Unlike automobile accidents, truck accidents are much more serious and complex and will often result in catastrophic injuries or death. Like car accidents, truck accidents happen for a number of reasons including but not limited to the following:

• Speeding
• Driver Error
• Blind Spots
• Mechanical failure
• Inadequate training
• Improper loading/Overloading

Truck drivers are trained to handle large vehicles and usually drive to do their best to avoid any regular vehicles or risks that may result in an accident. Other factors like bumpy roads or strong winds may increase the risk of an accident. The best way to avoid trucking accidents is to take precautions when driving next to one. Below is a brief list of tips on properly sharing the road with a truck.

Maintain visibility

This goes without saying! Your car should always be visible in the mirrors of a truck. Staying within sight of a truck’s blind spot will dramatically decrease your chances of an accident. Staying in sight of the truck driver will allow the both of you to avoid accidents with one another.

Pass a truck on the Left side

Did you know it’s illegal to pass a truck on the right hand side? The reason for this is because most trucks have a large blind spot on their right side. If a driver is making a right hand turn or lane change, the chances of the truck seeing your car as it makes a turn is practically non-existent. By passing a truck on its left side, you have a better chance of not getting crushed by the truck.

Avoid driving in front of a truck

Unless you and the truck have great distance between each other, avoid driving in front of a truck or slowing down since trucks require a larger stopping distance than cars and won’t be able to make sudden lane changes when a car immediately brakes in front of them. By driving closely in front of a truck, you risk the chance of a rear-end accident. Give your car and the truck a large enough distance gap or avoid driving in front of the truck.

No Tailgating

By tailgating a truck, not only are you and your car within the truck drivers blind spot, you also risk death if the truck brakes suddenly and your car goes under. This accident is the easiest to avoid, yet it still happens. Do not tailgate a truck.

Maintain a safe distance

Lastly, maintain a safe distance between your car and the truck. Give enough space for a truck to pass you, especially if the truck is attempting a lane change or turn. Use sound judgment.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a trucking accident in Las Vegas, the first thing to do is seek medical attention and then contact a Las Vegas Truck accident lawyer. Determining who is responsible and what caused the accident is much more complicated with trucking accidents than car accidents since there are so many people involved such as the truck driver, the truck owner, or the company leasing the truck.

Despite the recent improvements in technology and road safety, car accidents are still happening all around the world. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the U.S. Car accidents are traumatic experiences that can leave you physically and mentally scarred. Car accident causes can be broken up into two categories: driver error and everything else (uneven roads, extreme weather conditions, etc).

What is Driver error?

Driver Error is the single leading cause of car accidents. Driver error can be defined by many things but is consistently associated with distractions that cause a driver to become negligent. Driver error encompasses all the distractions listed below:

• Cell phone usage
• Texting while driving
• Speeding
• Unsafe lane changes
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
• Fatigue

The errors listed above only constitute the most common driver errors. The leading distraction contributing to driver error is cell phone usage, while speeding and fatigue are a close second.

What causes Driver error?

Driver error is perpetuated by the myth of multi-tasking and an overconfidence of abilities. As recent studies have shown, our brains aren’t hardwired to be able to perform two important tasks at the same time. When we attempt to multitask, our attention is just toggling between two tasks at a rapid rate, which leads to poorer decisions, delayed reaction times, and poorer performance on the tasks at hand.

Overconfidence, on the other hand, causes drivers to make reckless decisions that endanger themselves and others around them. Overconfidence is what spurs drivers to speed or make unsafe lane changes which leads to poor judgment that can cause a car accident.

Overconfidence in abilities and multitasking causes driver errors by impairing driver decision and splitting attention.

Regardless of what causes driver error, the important thing to take away from all of this is that driver error is something that can be completely prevented:

Follow the speed limit. Don’t text and drive. Don’t drive while buzzed or drunk. Pull over if you’re falling asleep at the wheel. Use your signals while changing lanes.

Personal injuries sustained from car accidents can have a lasting impact on you and your family. Aside from the physical injuries inflicted the trauma of a car accident will likely stay with you. In extreme cases, there have been studies of car accident victims suffering symptoms similar to PTSD following a car accident. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident due to driver error, contact our Las Vegas car accident attorneys today for help on your case.

Our Las Vegas auto accident attorneys will be able to refer you to medical professionals to get the care and treatment you need and deal with the insurance companies in your stead. For most of our personal injury cases we work on a contingency fee basis meaning you don’t pay a dime. Our fees will be collected from the amount of your recovery. Drummond Law Firm is a highly experienced law firm in personal injury matters both in settlement and litigation.

Assault & battery are two similar but different crimes of violence. The penalties for assault & battery depend on the level of the assault or battery. In order to determine the difference between the two, you should have a general knowledge of what defines assault and battery.

