Utah Injury Lawyers Blog

Sleepy Driving Causes Risk and Potential Injury to Drivers

October 16, 2013

Driving fatigue is a psychological and physiological event that can affect any driver. The impact of fatigue can cause strain on the vehicle’s driver and creates a potential for a motor vehicle accident, which can cause injury to the driver and other vehicles on the road. The risks associated with driver fatigue have a large impact on motor vehicle accidents in the United States. A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims fatigue or sleep related collisions cause 56,000 accidents per year, which cause 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths. Fatigue can also increase the likeliness of a

Recent Collision Highlights The Importance of Car & Truck Safety

September 11, 2013

A passenger car and a semi-trailer were recently in a collision on Interstate 15 in North Salt Lake. According to a Utah Highway Patrol officer, the accident occurred when the drivers of the car and the semi-trailer tried to avoid hitting a third vehicle with a blown tire. While both drivers averted an accident with the third car, they ended up hitting each other in the process. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries, which were treated at a local hospital, and the passenger car’s driver did not receive any injuries that needed medical attention. Common Semi-Truck Accidents In

Rear-End Truck Crashes Prove Fatal

September 10, 2013

Rear-end collisions between trucks and motor vehicles can have devastating effects. Of the 400,000 truck accidents per year, 18 percent are rear-end crashes. Most of these accidents are attributed to trucks hitting motor vehicles. Many of the fatal rear-end collisions involved multiple vehicles. 18 percent of truck-attributed accidents involved three or more vehicles, where as multiple vehicles comprised only five percent of rear-end accidents caused by motor vehicles. Of fatal rear-end collisions, about 46 percent involved multiple (at least three) vehicles. This disparity is likely due to the sheer weight and size differences between large trucks and passenger cars. Typically,

Pedestrian Accidents: When Walking Becomes Dangerous

July 14, 2013

Salt Lake City officials plan on installing a traffic light at one particularly dangerous intersection in the city. According to ABC 4, residents in the neighborhood surrounding the intersection have complained to officials about the dangers posed to pedestrians trying to cross the street; many telling the news channel about the near misses with speeding vehicles they or loved ones have experienced while using the crosswalk at the intersection. The city plans on having the traffic light installed at the intersection by the end of the summer of 2012. Too Late? The installation of the traffic light at

Local Accident Highlights The Risks Utah Pedestrians Face

June 24, 2013

Utah resident Marva Cutler is fighting for her life after being hit by a motorist as she walked along the street close to her home. Since the accident, the 59-year-old has undergone surgery on her gall bladder and pelvis. The driver of the car that struck Cutler, Marilu Angel, is currently under investigation. Unfortunately, this is far from an isolated incident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 60,000 pedestrians are killed, and 110,000 more are injured, in accidents with motorists each year. In Utah alone, the Utah Department of Health reports that 10,567 pedestrians were

How Will Trucker Rest Rule Suspension Affect Roadway Safety in Utah

May 14, 2013

Utah drivers may face a higher risk of truck crashes involving fatigue due to the suspension of a rule requiring weekly overnight rest periods for truckers. At the end of 2014, federal legislation suspended one of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours-of-service regulations. The suspended rule limited the total weekly hours that truckers could work while mandating nighttime rest periods. The suspension is effective until September 2015, pending the results of a safety study. Unfortunately, even if this change proves temporary, it could leave Provo drivers facing a high risk of truck accidents involving driver error and fatigue.

Heroic Bystanders Rescue Motorcyclist from Fiery Crash

April 13, 2013

Near noon on a mid-September day, motorcyclist Brandon Wright was cruising down U.S. Highway 89 near Utah State University in Logan when a BMW pulled in front of him from a roadside parking lot. He attempted to lay down his bike to avoid a crash, but the car was too close. An instant later, Wright hit the car’s hood and fell to the ground, then slid under the car where he lay trapped as the entangled vehicles burst into flames. Bystanders rushed to his aid, lifted the car off the ground and pulled him to safety in a

Study Shows Substance Abuse Common Among Commercial Truck Drivers

March 12, 2013

The trucking industry is vital to the U.S. economy, delivering goods to consumers across the country. Many assume those who drive large semi trucks are more skilled and careful than the average driver, since they control such large vehicles. However, many truck drivers put others’ safety at risk by driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A study published in the October 2013 issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine revealed an alarming rate of substance abuse among commercial vehicle drivers . People should be aware of the extent of this problem, as well as the threat

Hazards Overlooked In Federal Bus Safety Audits

March 10, 2013

Commercial vehicles such as buses and large trucks are regulated by the federal government to ensure the safety of those who travel in them and those who share the road with them. However, a new report revealed that the federal agency charged with the task of inspecting commercial carriers is not meeting its duties. On November 7, 2013, the National Transportation Safety Board announced the results of its investigation into the effectiveness of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s oversight of motor carrier operations in the U.S. and called for improvements. Missed Warning Signs The NTSB launched its

Hands-Free Devices No Less Distracting To Drivers

November 22, 2012

The problem of distracted driving has garnered national attention. In an effort to combat the problem of drivers using hand-held cell phones and other personal electronics, auto manufacturers have begun to include more hands-free devices in their vehicles so that drivers can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road while still accomplishing the same tasks. However, a study released by the American Automobile Association and the University of Utah in June 2013 demonstrated that hands-free devices are no less distracting for drivers than hand-held electronics and cell phones. Hands-Free Devices in Vehicles More vehicles

Handling Uninsured Motorists On and Off the Road in Utah

October 16, 2012

It is impossible for Utah drivers to identify who is an uninsured motorist while on the road, so handling vehicles safely and driving defensively is a must. However, when car accidents involving uninsured drivers do occur, it is difficult to know how to best handle the situation. While there are penalties for driving without insurance in Utah, insured drivers have little recourse. However, with the help of attorneys experienced in personal injury claims against uninsured motorists, insured auto accident victims in Utah may still receive compensation. State of the Uninsured Even though almost every state in the U.S., including

Half of the Nation’s High School Seniors Admit To Texting While Driving

September 25, 2012

If you are the parent of a teenager, you are well aware of the amount of time that teens spend sending text messages to each other. In fact, the Pew Research Center reports that on any given day, the average teenager will send and receive approximately 100 text messages. Unfortunately, this does not stop when teens get behind the wheel of a car. A recent survey released by the Centers for Disease Control indicates that 58 percent of high school seniors read and send text messages, as well as emails, while driving. Additionally, nearly 43 percent of high

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Sleepy Driving Causes Risk and Potential Injury to Drivers

Recent Collision Highlights The Importance of Car & Truck Safety

Rear-End Truck Crashes Prove Fatal

Pedestrian Accidents: When Walking Becomes Dangerous

Local Accident Highlights The Risks Utah Pedestrians Face

How Will Trucker Rest Rule Suspension Affect Roadway Safety in Utah

Heroic Bystanders Rescue Motorcyclist from Fiery Crash

Study Shows Substance Abuse Common Among Commercial Truck Drivers

Hazards Overlooked In Federal Bus Safety Audits

Hands-Free Devices No Less Distracting To Drivers

Handling Uninsured Motorists On and Off the Road in Utah

Half of the Nation’s High School Seniors Admit To Texting While Driving

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