January 27th, 2010
John Hanson pleaded guilty to automobile homicide and will receive the maximum sentence of one to fifteen years. The decision came in the Utah 5th District Court on Monday, January 25 , 2010. Hanson pleaded guilty to driving drunk and striking and killing 52-year-old motorcyclist, Leland Lloyd. This fatal Utah auto accident happened near an Albertson’s on Telegraph Street in August of 2009 in St. George, Utah.
Hanson’s attorney said that Hanson has felt terrible remorse for his actions and since the Utah auto accident Hanson has taken steps to get help with his alcohol problem, reports thespectrum.com. Hanson wishes to continue his alcohol treatment.
In court, Hanson read a letter he wrote to the Lloyd family, who were present in the courtroom during the trail. He said he’s constantly tormented by what he has done. “Your lives and dreams have truly been shattered,” Hanson said. “I wish you could understand that I’m not a monster, but a loving caring person.” He continued, “But my pain must pale in comparison to what you are going through.”
After the verdict was given Judge Rand Beacham said, “Mr. Hanson has made serious strides (to improve) but the problem is he waited too long and he’s affected too many innocent lives.”
Utah Drunk Driving Statistics
Utah DUI law prohibits any person from operating a vehicle if he or she’s blood alcohol concentration is .08 or greater or the person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs that makes the person incapable of operating the car safely. Drunk driving sentences range from class B misdemeanors for first offenders to a third degree felony when the person has had a prior DUI conviction or the accident causes a fatality.
In 2008, data given by alcoholalert.com shows 275 total fatalities were alcohol related. In the United States, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving crashes. That number constitutes 31.6% of the total number of traffic fatalities in the United States in 2008.
Ron Kramer is a Utah personal injury attorney with offices in Provo, Draper and Bountiful Utah.
Posted in Drunk Driving, Utah car accident, Wrongful Death | No Comments »
January 20th, 2010
A winter storm caused many Utah auto accidents during the morning commute on Monday, January, 18, 2010. The rain, snow and icy conditions caused serious problems forcing Utah Highway Patrol troopers to respond to 97 accidents from Davis country to Utah county. Accidents were reported as early as 5 a.m. and continued steadily through the morning commute. Fortunately, none of the accidents were life threatening.
Reported by KSL news, I-15 in Salt Lake City, Utah was a major trouble spot. Drivers reported that they were not able to go a half mile without passing a Utah auto accident. Teresa Henderson was riding in an SUV that spun out on I-15. “It’s a mess. It’s just ice,” she said. “It’s like ice skating.”
Driver Matthew Skaggs’ car was involved in one of the more severe accidents of the morning. He was trying to pass a bus when he realized a car had spun out and was stopped in his lane. He didn’t have anywhere to go.”It was either left into a car next to me or right into a bus. So I decided to do neither and put my brakes on. I slid into the bus and bounced off of it right into the median.
Skaggs says he was driving less than 55 miles per hour when he got in his accident but troopers say that is not slow enough.
Ron Kramer is a Salt Lake City, Utah personal injury attorney who helps his clients receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Posted in Utah car accident, Vehicle Injury | No Comments »
January 19th, 2010
Carlybeth Ramirez, 21, from Orem, Utah, was killed in a car accident while passenger Tihare Salazar of Provo, Utah was seriously injured. The accident happened on Monday, January 18, 2010 on Interstate 15 in Idaho. This auto accident happened around 4:30 p.m. south of Pocatello, Idaho. According to KSL news, the car was going north when it drifted off the road. Idaho State Police say that Carlybeth Ramirez overcorrected causing her car to roll several times through the median, eventually stopping in southbound lanes.
Ramirez died at the scene. The passenger in the car, 21-year-old Tihare Salazar of Provo, Utah was transported in serious condition to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho.
I offer my sincere condolences to the family of Carlybeth Ramirez. What a tragic loss for this family. I hope for the very best for young Tihare Salazer as she recovers from her injuries.
The investigation shows that Ms. Ramirez may have drifted slightly and then overcorrected causing the car to spin out of control. Typically, the initial investigation will only show that the vehicle spun out of control but will not show that factors that caused the accident. Could a mechanical malfunction have lead to the car to spin out of control?
As a passenger in the vehicle, Ms. Salazar should hire a skilled Utah personal injury attorney who will help her receive compensation for her medical bills and pain and suffering.
Posted in Utah car accident, Vehicle Injury | No Comments »
January 15th, 2010
Thirty-one-year-old, Daniel Martin Long, was charged with second-degree felony automobile homicide and third degree unlawful possession of a controlled substance, following a fatal Utah crash that killed 23-year-old Nathan Barlow, on April 21, 2007.. Martin was under the influence of a prescription drug when he rear-ended the bakery delivery truck driven by Nathan Barlow on Interstate 15 near 2300 North in Salt Lake City, Utah. Barlow died when his truck swerved off the road and rolled several times. Long who was not injured, told the Utah Highway Patrol that he had dozed off, but witnesses told UHP that Long was traveling around 100 mph just before the crash, and was swerving to avoid traffic.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, UHP determined he was under the influence of a central nervous system depressant and State Troopers found two Valium pills in Long’s pocket.