In Las Vegas, criminal defense lawyers define assault as a threat to harm, but no physical contact or violence against the victim. Assault charges are typically based on the defendant inflicting the fear of imminent harm to the victim. In contrast to assault, battery is much more serious due to the intentional use of force to harm another person. Battery charges are based on the violence and harm inflicted on the victim by the defendant. There are three levels to assault & battery:

• Simple
• Aggravated
• Felony

Penalties for assault & battery depend upon the severity of the offense and whether a weapon was used during the encounter. The severity of each offense is listed above with simple being the less severe and felony being the most severe. As our Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer can attest, the use of a weapon in an assault & battery case in Nevada will yield stricter, harsher penalties, a longer prison sentence, and a much larger fine. Below, you’ll find a brief outline of the penalties for assault & battery. If you’ve been charged with assault or battery, contact our Las Vegas Criminal Defense lawyer today for help with your case.

Penalties for Assault in Nevada

• Assault without a weapon is considered a misdemeanor and may result in a $1000.00 fine and/or six months in jail.
• Assault with a weapon is considered a felony and may result in a prison sentence of 1-6 years and/or a $5000.00 fine.

Penalties for Battery in Nevada

• Battery without a weapon and no considerable harm done to the victim may result in a prison sentence of 6 months and/or a $1000.00 fine.
• Battery without a weapon but with considerable harm done to the victim may result in a prison sentence of up to five years and/or a $10,000.00 fine.
• Battery with a weapon and no substantial harm to the victim may result in a prison sentence of up to ten years and/or a $10,000.00 fine.
• Battery with a weapon and considerable harm to the victim may result in a prison sentence of up to fifteen years and/or a $10,000.00 fine.

If you’ve been charged with assault or battery in Nevada, it’s important that you act quickly and consult with a Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer on your case in order to get the best outcome possible. At the Drummond Firm, our attorneys are licensed to practice law in all Nevada State and Federal courts. We have the trial and negotiation experience you need to successfully defend you and your interests. Our fees are fair and reasonable and we accept credit cards and payment plans. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call today to schedule a one-on-one with our Las Vegas Criminal defense attorney.

As a successful Nevada Military lawyer, attorney Craig W. Drummond has been recognized as a military law expert for different organizations and media outlets. One of the few questions he’s often asked is to define military law and explain what it covers. For the benefit of the readers, our Nevada Military defense attorneys will be covering the basics of military law and what it entails.

Military law is defined as the legal structures that govern military personnel. These structures entail service member’s conduct during training or active duty. Military law can be divided into three major factors: criminal justice, protection of service members and their families, and lastly, reemployment after military service. Military law covers a number of related practice areas such as International law, criminal law, and even employment law. These areas tend to cross paths with military law due to the actions of service members. For example, military criminal law would cover service members committing war crimes, while military employment law would cover service members transitioning back into working civilians after their service term is over.

Service members are governed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice during their training or active duty. The code provides a detailed list of what service members are allowed to do within the military and violation of the code typically results in a court martial, which is a proceeding dictated by military law. Punishment for the code violation depends on the severity of the service members actions. Depending on the severity of the violation, service members may be given a dishonorable discharge which is the most severe punishment within the military. During a court martial or a dishonorable discharge, most service members will be granted representation from a JAG corps attorney. While service members have the option of hiring a civilian attorney, it would be best to hire a JAG corps certified attorney due to their familiarity with military law. Members of the JAG corps represent service members before court-martials, dishonorable discharges, and other instances.

Nevada Military Lawyer Craig W. Drummond practices military law based on the Uniform Code of Military Justice and is part of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. If you are facing trial by court martial, it’s in your best interest to get represented by a military lawyer with a proven record. You need an attorney who will fight aggressively on your behalf. You need a lawyer who has experience in military law. You need Nevada Military Lawyer Craig W. Drummond. Contact us today to discuss your case.

In today’s blog post, our Henderson criminal defense lawyer will cover the Miranda rights and how to properly invoke your right to silence an attorney.

So, what are Miranda Rights and what do they do?

You’ve probably heard them all before on any crime drama involving police. Once a suspect is caught, the officer says, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney…”

Miranda rights allow the defendant/suspect to stay silent when targeted by police for questioning. Miranda rights require law enforcement officers to inform arrested suspects of their rights:

• Right to stay silent
• Right to consult a criminal defense lawyer
• Right to have a lawyer present during questioning
• Right to free representation of a lawyer if one cannot be afforded

One of the misconceptions our criminal defense lawyers in Henderson come across is the notion that staying silent automatically invokes your right to silence. It’s confusing, but staying silent doesn’t necessarily mean you’re invoking your rights to silence. Because of this misconception, law enforcement officers interrogating unknowing suspects can sometimes point to a suspect’s silence as an evidence of guilt.

In order to invoke your Miranda rights, rule of thumb is that you should explicitly state that your silence is not admittance of guilt, but that you’re invoking your Miranda rights. Miranda rights were created in order to protect suspects; however, some law enforcement officers have found ways around Miranda Rights in order to get suspects to unknowingly harm their case. One technique some officers may use is by questioning suspects after letting them know that they aren’t under arrest and are free to leave. It’s a psychological tactic used in order to lower the suspect’s guard. Since this is typically stated within the interrogation room, suspects are still slightly pressured to stay and answer questions due to feeling intimidated.

Whether you’ve been criminally charged or have been arrested for something else entirely and want to invoke your Miranda rights, remember to explicitly state that you choose to stay silent and invoke your Miranda rights. Don’t make the faulty assumption that staying silent means you’ve invoked your rights.

The best defense when you’re criminally charged is to request for a criminal defense lawyer to help inform you of your rights and protect your interests. If you’ve been charged in Henderson contact us as soon as possible. Our criminal defense attorneys are licensed to practice law in all Nevada State and Federal Courts. With our extensive trial and negotiation experience, we’ll be able to walk you through your case and inform you of what you should and shouldn’t say.

Have you or a loved one been charged with domestic violence? Domestic violence charges can be difficult for the accused and their family, and often have lifelong implications, even if found not guilty.

A domestic violence crime is the purposeful infliction of harm upon another person living in the same residence. The other person can be a spouse, family member, child, or cohabitant, and the action can be any threat or violence of a physical and/ or emotional nature that causes a traumatic condition in the victim. Most commonly the charged individual is a male, although domestic violence charges are brought regardless of gender. The violence usually involves one individual forcing dominance over the other.

Because of the violent and cruel nature of these crimes, the court usually rules mercilessly on the accused. Flimsy evidence and fabricated testimonies will hold a lot of weight, so that even completely innocent parties end up with lifelong consequences. We recommend that you bring your case to Drummond & Nelson immediately so we can start building a strong case for you as soon as possible.

If you are innocent and facing domestic violence charges, know that there is always hope. Don’t allow yourself to be convicted for a crime you didn’t commit. Your act may have been in self-defense, which is a defensible argument in court that could limit your charges or have them dropped completely. On the other hand, without professional legal assistance, you could get convicted for more serious charges like assault with a deadly weapon or felony charges. By getting in contact with Drummond & Nelson today, you can take control of the situation before it gets out of hand and has permanent consequences for your life.

Drummond & Nelson is highly experienced in all kinds of criminal defense cases, and has handled many domestic violence cases. We bring expertise and tenacity to each case and are committed to the defense of our clients’ rights. Call today for a free consultation and learn how our attorneys can help you.

The words assault and battery are considered synonyms by some, but under the law in Nevada they are in fact two separate crimes. Both involve intentionally harming someone, but battery is defined by the actual act of physical violence, while assault can only indicate a threat of violence or physical harm. Causing someone to fear for their lives or be scared of being purposely hurt is no joke and the law reflects that.

Aggravated assault refers to the most severe instances of assault. Instances of aggravated assault that are often in the news are those where elderly people are abused by their caretakers or nursing home attendants. Cases that involve weapons or rape can also fall under the umbrella of aggravated assault. These are all crimes that if convicted will have serious consequences for all parties involved.

Have you been charged with assault in Las Vegas?

Depending on the severity of the crime the state alleges you committed, you can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. If convicted you may have to pay heavy fines, do probation, or serve jail time. What would your family do if you went to jail? Even if you serve your time, an assault conviction on your record can prevent you from getting a job, renting an apartment, and doing other things that require background checks. Not to mention the effect it will have on your personal relationships and how you are perceived by others. There is no escaping the stigma of this charge, as it may stay on your record for many years.

Don’t jeopardize your future because you think you’re competent enough to fight this by yourself. The attorneys at the Drummond Law Firm, P.C. have worked with numerous assault cases in Vegas over the years, and they know what it takes to fight such charges. Let us put our legal experience and expertise to work for you so you can get back to living your life. Call us today at (702) 366-9966 for a free consultation.

Do you know your rights when it comes to dealing with the police? For starters, do not consent to any searches of your house, vehicle, yourself, or any property you may own.

Although the Fourth Amendment preserves your rights against unlawful search and seizure, your rights are restricted during a DUI stop. Specifically, your right to refuse being tested for drugs or alcohol is very limited. Despite being tested, do keep in mind that if you are asked about your consumption of controlled substances or alcohol, you are not lawfully obligated to answer.

If you have been arrested you may feel hopeless, but remember that it is the state’s responsibility to prove that you are guilty. An arrest does not mean an automatic guilty verdict. They will need to spend a lot of time and resources to make their case, and even then they might not be able to prove your guilt. Speak with a criminal defense attorney before pleading guilty to any kind of criminal charges. You do not want to unnecessarily jeopardize your future because you entered the wrong plea.

