You may have noticed news reports today saying that gas is expected to top $5 per gallon this summer. While demand and speculation are key drivers in the price of oil (the component of gasoline that is 55% of the price you pay at the pump), the average consumer is almost powerless to affect a change in that price. There are, however, several things you can do now in order to drive smarter.

Pressure & Plugs: Make sure your tires are at the correct pressure and that the spark plugs in your car are working properly. Incorrect tire pressure is the biggest culprit in gas wasting while driving.

Planning: Having a plan of exactly where you are going will limit wasted time and gas.

Bikes & Busses: There are several ways you can actually use your car less. For example, look for opportunities to carpool or take the bus. Also, consider combining trips. There are times when I will go to Costco one day and Albertsons the next. By combining these two trips I won’t have to drive every day. Furthermore, you could walk between stops, something that is especially easy with the number of strip malls here in Las Vegas. Our favorite way to limit driving, of course, is to ride a bike. Commuting to work on a bicycle not only saves gas, it also keeps you physically fit!

Cars Don’t Snack: Besides regularly changing the oil and keeping the tires inflated, you may consider only filling up with gas when your gauge reads ¼ full. Constant trips to the pump only increase drive time. Also, a full gas tank is heavier than one that is half empty, meaning that you burn more gas by accelerating. Cars like one big meal of gasoline at a time.

Speed Kills: Speeding not only increases your chances of crashing, badly, but it also kills your budget. With traffic signals on our roads, you are almost guaranteed to arrive at your destination at the same time as your non-speeding compatriot. The only difference is that you’ll spend more time waiting for the light to turn green. Also, after around 40mph the air resistance becomes a greater force than rolling resistance, meaning that it takes even more energy (gas) to go faster or maintain that fast speed.

Cruise in the Shade: Finally, use your cruise control and park in the shade. Driving at a constant speed will limit the amount of fuel you burn. And parking the in shade will limit the amount of gas that evaporates from your car on hot days, something that is especially true during Vegas summers.

Using these tips will not only save you money, they will also help keep you safe out on the road. If, however, a careless driver injures you in an accident, please do not hesitate to call. We will evaluate your case free of charge and work tirelessly to help you get the payment you need to move forward.

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

As parents, one of our top priorities is keeping our children safe. We cover electrical outlets, lock cupboards, give lectures, and wake up in the middle of the night just to make sure we’re still doing a good job. One important area that often gets overlooked, however, is the proper and safe use of car seats. What follows is an outline of standards from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on the installation and use of car seats for infants and toddlers.

Rear-Facing Seats (Infants / Toddlers < 40lbs):

The AAP recommends that until a child is two years old, he or she should be placed in a rear-facing car seat. Most rear-facing car seats have a weight ceiling of right around 40lbs, which means that at that weight, a child should graduate to the next type of seat. Rear-facing seats should be installed tightly in the vehicle. If you can move the seat more than an inch in any one direction, then it is too loose. Make sure that a rear-facing seat is never installed in the front seat of a car with an active air bag.

The harness that holds your baby in the seat should have the shoulder straps installed so that they are just below the shoulders. Furthermore the harness should be snug, with the harness clip placed mid-chest level. The seat should be reclined enough that your infant’s head does not flop forward. If needs be, you can put a rolled towel under one side of the seat to tilt it in the desired direction.

Forward-Facing Seats (Toddlers / Preschoolers):

Once your child outgrows the rear-facing seat, he or she will graduate to a forward-facing seat. The AAP recommends that this not happen until the child is at least 2 years old or has outgrown the rear-facing seat. Forward-facing seats should again be tightly installed. And since every car manufactured after September 2000 comes with tether anchors, this is usually not difficult.

For forward-facing seats, the shoulder straps should be slotted above your child’s shoulders, which is opposite of what you did when your child was rear facing. The harness strap will again be placed mid-chest and the straps should fit snugly.

Booster Seats (School-Aged Children):

Until your child is roughly 4’9” tall (8 to 12 years old), he or she should be in a booster seat. Booster seats use the car’s safety belt to secure the child, but precautions must be taken. First, the safety belt must fit snugly across the top of the child’s upper thighs. Second, the shoulder belt should come across the child’s chest and shoulder, so that he or she is restrained in a similar manner as an adult passenger.