Third District Judge Robert Faust, ordered Long to serve a one-year jail sentence and complete a 36 month probation period. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Long must write a letter of apology to the victim’s family and get therapy ordered by probation officers.
Central nervous system prescription drugs like Valium impair a driver’s judgment just like alcohol. This is a terrible tragedy for Nathan Barlow’s family. If they have not already done so, I recommend that they contact an experienced Utah wrongful death attorney who can help them receive compensation for their loss. Long’s insurance company is responsible to pay the damages. Also, since he was working at the time of the fatal car accident, the policy of the bread company can also be used. The statute of limitations in a case like this is four years
Posted in Utah car accident, Wrongful Death, utah fatal car accident | No Comments »
January 13th, 2010
In order to avoid the wrath of a Utah text messaging accident lawyer, motorists are warned to give head to a recent study published by the University of Utah. As reported in the Christian Science Monitor, new data released by the National Safety Council shows that the number of car crashes caused by cell phone use and texting is at 1.6 million, a number that is one million more than previously thought. This report makes even more necessary, the need to grow the nationwide anti-distracted driving campaign which many states have adopted.
David Teater, director of transportation strategic initiatives at the National Safety Council said, “One out of every four car crashes in the United States is caused by cell phone distraction.” David knows first hand the horrific consequences of distracted driving: his son was killed in a crash caused by a driver on a cell phone.
Safety action group, “FocusDriven” aims to adopt many of the same tactics as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). “Just as groups like MADD changed attitudes about drunk driving, I believe FocusDriven can help raise awareness and change the way people think about distracted driving,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The National Safety Council first called for a nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving about a year ago. Today, only six states and Washington D.C., have banned cell phone use while driving. Nineteen of fifty states ban text messaging while behind the wheel.
Researchers at University of Utah found that the likelihood of a crash increases fourfold when someone is talking on the cell phone while driving and if a person is texting while driving the person is eight time morel likely to be in a car accident. The distraction goes far beyond visual impairment, but a driver is also cognitively disconnected when texting or talking on the cell phone. The brain is focused on a conversation, so it doesn’t compute images as quickly as someone who is solely focused on driving.
Ron Kramer is a Utah personal injury lawyer representing clients injured from those who drive while texting and has offices in Bountiful, Draper and in Provo, Utah.
Posted in Personal Injury | No Comments »
January 12th, 2010
In my Utah Accident book, I describe 13 mistakes that could kill your accident claim. Mistake 3 is described below:
Mistake 3: Giving Too Much Information to the Insurance Company Adjuster
The at-fault parties insurance company adjuster is not your friend! Remembering this one principle can help you tremendously in with your Utah injury or accident claim. In many cases, often before a client has a chance to meet with an attorney, a claimant will have a one-on-one recorded statement with the insurance company. Adjusters will try to catch the claimant off guard and cause him or her to reveal confidential things that are irrelevant to the particular claim. Don’t be surprised if down the road the adjuster will try to use the things you said in the first recorded statement to your detriment.
You might reveal previous medical history, mental problems, substance abuse or information on previous car accidents; all of which can weaken the claim with the insurance company.
I also advice not to sign the medical release to allow the insurance company the opportunity to search your medical history. The release they want you to sign is very broad and affords them the right to get all records pertaining to your mental health and substance abuse history. The only records that insurance company should need are those directly related to the crash. Medical records that show a pre-existing history of injury in the same are where you received harm as a result of the accident may also be relevant. Aside from that, insurance companies have no business performing a witch hunt into your medical history.
The solution is to deny the request for a recorded statement. They might try to tell you they have the right by law to perform a recorded statement but this is not true! Consult your attorney first so he or she can be present during the recorded statement.
To find out additional mistakes that can kill your Utah accident claim, call my office today to request a FREE copy of my Utah Accident Book. In my book, I teach the 13 mistakes that can kill your case as well as reveal the tips that the insurance companies do not want you to know.
Contact my office today at 1-866-696-2129 or visit my website at http://ronkramerlaw.com/ to request a free copy of The Utah Accident Book.
Posted in Uncategorized, Utah car accident | No Comments »
December 23rd, 2009
Snowy roads kept Utah Highway Patrol officials busy responding to auto accidents throughout the state on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. In Davis County, Utah alone, six accidents were reported before 5 p.m.
