Posted on 09/18/2014 9:35:33 AM PDT by redreno
On April 12, a triumphant Cliven Bundy and his supporters chased away federal authorities and set the rancher’s impounded cattle free once more to roam public land in northeast Clark County.
Two days later, a car collided with one of Bundy’s cows on Interstate 15, about 10 miles from his Bunkerville ranch, killing the animal and sending the vehicle careening down an embankment.
Now a Las Vegas woman injured in the crash is suing Bundy for negligence.
The lawsuit filed Sunday in Clark County District Court alleges Bundy “recklessly, carelessly and negligently allowed his cows to enter onto Interstate 15 through an area where he had no grazing or other rights.”
Danielle Beck is seeking at least $20,000 for medical expenses, lost income and other damages.
“She’s lucky she lived,” said Bob Apple, Beck’s Las Vegas lawyer. “I’ve been practicing since 1975, and I’ve never seen someone with so many broken ribs.”
(Excerpt) Read more at reviewjournal.com ...
Livestock on Highways
Livestock owners are also exempted from
damages related to animals on highways
passing through open range. A.B. 436 (Chapter
301, Statutes of Nevada 1965), defined open
range and further provided that an owner of any
domestic animal running on open range has no
duty to keep the animal off any highway
traversing or located on open range, nor may
the owner be held liable for any damages
caused by any collision between a motor
vehicle and an animal on such highway. In fact,
motorists that hit and maim or kill livestock on
highways on open range are liable to the
livestock owner for damages to the animal.
From here - http://nsla.nevadaculture.org/statepubs/epubs/31428003027154.pdf
Most cows I've ever seen just stand around looking dumb.......
If I was on the jury I’d vote negligence on the part of the woman. Or, if there was brush right up to the edge of the road where it happened, then sue the road maintenance guys. But that doesn’t seem likely.
I live in the hilly cow country of SW MO. Coming over a hill at the speed limit and having 30 cows in the road makes it easy to hit a cow. I have had a black cow at night jump out of the ditch right in front of me. Managed not to hit it but was close.
I called the neighbor all three times so that he knew his bull had gone visiting. I didn't want anything to happen to it on my property. He must have finally cleaned out the cattle grate. Haven't seen it lately.
Do not live in Free Range area, but do live in area where there are cattle. I personally have hit a Cow, I can assure you I was not texting. Live in a rural foothill area, and in spite of what the ranchers do, they do get out now and then.
People hit cows because they will not slow down for anything. Passing a cow with a couple of feet to spare at 70 is plain stupid.
Fencing laws will be a factor for sure. I’d be surprised if they weren’t laws
requiring requiring range animals to be behind fencing along highways.
Worst of all, he was covered by that
South Forty Insurance.
No Chicken, No Check!
Nevada roads always have cows on them. People who hit themtry to hide the fact.
The cow wasn’t on the highway, it was on the interstate. A completely different case and free range does not apply to interstates.
That’s the ticket, the cow was texting, lock ‘em up.
Give a cow some hay and he will eat for a day...give a cow a big brain and he will explain to you that almost all the problems with humanity are based around greed, jealousy and sex.
LOL! Is there an app for that?
I’m a little surprised they haven’t returned to kill him.
>>The cow wasn’t on the highway, it was on the interstate. A completely different case and free range does not apply to interstates.<<
A distinction without a difference. An Interstate Highway is just that — a type of highway.
It looks to me like the law is exactly on point.
After the election.
There are fences miles and miles long on both sides of the interstate around here, usually a hundred yards or so from the actual highway. I had always thought the highway dept put them up. They are not well maintained. I’ve never seen and interstate where there are no fences, even where there is no livestock anywhere near.
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