By Farhan Naqvi, Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas
Many tourists flock to the Las Vegas area for reasons other than gambling or the variety of entertainment found on the Strip. Some visitors like to experience the natural beauty that is found all across southern Nevada. A few people like to do more than just look at the scenery or take pictures of it. But for one such tourist, her Valley vacation turned deadly.
On Thanksgiving Day, a woman from Vancouver, Canada lost her life due to injuries she sustained from a rock climbing accident at Oak Creek Canyon in the Red Rock National Conservation Area. Heather Gray was trying to climb the rock face known as Solar Slab when she fell about 60 feet and banged her head against the rock face.
Las Vegas Metro Police found the 42-year old woman unresponsive and hanging from her harness. She was quickly pulled up by her ropes, but died at University Medical Hospital about four hours later. The Clark County Coroner’s Office said that Gray died from blunt force trauma to the head, and her death has been ruled accidental.
It is important to note that even though authorities classified this incident as a rock climbing accident, it does not necessarily mean that another party couldn’t be found responsible in a wrongful death lawsuit. The news reports don’t provide details about the circumstances leading to Gray’s death, but factors which could affect a civil case involving rock climbing include:
- whether or not the climber was wearing a helmet
- who secured (or helped secure) the climber’s harnesses or other equipment
- whether the rock climbing equipment itself failed because of a product defect
If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed while rock climbing in Clark County, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer to see whether you are eligible for compensation.
About the Editor: Farhan R. Naqvi is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who has experience representing victims injured in car accidents, drunk driver crashes, truck wrecks, slip and falls, taxi cab accidents, and bicycle crashes. He also has experience handling spine injury, product liability, underinsured/uninsured driver, and wrongful death cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident in Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Clark County, Henderson, Boulder City, Green Valley, or Pahrump, give Farhan a call at 702-553-1000 for a free, no-hassle consultation.