Kevin M. Berry is a highly respected personal injury lawyer serving the entire Reno region, including Sparks, Carson City and throughout all of Washoe County. Since 1989, Attorney Berry has practiced almost exclusively in the area of personal injury, as well as business and insurance disputes. Attorney Kevin Berry’s law office aims to provide the best possible representation to personal injury accident victims within the following practice areas:

• Personal Injury
• Auto/Vehicle Accidents
• Aviation Accidents
• Defective Products
• Wrongful Death
• Premises Liability
• Pedestrian Injuries
• Bicycle Accidents

Kevin Berry has extensive experience trying cases before judges and juries in Washoe County courtrooms. He has also won significant settlements and verdicts in cases involving insurance bad faith and wrongful termination. Since the Reno legal community is a fairly tight-knit one, being a Reno native helps Attorney Berry to have a good working relationship with judges, doctors, insurance adjusters and other lawyers. Attorney Kevin Berry represents the client aggressively, while always maintaining civility toward opposing insurance adjusters and lawyers.

Before resorting to litigation, other alternative approaches toward resolving personal injury and other disputes, such as mediation and arbitration, are explored with the client before a lawsuit is filed. Even if a lawsuit is filed, these options are always left open to the client.  Kevin Berry has received formal training in mediation at the ADR Dispute Resolution Center in Boulder, Colorado, and believes strongly in the advantages of mediation over traditional litigation.

"All too often, the client is left in the dark about the procedural aspects of his or her case, causing needless worry and uncertainty. I will keep the client fully informed at all times, and let the client have a strong say in how he or she wishes to have their legal problem resolved."

- Reno Personal Injury Attorney Kevin M. Berry

Any potential client should make a fully informed decision about which lawyer is best qualified to handle your case, and should have at least a fundamental understanding of the civil legal process in Nevada before making the important decision of which lawyer to choose.

Anyone looking for an attorney will almost always find that the standard contingency fee charged by an attorney in one-third, regardless of the work actually done by the attorney. Quite often, however, Attorney Berry can negotiate a lower contingency fee depending on the complexity of the case, and will charge a lower fee if the case is resolved before it actually goes to trial, as the vast majority of litigated disputes are.

If you or someone you know in Reno, Nevada, or within the surrounding areas of Sparks, Carson City and Washoe County needs the assistance of an experienced serious injury lawyer, contact Kevin M. Berry, Attorney at Law, today at 866-716-5117, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Vehicle Accidents:
Legal claims that arise from vehicle accidents are typically governed by the law of negligence.  Any individual who negligently operates a motor vehicle may be required to pay damages to an injured victim.  A personal injury case involving a vehicle accident may become formalized through civil court proceedings or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed.  Vehicle accidents can include:

• admiralty and maritime law
• ATV accidents
• automobile accidents
• aviation accidents
• bicycle accidents
• boating accidents
• commercial bus accidents
• cruise ship accidents
• intersection accidents
• motorcycle accidents
• pedestrian accidents
• rear end collisions
• semi-tractor trailer accidents
• school bus accidents
• SUV rollover accidents
• train accidents
• truck accidents
• yacht accidents

The surviving family members of a fatally injured accident victim may be able to bring wrongful death charges against the defendant.

Automobile Accidents:
A car accident is a collision involving an automobile and anything that causes damage to the automobile, including other automobiles, telephone poles, buildings and trees. Sometimes a car accident may also refer to an automobile striking a human or animal. Car accidents — also called traffic collisions, auto accidents, road accidents, personal injury collisions, motor vehicle accidents and crashes — kill an estimated 1.2 million people worldwide each year, and injure about forty times this number.

Motorcycle Accidents:
Motorcycle riders are often exposed to dangers not met by automobile drivers and other motorists on the road.  The lack on any substantial protective barriers, as well as the difficulty that other motorists may have in seeing or stopping for a motorcycle, leaves riders prone to serious personal injury in the event of an accident.

Aviation Accidents:
Aviation accidents occur in a variety of different situations.  While the most common aviation accidents are those involving commercial airlines, many accidents occur with private airplanes, as well as commercial and private helicopters.  The leading causes of commercial airline accidents include engine failures, controlled flight into terrain, approach and landing, loss of control, runway incursions and weather (including turbulence).  Private or "general" aviation accidents can include controlled flight into terrain, weather, loss of control and runway incursions.  Aviation law governs the operation of aircraft and the maintenance of aviation facilities.  Both federal and state governments have enacted statutes and created administrative agencies to regulate air traffic.

