Teen Dies at Church Camp Near Heber City

June 30th, 2010

Sophie Rose Barton passed away Monday, June 29, 2010, while she was hiking at an LDS church camp just east of Heber City, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. According to the story, Sophie Barton had just visited a lake with other campers in her group and was heading up hill back to camp. At some point, she started to fade in and out of consciousness. An ambulance was called and she was taken to Heber Valley Medical Center. Sadly, medical staff were unable to save her.

I send my deepest condolences to the family of young Sophie. According to reports, she was quite accomplished musically and was a regular performer at events throughout the state. I know she will be missed by many.

An autopsy was performed a day after her death, and the results have yet to be released. The high temperature was reported to have been 96 degrees in Heber City on Monday. Right now, it is unknown whether this was a factor in her losing consciousness. One of the symptoms of heat stroke, or hyperthermia, is the loss of consciousness as body organs begin to fail because of an excessively high body temperature. We know that it was a very warm day, she was exerting herself by hiking uphill, and she was losing consciousness. It sounds like she very well experienced heat stroke.

This leads us to the next question of how this could have been prevented. If this were a BSA scout troop, each of the participants would have already received a physical. Even adult leaders who accompany scouts at camps or multi-day hikes are required to get one. It is my understanding that there is no such requirement for young women who attend church camp. A physical, among other things, can help root out those who might have medical issues, even though it doesn’t sound like Sophie had any before this hike. Strenuous hikes can also be done in the early morning hours while it is still cool. And even while on the hike, regular attention to adequate hydration can prevent dehydration and excessive body temperature. Finally, proper training for the the volunteer youth leaders on preventing and recognizing heat stroke and dehydration will also go a long way in insuring that such a tragic death does not happen again.

The opinions expressed above belong to Ron Kramer, a Utah personal injury and accident attorney.

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Springville Utah Man Killed in Hang Gliding Accident

June 15th, 2010

Kent Warren from Utah County has passed away when he crashed a powered hang glider into a power line in Springville, Utah. Friends of Mr. Warren say that Warren loved a good adventure and danger did not deter him from the sport he loved. Springville police say that 59-year-old Warren was trying to take off from the field of the Springville Junior High School when he clipped the power lines at the far edge of the athletic field. His son Sam was there videotaping the entire event. According to Sam and the KSL news, Warren felt that he was clear of the power lines and had space to get airborne. As he clipped the power line he was thrown down onto the asphalt and died on impact.

What a horrible accident, I offer Mr. Warren’s family my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. My heart goes out to Sam, who had to witness the tragic death of his father.

Ron Kramer is Utah accident and injury attorney who has many years of experiences representing the injured all throughout the state of Utah.

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Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident Claims Man’s Life

June 3rd, 2010

A Salt Lake City Utah man is dead following a motorcycle accident occurring on May 30, 2010. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the motorcycle rider was westbound on 500 South around 11 a.m. and was starting to accelerate forward from the intersection to cross over State St. when a motorist driving a Chevrolet collided into him. The impact of this motorcycle crash, which was said to have caused the motorcyclist a serious spinal cord injury, instantly killed this gentleman. And he died despite the fact that he wore a helmet. Police are said to be investigating which vehicle had the right-of-way and the speed of the Chevrolet.

My sincere condolences go out to the family of this man, whoever he might be. I wish his family the very best as they deal with the aftermath of this tragic motorcycle accident.

From the story, it sounds as if the motorist had run a red light and collided into the motorcyclist who was just starting from the intersection, probably at the point that his light turned to green. If this is the case, then certainly the other driver is to blame for running a red light and the family has a Utah wrongful death claim on their hands.

I would recommend the family of this man, his parents, children and/or parents, consult with an experienced Utah wrongful death attorney to advise them of the remedies that might be available to them in this tragic case. I would suspect that whatever insurance policy the motorist had should be coughed up and that those making a claim would also be entitled to under-insured coverage as well under the motorcycle rider’s policy.

