Utah Personal Injury Law Firm Blog

Date: June 23, 2009
Location: State Route 12, Henrieville, UT
Type: Utah motorcycle fatality, Fatal Utah Accidents

A tragic Utah wrongful death occurred in Henrieville Tuesday evening. According to the KSL article “Two Killed in Separate Wrecks,” a Honda Accord was heading westbound on State Route 12 around 9 p.m. It turned onto U.S. 89 and cut off a Harley Davidson Super Glide. Police say Robert William Adkins, 48, began to skid in the eastbound lanes when the Accord abruptly turned in front of him. The bike tipped on its side and struck the right side of the Accord. Authorities rushed Adkins to Garfield Memorial Hospital in Panguitch, but he died shortly after arrival. Adkins left behind a wife and six children. If you would like to make a donation, an account has been established to help the Adkins family. You can donate to the Loreli Adkins Fund through any branch of the State Bank of Southern Utah.

Continue reading "Two Fatal Utah Accidents" »

Car vesus Bicycle accidents are on the rise in Utah and the subsequent injuries and damages associated with these type of accidents can be extremely serious. The complications arising from these kind of accidents are numerous, especially when trying to understand what type of insurance will cover the damages. Insurance policies can be difficult to decipher, and many Utah cyclists are unaware of their legal rights when it comes to bicycle insurance.

Kenneth Christensen, founder of the Christensen Law Firm, has represented many Utah bicyclists, ranging from cyclists injured in triathlons to commuter bicyclists hit by cars making illegal left-hand turns. In this video, Mr. Christensen explains some of the insurance issues bicyclists face following a Utah bicycle accident. For example, did you know that if you are hit by a car while cycling, the motorist’s PIP insurance will cover your initial medical expenses? In addition, the driver’s liability coverage may cover such compensations as your pain and suffering, outstanding medical bills, and future medical bills and then your own car insurance will provide additional coverage. Watch the following video to find out more information on Utah bicycle accident insurance from Utah’s leading bicycle attorney. If you have been injured in a Utah bike accident, contact the Christensen Law Firm for a free consultation on your legal rights at 801.506.0800.

School is out and summer is here, which means Utah will see an increase in teenage commuters for a few months. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the 101 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most deadly for teenager drivers. The rate of teenage fatalities in Utah traffic accidents continually increases throughout the summer months, peaking in July and August. In the article entitled “Summer Deadly For Teen Drivers,” ABC4 News reports on some important safety guidelines from AAA for teenage drivers. Here are just a few of the important tips to pass on to your teenage children:

Continue reading "Teenagers and Utah Car Accidents" »

Law enforcement and government authorities are constantly trying to crack down on drunk drivers. Yet despite increased patrolling, checkpoints, and stricter legislation, drunk driving continues to be a major problem plaguing our streets. An alcohol-related car accident occurs every 32 minutes, resulting in over 17,000 fatalities each year. Recently, the Utah State legislature passed a bill which allows the courts to seize the vehicle of a repeat DUI offender. Hopefully, this new law will help reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road.

KSL News has reported another step being made to curb this problem. Davis County officials may establish a DUI offender registry. If the proposal becomes a law, all residents of the county that are convicted two or more times of driving under the influence will be listed on a public-access website. Critics of the proposal assert that the registry would not be useful and would only humiliate the people placed on it. Proponents of plan believe it will be a useful tool for parents to monitor the DUI history of neighbors and friends who may be driving their kids.

Drunk driving is an inexcusable act no matter the situation. Injuries or deaths incurred from drunk driving are unnecessary and permanently damaging to the victim, the families involved, and society as whole. The Utah drunk driving accident lawyers at the Christensen Law Firm are dedicated to bringing justice to those injured or killed by the carelessness of drunk drivers. As specialists in this area of law, we also ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable for their reckless behavior.

One of the most common injuries resulting from a Utah car accident is whiplash. Symptoms from this injury can be debilitating and last months or even longer. In many cases, the victim suffers from neck pain, loss of feeling or pain in the arms, shoulder pain, headaches, or dizziness. Yet despite these harsh conditions, many Utah accident victims do not receive proper medical treatment.

According to www.emedicinehealth.com, the best time to seek medical care is immediately after the injury. If you are not sure whether you have whiplash based on the symptoms, contact your doctor and ask for his/her advice. Neck injuries come with severe risks and it is best to seek help from medical experts rather than try to treat it yourself.

