Metro Police Back On The Scene

Last year, Metro caused quite the controversy when it was announced that the police were no longer going to respond to non-injury car accidents. This caused confusion and worry for drivers unsure of the procedures they should follow if they did get into a minor motor vehicle accident. This new policy also did not account for the fact that injuries are not immediately felt. Sometimes a person who has been involved in an accident will not feel their injuries until a day or two after the accident. It has been decided by our city officials that Metro needed more funding and should be responding to all traffic accidents.

The Clark County Commission voted to enact the “More Cops” sales tax increase to pay for more police officers to patrol the streets and help deter crime. The increase takes effect January 1, 2016, adding an additional .05% to Clark County’s sales tax. This increases Metro’s annual budget by $14.6 million. Henderson, Boulder City, North Las Vegas and Mesquite are also expected to hire additional police officers. The additional officers will be available in the middle to end of 2016 after they have undergone the training and education programs. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo expects the additional officers to make arrests and be able to start responding to minor traffic accidents again. 

Clark County residents can rest more easily knowing additional police will soon be patrolling our streets. When you are involved in an car collision, Metro police will once again have the manpower to document and report the car accidents. This report can help with your rights in a lawsuit. In the meantime, keep staying safe out there!  If you are involved in an accident, contact Alessi Law for your free consultation. We can help take the worry and confusion out of every accident. 

Information from Las Vegas Review Journal and Las Vegas Sun

Pedestrians vs. Autos - Look Out For Each Other

Your mom always told you, “Look both ways before crossing the street.”  When you started driving, your mom then shifted the focus, “Wear your seatbelt,” “Don’t Speed,” “No texting!” “Be aware of other drivers,” “No talking on the phone,” “Slow down at crosswalks,” and “Watch out for kids running into the street.”  Unfortunately, we don’t always listen to our parents and that leads to trouble.

Las Vegas is a great city. Unfortunately, it can be a dangerous place for pedestrians. In 2014, Las Vegas ranked 15^th in major U.S. cities for pedestrian deaths. Not all of those can be attributed to drunk visitors on the Strip. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2.51 pedestrians were killed per 100,000 residents. Unfortunately, that number continues to rise this year. In the first half of 2015, a report showed pedestrian deaths are up 60% over the same period as last year.

We can make a change. Join in our Las Vegas community to make pedestrian deaths and pedestrian related accidents a mirage. Get involved in your neighborhood campaigns for pedestrian safety near all schools and the implementation of more crosswalks throughout the Las Vegas valley.   

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has made efforts to make our streets safe for pedestrians. Metro has set up decoy sting operations near dangerous crosswalks in the city.  If you are driving and do not stop for the people crossing the street, be prepared to pay the price because you will be issued a ticket. If you are driving and see a pedestrian, you must stop until the person is no longer in your half of the crosswalk. Follow the rules of the road and stop for pedestrians. If you are walking into the crosswalk, make sure you listen to your parent’s words and, “Look both ways before crossing the street.” Do not step into the street until you have made sure it is safe to do so.

By observing the traffic rules, paying attention, and looking out for others, we can make Las Vegas a safer place for everyone. Remember: SAFETY STARTS WITH YOU!

If you do find yourself hurt in an accident, please contact Alessi Law. We will focus on your rights, while you focus on getting healthy.

Facts and figures obtained from the Las Vegas Review Journal.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT

Being in a car accident can be a scary situation. Your adrenaline will probably kick in and your emotions may be high. Here are some tips to help you after a car accident.

1.     Safety First.

·  Make sure you and everyone in your car is okay. Do not move anyone who is unconscious or in critical condition…wait for medical personnel to do this.

·      Turn on your hazard lights.

·      Before getting out of your car, make sure it is safe to do so.

2.     Call the Police. Even if no one is hurt, you can still call the police non-emergency number 311. If someone is in critical condition, call 911.

3.     Collect Information.

·      You will want to write down the license plate number, make and model of the other vehicles involved in the accident in case they drive off.

·      Write down the driver’s address and driver’s license number.