Ron Kramer is a Utah motorcycle accident attorney and personal injury attorney with offices in Utah, Salt Lake and Davis Counties.

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Saratoga Springs Truck Accident Leaves Man in Critical Condition

June 3rd, 2010

A man is in critical condition following a water truck rollover between Saratoga Springs and Elberta, Utah, on June 3, 2010. According to KSL News, an unidentified man was driving a water truck along State Road 68 around milepost 12 at 1:15 a.m. when he apparently took a corner too fast. According to reports, he overcorrected, lost control, and rolled the water truck he was driving. Emergency personnel arrived and he was transported in critical condition to an area hospital. Police are saying that they suspect alcohol may have been involved.

Best wishes to this man as he recuperates. If alcohol was involved, I’m glad that there weren’t other motorists who were affected by any impaired driving.

Ron Kramer represents clients in Magna, West Valley City, West Jordan, Taylorsville, Riverton, and provides attorney services in areas of Utah accident and personal injury law.

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Man Killed in Utah Pedestrian Accident

May 28th, 2010

Cody Hadley, 25 years old from West Haven, Utah, was declared dead on May 28, 2010, following a Utah pedestrian accident, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. According to reports, the man was hit by a Dodge Dakota pickup truck early in the morning on Friday was he walked along the edge of the road on a dark stretch near his home in West Haven. Hadley was said to have been wearing dark clothes at the time and is reported to have been walking partially in the southbound lane of 3500 West when he was hit. Police say the driver didn’t see him in time, nothing that there were no streetlights along this stretch. No citations were issued.

I first send my sincere condolences to the family of Cody Hadley. It’s especially tragic when someone so young gets sent out so early from this life.

From a legal standpoint, there remain, at least for me, questions that need to be answered. For example, was this man really walking in the road? Was he walking with traffic or against it? What does the investigation show as far as footprints that may be visible in the dirt or road? Why was he out this early in the morning? Why was the motorist out this early in the morning? Was the motorist distracted? How much light was there? Were there malfunctioning streetlights that should have been on? Was alcohol or other controlled substances involved?

Many questions need answering in this case. I would recommend that the family contact an experienced Utah wrongful death attorney-lawyer to get answers to these and other questions before they put the issue of whether the motorist contributed to this crash to bed.

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Gary Coleman Dies Following Brain Injury in Provo Utah | Utah Brain Injury Attorney

May 28th, 2010

Gary Coleman was declared dead today, May 28, 2010, in Provo, Utah, following a brain injury he received two days earlier in his home. According to KSL News, Coleman suffered a brain hemorrhage as a result of what some are describing as a fall.

Certainly, my sincere condolences go out to Gary Coleman’s family. Coleman did have a pre-existing history of a rare kidney disease which doctors say caused his growth to be stunted. He has received two kidney transplants by the age of 14 but suffered due to ill effects from dialysis treatment. In already frail health, he certainly didn’t need a traumatic brain injury.

Of interest from a Utah accident lawyer point of view, is the Utah pedestrian accident he was involved in back on September 6, 2008. In that case, Utah resident Colt Rushton accused Coleman and his wife of trying to run him over with a car outside a bowling alley in Payson, Utah. Rushton filed a lawsuit in September of 2008 claiming that Coleman’s wife, Shannon Price, grabbed his cell phone after he tried to take a picture of Coleman leaving the bowling alley.

Rushton, from Spanish Fork, Utah, says that after he attempted to take pictures of Gary Coleman, that Coleman became agitated and demanded $20 to take his picture. Coleman’s wife then took the cell phone away from Rushton when she says he tried to take another picture. Rushton’s attorney said, “”As he was taking the photograph, Mr. Coleman’s wife, Shannon Price, attacked him from behind, clawed him, tore up his arm and took the cell phone.” Rushton also claimed that Gary Coleman purposely ran him over with his truck. The case was later settled on or around January 14, 2010.

