When accidents happen, the physical, emotional, and financial toll can be overwhelming. If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you may have a personal injury case. But what exactly does “personal injury” mean, and what types of cases fall under this category? This guide will break it down, helping you understand your rights and options. 

Defining Personal Injury 

Personal injury law allows an injured person to seek compensation when another party’s wrongful actions cause harm. These cases typically involve negligence—when someone fails to act with reasonable care and, as a result, causes injury to another person. 

The purpose of personal injury claims is to help victims recover compensation for their losses, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. 

Types of Personal Injury Cases 

Personal injury law covers a broad range of incidents. Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include: 

1. Car Accidents 

One of the most frequent personal injury claims, car accidents occur when a driver’s negligence—such as speeding, distracted driving, or reckless behavior—leads to an injury. Victims can pursue compensation for their medical expenses, vehicle damage, and lost wages. 

2. Truck Accidents 

Semi-truck and commercial vehicle accidents can be devastating due to the size and weight of these vehicles. These cases often involve trucking companies, manufacturers, and drivers, making them more complex than standard car accident claims. 

3. Motorcycle Accidents 

Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable on the road, and when other drivers fail to share the road responsibly, serious injuries can occur. Common causes include failure to yield, unsafe lane changes, and driver inattention. 

4. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents 

Drivers have a responsibility to watch for pedestrians and cyclists. When they fail to do so, the consequences can be catastrophic. These cases often involve crosswalk accidents, hit-and-runs, and failure to yield. 

5. Slip and Fall Accidents 

Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises. If hazardous conditions—such as wet floors, uneven sidewalks, or poor lighting—cause a slip and fall injury, the victim may have a premises liability claim. 

6. Sexual Assault 

Survivors of sexual assault face physical and emotional trauma that can have lasting effects. Personal injury claims in these cases aim to hold perpetrators accountable while helping victims receive compensation for medical care, therapy, and other necessary support to aid in their recovery.

7. Product Liability 

Defective or dangerous products can cause severe injuries. Whether it’s a faulty vehicle part, unsafe medication, or hazardous household product, manufacturers can be held responsible for the harm their products cause. 

8. Wrongful Death 

When a person dies due to another party’s negligence, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. These cases seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, and emotional suffering. 

To see a complete list of our practice areas and to learn more about each, visit our practice areas page. 

What to Do If You Have a Personal Injury Case 

If you’ve been injured in an accident, taking the right steps early on can protect your rights: 

• Seek Medical Attention: Your health is the priority, and medical records will serve as crucial evidence. 

• Document Everything: Take photos, gather witness statements, and keep records of all expenses. 

• Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies Alone: Insurers often try to minimize payouts—consulting with a personal injury attorney ensures your rights are protected. 

• Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer: An experienced attorney at The Paul Powell Law Firm can assess your case, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Visit our contact page to get started. 

Your Fight for Justice Starts Here 

Personal injury law is designed to protect victims and hold negligent parties accountable. If you or a loved one has suffered due to someone else’s actions, you have the right to pursue justice and compensation. 

Our track record speaks for itself. With total settlements nearing $500 million, Paul Powell and his team have built a legacy of success by standing up to powerful corporations and insurance companies that prioritize profits over people. Each case is a commitment to securing justice and ensuring you’re treated fairly. 

Paul has led over 75 cases to settlements or jury verdicts exceeding $1 million each. His dedication to fairness means that if a settlement isn’t just, he’ll take the fight to court—a stance well-known and respected across the industry. 

Contact The Paul Powell Law Firm today for a free consultation by visiting our contact page or calling us directly.

We all know Las Vegas is unlike any other city on earth! It has the capabilities to accommodate the biggest events in the world. Mega-concerts, Formula 1 Racing, major league sports, the Superbowl, NASCAR, airshows, and so much more. There is more entertainment in Las Vegas on a daily basis than in New York City over a month.  

Harry Reid International Airport will see 50,000,000 people flood through its concourses. Interstate-15 will funnel countless millions of people in from California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and states as far away as Florida. International visitors constantly pour into town non-stop. 

All the attractions lead to enormous and rapid growth. Infrastructure has to constantly expand to build roads, housing, retail, schools, hospitals, and transportation and communication hubs.  

This enormous activity creates abnormally high incidents for accidents of all types and a lot of life altering personal injuries.  

The Paul Powell Law Firm has clients from all walks of life. If you were hurt at one of the following, come in or contact us for a free case evaluation.

