A woman was injured while traveling on Interstate 215 near California Avenue, according to an article in The Salt Lake Tribune. Troopers from the Utah Highway Patrol say that the woman was driving northbound when she swerved to avoid hitting a BBQ grill that had been left on the Interstate. She then crashed into a motorcycle also traveling on Interstate 215. Fortunately, the woman’s injuries that were not life-threatening. The news article did not say, but we hope the motorcyclist was also not seriously injured. Since troopers still do not know why the grill was there or where it came from, some may ask, who is responsbile for this accident and the resulting medical treatment and bills?

This type of auto accident is not at all uncommon, especially in Salt Lake City and other cities along interstate 15 and Interstate 80 where big rigs transport materials on a daily basis. Our firm has handled similar cases where someone negligently stored large objects in the back of their truck, causing them to enter the roadway and put other vehicles in danger.

In many automobile accidents, it is not uncommon to have a “phantom vehicle” – a vehicle that causes the accident, but leaves the scene and/or can not be identified. Under Utah statute, such phantom vehicles are defined as uninsured vehicles for purposes of making whole those who fall victim to such circumstances. A person that has been injured by a phantom vehicle is protected by their Uninsured Motorist Coverage. Since these accidents are not the victims fault, their insurance should not and cannot be increased for making a claim. To properly ensure this doesn’t happen, you may want to consult with a lawyer. To learn more about phantom vehicles and uninsured motorist coverage, visit our Utah Uninsured Motorist page.

These types of incidents are a warning call to all of us to exercise more care and caution when transporting things; even if it is as simple as moving a mattress or other furniture in the back of a truck. It is important to make sure the loads are properly secured. Not doing so can result in legal action and more importantly, could cause someone their life.