According to a study done by the Insurance Research Council there is a 1 in 7 chance that an insured driver will be injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.

The study also gave a state-by-state breakdown of uninsured motorists and it puts Utah at 9%. This is 5% lower than the national average, but is still not the lowest. The problem with this statistic is that at any given time there are many out-of-state drivers occupying the roads.

It is important to make sure you are covered for instances like this before they happen. Some insurance companies offer plans that have coverage to protect you if you’re involved in an accident with someone who does not have liability insurance or does not have enough to pay for your damages.

Coverage options, available limits and mandatory requirements differ greatly between states, but insurance companies in your state will be able to tell you what your options are for where you live. It is worth the short phone call to prevent you from being left with a bill for an accident that was not your fault.

If an accident happens before you are able to attain the proper coverage, you still have options. Contacting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible could save you money, time and worry. There are other alternatives out there that only an attorney will know of and how to navigate.

The attorneys at Christensen Law Firm are experienced accident attorneys. They will be able to help you with the financial, physical and emotional ramifications of a car accident that involved an uninsured motorist. Call us today at 801.506.0800 to find out what options are available to you.

Uninsured motorist (UM) auto-insurance coverage protects you in the event of an accident where the liable driver does not have the auto-insurance coverage mandated by the state. UM auto-insurance coverage is just as important as liability coverage because it helps protect you and your family from the negligent acts of others. In the event that you are the victim of a hit and run accident or are injured by an uninsured driver, UM auto-insurance coverage is the only way to receive financial compensation.

The Importance of Uninsured Motorist Auto-Insurance Coverage

In some states the uninsured driver rate has been estimated to be as high as 28%. Furthermore, a study conducted by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America has shown that uninsured drivers are involved in more than 20% of all fatal crashes. Because so many drivers are on the roads without the legal minimum of auto-insurance coverage, it is essential that you protect yourself and your family by purchasing UM auto-insurance coverage.

We recommend that you always have uninsured motorist auto-insurance coverage. The risks of not having this type of insurance are simply too great to justify not spending the extra money. It is our recommendation that families have as much uninsured motorist auto-insurance coverage as they can afford to ensure that they are protected from a potentially catastrophic accident.

Personal Injury Lawyers Explain Different Types of Auto-Insurance Coverage

At the Christensen Law Firm, we firmly believe that knowledge is power. We want you to be in a position to make your own legal decisions and an understanding of the auto-insurance coverage options available to you puts you in a more powerful position. In order to inform Utah residents of the different auto-insurances coverage options, we have written Utah Insurance Coverage, a short pamphlet detailing the different types of auto-insurance coverage options available to you. If you need more information about different types of auto-insurance coverage, or if you have been involved in a personal injury accident and are trying to settle that claim with your insurance company, call us personal injury attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm for a free consultation at (801) 506-0800.

Two weeks after nearly losing his life due to road debris after a Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident, a Utah motorcyclist is trying to find justice for his injuries and damages. According to KSL News, Spero Fotes of Bountiful was riding his motorcycle on Interstate 15 near 2600 South when he suddenly crashed into an industrial hose. The large hose -20 feet long and 6 inches in diameter- forced Fotes into a fishtail. He slammed into a truck and was thrown over the handlebars. The woman driving the truck was convinced she ran over Fotes, and immediately called 911. Fortunately, Fotes will survive his serious injuries. He was wearing a helmet and biker body armor, which helped save his life in this accident. However, his motorcycle has several thousand dollars' worth of damage, and he only carries liability insurance. He is stuck with the repair bills. Fotes and his father retrieved the hose that caused the accident, and they are searching for the owner who did not strap it down correctly. However, the Utah Highway Patrol says they are rarely able to track down the owners of dangerous fallen debris.

If Mr. Fotes had uninsured motorist coverage on his motorcycle at the time of the collsion, he may be able to make a claim for his injuries and damages under the Phantom Vehicle statute of the Utah Insurance Code. He would be well advised to to contact a Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident Attorney.

According to the Utah Department of Transportation, each year more than 25,000 traffic accidents nationwide result from road litter. Last year, Utah roads saw two fatal crashes caused by fallen debris. Furthermore, nearly half of all Utah residents have received damage to their vehicles because of fallen debris. Please remember to properly secure your load before hitting the road. Not only will you face a $500 fine for lost debris, but you are also risking the lives of your fellow motorists.

If you have been involved in a Utah car accident due to fallen debris or negligent driving of another motorist, you know the physical and emotional difficulties of recovery. The Salt Lake City injury lawyers at the Christensen Law Firm understand the complexities of the legal system, and can help you settle your Utah accident case. We will diligently work to ensure you receive a full and just settlement for your medical bills and damages, allowing you to focus on your recovery. For a free consultation, call us at 801.506.0800.

