Establishing bail amounts by felony category rather than by individual offense, Judge Joe Bonaventure and the rest of the Justice Court Criminal Process Committee anticipate this new bail system that will result in more trial appearances by offenders and a reduction of crime in the Las Vegas area. Auto theft, a quickly growing problem in the city, sees the most dramatic increases in the amount that an offender must post in order to leave jail between his arrest and his trial.

The Las Vegas police force had a large part in advising the committee on the new bail schedule, with their primary concern being the discouragement ...]]> After seven years spent using a bail schedule that many claim was outdated, too lenient on offenders, and too cumbersome, the Las Vegas Township Justice Court has completely revised its bail scheduleas of September 1, 2011.

Establishing bail amounts by felony category rather than by individual offense, Judge Joe Bonaventure and the rest of the Justice Court Criminal Process Committee anticipate this new bail system that will result in more trial appearances by offenders and a reduction of crime in the Las Vegas area. Auto theft, a quickly growing problem in the city, sees the most dramatic increases in the amount that an offender must post in order to leave jail between his arrest and his trial.

The Las Vegas police force had a large part in advising the committee on the new bail schedule, with their primary concern being the discouragement of criminal activity by more severe bail requirements. From the court’s perspective, the categorized bail amounts will result in a more streamlined and uniform process.

With the new and higher bail schedule, individuals arrested and faced with felony charges have an even greater need for the help of experienced local defense lawyers. An attorney with the background and personal relationships so important in the legal world has a good chance of getting a charge reduced and thereby lowering the bail to a reasonable amount.

If a judge is convinced that you are guilty, there is nothing to stop him from ordering local treatment and weekly checks. If your lawyer has clout with the judge, he may be able to get a system worked out in which you could continue treatment and checks in your home state.

DUI misdemeanors are more serious than most other misdemeanors. One of the major complications is a DMV hearing that can result in a 90 ...]]> Many people have an incorrect idea of what it means to be convicted under misdemeanor DUI charges in Nevada. Just because your first and second offense are misdemeanors instead of felonies doesn’t mean that the penalties are light! Here are some false ideas that could result in a rude awakening if you are convicted.

Penalties for Out of State Offenders are Lighter

If a judge is convinced that you are guilty, there is nothing to stop him from ordering local treatment and weekly checks. If your lawyer has clout with the judge, he may be able to get a system worked out in which you could continue treatment and checks in your home state.

A First Time Offense Isn’t Serious

DUI misdemeanors are more serious than most other misdemeanors. One of the major complications is a DMV hearing that can result in a 90 day suspension of your driver’s license. Even up to six months of jail time is not out of the question.

An Innocent Driver Can’t Be Convicted

Without a capable criminal defense lawyer, you can quickly find yourself pronounced guilty based on the testimony of your arresting officer and the questionable results of alcohol tests. Even if the case against you is not solid, only a lawyer will be able to tear it down for you.

A Guilty Plea Will Put the Trouble Behind Me

For at least seven years, a DUI conviction will be on your criminal record and will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for you to get hired or obtain a home or auto loan. Years of treatment and extensive driver’s license trouble are other possible long term consequences.

Take a DUI accusation seriously. A conviction will have lasting effects on your life, and cooperation with a Las Vegas defense attorney could get your charges dismissed or reduced to reckless driving, a far less serious misdemeanor charge.

You use your spinal cord every second of every day. It is the primary way that your brain communicates with the rest of ...]]> One of the worst events that could happen to a resident or visitor to Las Vegas is a spinal cord injury. Most of the time, injury to the spinal cord occurs when the victim is involved in an auto accident and experiences trauma to the back or neck. In an instant, a driver’s carelessness through drinking and driving; texting or using the phone; or simply disregarding traffic rules can change the rest of a victim’s life by causing a devastating injury. In the time immediately following your accident, a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can collect the evidence and the statements from eyewitnesses that will prove negligence and win you a fast, fair settlement.

What Is the Spinal Cord?

You use your spinal cord every second of every day. It is the primary way that your brain communicates with the rest of your body, controlling functions from finger, toe, and limb movement to breathing and bladder/bowel control. It also sends messages back to the brain, controlling reaction when an outside factor causes pain to the skin, muscles, or other organs. This amazing piece of equipment is heavily protected by a column of bones, the vertebrae, and even painful back and neck injuries are usually not severe enough to damage the spinal cord inside the vertebrae. However, an accident that crushes the vertebrae or cuts through the spinal cord (either partially or completely) usually leads to long term paralysis. Grueling rehabilitation and use of artificial devices may bring partial recovery, but in some cases the victim is forced to remain immobile for the rest of his life.