Ron Kramer is a Utah brain injury attorney who handles personal injury cases throughout the state of Utah.

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West Valley City Personal Injury Attorney

May 25th, 2010

An Experienced West Valley Lawyer Can Help You From Getting Injured Again — This Time by the Big Insurance Companies

The most experienced West Valley City, Utah, personal injury attorney knows there are many traps just waiting to catch the uninitiated – including those accident victims who decide to go it alone. Those that drive in the West Valley City metro area know that accidents out there are just waiting to happen. Statistically, West Valley City is the second-largest city in Utah with a population of 123,447. West Valley is home to the E Center, the Utah Grizzlies and large concert venues like the USANA Amphitheatre. On any given day, there are auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, scooter accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, drunk driving accidents and text messaging accidents that injure people and send them to the hospital, and sometimes to the morgue.

Getting What is Fair Can Be Difficult and Trying for the Uninitiated

Sadly, when someone is involved in a West Valley City car accident, either as a driver, motorist, or pedestrian, obtaining just compensation can be extremely trying. Sometimes the claim needs to be brought against a Utah governmental agency, such as UTA. Agencies such as this are not accustomed to giving injured victims the time of day, let alone justice. Getting fair compensation from these agencies and the big insurance companies takes real experience and dogged persistence. A knowledgeable West Valley,Utah accident lawyer will tell you that big insurance, companies and governmental agencies just won’t pay over the compensation you may be deserving if they happened to have been negligent. So, unless there is a Utah advocate holding them accountable, they are likely to deny or severely minimize your valid injury claim.

The Secret Way Insurance Companies Make Their Millions

Let’s face it, the insurance industry is a highly-competitive industry. Every day, we hear and see countless commercials in Utah from car insurance companies that want us to switch over to them for our car insurance needs. Despite their insistence that we all become their customers and pay them premiums however, the insurance companies make most of their profit when they deny or minimize otherwise valid claims. What skilled West Valley City, Utah accident attorneys know is that as long as the insurance companies bring in more in premium dollars than they pay out, they are profitable. However, if the insurance companies can avoid paying out on valid claims, or only pays pennies on the dollar, the amount they avoid paying out is pure profit to them. So, for example, if they paid out $10,000 less than they should of on your claim, that is an extra $10,000 of pure profit to that insurance company. That’s where the BIG money is for them. This is the area that they really focus their business attention on.

Fight Fire With Fire:  Get a Good Lawyer!

Insurance companies hire the best lawyers to defend them so they can limit their payouts to the bare minimum. This is why you need to fight fire with fire by consulting with the best West Valley City, Utah accident and injury lawyer you can find. Such a lawyer will not bow to the manipulative games that these insurance companies play. They have trial experience and take cases to trial when necessary. They stand firm in the face of their claims that your case is worth less because you have “degenerative disc disease,” that you were in a car accident 10 years ago, that your accident was too minor to have caused you injury, etc. Since almost all accident and injury lawyers will offer a free consultation, make sure you consult with one who can explain what your rights are and what you can expect on your claim. Remember that it cost NOTHING to meet with an experienced lawyer. If you were seriously injured, you will be miles ahead if you do.

Learn All You Can To Get the Best Possible Outcome on Your Case

Finally, you should take the time to educate yourself as to what you are in for when you have been involved in a West Valley accident and what mistakes you must avoid to get full and fair compensation for your case. Ron Kramer wrote the Utah Accident Book to give Utah consumers this very direction. This book is free to those who have been injured in a Utah accident. You can get one by calling our office or clicking here: http://www.MyAccidentBook.com.

If you have been injured because of someone’s neglect, we would love to meet with you or a family member. You can visit us in our office in Salt Lake County:

Kramer Law Group
12357 South 450 East
Suite 1
Draper, Utah 84020
801-553-8840

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UTA Driver Should Lose Job Over Recent Accident

May 11th, 2010

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that a maintenance worker on his way to the scene of a Utah Transit Authority (UTA) versus car accident on May 7, 2010, and who caused a crash by running a red light may be in danger of losing his job.

