drinking water supply, and 14 substances were detected at levels above recommended EPA safety limits. Contaminated Drinking Water in Nevada A recent report in USA Today shows that 23 Nevada public water systems are not compliant with safety standards for contaminants. Public records from the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection show that three state public water systems exceed recommended safety levels for contaminants including lead, uranium, arsenic, and coliform bacteria. [...]

What are intangible damages? Intangible damages are harms like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and mental anguish. They do not have a specific monetary value assigned to them, like medical expenses or lost wages would. Calculating intangible damages is more challenging than evaluating tangible losses because they are not harms that can be easily identified with a bill. What Types of Damages Are Available in Personal Injury Cases? In a personal injury case, damages are divided into tangible and intangible damages. Tangible damages can be easily quantified, [...]