Legal Expertise for Every Type of Accident

• Casino and hotel workers and visitors  

In spite of the wonderful precautions hotels/casinos make, the crush and distraction of visitors unavoidably leads to accidents. There are slips and falls, contact with falling or static objects, glass cuts, and even incidents of choking on food. And visitors are not the only ones prone to injuries in casinos. There are thousands of workers involved in things from meat cutting to maid service to show prep, and these might not be covered by workman’s compensation. Have a lawyer find out for sure. 

• Highways and roadways  

Every town in America finds people in a hurry on the roads. But in Las Vegas the possibility for accidents compounds because there are more drivers who are unfamiliar with the area and distracted by highly entertaining sights, sounds, buildings, signage, and confusing high speed traffic merges in places like the Spaghetti Bowl and around the 215 Beltway. Add the constant construction that goes on throughout town and the sudden and unpredictable saw-toothed streets where pavement suddenly narrows and disappears and there are real possibilities for accidents.  

• Recreational activities  

Southern Nevada offers a wide range of recreational activities, from racing ATVs, to 4-wheeling, swimming and diving in Lake Mead, running, rock climbing, biking, hiking, hang gliding, horseback riding, boating, rafting, and even snow skiing and snowmobiling a short one-hour drive away in Lee Canyon.  

• Sports  

Whether attending professional sporting events or participating in intramural, school, church, or league events, sports injuries in Vegas are more common than one would think. Believe it or not soccer and volleyball injuries rank pretty high on the list. Sports injuries are common. Sometimes due to player error and often because of uneven surfaces and poorly maintained facilities and equipment. 

• Events and concerts 

Fabulous to attend and fun to the Nth degree, the many area concerts and events are magnets for accidental injuries. Whether indoors or outside, throngs of people with a little too much partying in their cups and a lot of energy can get them into unplanned troubles. Area ERs and treatment centers see upticks when major events occur.   

• Construction sites 

The massive building that goes on in southern Nevada means there are more injuries happening on job and building sites. Not all injury accidents are covered by workman’s compensation. Find out more about how all of that works by contacting a qualified southern Nevada personal injury attorney. 

• Shopping  

Lots of shopping means more accidents. Local residents and certainly visitors do a lot of shopping. Stores can be minefields for accidents with wet floors, uneven carpeting, poor lighting, falling merchandise, sharp edges, and obstructed parking lots.  

• Nursing homes 

Vegas has an abnormally high proportion of the population in their senior years. That happens because retirees find the weather desirable, the cost of housing and living affordable, and reasonable value for entertainment. Additionally, the town is relatively easy to get in and out of for visits to out of town relatives or to catch a sea cruise or to fly into virtually any other major metropolitan area in America or the world. 

That disproportionately high senior population means healthcare facilities and especially nursing homes get stressed. Unfortunately, senior care in the area is not all of the highest quality. Incidents of neglect and harm have happened, and people are a little more attuned to being on guard for them here.

Contact Paul Powell Law Firm for Personal Injury

Paul Powell has been helping people from all over the globe with their personal injury incidents here in Las Vegas. When you are a loved one or a good friend have been injured be sure and contact the Paul Powell law firm. Paul has been in business in Southern Nevada for over 25 years. That’s why people know and rely upon him. And remember this, Paul never takes more from your case than you’ll earn. And he puts that in writing. Paul Powell. More Lawyer. Less Fee. 

Prescription medications are meant to improve lives, but when they fail, the results can be devastating. From heartburn remedies to painkillers, a troubling number of drugs have been linked to serious side effects, injuries, and even death. Manufacturers often prioritize profit over safety, leaving patients to bear the burden.  

At the Paul Powell Law Firm, we understand the challenges of facing defective drug claims. With over 20 years of experience, our dedicated team is here to guide you through your rights, your options, and the next steps toward justice. 

Types of Defective Drugs and Their Side Effects

• Zantac was originally peddled to relieve heart burn and reduce acid reflux by reducing stomach acid. Prescription strength Zantac was used to fight ulcers. The drug eventually became available over the counter and is making headlines for containing a known carcinogen, N-nitroso-dimethylamine. This agent is known to cause liver cancer. Zantac’s manufacturer, Sanofi, and various distributors are currently being sued.  

• Ambien is a drug with an interesting history. It was prescribed as a sleeping aid and/or for mood altering. It contains zolpidem which causes memory loss, addiction, and sleepwalking in some users. People talk about carry over grogginess after using it. Celebrities have claimed their out of character acts are due to it. One person used the drug as a defense against murder charges. Though the manufacturer has been sued multiple times, at the time of this writing, we are not aware of any situations that went to trial. Things were settled and the terms were not publicly disclosed. 

• Birth control pills are known to adversely effect some people. On May 9, 1960, the FDA approved the first birth control pill for use. Over the course of all these years various suits have been brought against their manufacturers. Most recently Yaz and Yasmin are contraceptive pills that have over 18,000 lawsuits against its manufacturer, Bayer AG. Allegations have been made that they cause gall bladder issues, blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. The company denies the allegations.  

• Thalidomide was prescribed to patients, many of them pregnant, in the 1950s and 60s to control things like morning sickness, nausea, and anxiety. What doctors did not know at the time was that it would cause miscarriages and birth defects! Thousands of babies worldwide suffered consequences, even coining a new term, Thalidomide Babies. Amid the onslaught of lawsuits, the product was withdrawn from the market. 60 years later cancer scientists recently profess to have discovered the cause. They say the drug alters proteins and cell genealogy. And in pursuit of the cause have learned interesting techniques in tracking human anatomy at the cellular level. Nevertheless, survivors still struggle to survive and to receive compensation and help. Suits regarding thalidomide occurred worldwide in nations like Britain, Germany, Spain, and most recently Australia. 

• Oxycontin, manufactured by Purdue Pharma, is a pain killer that recently fell under the shadow of malicious marketing and profiteering at the expense of public health. When other opioids like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and Vicodin are accounted for we see what is known as the Opioid Epidemic. People became addicted to these prescription drugs. 

• Covid-19 vaccinations are on the radar for many suspicious people today. Initially there are 3 of them: Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Moderna. They are being prescribed as an emergency treatment while Large Scale (Phase 3) clinical trials have not yet been completed. Adverse reactions have been reported, and allegations of death have been made. Johnson & Johnson dissemination was temporarily placed on hold at one point and Moderna is being investigated for heart inflammation. While accuracy regarding these drugs is still becoming clearer, unknowns remain.  

• Defective medications If you have reason to believe the strength, quality, or dosage of your medicine was impure, corrupted, or substandard and caused you harm, come ask us about it. You may have experienced debilitating side effects or even permanent injury and you want to know what recourse you have.

Trust Paul Powell for Your Defective Drug Cases

Opinions of friends and futile internet searches are not facts. Ask those who know, the top-notch attorneys at the Paul Powell Law Firm. Protecting the rights and health of people for over 20 years, the attorneys at Paul Powell know what you don’t. They know how to help, and they want to help. They’ll listen, offer help, and determine the strength of your case.  

Their experience and the many assets they bring to bear, ensure the quality of information and the answers you get. And know this, when your case goes to settlement or decision, Paul Powell never takes more from your case than you get. He puts that in writing. More Lawyer. Less Fee. Paul Powell.  

Insurance companies are a necessary evil. They’re like the business partners we love to hate. Every state in the union requires us to carry automotive insurance for our vehicles: cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, and often even boats and planes. At first we learn to cherish and love these insurance companies as they’re protecting us and keeping us from harm’s way. We love them; that is, until we need them. That’s when the love affair gets twisted and tainted.

The Hidden Struggles After Reporting an Accident

What seemed to be a happy mutually beneficial relationship with my insurance company, becomes contentious. It all starts when I call up to report that I’ve been in an accident. They start off innocuously enough taking down basic information:

• “Is everyone okay?” 
• “When did it occur?” 
• “Is the car drivable?” 

You know, they ask that basic harmless stuff. And then the questions get a little deeper and they’re getting asked by different “helpful” people or departments over a succession of evolving contacts and encounters. They asked things like: 

• “Was anyone hurt?”  
• “How badly?”
• “Did emergency medical respond?”

They begin to take accident statements. It’s at this point unwise lovers throw caution to the wind and often get burned by the vindictiveness and lowering expectations of what the insurance company actually provides.

We have relatives. We’ve talked to friends and break rooms. We’ve listened to “hair salon lawyers” talk about their accidents and the outcomes were typically pretty much the same. The insurance company offered to pay for their accidents but at much lower amounts than expected. It didn’t even cover the cost of the vehicle. They couldn’t replace what was lost. After the loan at the bank was taken care of and satisfied, the resulting payment and settlement left nothing to get reliable transportation with. It was a bleak outcome. And their friendly insurance company suddenly became their worst nightmare.