Well, I certainly hope so!

According to the story, the UTA employee was on his way to investigate a crash that occurred on South Campus Drive and 1725 East in Salt Lake City between a UTA train and a car. Although the story doesn’t say, it makes sense that he was dispatched to the scene of the crash. UTA, in the cases I have reviewed, and in those that I have handled and currently handle, like to get their investigators on the scene ASAP.

I would hope given the negligence of the UTA driver, and the resulting serious injuries to an innocent motorist, that UTA will discharge this employee so that this type of accident will not repeat itself. I will not hold my breath, though, as they sadly seem to have a history of retaining drivers who drive carelessly and injure unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians, such as Kristen Kenny. See Salt Lake Tribune article here.

The opinions expressed above belong to Utah personal injury and accident attorney Ron Kramer.

Posted in Utah car accident, auto accidents | No Comments »

Summit County Motorcycle Accident Claims Man’s Life

May 10th, 2010

Kent David Ballard, 67 years old, is dead following a motorcycle accident in Summit County, Utah on May 9, 2010, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. According to the story, the motorcycle crash happened in Echo, on Echo Road about 2:20 p.m. According to witnesses, Mr. Ballard was on an older 1972 Honda motorcycle when he lost control of the bike and drove off the right side of the road. Upon impact, he was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Sadly, he was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene.

My condolences to the family of this man. Adding to the grief must be the realization that a helmet may have saved his life.

I comment on many motorcycle accidents. I have noticed that in most of the fatality cases, the rider or passenger on the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet. My blog isn’t going to change this fact. It would seem, though, that the repeated news of severe or fatalities from these types of crashes would and that riders would get smart and start protecting themselves and the families that love and depend on them.

Ron Kramer is a Utah motorcycle accident lawyer with offices in Draper, Utah and Bountiful Utah.

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Utah Yaz-Yazmin Attorneys

April 19th, 2010

Yaz and Yasmin are birth control pills, designed to treat pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, or PPMD (as well as acne in women wishing birth control) and have been linked to a number of serious side effects, such as gallbladder problems, gallstones, blood clots, strokes and even heart attacks. The manufacturers of Yaz, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., has run a misleading ad campaign and currently are staring down the barrel of a Yaz large class action lawsuit. These misleading Yaz commercials have prompted the FDA to issue Bayer a warning for false advertising. Sadly, this warning came only after Bayer sold massive quanties of Yaz to millions of women.

The Bayer-Yaz advertising campaign not only made false claims about the benefits of the drug, but it also minimized the serious side effects from this drug, including life-threatening clots. Because of Bayer’s advertising efforts, women who were prescribed the drug took it without being aware of the side effects and health risks that it could cause, including blood clots, strokes, heart attacks and even death.

By the time a corrective ad campaign was run in January 2009, Yaz and Yasmin were some of the most popular birth control pills sold on the market. The first few lawsuits were filed in the summer of 2009 by women who claimed that Yas made them ill. They alleged that Bayer overstated the health benefits in light of the serious health risks, such as deep veinous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and stroke, the drug inflicted on them. It is expected that many more such lawsuits will be filed in the future.

Yaz and Yasmin contain a synthetic type of progestin which is called “drospirenone.” According to the FDA, the substance drospirenone can lead to a condition called hyperkalemia, a health condition caused by excessive amounts of potassium in the blood. This condition can result in potentially very serious heart and health problems.

Our Utah Yaz-Yasmin attorneys are committed to helping hold Bayer accountable for its false advertising. Even now, many women have filed lawsuits against Yaz maker Bayer alleging that the drug has caused them to experience serious, life-threatening side effects. If you or family member have taken Yaz and have been adversely affected in a similar way, including experiencing blood clots, heart attacks or strokes, we invited you to give us a call to discuss how we can protect your legal rights.

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