In 1958, The Federal Aviation Act was passed establishing the Federal Aviation Agency.  There have been several subsequent acts passed by the federal government regulating aviation such as the Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970, and the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.  The main source for aviation law is federally based.  States are prohibited from regulating rates, routes, or services of any air carrier authorized under the Federal Aviation Act to provide interstate air transportation.  States are not prohibited, however, from enacting consistent laws, or from altering existing remedies under state law.

Defective Products:
Products liability refers to a manufacturer or seller being held liable for placing a defective product into the hands of a consumer.  Products liability cases may include defective or poorly designed machinery, tools, motor vehicle defects, recreational products, pharmaceuticals and other defective products and equipment.  A person injured by a defective or dangerous product may be eligible to file a lawsuit for product liability.  Damages can be recovered under one of the following categories:  strict products liability; negligence or breach of warranty.   

Wrongful Death:
A wrongful death occurs when a person is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual, company or organization.  A legal action for wrongful death belongs to the decedent's immediate family members, usually a surviving spouse and children, and sometimes parents.  Under certain circumstances, unrelated minor children living with and supported by the decedent may also bring a claim for wrongful death.  In order to bring a successful wrongful death cause of action, the following elements must be present:

• The death of a human being caused by another's negligent or intentional conduct.
• The survival of family members who are suffering the loss of financial support, love, care, comfort, supervision, guidance, household assistance and general society previously provided by the deceased.

The general rule in wrongful death cases is that one is entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages which are suffered as a result of the loss of a loved one.  Economic damages in a wrongful death case include an award for the financial contributions which the decedent would have made to his or her spouse, children and/or parents had he or she survived.  It also includes the recovery for funeral service expenses in memory of the decedent and for burial cost.  Non-economic damages include loss of love, society, companionship, comfort, affection, solace or moral support. 

Slip and Fall/Premises Liability:
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and can cause serious personal injury.  Most slip and falls happen in commercial settings, such as grocery stores, drug stores, office buildings, construction sites, gas stations and malls, but they also happen on private property.  Premises Liability accidents can include toxic exposure, animal attacks, swimming pool accidents and amusement park ride accidents.  In any event, there exist duties on the part of the property owners to maintain the property responsibly and avoid the existence of hazardous conditions.

Dangerous or defective conditions may be large or small, temporary or permanent.  Therefore, investigation of the claim is essential to a successful case.  Temporary conditions such as water on the floor of a grocery store, or snow and ice on the stairs of a restaurant need to be investigated quickly.

Bicycle Accidents:

According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 67,000 cyclists in the U.S. are injured every year in accidents involving motor vehicles.  Many cyclists who are injured in bicycle accidents are unaware that they have a personal injury case and that they may be entitled to compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills and lost incomes.  A cyclist may be entitled to receive compensation for an injury sustained because of a pothole, poor road or defective sidewalk.  There are state mandated residential and commercial bicycle laws, which entitle cyclists to observe different traffic rules than cars, trucks and other motorized vehicles.  This may mean that the cyclist is not legally responsible for an accident. 

Insurance Claims:
Insurance claims are a notice for reimbursement from an insurance company when the insured has suffered a loss that is covered under the insurance policy. Insurance companies cannot refuse to pay a customer's claim without "reasonable justification."  This means that an insurance company must engage in a reasonable investigation and pay legitimate claims in a timely manner.  If an insurance company fails to handle its customer's claim properly, it may be held accountable for resulting economic losses, including lost wages, interest on money the insured borrowed to cover expenses while insurance benefits were wrongfully withheld, and loss due to damaged credit.

If you or someone you know in Reno, Nevada, or within the surrounding areas of Sparks, Carson City and Washoe County needs the assistance of an experienced serious injury lawyer, contact Kevin M. Berry, Attorney at Law, today at 866-716-5117, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following information includes frequently asked personal injury questions. The answers stated are general in nature and are not intended to apply to every situation. Each case is different and carries its own set of circumstances which must be taken into consideration by competent legal counsel.  By contacting Attorney Kevin M. Berry at 866-716-5117, you can receive a personal consultation regarding your specific legal claim.

What financial compensation can I recover in a personal injury claim?
Personal injury accident victims are entitled to recover monetary damages for all losses and expenses sustained as the result of an accident.  Depending upon the particular circumstances of your case, damages may include recovery for any of the following:

• Medical Bills 
• Lost Income, including overtime wages 
• Pain & Suffering
• Physical Disability
• Disfigurement
• Emotional Trauma
• Mental Disability
• Property Damage

What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability generally refers to accidents that occur due to the negligent maintenance, or unsafe conditions upon property owned by someone other than the injured victim.  Landowners are required to maintain their property in a manner that does not cause injury to those that, for various reasons, visit the property.  This law pertains to both business owners and homeowners.  Crucial to a premises liability settlement is being able to show how long the defect or injury inflicting element was there, how visible it was, and how much notice the owner had of the dangerous condition before the accident.