Other Considerations & Resources:

It is important to remember that a higher price or a fancier look does not mean that the car seat is safer. The best seat for your child is the one that fits your child and your vehicle, is properly installed, and correctly used every time you drive. It is best to avoid used car seats if you aren’t familiar with the seat’s history. Many car seats have been recalled over the years (see www.safecar.gov for more information) and a seat that was previously involved in an accident may be damaged to the point of being truly unsafe.

The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA) provides a series of videos that detail safe installation of car seats. The NHSTA also provides a list of locations where car seats can be inspected and, if necessary, reinstalled correctly. Here is a link to the sites in Nevada.

The David Francis Law Firm hopes that you and your children are protected while driving. If you or your child has been injured in an accident, please call us today for a free consultation.

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury and death in Southern Nevada for children 4 years old and under. That’s a grim statistic and certainly one that shouldn’t be ignored. Furthermore, most drowning accidents occur in a family, backyard pool between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Preventing these types of accidents, however, is as easy as ABC.

A – Adult Supervision

Constant adult supervision is an absolute necessity when young children and water are part of the equation. Pools, bathtubs, rivers, lakes, oceans, and even toilets can be deadly to kids who are unsupervised.

B – Barriers

Having a physical barrier between the child and the body of water provides an additional layer of protection against drowning. Remember that fences should be high enough (at least 60 inches) and unable to be climbed or penetrated. Gates should be self-closing and self-locking. And doors or windows leading to a pool or body of water should always be locked.

C – Classes

Both swimming classes for kids and CPR classes for adults are a must if you are the owner of a pool, spa, or boat.

Preventing accidents from occurring is our top goal in presenting this information. However, in the event of unintentional injury or death as the result of drowning or near-drowning, it is imperative that you know your rights. During such an emotional and traumatic time, hiring an attorney may be the furthest thing from your mind. But one call to the David Francis Law Firm will go a long way in helping you and your loved ones receive the financial compensation needed to be able to fully focus on physical or emotional healing.

If you or a loved one is the victim of a drowning accident, please call the David Francis Law Firm today for a free consultation.

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

It may come as no surprise that seat belts save lives. Besides helping to keep you inside your vehicle during a crash, seat belts also give you greater control over your vehicle while traveling rough roads or in treacherous conditions. Seat belts should be worn at all times and in all situations. It is true, after all, that 70% of all accidents occur within ten miles of your home.

So, knowing that buckling up will save lives, why do people choose not to use seat belts and what is being done about it? First things first: we here at The David Francis Law Firm have no idea why people don’t use seat belts. We do, however, have a couple of theories. First, it may have something to do with people’s fashion sensibilities. Since seat belts only come in bland colors, without any sort of pattern, certain individuals may cringe at the thought of something clashing with the outfit they are wearing. You know, something like a black belt and brown shoes!

The other reason people may not wear seat belts could have something to do with a propensity towards risky behavior. Base jumping!  Extreme skiing! Nachos from that hole-in-the-wall place on the wrong side of town! Driving without a seat belt!!! Yeah, we know it’s silly and so should you. Yet people still drive and do not buckle up. It’s a problem that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has taken to heart with a campaign called “Click it or Ticket.”

Initially introduced in 1993 in the southeast and then introduced nationwide in 2004, the “Click it or Ticket” campaign is the most successful seatbelt campaign ever, increasing seatbelt usage by over 20%. In real terms, that’s a 13% reduction in the occurrence of automobile related fatalities.

“Click it or Ticket” aims to further reduce the occurrence of automobile related deaths by getting you and me to simply buckle up. This May 21^st through June 3^rd police officers around the country will be out to remind all drivers, especially teenagers and young adults, that driving without a seat belt is against the law. Fines for driving without a seat belt vary by state (here in Nevada that fine is $25), but what’s most important about the “Click it or Ticket” campaign is that it’s working.

As personal injury and accident attorneys here in Las Vegas, it is our job to get you the compensation you deserve. We work hard for our clients and fight for their rights. Sadly, when a person is involved in an automobile accident and is not wearing a seat belt, both the injury and the representation can become more complicated. Insurance companies will be the first to argue that injuries received from a crash would not have been as bad had a seat belt been worn. They then spread the culpability, making it more difficult for full compensation to be recovered. For your safety and for the safety of those around you, please remember to wear your seat belt. As that catchy, old jingle goes, “Show the world you care by the belt you wear!”

