Nothing can ever prepare a person for the emotional burdens accompanied with the wrongful death of a loved one. The suffering and loss the surviving family endures can be overwhelming. At the Christensen Law Firm, we have worked with many victims of Utah wrongful death cases and have seen first hand the pain, confusion and trauma they endure because of the loss of a loved one. While nothing can replace that loss or completely lift such incredible sorrow, we have given our clients a few books that have helped them through the grieving process. If you are suffering from the loss of a friend or relative, consider reading these books to help ameliorate your pain.

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Utah is the home to many outdoor enthusiasts and if you are a local to this state you have likely gone camping with the help of a familiar outdoor product line: Coleman. W.C. Coleman began manufacturing lamps over 100 years ago and founded what is now known as “Coleman: The Outdoor Company.” Coleman’s website has a company history which professes the virtues of W.C. Coleman and explains how “Coleman became a way of life in America.”

Fast forward 100 years since W.C. Coleman first began manufacturing lanterns. It’s December 2005 and 7-year-old Trevor Daniels is on a camping trip in California with his family. His parents had purchased a Model 5053 ProCat PerfecTemp Coleman propane heater to aid in their outdoor excursion, placing the product in their camping trailer for warmth. The heater is designed to be used inside tents, campers and ice-fishing shanties to provide heat. Furthermore, the product was sold with a bold statement saying it was safe for indoor use.

Continue reading " Coleman Outdoor Camping Company Must Be Hiding Something Incriminating " »

Now that the kids are out of school and the weather is finally warming up, you may be making plans for your long-awaited summer vacation. Before you jump in your car and hit the road, make sure you have your auto insurance in order by following a few simple guidelines. First, make sure you have your insurance identification card somewhere in your car. Your glove compartment or center console is a good place to store this. Also, make sure your identification card has the current phone number of your insurance company and agent. If not, go online and find those numbers and bring them along with you. If you are involved in an accident on your trip, it is good to have an idea of what to expect with your insurance company:

Continue reading " Car Accidents and Insurance Claims " »

Date: May 22, 2009
Location: 7600 S. Highland Drive
Type: Utah drunk driving crash, Utah wrongful death

The Salt Lake Tribune has reported that a Utah resident may be charged with automobile homicide. According to reports, Jerome Joe Richard was driving his Chevy S10 truck on May 10 while under the influence. He and his passenger, Shelynda DeJoelie, were heading south near 7600 S. and Highland Drive and Richard suddenly drove the vehicle onto the raised median to pass the vehicle ahead of him. As he drove his truck off the median, he flipped it. DeJoelie was ejected from the vehicle and died from her injuries. Under Utah State law, Richard could face up to five years in prison for an automobile homicide felony.

Did you know that a drunk driving car accident occurs every 32 seconds? This results in over 17,000 fatalities nationwide every year. In Utah, 19% of fatal traffic accidents are the result of someone driving under the influence. Drunk driving is a very real and very dangerous threat. Safety advocate groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving have been lobbying for legislation that would enact measures to prevent repeat DUI offenders. One such method is the ignition breath, a device which locks into a car’s ignition. Before the car will start, the driver must breathe into the device. If there is a trace of alcohol on the driver’s breath, the car will not start. To read more about the ignition lock system and other measures that can help prevent Utah drunk driving fatalities, visit the Christensen Law Firm’s online library and read the article “Ignition Interlock System Could Save Lives.”

Traffic accidents can result in many serious injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and head trauma. Damage done to the spinal cord can be an especially harmful injury with many long-term effects. The spinal cord consists of a large network of nerve tissue that is the core of the central nervous system. Damaging the spinal cord or vertebral column, the part of the body which protects the spinal cord, can be devastating for accident victims. Spinal cord injury can easily be incurred from Utah car accidents and it is helpful to know some basic information about such a substantial injury.

Damage to the nerves of the spinal cord can lead to permanent disability or paralysis. The location of the spinal cord injury often dictates the affects. Some injuries may lead to loss of mobility in the arms and legs known as quadriplegia or tetraplegia. Victims may also suffer paralysis of the lower half of their body, which is known as paraplegia.

Victims of spinal cord injury can suffer different severities of symptoms, depending on the damage incurred to the nerves. Complete spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is severely damaged and usually leads to the total loss of feeling below the area of injury. Less severe damage can lead to partial spinal cord injury, in which the victim loses some, but not all, motor function and sensation below the injury.

For more information on spinal cord injuries, please visit the Christensen Law Firm’s online library. If you have been in a Utah traffic accident and suffered from a spinal cord or other personal injury, you are entitled to receive fair and just compensation. The attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm provide expert representation to Utah accident victims, giving personal attention to their clients and individual cases. For a free consultation on your legal rights, please contact us at 801.506.0800.