Perhaps you have already taken an unpleasant walk in those same shoes. 

Facing Insurance Companies Alone Is a Risk You Can’t Afford to Take

It’s an old cliche that “It’s a fool who has himself for a lawyer.” Roughly the same can be said about people who represent themselves when dealing with insurance companies. Insurance companies have a pool of lawyers on constant retainer. Those attorneys are well schooled, experienced, and practiced at dealing with policyholders to determine the dollar amounts of settlements. And should things take adversarial turns for the worse, these same legal teams are extremely capable of pursuing or defending issues in courts of law. 

Insurance companies want quick and decisive resolutions to claims. Nothing is worse for them than having your claim remain opened and protracted for a long period of time as it increases their exposure for you discover subsequent injuries and have further physical complications. Passing time allows for the discovery of more avenues of success for your position or case. And protracted time spent dealing with insurance companies makes people more irritable and recalcitrant. As they continue to lose or wait for money, suffer loss of income and physical immobility, experience constant pain, the pleasantries of business shrivel up on the vine and people turn mean.

Working with Accident Attorneys Can Help

Smart folks smell the coffee immediately after their accidents. They know to call an attorney first and immediately, before they report the accident, make statements, go to a claims adjuster, rent a replacement vehicle, or take further action. Smart people are not opportunists. They are not pursuing easy ways to feather their nests after tragic incidents. They’re not trying to make lemonade out of lemons by any stretch. No, not at all.  

Instead, they’ve learned by experience, or by close observation of others’ missteps, to seek advice and legal counsel as soon as possible. Not to profiteer, but to survive as best and whole as they possibly can. 

Work with Attorney Paul Powell After an Accident

When you’ve been involved in a fender bender, whether it appears minor or devastatingly perilous, contact the Paul Powell Law Firm for the very best in personal injury representation. Your first consultation is always free.  

We’ve been in business in Southern Nevada for over 24 years. We know the courts, the procedures, the medical specialists, the investigators, and follow the dangerous intersections and trends in occurrences that occur around the valley. Look to us for help, guidance, and direction to get back on the pathway to full recovery. Contact us at Paulpowell.com or at 702-728-5500. Paul Powell. More lawyer. Less Fee. 

Our team at The Powell Law Firm frequently gets asked if “More Lawyer Less Fee” is just some catchy line we use in our marketing or if it really means they are getting more lawyer for less fee. It’s more than a slogan – it is a promise.  

Our goal is for our clients to get top-level help, attention, support, advice and service from our entire team.  

Paul Had to Prove He Really Gives His Clients “More Lawyer. Less Fee.”

The Nevada State Bar Association has stringent rules as to the claims all lawyers are allowed to make in their advertising.  This applies to every claim in all marketing, from TV to Radio to Billboards to our own website.  

Paul had to appear in person before a specialized hearing panel convened by the Nevada State Bar Association to provide documentation showing the claim of “More Lawyer. Less Fee.” was both truthful, tested, and the standard of his practice. Only then was he allowed to use this promise in his advertising.   

How Is Paul “More Lawyer?”

Paul has won more personal injury settlements over $1 million than any other lawyer in Las Vegas. Like “More Lawyer. Less Fee.”, that statement is also a fact. It takes experience, strategy and fearless tenacity to see a case through to these substantial settlements.  

That said, million-dollar settlements do not tell the whole story. Paul and his team work tirelessly to help their clients recover from injuries, lost income, and hopefully get back the quality of life they previously enjoyed. By facilitating medical treatment and aggressively fighting for every client’s long-term recovery, our clients get the attention and support they need.  

In all cases injuries have life-changing effects on property, health and income that may take years or may be impossible to recover from. Paul and his legal team fight for reasonable compensation for every client. 

How Does Paul Promise “Less Fee”? 

It is our guarantee that Paul and The Powell Law Firm will never take more money from a case than our client receives.  

This is a powerful differentiator that few lawyers in Las Vegas share.  

When a settlement is received, medical expenses still owed are settled. Any other outstanding case fees are paid. The law firm is reimbursed for any remaining expenses related to the case. Then the contingency fee is paid to the lawyer. 

In rare cases these payouts can leave the client with less money in their portion of the settlement than the contingency fee due the lawyer. Paul Powell does not feel this fair and has committed that he will reduce his contingency fee so that he never takes more than his clients. 

