Las Vegas Litigation Law Blog

Entrepreneurs in Nevada and elsewhere will need to know where they will get the capital needed to operate their companies. One option is to fund operations with a credit card in the owner's name. Ideally, the credit card will be used to buy materials or other costs that will be covered when a job is completed. Another option is to ask family members or friends to loan money or buy equity in the business.

Adding a trusted person as a partner could be a good idea if that person has a business background. Otherwise, it may be better to simply borrow money and repay it in regular installments. This can prevent another party from trying to gain control over the company based on the fact that he or she owns a stake in the business. Taking funds out of a savings account can be an effective way to get working capital with no questions asked.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill into law on June 3 that allows local authorities in the Silver State to authorize companies like Bird and Lime to operate electric scooter sharing programs. The skateboard-sized machines can travel at speeds of up to 15 mph and be rented for as little as $1, but they have also been linked to worrying rises in serious head injuries.

Detailed information about electric scooter injuries is sparse because the machines are relatively new. However, what data there is makes for sobering reading. Figures gathered by public officials in Texas and the Centers for Disease Control reveal that 192 scooter riders were injured in Austin in only three months in 2018, and a worrying 15% of them suffered traumatic brain injuries. A peer-reviewed study co-authored by a Los Angeles trauma doctor suggests that about 40% of the scooter riders who crash suffer some sort of head injury.

Though modern vehicles are safer than ever, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety believes that there is one area that could do with improvement: rear-seat safety. Nevada residents should know that the increase in ride-hailing services complicates matters. Studies show that more people neglect their seat belts when riding in hired vehicles than they do in their private vehicles.

The IIHS analyzed 117 crashes where a passenger in the back seat died or was seriously injured. A third of these victims suffered chest injuries while head injuries were reported for nine of the injured victims and 18 of the fatalities. Based on the same crash data, the organization has developed new crash tests, hoping to raise awareness of the situation.

People in Las Vegas may suffer unexpected accidents and injuries in the most unlikely of locations, including the parking lot of their workplace, shopping center or entertainment destination. Business owners have a responsibility to create a safe environment for their employees, customers and guests, and that responsibility extends to their parking lots and garages as well. Every year, over 50,000 car accidents take place in parking areas. These are not all small fender-benders; they are linked to over 500 annual deaths and 60,000 injuries.

There are a number of factors that can lead to unexpected danger in a parking lot. The danger of auto accidents is exacerbated when a parking lot is poorly planned and maintained. When businesses fail to post signage, paint arrows or define spaces, customers and employees are left to drive around looking for a space. Motor vehicle accidents are the predictable outcome of this type of mismanaged, poorly maintained lot. However, crashes are not the only serious risk to safety found in a parking lot. Guests may be at risk of criminal activity, including robbery or assault, if businesses fail to maintain proper lighting in their parking lots. Poorly lit areas or burned-out lights can attract dangerous activity to the lot.