Injury Classifications

The spinal cord is divided into different sections, with each section controlling different functions. For this reason, spinal cord injuries are far from uniform, and the specific area of the cord that is damaged determines what functions are affected. Some victims only lose a small portion of their mobility, while others become completely paralyzed. If the injury is located at the level of the neck, the victim could need the help of a ventilator just to breathe. Normally, doctors refer to injuries as complete or incomplete.

Complete Spinal Cord Injuries

Las Vegas visitors who suffer a complete spinal cord injury lose all feeling and mobility below the level of the trauma. Of course, this always means loss of walking ability and confinement to a wheelchair. If the injury is located high on the back or neck, permanent paralysis of the arms and inability to breathe normally is also possible. Obviously, the ongoing financial needs incurred by a complete injury are extremely high, and it is highly unlikely that an insurance company would be willing to pay a full compensation amount without intervention by an attorney on the victim’s behalf.

Incomplete Injuries

If the spinal cord is only partially damaged, the victim might still be able to feel and use his limbs to a limited extent. With quick reaction and skilled care by doctors immediately after the injury, the spinal cord can sometimes be salvaged enough to allow a high level of recovery. Extensive rehabilitation is needed, however, as well as equipment like wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility devices. The average individual can not pay these medical bills on his own, and remaining financially sound means getting the help of a Las Vegas injury attorney to make sure that the responsible party provides compensation in full.

Secondary Injuries

The actual trauma to the spinal cord is sometimes not the most destructive event. An injured cord is very vulnerable to secondary injuries caused by moving the victim and putting pressure on the area when swelling is still occurring. Fortunately, emergency teams now use a number of different techniques and tools to try to prevent any unnecessary additional injuries above those caused by the original incident.

Recovery

Recovering from spinal cord damage is very complex and unpredictable. While the medical field has made great advances in minimizing the effects of injuries, there is still no way to repair a damaged spinal cord. Often it is impossible to tell how extensive an injury is and how much mobility the victim will regain until some time has passed. For this reason, it is a critical mistake to accept a settlement offer right after an accident, before your injuries are fully understood. A good injury lawyer will research your situation, collect expert opinions, use his past knowledge of similar cases, and propose a settlement amount that will be sure to cover your future expenses. Medical bills aren’t the only cost to consider, either; the inability to work, strain on other family members and caregivers, and many consequences that are difficult to quantify, should all be included in a settlement amount. In a free consultation, a lawyer can discuss your injuries or those of a loved one, talk about your options, and begin negotiating for a compensation that will cover your costs.

In spring of 2011, there were two instances of visitors to the hotel contracting Legionnaire’s disease. Luxor authorities complied with an investigation into the outbreak, but the hotel’s water supply did not test positive for disease bacteria. The trouble was not over, however; a third incident later in the year showed that the Luxor’s water was, in fact, contaminated with the bacteria.

While the Luxor has displayed a front of thorough cooperation with authorities, providing a website dedicated to informing the public ...]]> In 2011, an unknown number of visitors to the Luxor were infected with Legionnaire’s disease, an illness with pneumonia-like symptoms that is particularly dangerous to the elderly and the very young. A recent report from the Center for Disease Control confirms that one of the victims has died, while the other two known victims are apparently out of lethal danger.

In spring of 2011, there were two instances of visitors to the hotel contracting Legionnaire’s disease. Luxor authorities complied with an investigation into the outbreak, but the hotel’s water supply did not test positive for disease bacteria. The trouble was not over, however; a third incident later in the year showed that the Luxor’s water was, in fact, contaminated with the bacteria.

While the Luxor has displayed a front of thorough cooperation with authorities, providing a website dedicated to informing the public and guests of the status of the investigation, it remains unclear why the management did not take more decisive action to eradicate any possibility of danger to guests. A second investigation after the death of the third victim did reveal the presence of Legionnaire’s disease bacteria in the water supply. Tests conducted on sinks in guest rooms also revealed contamination. Operations conducted this month to thoroughly cleanse the hotel of any bacteria may have spared the life of this victim if they had taken place earlier.

While traces of the bacteria causing Legionnaire’s disease exist in many water sources, the infections at the Luxor indicate that there was an unusual and unhealthy concentration. The ability of these bacteria to persist in large water supplies like that of the Luxor is well documented and should have prompted authorities to take whatever measures necessary, no matter how expensive and disruptive, to make sure that no guests would be placed in danger.