What Are Typical Personal Injury Case Fees?  

Imagine shouldering the cost of potentially long term, professional medical treatment, physical therapy, medications, and legal fees when missing income because you can’t work while physically recovering from injuries. It’s a worst-case scenario for many of the people involved in the 1,650 accidents that happen each month in Las Vegas.  

Hiring a lawyer to make sure you get the treatment you deserve is the right choice.  

With personal injury cases, all expenses from medical services to the tow truck that picked up the car at the accident scene are paid from the settlement. But these fees are not paid in advance nor paid by the insurance company at time of service. The Powell Law Firm often covers these expenses during treatment or makes arrangements with providers to pay upon receiving the settlement.

Often there are weeks and months of negotiations, paperwork processing, and a myriad of loopholes that insurance companies use to avoid paying some expenses. Paul keeps them honest and cooperative.

Medical Expenses Related to Accidents  

Whether it’s a car or motorcycle accident accident cases can be some of the most complex types – there can be multiple vehicles involved and multiple parties can be at-fault.

Accident cases can also be very expensive, especially if there are serious injuries.

Typical accident expenses may include:

• Ambulance and paramedics
• Emergency room visit
• On-going medical treatments
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Pain management
• Sometimes inpatient or outpatient surgery
• Wage loss

People often feel fine in the day or two after an accident only to be stuck with debilitating pain days, weeks, and months after. Injuries sometimes take months to fully manifest. It is this reason having Paul, a Lawyer that both knows medicine and has the ability to get you the treatment you need regardless of cost, is the right choice.

Your recovery matters most to The Powell Law Firm and getting the right treatment for your injuries when you need it is paramount. Limiting your suffering while speeding up your recovery and being free of insurance company push back is priority one at The Paul Powell Law Firm.

Motorcycle accidents can be among the most costly due to the high likelihood of severe injuries, even at relatively low speeds.

What is a Contingency Fee?

A contingency fee is the amount of money a Law firm will be paid for representing you after your case is won. Legal contingency fees for representation by The Powell Law Firm are typically 33.33% of the settlement amount, except in the case of a trial where those fees rise to 40% to cover the additional work needed to prepare for, conduct, and litigate your case in front of a jury.  

We often see clients whose injuries change their lives forever. While it seems the obvious, fair, and right outcome that these clients receive reasonable compensation, it requires hundreds, sometimes thousands of work hours.  

This contingency fee covers much of the associated costs for representing you. From filing demand letters to negotiating directly with all levels of the insurance company, hundreds of hours are invested by highly trained professionals at our law firm. We make sure you get the help and compensation you deserve while being treated fairly by the at-fault party and their insurance company.

Navigating Trial Fees

Our goal is to settle the case for maximum dollars directly with the insurance company, but when that is not in our client’s best interest, it may become necessary to go to trial.  

Should a case go to trial, costs go up because our team needs to prepare for litigation that sometimes takes place in front of a Judge and Jury.

• Obtaining and maintaining medical records 
• Obtaining police reports 
• Expert witness fees 
• Postage 
• Filing fees 
• Investigator fees  
• Depositions 
• Trial exhibits 
  

Paul Will Never Take More Than His Clients.  

Being involved in an accident was likely out of your control. But after an accident, your recovery, your health, your lost income, your quality of life and the settlement you receive are all largely in your control based on what lawyer you choose to hire. 

Hiring Paul Powell is that right choice.   

Seems to be a truism of life, we only get one chance to make a good first impression. That first meeting with your potential new attorney is such a moment. The initial consultation is important to you cause you want to get the most out of it while evaluating the lawyer. It is a terrific opportunity to gather and organize your information. 

Meeting Your Attorney

Think of your initial attorney consultation like having a meeting with a future partner who is going to help you write a really good, factual news story. You’ll want your story to express all the really important information we learned about so many years ago: who, what, when, where, how, and why. 

For now, don’t be overly concerned about the style of your story, the heroes and villains, the plot and peril. Be more concerned about having information from each of the above labels.

Exchange the information during your initial consultation and judge how familiar, interested, engaged, and with it the attorney appears. 

Please know, while telling your story to an attorney is really important, more important may be the things you have that relate to or support your issue.  

While you will certainly have a lot of questions, you’ll want to listen very closely to your attorney and remember what is said, even take notes or per their permission record certain information. 

Have your list of the questions you want to ask with you so you don’t miss any. 

Items to Bring to Your Attorney Consultation

Consider bringing the following things in hard copy, a thumb drive, or on a mobile device: 

• Letters received or exchanged 
• E-mails
• Text exchanges
• Financials such as ledgers, bank statements, invoices
• Photos
• Police reports or citations
• Insurance records and correspondence 
• Legal documents like licenses, policies, or deeds
• Medical records, inclusive of mental health and/or dental  
• Medical information, including: treatment, diagnosis, invoices 
• Receipts or invoices for expenses, repairs, or other costs 
• Witness statements and contact information 
• Evidence of threats or harassment 
• Information about loss or disruption of work or documented trips and plans 
• Unusual circumstances or happenings involved 
  

Please keep in mind you’ll have information from all kinds of people and businesses involved which is the reason you want to use who, what, when, where, why, and how to help you find those things. Once you have your information, organize it in a way that makes the most sense to you. 

Be sure and dress for a professional meeting. Should you want to come casually, clean and neat are always welcomed. 

The Powell Law Firm is Here to Guide You Through Your Case

Now, you might be overloaded and overwhelmed by everything going on to the point you just can’t pull together the limited information you have at this time, or even truly grasp what you’re supposed to get. Or maybe you find legal proceedings confusing or even intimidating. Don’t worry. We will work with you. Come at least talk to us, and let’s see what we can do to help you.

We’ll talk about costs that are or could be involved. And tell you all about terms of payment. 

The more you tell and the more you show, the more our attorney will be able to know the best way to help you. Be honest, open, and fully communicative. Hold nothing back, even if you think it may damage your case. Remember, this is not a selling situation where you are trying to convince the attorney to take your case. Nor do you want a situation where a lawyer is pitching you to do business instead of learning about your situation and offering strong advice.  

The Paul Powell Law Firm will NEVER take more money than you after your case settles. We put it in writing. We believe injury victims deserve a voice for what is right and fair. More Lawyer. Less Fee. 

Accidents seldom come with any forewarning, leaving victims unprepared and unsure about how to proceed. When you or someone you know is injured there can be a great deal of uncertainty as to what to do next, and a number of very important decisions will need to be immediately made. One important consideration involves selecting a personal injury attorney and ensuring they will be able to guide you to a successful end to your case. 

There are a few essential questions to ask a personal injury attorney at the onset to make sure the right person is retained for the job.

Questions to Ask Your Potential Personal Injury Attorney

• Has your personal injury attorney taken cases similar to yours in the past? How many? What were the outcomes? 
  
  It is always important to inquire about the personal injury attorney’s prior cases similar to yours and the outcomes of each. Attorneys will likely not provide specifics about their prior cases due to attorney-client privilege, however they should at least be willing to provide general details to demonstrate their ability to achieve results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, however the goal here is to gain an understanding of what the attorney is capable of doing for you and your case. 
  
  
• What is your level of courtroom experience?
  
  An attorney that rarely goes to trial could be a sign that they routinely look for quick payoffs rather than doing whatever is necessary to achieve the highest and best results for their clients. This can be due to a number of factors ranging from laziness, to inept ability to try a case, or simply taking on too many clients at a time and not having the resources to do what is needed for each client.
  
  
• How long does the personal injury attorney think it will take to resolve your case?
  
  Time is an important consideration in bringing any personal injury case to completion. As stressors such as medical bills, doctor visits and time out of work pile up, it is important to obtain a projected timeframe as to when compensation could possibly be paid for injurie
  
  
• Who will perform the work on my case? 
  
  A majority of personal injury attorneys do not handle every component of a client’s case. Attorneys assign tasks to secretaries, paralegals, and associate attorneys to prepare letters and legal documents and act on your behalf. Retaining an attorney that delegates work to staff members may not sit well with you, however not only is this very common, it can work to minimize legal fees and expedite progress. 
  
  
• Does the attorney work on a contingency basis or charge hourly fees? 
  
  A vast majority of plaintiff-side personal injury attorneys work under contingency fee agreements. This means they don’t get paid until there is a settlement or favorable outcome reached, at which time they receive an agreed-upon portion of the monies you receive in compensation. Under an hourly fee agreement the attorney is entitled only to invoiced amounts for time and costs involved in handling your case, which can quickly become expensive and may be a sign to move on in your search for the right personal injury attorney. 
  

Other Important Questions to Ask

• How often will you communicate with me about my case? 
• Will I be able to speak directly with you if I need you? 
• How many cases are you currently handling? 
• Do you have time to handle my case? 
• Are you able to provide references from some of your past clients? 
• Have you ever been suspended from the practice of law? If so, why? 
  
  The questions above are just some of the many questions you may want to ask a personal injury attorney as it pertains to your case. Ask as many questions as you need to in order to feel comfortable and confident with the attorney you are consulting with. Retaining the right attorney is perhaps the most critical consideration in receiving a successful outcome to your personal injury case. 

Young people have so much energy! Especially school kids! It’s like they are on “go” all day and never stop! Amazing! Now, that “never stop thing” creates some real challenges for even the best drivers.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather die than pedal a bike or foot push a skateboard or Razor scooter to school, especially in hundred-degree heat. Children and school age kids do not seem to mind.

When you see kids on bikes, scooters, or skateboards it’s a good idea to stay extra alert and vigilant.

Tips to Help Keep Children Safe as Pedestrians

• Keep your head and eyes on “swivel-mode” checking for motion and movement all around you. You want to see fast moving kids as soon as you can.
• Slow down and drive with caution. As speed increases, when combined with reaction time, vehicles close in on unintended targets much faster.
• Put that phone down! No call or text is worth the risk hitting, harming, or even killing a child!
• Guestimate or project the likely path you think the kids will continue on, but be alert for them to suddenly change direction.
• Never pass by closely to children on their modes of transportation. A pebble, rock, or other road debris can bounce them into your path.
• Better to wait than to race. Rather than trying to race ahead to beat kids to an intersection or crosswalk, ease off the gas and allow them to pass. That 3,000-pound bullet we’re driving way out matches their 50-pound bikes.
• Take a second look when pulling out from a parking space or across an intersection.
• Resist the distractions within your own vehicle. Things like radios, phones, tumbling cargo, and noisy passengers can pull your attention away from the road and what is going on at the most critical times.
• Be especially cautious while driving during early daylight or later at dusk when the grayscale spectrum dominates the landscape. Colors are not as vivid and it becomes much harder to see things.
• Drive with your lights on during the day to improve your visibility for children. It’s strange how they might not see the mass of your vehicle yet can spot your headlights.

Unexpected Moves: Why Kids on Foot Can Be Unpredictable

At one time or another we’ve all seen young children struggling to carry a bulky and unwieldy school project toward their building. Perhaps you remember doing the flimsy model volcano on the big flat board. Blurry-eyed and tired from staying up all night to finish it, you struggled toward the main doors terrified it was going to self-destruct in your bare hands. I think we have all experienced moments like that. So too, today’s children. When we see kids carrying projects and know they could be in that altered frame of reference, we drivers must remain vigilant.

Starting in the late 1960’s students at the University of Washington began a prevalent trend for today. JanSport, a Seattle based hiking and sporting goods company, was producing lightweight daypacks and sold them in a store right next to the campus. Students began buying them for their schoolbooks and papers. If you recently caught an old movie or perhaps a rerun of Lassie, you’ll recall that way back kids used a leather book strap to secure and carry schoolbooks. They’d cinch a stack of books together tightly with the strap and carry them along as a bundle. During the 60s some kids started toting around briefcases and satchels full of books for school. You may have had the one nut in school who split their books evenly and carried two separate satchels, one in each hand. Thank God for the UW and JanSport or who knows what kids would be doing with their books today.

Well, anyway, kids today absolutely load their backpacks to the gills. While the use of textbooks for homework has declined, kids have replaced those with Chromebooks and a wide assortment of technical equipment. We’ll see backpacks stuffed with lunches, after school sports equipment, toys, and personal care products. Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime would have been hard pressed to heft one of these and carry it as far as kids do today.

Those heavy backpack loads make kids more top-heavy and it’s not unusual for them to tip off balance and stumble toward the path of oncoming traffic.

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‘Tis the season for phenomenal deals and shopping! Time is flying and the countdown is beginning for the most wonderful time of year: the holidays. Holiday season is the opportunity to hit hard-to-beat deals both in-store and online. Shower your loved ones with heartfelt gifts you spent hours looking for. The long lines, packed parking lots, and crowded venues are all worth it when it’s time to open gifts and faces light up with delight.

Although this time of year is supposed to be filled with endless love and joy, some have other intentions. Shopping may not seem dangerous, but there are those who prey on holiday shoppers and wait until they are alone and vulnerable to attack. Car break-ins, theft, and assault are common criminal activities that put dampers on the holiday season and mood. Do not become a target for such activities. Be prepared to defend yourself when needed.

11 Tips for Holiday Shopping Safety

Shop with a partner or friend

Shopping alone may seem therapeutic to some, but having a friend or family member along is good because there is strength in numbers. Attackers know when you are alone and notice your vulnerability. Always shop in numbers so you are not a target to criminals looking to pounce on lone shoppers. Don’t make yourself an easy target, call a friend to tag along. Chances are they still have holiday shopping to do too.

Park in well-lit areas

Park near the entrance of stores and malls, in well-lit areas, and near security cameras. Avoid parking far out on the lot, especially if you are planning to do a lot of shopping. Parking near light or shopping during the day are safety advantages – most criminals strike in dim and dark places to avoid detection. Additionally, spot security cameras in parking garages and find a stall near them. If anything happens to you or your car, it will hopefully be on tape.

Hide shopping bags in your trunk

Holiday shopping is often more than one or two shopping bags. You will often leave a place with more bags than an octopus could handle! When you are not done shopping but have gifts and other valuables in your car, place them in the trunk. Removing these items from plain site in the front or back seat and away from your windows ensures no one spies your items. They are safely secured in the trunk.

Be aware of your surroundings

There is no doubt about how crowded malls and stores get. Always be aware of your surroundings. Do not walk with earphones in and music blasting. Keep your head up while walking and don’t be looking down at your phone. Use your five senses to guide you and be wary about who is nearby. If you notice someone following you, contact security, a sales associate, fold in with other groups of people, or call for help.

Keep an eye on the kids

With hundreds of thousands of people on the same mission – shopping holiday deals – it is more important than ever to always have an eye on your children. Often they run out of sight and the last thing you need is someone swiping them up. Notice where children are and what they are doing. When in doubt, babysitters can work out perfectly too.

Avoid buying second-hand items

The true condition of second-hand items like toys are deceiving when trying to determine if they are clean, unbroken, and reliable. New and immaculate condition is best, of course. Broken pieces and product deficiency are hard to spot when purchasing second-hand items. Not only is it a safety hazard for kids, but it is a waste of money since you are buying a defective product without knowing it. You do not want an unsafe toy capable of hurting your child, so avoid this mess by avoiding second-hand purchases.

Shop at trusted stores and websites

Don’t get scammed this holiday season. There are many knockoff websites, stores, and products online from companies simply looking to make a buck. Shop at places you recognize and conduct careful searches for reviews and credibility of new websites you come across. A quick Google search provides you with business information, background, and product reviews.

Avoid public wifi

Public wifi connections seem like “free wifi,” but the sad reality is nothing in life is free. Your information and access to your technology are traded when you connect to public wifi. Use a virtual private network (VPN) on your devices. VPNs create a private network from a public connection allowing you and your information to stay secure while searching the web.

Protect yourself

Women are easier targets for crime than men. Protect yourself by keeping your purse closed and close to your body. Carry pepper spray, a taser, or even a pocket knife. It will come in handy when you need it most. Be confident in your ability to protect yourself, especially when your life depends on it. Flight or fight is preferable to being abducted. Always remember: money, goods, or cars can be replaced. You cannot.

Look in your car, get in, lock the doors, buckle up, and go!

After shopping always look at the vehicles and people around your car before unlocking it. Always look inside your car before opening the door, especially in the back seat. Do not wait around in your car after getting in. Lock the doors, buckle up, and leave because you never know who is watching you, waiting to pounce. It is a habit for most to get in their cars, start them up, and sit there checking their phones. Put the phone down and wait until you get home to unwind and scroll through social media.

Drive safely, arrive alive

There are many people on the roadways during the holiday shopping season. Traffic, road rage, and car accidents happen much too often at this time of year. Although we can be impatient at times, pay attention to the road, drive safely, yield the right of way to clearly overly aggressive drivers, and arrive alive. Traveling safely from point A to point B should not be taken for granted.

Holiday Shopping Safety: Stay Protected

Whether you are shopping in-store, online, or both, safety is our number one concern. Remember, bad things still happen to good people, even during the holidays. So, prepare for the worst and expect the best. Protect yourself from predators and criminal activity by following our holiday shopping safety tips. It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the best time to practice safe shopping.

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A free case evaluation is waiting for you! Visit our website www.paulpowell.com or call (702) 728-5500 to get started. The Paul Powell Law Firm- More Lawyer, Less Fee.