Utah Department of Transportation’s Zero Fatalities campaign brought together the 25 families who lost a child in a car accident, reports Fox13 News. For those who have lost an child in a car accident, it can undoubtedly be a heart wrenching experience, and these family connected in hopes of alerting and educating Utahans be more alert to the dangers of inattentive driving.

My thoughts and prayers are with these families in dealing with their devastating loss.

Although many states have previously required a medical examiner to be at the scene of a fatal vehicle accident, Utah has previously not required one, which is likely to change reports KSL News. “The cause of death is not always apparent,” tell Utah Highway Patrol Maj. Michael Rapich.

Having a medical examiner on the scene of the accident helps Utahns in more than one way. First, they can help put the correct causation to the death, i.e. a toxicology report can help pinpoint whether the death was caused by chemical or natural causes. Second, it can help the family and relatives speed up the legal process. Getting a death certificate and an insurance payout can be a cumbersome process, especially if trying to get the necessary paperwork from a hospital emergency room, which are usually too busy with patients who have not already passed. Having a medical examiner present helps prevent the “legal limbo” that is created with a situation where the proper documentation wasn’t done soon enough, and also helps free up “time and resources at the hospital.”

Westley N. Moore, 22 years old, of Corinne, Utah, is dead following a fatal motorcycle accident in Provo Canyon on August 24, 2010. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Moore was heading eastbound in on State Road 189 near mile marker 12. Witnesses reported seeing the motorcycle weaving in and out of traffic. According to reports, the motorcycle collided with the rear end of a Ford Fusion, which caused the motorcyclist to lose control and strike a guard rail. Moore was transported by helicopter to the University Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Moore’s passenger, Paige C. Weber, 19 years old of Layton, suffered broken bones in the crash but is thankfully expected to recover. Neither of the passengers were said to have been wearing helmets.

My deepest condolences go out to the family of Westley Moore for his tragic death. I also send best wishes to his passenger for a speedy and full recovery.

My first impression is that motorcycle riders should always wear helmets when they ride. The driver of motorcycle should insist that their passengers also wear a helmet. I’m not sure if Westley’s death could have been prevented with a helmet, but I’m sure it played some role. My next thought is on how the news media described Moore’s aggressive driving just before the crash. Weaving in and out of traffic is always dangerous because motorists do no expect you to be there and they can move over suddenly and without warning. Utah law requires that motorists use blinkers for a good two seconds prior to lane changes. You typically won’t be doing this if you are “weaving” in and out of traffic. As is sounds like Moore was passing or attempting to pass, it also sounds like he was going in excess of the speed limit. I have driven Provo Canyon and know that motorists tend to drive a good 5-10 miles per hour faster than the posted speed limit. If Moore was passing cars, then it sounds like he was going pretty fast.

Legally speaking, the passenger in the Provo motorcycle accident has a claim against the driver for her injuries, which sound pretty serious. If the policy is not enough to cover her claim, and she has her own insurance or lives in a household where there is an auto insurance policy, then she can tap into the “under-insured” component and make a claim.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the article at the time it was written. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call us or another reputable Utah personal injury law firm. Do not act based on the above information without getting a consultation. The best Utah personal injury attorneys will offer a free consultation. We offer a free and confidential consultation to those (and their family members) not substantially at fault in causing their accident. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified attorney.

A crash in West Jordan, Utah on June 23, 2010, injured one woman who had to swerve to try to avoid a truck. The woman was riding on a scooter on Wednesday at around 8 a.m. at 8250 S. Jaguar Drive when the driver of a truck failed to yield to her right of way. The woman’s brakes locked causing her to slide under the truck. Police are saying that the woman is very lucky to be alive because the scooter might have actually stopped the truck from running her over. The scooter lodged under one of the truck’s wheels stopping the truck from running over the woman. The woman was flown to the hospital as a precaution. KSL news reports that the driver of the truck was cited for failure to yield.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

I wish this woman a very speedy recovery and sincerely hope her injuries are not serious.

This woman has a claim against the insurance of this truck. I see that she was life flighted to the hospital which means the cost of her medical bills are already quite high. That flight does not come cheap and that coupled with her stay at the hospital will amount to thousands of dollars in medical bills, not to mention the costs of any future treatment she may require. The driver of the truck was cited and his/her insurance is therefore liable to cover the costs of this woman’s medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. I recommend that she contact an experienced Utah motorcycle attorney who can assist her with this claim.

Ron Kramer is a Salt Lake City, Utah personal injury attorney who specializes in auto accident, slip and falls, motorcycle accidents and pedestrian accidents.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the article at the time it was written. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call us or another reputable Utah personal injury law firm. Do not act based on the above information without getting a consultation. The best Utah personal injury attorneys will offer a free consultation. We offer a free and confidential consultation to those (and their family members) not substantially at fault in causing their accident. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified attorney.

Three motorcyclists are expected to recover from head injuries suffered during a charity bike ride on Sunday, May 16, 2010 in Park City, Utah. The 15th annual Kids Benefit Ride resulted in the crash of three motorcyclists. According to The Utah Highway Patrol and KSL news, nearly 300 motorcycles were traveling in the charity ride and one bike was following too closely and collided with another when it slowed down. None of three riders injured were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. Shriners Hospital is the beneficiary of the event and, although they are very grateful for the funds raised they are working with event organizers to assure the event is safe for all participants.

The Utah Safety Council says Utah riders are 84% more likely to die in a Utah motorcycle accident if they are not wearing a helmet. “Drivers and passengers on motorcycles are virtually unprotected. They’re not protected by 3,000 pounds of steel, as is the case in a motor vehicle,” says Bob Parenti, president of the Utah Safety Council. Except for riders under the age of 18, helmets are still not required under Utah law so many riders choose not to wear them.

Helmets decrease the severity of head injuries and the likelihood of death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that helmets reduce the chance of a motorcycle-related fatality by 37%. Those motorcyclists that do not wear helmets often receive traumatic brain injuries when they are in an accident.

James E. Malbon, 30 of Murray, Utah, is dead after his bullet bike-type motorcycle crashed in Big Cottonwood Canyon near the Solitude Resort on Saturday, May 8, 2010. According to the Deseret News, it appeared that the motorcycle rider may have been going too fast to take a curve and fell more than 60 feet off a steep drop. No witnesses saw the crash, but a police officer which was working near the resort heard the motorcycle coming up the canyon and then what sounded like a crash. He went to investigate and found Mr. Malbon.

My condolences go out to Mr. