Cliven Bundy, the rancher who made the news recently with his protest against government agencies attempting to charge him for grazing his cattle on public property, is now the subject of a lawsuit by a woman who says she was injured when her car hit one of Bundy's cows. According to police reports, Danielle Beck, 34, and her boyfriend Matthew Zannatta, were traveling on Interstate 15 when they collided with a cow that had apparently walked onto the road through a hole in a nearby fence. Four other cows were also in the roadway at the time of the collision. The cow was killed by the impact, and the couple was rushed to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained when their car spiralled down an embankment. Beck is seeking at least $20,000 in damages for medical bills and other costs. Responding to the lawsuit, Bundy claims that he is not responsible for Beck's injuries as repairing the fence was the responsibility of the state of Nevada. The land alongside Interstate 15 where the crash occurred is owned by the state.
LIABILITY IN A CAR ACCIDENT CASE
In any car accident case, there may be multiple possible avenues of liability to explore. For example, in this case, there may be liability on the part of Bundy, who freely admits the cow that caused the accident was his. There may also be liability on the part of the state, whose responsibility it is to maintain the fencing on the side of the road next to the Interstate. Finally, the driver herself may have some degree of responsibility for the crash if she was speeding or distracted at the time of the accident. In order to sort out the various types of liability in a complicated case, it is important to have the facts. Police reports, eyewitness testimony and other evidence can be important in showing who is really at fault in a car crash, so it is very important to gather as much data as possible after an accident. The experienced attorneys at High Stakes Injury Law in Las Vegas can help. We understand how important it is to preserve evidence and seek testimony from unbiased sources after a car crash. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recover compensation for your injuries, beginning with a free consultation to discuss your case.