When a fuel truck driver carelessly made a right-hand turn into a crosswalk before checking for pedestrians, the warm Las Vegas morning went quickly from serene – to tragic.
Jane Doe was riding her bike through the intersection when the fuel truck driver turned right into her, dragging her and her bike underneath the massive vehicle and causing fatal injuries. The driver claimed that he didn’t see Jane due to the morning sun, and because there was a bus in front of him blocking his view – so the traffic collision report initially held Jane accountable for the incident. Lawrence (Larry) J. Smith and Brett A. Carter of Bertaoldo Baker Carter & Smith came to the aid of Jane’s family to help unveil the truth, and prove that the truck driver was truly at fault.
To assist in illustrating the finer details, Larry and Brett called upon DK Global to work with their experts and bring clarity to this misfortune with a reconstruction animation.
Larry, Brett, and their experts meticulously gathered details to recreate the intersection where the accident took place. Data regarding the direction and lighting of the sun at the time of the incident was detailed into the reconstruction animation, showing the Defendant’s point of view. This critical component confirmed just how visible Jane was that morning, and how her death was completely avoidable. During mediation, Larry and Brett used the animation that DK Global created to prove the driver’s culpability, and to invalidate the Defense’s argument that the light blinded him, clearing Jane of all fault.
After presenting the animation and evidence to the Defense, Larry and Brett were able to secure a substantial, confidential settlement for Jane’s family, and compensate them for their irreplaceable loss.
Lawrence J. Smith is a respected attorney in the state of Nevada with over 20 years of experience as a trial lawyer, relentlessly advocating for his clients. As a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Lawrence has successfully recovered multiple multi-million-dollar verdicts in the name of his clients. Lawrence was selected into the prestigious Super Lawyers collection in 2019, recognized by his peers for his professional achievements and philanthropy.
Brett A. Carter has been recognized with a multitude of awards for his work within the personal injury field since practicing in 1996, including The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers. He is a recipient of America's Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement and actively participates in speaking engagements and produces publications sharing his knowledge and expertise. Brett is also a Multi-Million Dollars Advocate, Super Lawyers member, and serves as the Nevada Justice Association President who has also obtained multiple multi-million-dollar plaintiff's verdicts. Brett has recently been featured as one of Las Vegas' Top Lawyers by Real Vegas Magazine in 2019.