If you or someone you know may have been affected by these incidents, do not hesitate to contact a Las Vegas personal injury attorney who can help you act quickly. A commercial establishment like a hotel is responsible to protect its guests by ensuring the safety of its water, and all indications point to a failure in that trust on the part of the Luxor. Extensive documentation and testimony is required in order to prove illness and connect it to negligence, so time is of the essence. Our office looks forward to setting up a free consultation to determine what your next steps should be.

Unfortunately, a common denominator in battery domestic violence cases is a high level of emotion and anger. Claims of injury quickly become exaggerated, ...]]> What weapons will an attorney use to defend you against a charge of battery domestic violence? In short, the answer is doubt. To win a conviction, a prosecutor has to prove, through the use of witness and expert witness testimony, photographs, phone calls, and other evidence, that you not only caused physical injury to a family member or close acquaintance, but that you intended to do so. Often, a prosecutor’s case depends on testimony and records that are not as conclusive as he would have the judge believe. A lawyer who has experience and success with domestic violence cases in Clark County knows just what to focus on and how to expose the flaws in the prosecution’s argument.

Unfortunately, a common denominator in battery domestic violence cases is a high level of emotion and anger. Claims of injury quickly become exaggerated, and unrelated or even self-inflicted injuries can be entered as evidence of your attack. Level-headed reasoning is needed to strip away the angry talk and show what really happened.

A large part of the doubt a defense attorney casts on a case is the question of intent. Even if the prosecution is able to prove that you did cause physical harm, the case is not closed. Injuries caused by an accident or in self defense cannot be used as evidence of domestic violence.

Whatever the charge is, the chances are good that a defense lawyer with real world experience in this difficult legal area will be able to have your charges reduced to a misdemeanor level or even dropped if the level of defense turns out to be more than the prosecution bargained for.

Battery domestic violence is a special category that specifically deals with an intentional act of violence or force against someone related or unusually close to you. A victim of domestic violence can be anyone related by blood or marriage (including extended family members); a divorced or separated spouse; or even someone who simply lives in the same house as you. ...]]> If you have been accused of battery domestic violence in Las Vegas, it is critical that you know exactly what crime you are under question for. In this area of the law, definitions are very important and can make or break a prosecutor’s case. Your best bet for getting out from under a domestic violence accusation is the expert counsel of an attorney intimately familiar with the subjective testimony and complex relational questions that are involved in a domestic violence case.

Battery domestic violence is a special category that specifically deals with an intentional act of violence or force against someone related or unusually close to you. A victim of domestic violence can be anyone related by blood or marriage (including extended family members); a divorced or separated spouse; or even someone who simply lives in the same house as you. Family relationships are often more complicated than they appear, and a capable defense lawyer knows how to challenge false assumptions and statements about them.

Probably the weakest area of a battery case is the question of intention. The line between an accident and a purposeful action is a fine one, and is easily blurred by mistaken witnesses, angry family members, and misinterpreted photographs or video. Fighting this kind of subjective evidence takes the experience and practical knowledge of an established Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer with a history of successfully defending cases just like yours.

Unfortunately, a common denominator in battery domestic violence cases is a high level of emotion and anger. Claims of injury quickly become exaggerated, ...]]> What weapons will an attorney use to defend you against a charge of battery domestic violence? In short, the answer is doubt. To win a conviction, a prosecutor has to prove, through the use of witness and expert witness testimony, photographs, phone calls, and other evidence, that you not only caused physical injury to a family member or close acquaintance, but that you intended to do so. Often, a prosecutor’s case depends on testimony and records that are not as conclusive as he would have the judge believe. A lawyer who has experience and success with domestic violence cases in Clark County knows just what to focus on and how to expose the flaws in the prosecution’s argument.

Unfortunately, a common denominator in battery domestic violence cases is a high level of emotion and anger. Claims of injury quickly become exaggerated, and unrelated or even self-inflicted injuries can be entered as evidence of your attack. Level-headed reasoning is needed to strip away the angry talk and show what really happened.

A large part of the doubt a defense attorney casts on a case is the question of intent. Even if the prosecution is able to prove that you did cause physical harm, the case is not closed. Injuries caused by an accident or in self defense cannot be used as evidence of domestic violence.

Whatever the charge is, the chances are good that a defense lawyer with real world experience in this difficult legal area will be able to have your charges reduced to a misdemeanor level or even dropped if the level of defense turns out to be more than the prosecution bargained for.