Continue reading "Whiplash Injury Signs and Symptoms after a Car Accident" »

Date: June 13, 2009
Location: Interstate 80 near Tooele
Type: Fatal Utah accident, Utah wrongful death

A tragic accident occurred over the weekend on Interstate 80 near the border of Salt Lake and Tooele counties. According to the article entitled “UHP Locates Driver Wanted for Questioning in I-80 Wreck” from KSL News, a Dodge pickup truck was driving in the eastbound lanes around 11 a.m. Saturday afternoon. Apparently, a white pickup cut it off, causing the driver of the Dodge to lose control of the vehicle. The truck then went through an opening in the road barrier for emergency vehicles only and smashed head-on with a FedEx delivery semi truck. Both vehicles went up in flames. This left an especially dangerous scene, as the FedEx was transporting ammunition that randomly fired from the heat of the flames. The driver of the Dodge, Mark Neilson of Magna, died at the scene and the driver of the FedEx truck was critically injured.

The Utah Highway Patrol found the driver of the white truck that sparked this horrible chain of events. They say he is an elderly man from Salt Lake City. The man came in for questioning with his daughter and admitted to being near the scene of the crash, but claims he was cut off by another vehicle. UHP believes this man was driving the white pickup that cut off the Dodge pickup and did not stop at the scene of the accident. We will update this story when more news is released.

We wish the driver of the FedEx truck a healthy and quick recovery from his injuries and offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mark Nielson.

Date: June 11, 2009
Location: 400 West and 9000 South
Type: Utah Bus Accident Lawyer, Utah drunk driving accident

KSL News has reported a serious Utah truck accident involving a school bus that took place Thursday morning in West Jordan. According to police, 46-year-old Kevin Fullmer suddenly made a left-hand turn in his truck directly in front of a school bus. The bus driver had little time to react and hit the breaks to decrease speed. He slammed into the truck, sending it into a light pole. The bus was carrying 55 children. Thankfully, none of them were seriously injured. Some students suffered bruising and others received cuts from shattered glass. Fullmer suffered from a head injury and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police say he was drinking before the crash, but are waiting for a blood alcohol test before they press charges.

While the quick reaction of the bus driver saved the students from serious injuries, this accident could have been a lot worse. Alcohol-related accidents account for 40% of all traffic accident fatalities across the United States. 19% of all Utah traffic accident fatalities are the result of drunk driving. Even worse, many drunk drivers are repeat offenders. To learn about the actions advocacy groups are taking to limit repeat DUI offenders, visit the Christensen Law Firm’s online library. If you have been injured in a Utah drunk driving accident, you deserve just compensation for the physical and monetary damages you received. The expert drunk driving attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm will provide you with superlative legal representation and will diligently work to ensure you receive the settlement you deserve. For a free consultation call 801.506.0800.

If you have driven on Intertate-80 in Salt Lake County within the last year, you likely noticed how difficult it is to navigate through the dense construction zone. You may also have noticed that many commuters dangerously speed along this patch of the freeway. This reckless driving was resulting in severe Utah traffic accidents, causing the Utah Department of Transportation to pay nearly $10,000 a month in overtime to the Utah Highway Patrol to catch commuters speeding between State Street and 1300 East. This increased effort began in March 2008 and has resulted in 3,000 ticket citations. At the beginning of the crackdown, the state found that drivers were averaging 72 mph in the 55 mph work zone. The overtime has paid off, as the crash rate has dropped by nearly one of half.

Reckless driving is always dangerous and this especially the case in work zones. Traffic is more prone to sudden slow-downs, leaving speeders with less time to brake. Lange shifts and merging also necessitate cautious driving. Furthermore, constructions zones have workers completely exposed to traffic. Speeding dangerously through work zones not only endangers other commuters, but these men and women as well. The I-80 construction will be completed later this year. Until then, please remember to drive cautiously and within the posted 55 mph speed limit.

Date: June 6, 2009
Location: Interstate 15 near 2300 North
Type: Utah traffic accident, Utah tow truck accident

A serious Utah truck accident took place Saturday morning in North Salt Lake in a construction zone. Around 11:30 a.m., a tow-truck driver was entering the construction zone. According to KSL News, he was momentarily distracted and looking away from the road. When he looked up, he was entering a continuator, where the construction begins shifting lanes. He over-corrected the vehicle and slammed into a construction barrier. The truck also crashed into three other vehicles. The driver of one of the vehicles, 57-year-old Michael Carver, was killed. The tow truck landed on top of a Toyota Camry. The driver of the car was able to climb out the back of the vehicle, but suffered serious injuries.