At around 3:30 p.m., a vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 89 crashed into a concrete wall entering the Legacy Parkway overpass. The two teenage boys riding in the vehicle got out to inspect the damage when a minivan entered the overpass and hit the two boys. The boys were taken to the hospital, listed in fair condition.
According to standard.net, another Utah car accident happened on the I-15 near 200 West in Farmington, Utah. A trailer became detached from the semi-truck that was pulling it. The trailer ran off the road, dragging a car underneath it. Fortunately, the person suffered only minor injuries and did not have to be taken to the hospital. Investigators are still unclear why the trailer became detached from the semi-truck.
UHP Lt. Lee Perry said, “Everyone is speeding too fast for the conditions,” he said. “The snow is not coming down heavy, not sticking, so the plows can’t scrape anything. They are just driving at or above the speed limit.”
Ron Kramer is a Utah accident and injury lawyer with offices in Provo, Draper and Bountiful, Utah.
Posted in Utah car accident | No Comments »
December 21st, 2009
Eight Utah workers were sent to the hospital following a chemical reaction at Pro Pac Lab located at 3804 South Airport Road in Ogden, Utah. Pro Pac Lab makes vitamins and mineral supplements, a process that leaves chemical residue on the machinery used to make the vitamins and minerals. On Friday, December 19, 2009, workers went through a routine clean up around 7:15 a.m. and bleach mixed one of the chemical residues left on the machines to create a dangerous ammonia gas.
According to KSL news, employees evacuated the building to escape the ammonia gas. Once the workers got into the fresh air, the symptoms cleared quickly. Emergency personnel responded and investigated the cause of the chemical reaction. They believe that bleach came into contact with nitrogen dust to create the ammonia gas.
“That ammonia gas is what caused people to get a burning sensation in their mouths, nose, in their eyes, or lungs depending on how much they breathed in during that process,” said Chad Tucker, deputy chief of the Ogden City Fire Department.
Pro Pac Lab is looking into manufacturing processes and cleaning processes that will prevent this problem in the future.
From this report, several questions are raised. Company officials said they will look into the cleaning process to make sure this doesn’t happen in the future; but what are they going to do until they figure out the exact cause? It sounds like workers did a routine cleaning similar to this each day, but this particular time the bleach mixed with the wrong chemical and caused the reaction. Officials should be 100% sure that the this reaction will won’t happen again before they allow workers to continue working in that environment.
With respect to the eight injured. I recommend that they contact a Utah accident and injury attorney who will help them receive compensation for their injuries and explore their options in case the reaction causes long term damages.
Posted in Personal Injury | No Comments »
December 18th, 2009
An 8-year-old boy was hit by a car on Tuesday, December 16, 2009 in Draper, Utah while walking in the crosswalk. This Utah pedestrian happened near 12400 South and 950 East. United Fire Authority Captain Clint Smith does not know if the boy had entered the crosswalk before he was hit. The impact sent the boy flying 40 feet.
According to the KSL news, there was no crosswalk signal in the area where the boy was hit. He was flown to Primary Children’s Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition.
I extend my best wishes for a speedy recovery to this boy and his parents.
Despite the lack of a crosswalk signal, vehicles are still obligated to watch for and yield to pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk. I recently have been seeing those green pylons popping up in school crosswalks in the area that say: State Law: Yield to Peds Within Crosswalk. This is a correct statement of law. One which some motorists still have a hard time following. The family of this boy may therefore wish to consult with a Utah pedestrian attorney to find out what remedies they have following this unfortunate pedestrian accident.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 17th, 2009
I’m sure you’ve seen the TV ads or heard the radio announcements for Zero Fatalities and you may be wondering what exactly it is. Zero fatalities is a nationwide effort that addresses the top behaviors that are killing people on America’s roads. The program was actually originally launched in Utah by the Utah Department of Public Safety, since then, officials in many states have asked to use the ads, flyers and artwork to launch the campaign in their individual states. Topics covered include drowsy driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, driving without wearing a seat belt and impaired driving. The program is designed to convince all drivers that Zero Fatalities is the number of traffic related deaths our country should strive for.
Zero Fatalities is looking to change the mind-set that traffic fatalities are inevitable. Really, traffic fatalities are often preventable if we make some minor changes in the way we drive. Zero Fatalities attempts to influence each individual driver to make minor adjustments so Utah roads will become safer as a whole. Their slogan, “A goal we can all live with” is present in every TV or radio advertisement.
Is it Working?
Statistics say yes! Zero Fatalities is working. According to UDOT, Traffic fatalities are down 28%. As of November 30, there have been 230 traffic fatalities in 2009. That number is down from the 254 reported during that same time frame in 2008.
I echo the principles of the Zero Fatalities campaign: small changes in the way we drive can make Utah roads a little safer.
Posted in Wrongful Death, auto accidents, text messaging, utah fatal car accident | No Comments »
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