Date: May 16, 2009
Location: Interstate 15 in Salt Lake County
Type: Salt Lake City, Utah rollover accident, Utah drunk driving wreck
A horrific Utah traffic accident took place overnight that sent three people to the hospital. According to KSL News, an SUV rolled over on the southbound lanes of Interstate 15 just before the Bangerter Highway exit. Medical crews were forced to amputate a female passenger just below the knee in order to get her free from the wreck. She was immediately flown to the hospital. In addition, ambulances took two other passengers of the SUV to the hospital. Another vehicle was involved in the wreck but no one in that car was injured. Investigators are determining if speed played a factor in the rollover. Authorities believe alcohol contributed to the rollover. We offer our deepest condolences to the victims of this tragic accident and wish everyone involved a safe and quick recovery

Date: May 12, 2009
Location: I-15 and 500 South near Bountiful
Type: Utah car accident

A three-car Utah traffic accident took place in Bountiful on Tuesday afternoon, sending a driver to the hospital and temporarily closing Interstate 15. According to the Davis County Clipper, a northbound car was driving at high speeds near 500 South when it ran into another vehicle, causing it to swerve to the right side of the freeway and clip a light post. The first car then struck another vehicle, disabling both automobiles. The driver of the first vehicle had to be taken to the hospital for her injuries. Fortunately, the drivers of the other two vehicles involved were treated at the scene and did not need to be hospitalized at the time of the accident.

Did you know that 18% of all traffic accidents in Utah result from speeding vehicles? This accounts for over 10,000 crashes. In 2006, 113 Utahns lost their lives from speed-related traffic accidents. Please help keep our roads safer and obey all posted speed limits wherever you are driving. For more information on Utah car accident statistics, visit the Christensen Law Firm’s online library and read the article “Utah Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics.” If you have been involved in a Utah traffic accident at the fault of another driver, you are entitled to just compensation. The expert attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm offer superlative legal representation to Utah personal injury victims. For a free consultation of your legal rights, please contact us today at 801.506.0800.

Date: May 13, 2009
Location: 3100 West and 5800 South Roy, UT
Type: Utah pedestrian crash, Wrongful death accident

A tragic Utah pedestrian accident took place in Roy, Utah Wednesday evening, claiming the life of a 54-year-old woman. According to KSL News, Wendy Kerbs was working in her garden with her husband when an SUV swerved off the road and struck her. Richard Bash, 40, was driving the vehicle. According to witnesses, he and another car were driving between 50 and 60 mph at the time of the accident. Neighbors say it appeared as if the two vehicles were racing. The other car fled the scene but Bash exited his vehicle and tried to break into some homes. Authorities believe he may have been trying to get away. Police arrested him a short time after the accident. As neighbors mourn the loss of Wendy, investigators are trying to figure out what the two vehicles were doing. No charges have been officially made, but officials believe alcohol may have been involved. Police are focusing on finding the second vehicle which left the scene. If you have any information, please contact your local police department.

Pedestrian accidents are a major problem in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,784 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents nationwide in 2006. Children are especially susceptible to pedestrian accidents. The University of Utah Health Sciences Center found that pedestrian accidents is one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths for children between the ages of 5 and 14. For more information on safety tips for pedestrians and drivers, visit the Christian Law Firm’s online library and read the article “Safety Guidelines for Pedestrians and Motorists.”

KSL News reports that 319 new laws have gone into effect in Utah today, May 12, 2009. Two of these laws in particular are aimed at cracking down on traffic safety throughout the entire state. The first law aims at reducing distracted driving by banning text-messaging while driving a vehicle. This new law will enact strict consequences for drivers caught text-messaging while behind the wheel. According to research, texting reduces a driver’s reaction time by 35%. It is estimated that one-fifth of all adult drivers send text messages while driving. While Legislators hope this new ban will reduce distracted driving, law enforcement officials worry it will be difficult to enforce. Police officers may find it difficult to know whether a driver is text-messaging or simply scrolling through the phone’s contact list to make a call.

Continue reading " New Laws Hope To Make Driving Safer in Utah " »

Date: May 10, 2009
Location: State Road 38 in Box Elder County
Type: Utah vehicle rollover accident

The Salt Lake Tribune has reported a serious traffic accident that took place Sunday evening. A 34-year-old woman from Davis County was driving along State Road 38 when she rolled her SUV. Utah Highway Patrol indicated that the vehicle was driving southbound near Brigham City. The driver tried to pass four vehicles at once along the two-lane highway. As she attempted to pass, the wheels on the left side of her vehicle drove onto the dirt on the shoulder of the road. The driver overcorrected and sent the vehicle rolling four times. Unfortunately, the woman was ejected 80 feet from her vehicle as she was not wearing a seatbelt. A helicopter flew her to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden in critical condition. Authorities are investigating the accident to determine if impairment and excessive speed played a role. We wish the driver of this vehicle a safe and quick recovery from her serious injuries.

Did you know swerving and overcorrecting are two of the most lethal mistakes drivers make? In fact, 4% of all driving accidents each year are due to overcorrecting maneuvers. To learn more about other common driving mistakes that can lead to serious injuries or fatalities, you can visit the Christensen Law Firm’s online library and read the article “Common Lethal Driving Mistakes.” If you have been injured in a Utah car accident, please contact the expert attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm for a free consultation of your legal rights at 801.506.0800.

University of Utah researchers are finding links between cell phone use and traffic jams. According to Houma News, text-messaging and talking on cell phones while driving is not just a concern for auto accidents, but for cumbersome traffic congestion as well. David Strayer, a psychology professor that led the research team at the university, found that drivers who talk on their phones often drive slower and impede traffic flow. This can add up to a 10% increase in a person’s commute time. The study also found that drivers talking on cell phones drive an average of 2 mph slower and are 20% more likely not to change lanes --actions that often cause a bottleneck in traffic flows. While this might not be a large hindrance when looking at a single driver, this becomes a serious concern when multiplied by the mass number of drivers who use their cell phones during their daily commute.

Of course, traffic jams are a minor concern compared with the injuries and deaths that distracted driving can cause. Many studies are finding that text-messaging and cell phone use can cause horrific distractions for drivers. Research indicates that the reaction time of a driver who is text messaging is reduced by 35%, more than double the 12% reduction in a drunk driver’s reaction time. In addition, the steering control of a driver who is text-messaging is reduced by a staggering 90%. For more information on research about cell phone use and driving as well as recent legislation banning text messaging behind the wheel, visit the library section of the Christensen Law Firm’s website.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Utah accident due to someone’s distracted driving, please contact the expert attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm for a free consultation of your legal rights at 801.506.0800. We will diligently work to ensure you receive just compensation for your injuries. For a free copy of the Utah accident book, written by Kenneth Christensen, visit www.utahaccidentbook.com. This book offers substantial advice on how to handle your Utah accident case.

Date: May 7, 2009
Location: 4000 West and 5600 South
Type: Kearns,Utah pedestrian crash, Auto-Pedestrian Accidents

KSL News has reported an unsettling revelation after a Utah pedestrian crash that took place on the evening of May 6. According to authorities, Luka Wall Kang, 50, drove his vehicle on a sidewalk in Kearns and struck at least six teenage students while attempting to hit four more. Authorities believe the “accident” was actually intentional, as Kang drove a significant length on the sidewalk without braking or moving back onto the road. Many witnesses said he was accelerating on the sidewalk as a 13-year-old student held onto the hood of his car before he finally hit a retention wall and flipped his vehicle. Kang was arrested on ten counts of felony aggravated assault and was booked in Salt Lake County Jail. Authorities said he did not show signs of alcohol at the scene of the crime, but investigators are still awaiting toxicology reports for drug use. Three of the students --including the teenager hanging on the hood-- were transported to the hospital with injuries but are expected to recover. We will continue to bring you updates from this story as we learn more.

While the majority of pedestrian accidents are truly unintentional, the results can be catastrophic. A walking pedestrian has little defense against a moving automobile. The Christensen Law Firm is dedicated to providing our clients with the expert representation they need when seeking compensation for their Utah pedestrian accident. Our superlative attorneys bring justice and results to the victims they represent. For a free consultation on your legal rights, please contact us at (801) 506 –0800.

Date: May 2, 2009
Location: Tooele, Utah
Type: Utah drunk driving crash, Utah hit-and-run crash, Utah pedestrian crash, Utah Accident Book

KSL News reported a serious Utah pedestrian crash that took place last Saturday night that sent a teenage girl to the hospital with major injuries. Allysa Mills, 14, was walking with two friends on 100 North in Tooele when a car suddenly crossed lanes and struck her. The driver of the car fled the scene of the crash. However, a motorist called police reporting a possible drunk driver and followed the vehicle. Thanks to the concerned motorist, officers were able to track down and arrest the driver, Rene Armando Lopez, at a house in Tooele. When he took the breath test in jail, his blood alcohol level was a staggering .233%. This is almost three times the legal limit! Police booked Lopez in the Tooele County Jail for leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license, and for a DUI with personal injury. Allysa and her family are grateful the driver was caught and will be brought to justice but she still has a long road to recovery. She suffered severe road burn on her back and a large gash on her head that required ten staples. Her arm was also extremely swollen and she suffered several cuts on her hand.

Did you know that first-time DUI offenders have driven drunk an average of 87 times before they are finally caught by police?

Continue reading " Drunk Driver Hits Tooele Teenager and Then Leaves the Scene " »