A man crossing northbound in a crosswalk was hit by a bus today, November 19, 2008, as he was crossing the street between 300 West and 400 South, near Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. Officials say he is in critical condition with a serious traumatic brain injury. According to a story by KSL.com, Curtis Lewis, a friend that was with the man says that the UTA bus was turning left when the crash happened. He reported that the force of the impact threw his friend 15 feet into the road. This witness also reported almost getting hit by this bus himself: “[The bus] came about two inches from hitting me.” He told the new media that it appeared that the bus was speeding up to go through the yellow light. Police, on the other hand, dispute his account and say that the light was green.
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
As it turns out, there were no passengers aboard the bus. Passengers would be helpful in situations like this to set the story straight as to what exactly happened, what the driver may have been doing at the time of the crash, and what he may have said during and immediately afterward. The driver is reported to be on administrative leave. No decision has been made as to whether the driver will get a ticket or not.
My take on this is that the UTA bus driver and UTA needs to be held accountable for this bus accident. It doesn’t matter if the bus driver’s light is green or yellow. Utah law requires that drivers making a left-hand turn must yield the right away to other vehicles or pedestrians that are close enough to the turning vehicle to potentially be struck or injured if the left-hand turn is completed. In this case, there were two men in a marked crosswalk crossing the street. It should not have been difficult to see them.
I would recommend that the injured man (if he is at all able), his family or friends contact a Utah personal injury attorney regarding the gentleman’s legal remedies in this case. Since it was a Utah State vehicle that hit him, a document called a “notice of claim” needs to be filed with certain Utah State officials no later than one year from today’s date, or else the claim will be barred. With serious brain injuries such as this, special medical treatment will be needed, possibly life long. There will be treatment with neurologists, neuropsychologists, life care planners and vocational experts.
Best wishes to this gentleman. Our prayers are with him that he can pull through this. With a brain injury such as the one being described, however, his recovery will not be quick and easy and he sadly will likely never be the same.
Ron Kramer is a Utah personal injury attorney practicing in Salt Lake, Ogden and Utah Counties as well as in areas statewide.
Published by: Ron Kramer
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)