The following is only a sampling of some of this year’s newspaper headlines related to drownings in the Las Vegas valley: “Vegas Boy Dies After Near-Drowning;” “Las Vegas Woman Charged In Daughter’s Drowning;” “Henderson Girl, 2, Drowns In Home Swimming Pool;” “4-Year-Old Boy Drowns In Las Vegas Pool.” In total, there have actually been eight drownings in the Las Vegas valley this year alone. And Drowning continues to be the leading cause of unintentional injury death in Clark County for children four years of age and under. Read the rest of this entry »

Nevada’s Drunk Driving Fatality Rates are well above the National average, and a 2009 report from the National Center for Disease Control says Washoe County has the dubious honor of being first in the nation for “heavy drinkers.” Approximately one-third of all highway deaths in Clark County were attributable to drunk driving in the Las Vegas area, in 2007. This percentage increases, nationwide, on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day. According to National Highway Traffic Statistics, alcohol-related crashes increase approximately 5% above the national average on this day of celebration. Read the rest of this entry »

For many of us we think of our spouses and about happy times spent together. A husband and wife’s relationship is one of the most important and special relationships which requires effort, patience, and love to survive and grow.

We at Mainor Eglet Cottle often speak with the spouse of an injured victim. Non-injured spouses express concerns about how an injury to his or her spouse has negatively affected the marital relationship. We often hear sentiments like “We used to be active and loved spending time outdoors, but with my wife’s injury we just don’t go out anymore” or “We are not as close as we were before my husband’s injury, he takes so much medication and is always in pain; he just isn’t the same” or “Because of this tragedy, I have been left to care for everything and that has made us both stressed and very unhappy with our marriage.” Read the rest of this entry »

Personal Injury Settlements Generally Not Taxable

I have heard it been said that next to being shot at and missed, nothing is really quite as satisfying as an income tax refund. While almost all can appreciate that sentiment, I would take it one step further and add that nothing is quite as satisfying as not having to pay taxes in the first place.

It’s hard enough being injured, and then having to bring a lawsuit to obtain proper compensation and payments for your injuries. Can you imagine the impact it would have if you then had to pay income taxes on those monies? Thankfully, the government realized that injury settlements are not earned income. Rather, they compensate the injured victim for the pain, suffering, and disabilities they suffered at the hands of another’s carelessness. Accordingly, they generally, and rightfully, are not taxable. Read the rest of this entry »