This accident highlights two important safety precautions. First, avoid any form of distraction while driving, especially on the freeway and on busy roads. This includes cell phone use, text-messaging, eating, or fumbling with the radio. Also, be sure to slow down and drive attentively in construction zones. Lane merges and rapid speed reduction are common occurrences in construction zones and require constant focus. Simple safety measures will help ensure your own protection and that of your fellow commuters.

The family suffering from this Utah wrongful death accident would greatly benefit from legal representation. Professional truck drivers are held to a higher standard of care and caution than average drivers on the road. This driver never should have let himself become distracted and put other drivers in danger. The expert Utah injury and accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm are dedicated to providing their clients with superlative legal counsel. For a free consultation, call 801.506.0800. Together, we will work to ensure you receive the settlement you deserve.

Date: June 5, 2009
Location: Cottonwood Heights, Utah near 8000 South and 3400 East
Type: Utah dog bite, Children and Utah dog attacks

A violent Utah dog attack took place last Thursday that left a 4-year-old girl a mother injured. According to the Deseret News, a 90-pound pit bull tore through a wood and chain link fence, leaping into the neighbor’s yard where three young children were playing. The dog attacked the young girl, knocking her down and biting her back near her neck. Tanya Schroeder, the mother of two of the children, heard their screams and rushed to the yard to fight off the dog. The 4-year-old victim ran into the house with the other children. Schroeder, however, was attacked by the dog, which ferouciously bit off part of her ear. The pit bull also bit her in several other places. The dog was put to sleep and its owner was cited with four violations.

Did you know dog bites are a common occurrence across the country? Every year, dogs bite roughly 4.7 million people nationwide. 1 out of 6 of these attacks result in injuries that are serious enough to require medical attention. Statistics also show that dog bites are the second-leading cause of childhood injury. For more information on dog bite statistics and helpful tips on how to avoid dog attacks, visit the Christensen Law Firm’s online library. If you have suffered injuries resulting from a dog bite, you are entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills and pain and suffering. Dog owners are stricly liable for their dogs actions. The expert Utah dog bite attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm offer superlative representation to dog bite victims, bringing their unmatched knowledge of Utah dog bite laws to every case. For a free, no-obligation consultation on your legal rights, call 801.506.0800.

Date: June 4, 2009
Location: 1000 South University Avenue, Provo, Utah
Type: Fatal Utah Accident, Utah Wrongful Death Law

A tragic fatal Utah car accident occurred in Provo late Thursday night June 4, 2009, taking the life of one girl and injuring four others. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, two cars collided near 1000 South University Avenue around 9:45 p.m. One vehicle was carrying two people and the other was carrying three. Police say one car was pulling out of a parking lot onto University Avenue when the other car crashed into it. All five people involved in the wreck were taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. Two males and two females were in serious condition. A 14-year-old girl died in the hospital. The accident is under investigation and so far no citations have been issued. We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the young girl and wish the four other passengers a quick and healthy recovery from their injuries.

Continue reading "Fatal Provo Utah Car Accident" »

Date: June 3, 2009
Location: Redwood Road and 1660 South
Type: Utah car accident, Utah traffic collision

A serious Salt Lake City car accident left six people in the hospital yesterday morning. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, a minivan carrying a family of six attempted to make a left-hand turn onto northbound Redwood Road around 9:15 a.m. At the same time, a commercial dump truck was heading southbound and smashed into the minivan. A pickup truck driving behind the dump truck was unable to stop, lost control, and rolled over. A 14-year-old girl from the minivan was taken to Primary Children’s Medical Center via helicopter in critical condition. Three other passengers in the minivan were ambulanced to local hospitals. One person was in critical condition and the other two were in stable condition. The driver of the pickup and a man from the dump truck were also taken to the hospital in stable condition.

If you have been in a Utah traffic accident, you know how confusing and traumatic the event can be. Working through medical bills, insurance adjustment papers, and car repair payments can be extremely stressful. Kenneth Christensen, founder of the Christensen Law Firm, wrote the Utah accident book “Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case” to help alleviate the burdensome confusion following an accident. In his book, Mr. Christensen debunks common myths pertaining to Utah accident cases, provides detailed advice on how to deal with insurance adjustors, and explains what is necessary to win your Utah accident case. He wrote this book to level the playing field between the accident victim and insurance companies. For a free copy of the Utah accident book, visit www.utahaccidentbook.com or contact the expert Utah injury attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm at 801.506.0800.