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, call The David Francis Law Firm today for a free consultation.

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

You may not know that riding a bicycle is the most efficient means of travel available. Seriously, there is nothing else out there that offers a similar energy tradeoff. For example, while the average cyclist can travel three miles on 100 calories, a car can only travel 280 feet! Yes, bicycles are truly great and can provide us with not only a means of transportation, but also a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts. Everyone who has ridden a bike can agree with former U.S. President John F. Kennedy when he said, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.”

What we intuitively know, however, is that cars are heavier than bicycles. In fact, it would take about 200 bikes to equal the mass of just one car. And when bicycles and cars “share the road” it is clear that the cyclist has the most to lose.

There are laws in place that motorists must follow to keep riders safe. Oftentimes, though, these laws are not adhered to and flimsily enforced. To add insult to injury, the police often find no fault when a cyclist is hit, even when there is serious injury or death. For that reason, it is imperative that the best representation be sought. Trying to handle a claim with the insurance company without the aid of an attorney will yield the same results as trying to win the Indy 500 on your ten-speed!

If you or a loved one has been injured in a biking accident, call the David Francis Las Firm today for a free consultation.

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

The below image beautifully summarizes the most tragic reality of the dangers associated with driving an automobile. Compiled from data collected by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), UCLA Ph.D candidate Nathan Yau has provided a window into the occurrence of fatal traffic accidents here in the United Sates. There are two important things that can be taken away from this snapshot. One, warm weather weekends prove to be the most dangerous to drivers. And two, even though there are times that are statistically more hazardous for motorists, fatal traffic accidents occur throughout the country at any given time.

This image is a somber reminder that serious traffic accidents can happen anywhere at any time. We here at the David Francis Law Firm do not want you or your loved ones to become just another number on a spreadsheet. Beyond the physical and emotional losses that occur in a serious accident, there are deep financial repercussions as well. With your best interests at heart, the attorneys at David Francis Law Firm will work tirelessly to amend the financial damage an accident can have so that you can focus more fully on repairing the physical and emotional loss.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, please contact the David Francis Law Firm for a free consultation.

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

As Las Vegas Accident Attorneys, we specialize in Las Vegas motorcycle accidents. Because of this specialization we see the horrible effects that individuals involved in motorcycle accidents experience on a daily basis.

Vital tips for Motorcycle safety include:

1. Assume You are Invisible: Pretend that you are completely invisible to other drivers and ride accordingly.
2. Make Eye Contact with other drivers: The most important aspect of motorcycle safety is to be seen by other drivers. When you make eye contact, then you know you are being seen. If you don’t, then your chances of being hit are increased and that is your cue to take precautions.
2. Anticipate Trouble: If you can analyze what other drivers are doing, and predict the outcome of their movements, you are much less likely to be caught off-guard and get in an accident.
3. Beware of Left Turns: One of the most fatal accident types that Motorcycle Riders face consistently is oncoming motorists that make left turns in front of them. Slow down before you enter intersections and be extra alert for these types of turns.
4. Avoid weaving between lanes.
5. Get formal training and take refresher courses.

One of the most innovative new ways that science and technology is trying to keep riders safe is through inflatable motorcycle jackets. These jackets have built-in airbags and are able to inflate in less than a 1/10 of a second. They are already being tested with awesome results. Check out this quick ABC video report for more info.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured and needs a Las Vegas Accident Attorney, please contact the David Francis Law Firm for your free case consultation.

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

Tags: Las Vegas Accident Attorneys

Tags: Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney

Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This brings us many benefits (like strengthening our economy), but it also presents a lot of challenges. For example, a high percentage of tourists driving in our city means a high percentage of drivers who are not familiar with our streets, locations they are looking for, or even our laws (international tourists). As specialists in Las Vegas Car Accidents, we know that driving in this city can be dangerous. We decided to do something about it. Here is a map we’ve created to show you where the most dangerous intersections in Las Vegas are located.

(Click Here to View in Google Maps)

If you, or someone you know, has been injured in a Las Vegas Car Accident, please contact the David Francis Law Firm for your free case consultation.

Tags: Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney