Utah Personal Injury Law Firm Blog

6:30pm on September 29, 2008 at 5400 South and 700 West a 7 year-old boy and a young girl were in a crosswalk when a Hummer turned right at the red traffic signal and hit the boy. According to KSL.com, the boy sustained serious head injuries and was life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital.

I offer my condolences to this young boy and his family and wish him a full recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.

The driver of the Hummer stated that the sun was in her eyes, so she couldn't see the children. I have represented serveral people that were injured in a crosswalk when a car was turning right and although the sun can be a contributing factor, the most common reason for the accident is that the drivers are looking left to make sure the traffic is clear, but start their right-hand turn before checking to see if anyone is in the crosswalk.

Head trauma in pedesrian accidents are the primary cause of injury and death in these tragedies. Pedestrians are much more vulnerable to suffering head injuries in accidents because they are less stable, visible, and protected on the road.

Head injuries in car versus pedestrian accidents occur when a victims head makes sudden and violent contact with an unyielding object. This can result in a concussion or more serious head injuries when significant brain, spinal cord, and central nervous system damage is sustained.

Head injuries from pedestiran accidents are irreversible and can result in partial or permanent disability, serious neurological damage, and even death. This is estremely serous when a young child is involved. The family of the young boy involved in this accident may wish to contact a Utah pedestrian accident attorney who can help determine your rights and legal options. When another party is at fault for head injuries in motorcycle accidents, victims can seek restitution for medical expenses, future loss of income or earning potential, permanent disability, and damages for pain and suffering.

Posted by Kenneth L. Christensen | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Children and Car Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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On September 22, 2008, six year-old Amelia Cordova was riding her bike near 300 North and 300 East when a car hit her and left the scene. Amelia was unconscious and suffered a broken arm, concussion and bruises. Police are looking for a light grey or green colored minivan. The van may have front end damage to its bumper. If anyone witnessed this accident or has seen a matching minivan, please contact police.

I offer my condolences to Amelia Cordova and her family and hope the community can help find the person responsible for this sad accident.

Sadly, 100,000 pedestrians are injured each year and half of those injuries result in death. Even worse, many of these accidents are caused by a driver's inattentiveness and the driver leaves the scene and can't be found.

After a Utah hit-and-run accident, victims are left with expensive medical bills and serious injuries and don't know what to do. Fortunately, if you are involved in a Utah hit-and-run accident and have proof that the accident was caused by the negligence of another, you can make a claim for both medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages under your household's own automobile insurance policy.

Amelia's family would benefit from contacting a Utah pedestrian accident attorney who can help explain what insurance policies may apply and how their damages can be fully covered.

Posted by Kenneth L. Christensen | Permalink | Email This Post | Comments (0)

Posted In: Car and Truck Accidents , Children and Car Accidents , Hit-and-Run Accidents

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Seat belts save lives in car accidents, but they are not designed for children. Beginning at around age 4, many children are too large for toddler seats but too small for adult safety belts. However, because many State laws only require children to be in a safety seat up to age 4 or so, many parents assume older kids are safe in just an adult safety belt. This is not true. From age four to age eight, the safest way for children to ride in automobiles is in the back seat in a booster seat. However, statistics show that less than one out of every five kids between the ages of four and eight is riding in a booster seat. Sadly, there are approximately 350 children ages 4 to 8 who die every year in automobile crashes, and half of those children are not in booster seats.

While booster seat use has increased in recent years, there is obviously improvement still to be made. One study estimates that booster seat use in the United States range from only 10 to 20 percent, leaving the vast majority of booster-age children at risk. Fortunately, after declaring that booster seat use is dangerously low in the United States, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced a new federal initiative that would provide $25 million over the next four years to states that pass and enforce new or tougher booster seat laws. As a result, nearly every state has now passed some kind of child booster seat law.

As children grow, how they sit in your car should change as follows:

1) Rear Facing Seats – Children from birth to at least one year old and at least 20 pounds should ride in the back seat in rear facing seats.

2) Forward-Facing Toddler Seats – children from age one and twenty pounds to age 4 and 40 pounds should ride in the back seat in forward-facing toddler seats.

3) Booster Seats – Children from age four to age eight should ride in the back seat in booster seats, until 4’9’’ tall.

4) Safety Belts – Children age eight or older or taller than 4’9’’ should be secured in a safety belt and all children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat to avoid injury from air bags.

Sadly, there are too many accidents where children are killed or seriously injured because they were not seatbelted properly. We ask everyone to study the children seat belt laws for their state and follow them.

Posted by Kenneth L. Christensen | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Children and Car Accidents

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