A crash between a motorcycle and a vehicle closed East Lake Mead Boulevard for several hours, according to the North Las Vegas Police Department’s report, and sent two people to the hospital, one with critical injuries. According to police sources, a motorcycle that was eastbound on Lake Mead Boulevard collided with a vehicle at the intersection with Wilkinson Way. Both passengers on the motorcycle were transported to the University Medical center. The female passenger, 20, is in critical condition and the male operator, 26, was said to have non-life-threatening injuries. The driver is in stable condition. Police believe the driver may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol and speeding at the time of the crash. The investigation into the crash continues, and police have released no information at this point on any pending charges.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: A DEADLY PATTERN

DUI accidents account for a large number of deaths and injuries in Nevada each year. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, DUI fatalities involving an accident with at least one driver with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher in 2012 numbered 82, represented 32 percent of all traffic deaths. This was a 17 percent increase over 2011’s figures. Furthermore, police made many DUI arrests that did not involve death or injury in the same time period. More than 14,800 people were arrested for DUI, costing the taxpayers of Nevada an estimated $442 million in expenses. Nevada does not report information on multiple DUI arrests but if the state follows the national average, many of the drivers arrested for DUI have had at least one previous conviction. This makes DUI a major safety issue for all drivers in the state and can contribute to a great number of deaths and injuries of innocent victims. When a driver hurts or kills someone in a DUI crash, that driver may be responsible for the damages. The attorneys at Bernstein & Poisson in Las Vegas are ready to help the victims of DUI crashes. These victims may be entitled to payment of their medical bills and lost wages as well as sums for pain and suffering. Families of those killed by drunk drivers may be entitled to other damages as the result of a wrongful death lawsuit. Contact the compassionate and experienced personal injuries at Bernstein & Poisson in Las Vegas today for more information about your case.