When the police try to talk to you about your participation in a criminal act, the expression “mum’s the word” applies. Be especially careful to not have a sudden outburst, as they will note whatever you say.  Do not make a statement to them if you are put under questioning, instead ask to speak with your attorney first.

Speaking of attorneys, do you have one that has experience with criminal defense cases? The Drummond Law Firm is here to help you if you are involved with a criminal case. We will inform you of your rights and instruct you on the best actions at every turn. If your case goes to trial, we show up to court prepared, informed, and ready to fight on your behalf. There is no reason you shouldn’t have an experienced criminal defense lawyer do everything possible to garner a favorable outcome for you and your family.

Craig Drummond is a Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyer who has years of experience in the Nevada courts. At Drummond Law Firm, we know the system and the best practices for helping our clients fight criminal charges. Call us today for a consultation at (702) 366-9966.

If you have been in an accident, odds are that bills are piling up and you have no way of going to work. Your injuries and suffering could be the result of a car accident, an unfortunate incident at work, or another even that has caused a personal injury. If that is the case, you deserve compensation so that you can recover and move on from the situation. Accident attorney Craig Drummond and his team are determined to help you achieve the best outcome. That means they will do all the investigative work in your case and take the appropriate steps to secure compensation for you.
There are many types of personal injury accidents, including but not limited to:

• Injuries from using defective products
• Hazardous or toxic material exposure
• Workmen’s compensation
• Industrial accidents
• Accidents caused by drunk drivers
• Bad faith insurance claims
• Spinal cord injuries
• Aircraft accident injuries
• Train collisions
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Fender-benders
• Boating accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Railroad collisions
• Head injuries
• Kid’s accidents
• Denied wrongfully insurance benefits
• Construction disasters
• Roadway issues
• Trip and fall
• Prescription drug injuries

The insurance companies all have teams of expert attorneys, so why shouldn’t you? You have no chance going against them without lawyers who know how the other side operates. When you hire the Drummond Law Firm, you can trust that we will advise you on the best way to proceed with your case. You will be kept informed through the entire process as we fight to get you compensated. In addition, we also have a large network of medical providers to refer you to if you need medical treatment.

At this point you are probably curious as to how attorney payment works. Before beginning work on your case we will explicitly state every aspect of how you will collect your settlement and how we will get paid. We always strive to be fair to our clients and make sure they know how the contingency fee payment plan works. Contingency fee injury lawyers only collect a fee when you receive a settlement from your case. To get justice for your personal injury case without paying upfront legal fees, call the Drummond Law Firm today.

You may not feel this way now, but you must know that an arrest is not an automatic “guilty” verdict. Odds are that you feel hopeless. You might have been told you failed the field sobriety test, or the chemical test showed you had a BAC at or above 0.08%. It may seem impossible, but you can still fight your DUI charge even if these things happened.

Don’t try to get through this by yourself; hire experts who know what to do next. After all, every person is unique and subsequently there are plenty of factors that influence your case. This can include prior arrests and convictions (if any) and the nature of your alleged crime. Even the courthouse where your case is assigned will have some effect on its turnout.

There is no doubt that DUI/Driving Under the Influence conviction will have a severely negative impact on your life. Such a conviction will have varying consequences, including but not limited to suspension or revocation of your license, heavy fines, mandatory alcohol-education classes, cancellation or increase of cost for auto insurance, prison, and an interlock device on your car’s ignition. Seeing that public transportation is severely lacking in Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding areas, you will have a difficult time getting around without driving privileges. How are you supposed to get to work with a suspended license? After your license is suspended and you can’t get to work, how will you afford the fines and the increase to your auto insurance? A DUI is going to seriously impact your entire personal life, not to mention your career.

Our attorneys will fight DUI charges however they can, whether that is in the courtroom or at hearings. Based on the facts of your case we will carefully plan out the best course of action and craft a solid defense. Every aspect of your situation will be looked at. We will examine what the police pulled you over, the circumstances surrounding your field sobriety test, and the reliability of the breathalyzer. We have access to extensive research into the science of breathalyzers and how police use them during DUI arrests. Don’t you want to hire a team that knows how to develop a solid case for you based on legitimate scientific evidence?

A Las Vegas DUI attorney from our team will know the best way to get your charges dropped or reduced. This is because they know all the ways to demonstrate a weakness in the prosecutor’s case, whether that is because the breathalyzer was not entirely functional, the traffic stop lacked sufficient cause, alcohol absorption was not enough to show you were impaired, or many other factors we have experience proving.

Don’t leave your case up to chance. If you or a loved one is facing a DUI charge, we implore you to call our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys immediately at (702) 366-9966.