Utah Personal Injury Law Firm Blog

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 4,020 people in the United States die from car accidents between Thanksgiving and New Years Day each year. Most of the fatal accidents are caused by driver fatigue, speeding and cell phone use. Studies show that a large amount of the accidents involve college students who are traveling home for the holidays.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving an estimated 1,000 people die during the period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve in drinking-related crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that most deaths involving alcohol-related car accidents occur on December 23rd and January 1st. Fatal car accidents are devastating no matter what the surrounding circumstances are. But when a drunk driver gets behind the wheel of a car and causes a preventable injury or death to someone else, the situation is even more tragic.

Continue reading " Holiday Travel Statistics Are Shocking " »

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal a two year old boy in Las Vegas was at his grandmother's house when her mixed breed dog attacked and killed the two year old baby.

This tragic accident comes just two months after a 4 month old North Las Vegas baby girl was mauled and killed by their family's pit-bull.

I often get telephone calls from people who were involved in a Utah car accident and their car was badly damaged and the insurance adjustor is telling him the car is a "total loss." The people on the phone feel like the adjustor's settlement offer for the car is unfair, but don't know what to do.

If you have been in an accident and are trying to handle the property damage portion of your claim, be sure to follow these tips:

1) If you were injured in the car accident, contact a Utah personal injury lawyer and discuss your case before signing insurance papers regarding the property damage. A personal injury lawyer can ensure your bodily injury claim is not limited by the papers you have been asked to sign.

2) The insurance company is obligated to put you in a rental car that is the same size as the car you were driving at the time of the accident. Do not let them put you in a small car that saves them money. Also, if you do not use a rental car for a period of time after the accident, you can ask the insurance company to compensate you $20-$25 for every day you went without a car.

3) You do not have to accept the property damage adjustor's first settlement offer for you car. Most insurance companies determine the value of your car by finding comparable vehicles as close to your home as possible. They are not interested in the Kelly Blue Book value of your car. So be prepared for their settlement offer by finding a similar car, with similar features and milage on autotrader.com or your local classifieds. If the adjustor's offer is less than the comps you have found, send the adjustor a counter-offer with copies of your comps.

4) Be sure not to keep the rental car longer than permitted or you will be responsible for the additonal charges. The insurance company is only responsible for providing a rental car from the date of the accident until they make a "reasonable offer" for the replacement of your car. If the adjustor makes an offer and tells you to return the car, be sure to return the car, even if its before your settlement check has arrived.

There is nothing worse than being involed in an accident; well actually, there is, being involved in a hit and run accident. I am often contacted by people who were injured in an accident, but the driver that caused the accident left the scene and is nowhere to be found. They all have the same question: My car is damaged and I have medical bills that need to be paid, I can't afford to pay them, what can I do?

I am also asked this same question by people who were in an accident and the at-fault driver does not have insurance. In Utah, Hit-and-Run accidents and Uninsured Motorist Accidents are treated the same. They fall under the Uninsured Motorist Coverage of most car insurance policies.

Continue reading " Legal Options Following a Utah Hit and Run Accident " »

According to CBS News, a United States congressional report found that thirty percent of all nursing homes in the United States have been cited for an abuse violation.

The investigation found examples of residents being punched, kicked and even choked by staff members. However, this statistic only considers abuse and doesn't address an ever greater problem of general neglect and putting residents in danger.

Nursing home abuse and neglect is a serious problem. If you or a loved one have been a victim of Maryland Nursing Home Negligence or Abuse, I strongly urge you to contact my friend and attorney, Sharon Christie. Sharon is a former nurse and specializes in nursing home negligence and abuse cases. Sharon provides diligence and compassion to the vicitms involved in these tragic cases.

A car made a left hand turn in front of a white van on Bangerter Highway, Wednesday evening November 5, 2008. According to a KSL report, "Serious Accident Sends 2 To The Hospital," the white van approached the intersection when the car made the improper left hand turn. The van struck the car, rolled on its side and then skidded into a light pole. The passenger in the van was trapped in the van until emergency vehicles were able to get him out. He was transported by helicopter to the hospital. The driver was also taken to the hospital by ambulance.

A large amount serious Utah car accidents are caused by someone making an unsafe left-hand turn. Utah law, however, states that left hand turns are improperly made when an oncoming vehicle is so close as to present an immediate hazard.

If you are injured in a Utah car accident due to a driver's failure to keep a proper lookout before making a left-hand turn, you would be well advised to contact a Utah Personal Injury Lawyer in order to know your rights before speaking with the negligent driver's insurance company.

A 51 year-old woman was seriously injured in a head-on collision on US 89/91 in Sardine Canyon, Tuesday morning November 4, 2008. An SUV traveling southbound down the canyon became distracted and was traveling too fast when she lost control, crossed into northbound lanes and collided with the 51-year old woman's car, pinning her in the car.

The woman was transported to Ogden Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Please keep her in your prayers. Sardine Canyon is one of the most dangerous roads in the state. In 2007 there were 5 fatal car accidents. We ask that as winter quickly approaches, we remember to lower our speed and be careful when driving in wet weather.

If you have been involved in a Utah car accident and are having to deal with insurance adjustors, be sure to request a free copy of my book "7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case." This book will prepare and protect you against common tactics insurance companies use to limit the amount of accident victims recoveries.

American Fork City, known as "a little slice of heaven" by residents, is located in Utah County at the foot of Mount Timpanogos. American Fork City offers several appealing recreational activities including the Alpine Loop, Cascade Springs, Timpanogos Cave, Utah Lake and the beautiful American Fork Canyon. Despite being one of the smaller cities in Utah, American Fork City has always been a leader in public education. In fact, American Fork city was the first community in the territory of Utah to offer public education to its citizens. Experiencing rapid growth since the 1970s, American Fork City officials have carefully managed the expansion and development of the town. This includes the construction of several new city buildings: a library, district court, police complex, fire station and more recently a large-scale retail shopping area.

American Fork, Utah car and motorcycle accidents have become a common occurance as I-15 runs through American Fork near Hearts Gas Station and 500 East. If you have ever been in an accident, then you know first hand how it can be an extremely confusing and frustrating time. Deciding whether to hire a lawyer and even choosing the right lawyer can also be difficult. That is why I wrote the book “7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case.” This book answers numerous questions my clients wished they would have known immediately after an accident. A former Allstate Insurance adjuster said that “no one should talk to an insurance adjustor or hire an attorney until they’ve read this book.” This book is free to Utah residents, just visit www.UtahAccidentBook.com to obtain your free copy.

Continue reading " American Fork, Utah Accident Attorneys and Personal Injury Law Firm " »