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: April 21, 2009
Location: 1400 East and 900 South
Type: Utah hit-and-run accident, Utah pedestrian accident, Salt Lake City bicycle accident

KSL News reported a serious Utah hit-and-run accident involving a bicyclist on Tuesday morning. According to police, the cyclist was crossing the street in downtown Salt Lake City and a car suddenly turned into him. The impact was severe enough to cause the rear tire of the bike to land 20 feet away from the rest of the bicycle. The woman driving the car exited the vehicle, looked at the cyclist, and proceeded to reenter the car and drive away. The cyclist suffered injuries, including facial injuries, and was taken to the hospital. Investigators believe the woman is between 20 and 40 years of age with brown hair. She was driving a green Saturn. If you have any information on this accident, please contact your local authorities.

Did you know that hit-and-run accidents are on the rise nationwide? And as more and more people take up bicycling and walking as modes of transportation, pedestrian accidents are increasing. Statistics show that 11% of all automobile accidents nationwide are hit-and-runs, which equates to almost 700,000 victims each year. Studies also show that hit-and-run accidents have increased by 20% since the year 2000.

Hit-and-run accidents can be especially harmful to a victim’s finances, as the responsible party is absent from insurance responsibilities. For more information on hit-and-run accidents, visit the Christensen Law Firm’s website.

If the accident was your own fault and not caused by the negligence of another party, then the answer is “no.”

However, if the accident was caused by someone else and they did not have insurance or the insurance they had was insufficient to fully compensate you for all your injuries and damages, then “yes,” you can make a claim under your own insurance policy for pain and suffering and other damages directly caused by the accident.

When someone is involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, then the injured party is able to make a claim under their Uninsured Motorist Coverage of their own automobile insurance policy. For Uninsured Motorist claims, that the injured party’s insurance company actually steps in the shoes of the at-fault driver and defends the claim against you as if they were actually the negligent driver.

Continue reading "Can I Receive a Pain and Suffering Settlement From My Own Insurance Company?" »

As the economy took a turn for the worse this past year, many drivers dropped their car insurance. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, 15% of drivers were uninsured in 2006. The Insurance Research Council, who will be releasing a study about this trend next month, estimates this rate has only gone up due to increased unemployment in the United States. Auto insurance rates are also increasing, adding fuel to the fire. Premiums have risen 3.8% in a year.

Driving without insurance is risky to all parties involved in the accident. If you are hit by an uninsured motorist, suing is the only way to recover costs. This process is not only complicated, but doesn’t guarantee results, as many uninsured drivers have few assets. One way to avoid litigation is to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage from your insurance provider, which will cover costs up to a certain amount if you have been in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist. However, this coverage increases premiums by an average of 7% - 9%.

Continue reading "Slow Economy Has More Drivers On The Road Without Car Insurance" »

Erin Mahoney recently wrote an interesting article that took an in depth look at auto insurance policies and what type of coverage the average driver really needs. Auto insurance is a necessity for every driver, but insurance policies can be complicated to understand.

The insurance everyone is required to have is liability insurance, which provides coverage if you are at fault in a car accident. Utah residents are required by law to have liability insurance with minimums of $25,000 for single person bodily injury liability, $50,000 for all people bodily injury liability, and $15,000 for property damage liability.

Continue reading "What Type and How Much Car Insurance Should I Have?" »

jA Utah family was seriously injured after an Cadillac Escalade with Idaho license plates negligently drove into the family’s lane of travel near Willard, causing their vehicle to veer off the road and roll. According to KSL News report, “Reckless Driver Causes Rollover Accident,” the Escalade fled the scene and Utah Highway Patrol is hoping the public can help track down the driver responsible for this serious accident.

I deeply sympathize with the injured family and am saddened by their unnecessary suffering. I wish them a speedy recovery.

What legal recourse is there against a driver that does not make actual contact with another vehicle, but clearly causes an accident to occur?

Under Utah law, a vehicle that leaves the scene and is not identified, but was the proximate cause of the accident is defined, by statute as an uninsured motorist. The existence of such a vehicle, however, must be established by clear and convincing evidence. In this case there is sufficient evidence as independent witnesses saw the Escalade force the car off the road. Almost every automobile insurance policy has a portion of coverage called Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM). UM coverage allows accident victims who were injured by an unidentified or uninsured driver to make a claim under their own insurance policy for the full extent of their damages.

The family involved in this accident would be well served by consulting with a Utah uninsured motorist attorney to ensure that all medical bills and other damages, including pain and suffering, are completely covered for an accident that was clearly not their fault.

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.