What should I do if I've been injured in a slip & fall accident?
The first thing that a person should do if injured in a slip and fall accident is get medical attention if necessary.  If no medical attention is necessary, make sure the owner of the property is aware of the incident.  Most businesses and homeowners carry liability insurance to protect them in the event that someone is injured while on their property.  The owner or possessor of a residence, land, or place of business has the duty to exercise reasonable care for the protection of those individuals who are invited to come upon the premises; i.e. individuals visiting for business or pleasure.  In such cases, the owner, company or person must inspect the premises to discover any dangerous conditions and warn the invitee of dangers upon said premises.  Those injured by a negligent owner or possessor of a premise may recover damages for their injuries, including loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.

What is the Statute of Limitations?
Every state has certain time limits, called "statutes of limitations," that govern the period during which you must file a personal injury lawsuit.  In some states, for example, you may have as little as one year to file a lawsuit from an automobile accident.  When the statute of limitations expires on your case, you simply don't have a case anymore. Statutes of limitations differ not only from state to state, but also in regard to the kinds of lawsuits involved.  In some states, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice, suits against governmental agencies and wrongful death actions is shorter than that for other types of personal injury cases.  In general, however, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is from one to three years, and the time begins from the time of the accident.  There are some circumstances that will toll the statute of limitations such as if the harm is not discovered right away. 

How long will it take to settle my claim?
The time it takes to settle a personal injury case depends on the circumstances surrounding the case.  The more complex the case the longer it may take to settle.  A case can take anywhere from 3 to 18 months to settle depending on its complexity.

Can a wrongful death action be brought even if the deceased never held a job?
Yes.  Although the decedent never held a wage-earning job, he or she may have contributed in some other way to the family, such as a stay-at-home husband or wife who contributed services, guidance and nurturing.  These contributions are quantifiable under "pecuniary losses" and can be sought in a wrongful death lawsuit.

What is the difference between murder and wrongful death?
Wrongful death is a civil claim brought in the name of individuals and is tried for money damages.  Murder is a criminal charge brought in the name of the State and is tried to put the defendant in prison.

How much does Attorney Kevin Berry charge for personal injury or wrongful death counsel?
Attorney Kevin Berry has very competitive prices--which fall within the range of the industry standard--and tailors fee arrangements for each client's needs.  Due to the nature of law, each case is unique and his Firm supplies various fee structures to accommodate each client and each client's case based upon:

• Contingency
• Retainer
• Deposits
• Set Fees
• Billable unit rates or any combination of the above

Attorney Kevin Berry gives every case individual attention and will work with you to find the best rate plan.  There will be no hidden costs.  You will be informed of the fees for your case during your first meeting with Mr. Berry.

Professional Profile

If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of someone else's negligence and needs the assistance of an experienced Reno, Nevada personal injury lawyer, contact Attorney Kevin M. Berry today at 866-716-5117, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

FIRM ADDRESS:
Kevin M. Berry, Attorney at Law
247 Court Street, Suite A
Reno, NV. 89501
Hours: M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM
After hours appointments available

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:
Kevin M. Berry, Attorney

EDUCATION:

• University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1988
• University of Nevada, Reno, B.S., Accounting, 1981
• ADR Associates, Boulder, CO, Mediation Training

COURTS ADMITTED:

• Nevada, 1988

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

• Nevada Trial Lawyers Association
• American Trial Lawyers Association
• Washoe County Bar Association
• Alternate Dispute Resolution Section, Nevada State Bar

PRACTICE AREAS:

• Personal Injury
• Auto/Vehicle Accidents
• Aviation Accidents
• Defective Products
• Wrongful Death
• Premises Liability
• Pedestrian Injuries
• Bicycle Accidents

Kevin Berry was born and raised in Reno, and received a degree in accounting from the University of Nevada in 1981 and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1988. Prior to attending law school, Kevin Berry was a staff assistant to Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt in Washington, D.C. Since 1989, he has practiced almost exclusively in the area of personal injury, as well as business and insurance disputes. Attorney Berry believes strongly in protecting the rights of ordinary citizens against wrongful acts of corporations and insurance companies. While Attorney Berry has considerable trial experience, the possibilities of resolving a dispute through mediation or arbitration are always explored before a lawsuit is filed.  Kevin Berry believes strongly in helping the client become fully informed about all of the options available before a decision is made how best to resolve a legal problem.