·      Get the insurance information for the other car. You will want to write the name, address, and phone number of the insurance company. Write down the other driver’s insurance policy number.

4.    Take Pictures. Take pictures of all cars and vehicles that were in the accident. Photograph the scene of the accident to show where the cars were before the accident. If your cell phone does not have a camera, keep a disposable camera in your car.

5.   Talk to Witnesses. If anyone saw the accident, get the person’s name, address, and phone number. Ask the witness to write down what he or she saw.

6.    Don’t Admit To Anything. Even if you believe the accident is your fault, do not admit to this. You do not have all of the information to know if the other driver was breaking the law causing the accident. When talking to the police, stick to the facts. If you are given a ticket for the accident, sign the ticket and do not argue with the police officer.

7.    Leave the Scene. If the police arrive at the scene of the accident, ask the police officer before you leave. If the police do not come to the scene of the accident, leave after you have calmed down and gotten all the information necessary to document the accident.

8.     Seek Medical Attention. Even if you do not think you have been injured, it is a good idea to talk to a doctor to make sure you do not have any injuries. Sometimes it will take a day or two before you feel the pain caused in the accident.

9.     Tell Your Insurance Company. Let your insurance company know that you have been involved in a car accident, but do not give them a recorded statement or sign anything before contacting Alessi Law.

Contact Alessi Law. Melissa Alessi will make sure that all of your rights are protected and help you through the insurance claim process. Alessi Law can also help you if you have been cited for the accident. Immediately after your accident, call Alessi Law for your FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION. 

RAINY DAYS MEANS MORE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Las Vegas had about a half an inch of rain on Sunday. Anyone who has lived here for more than six months knows that is a LOT of rain for the Valley—in fact, it was a new record. All of the rain caused an increase in car accidents. The Nevada Highway Patrol reported that they responded to 143 motor vehicle accidents, which is more than triple the regular amount of accidents in a given day. Of those, NHP says 43 involved injuries.

If you were involved in one of those reported 143 accidents, make sure your legal rights are protected and call Melissa Alessi at Alessi Law. Many times, you do not realize that you were injured until the day after the accident. At Alessi Law, we can help you find a qualified doctor to examine you. Even if you did not report your injuries at the scene of the accident, you need to make sure that you are physically okay.

As the skies clear, please remember to drive safely, especially when it is raining. On the rare days when Las Vegas does manage to get some rain, make sure you are slowing down when you are driving. It takes longer to stop your vehicle in the rain. Also, increase the distance between you and the car, motorcycle, or truck in front of you.

Stay safe out there, but if you were involved in an accident, give Alessi Law a call for your free initial consultation.

Nevada Finally Gets A Court Of Appeals!

Nevada is ringing in the New Year with a Court of Appeals. The November election ballot brought new and exciting changes to the judiciary system. Nevada voters finally voted to approve an amendment to the Nevada Constitution to create an Intermediate Appellate Court or Court of Appeals.

On January 5, 2015, the three appointed Court of Appeals Judges – Jerome T. Tao, Michael P. Gibbons, and Abbi Silver, took the oath of office in a ceremony held in the Nevada Supreme Court in Carson City.  Among those present at the ceremony were Chief Justice James W. Hardesty and the Justices of the Supreme Court.

The legal community is looking forward to having this new Court of Appeals. Nevada was one of only ten states in the country without an Appellate Court. The Supreme Court was congested with thousands of cases and therefore, the Nevada Supreme Court Justices’ caseloads were one of the highest in the country. It is the hope of the legal community that this new Court will streamline cases through the litigation process more quickly and efficiently. There is optimism that it will create more time for the Supreme Court Justices to spend on the more difficult cases and have time to publish more written opinions giving Nevadans more legal guidance.

All appeals are still filed with the Nevada Supreme Court. Then, the Supreme Court Clerk decides whether to assign the cases to the Court of Appeals or stay in the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals is currently using an already existing space in the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas and is already hearing cases!

2015 is off to a great start with this historic addition to Nevada’s legal system.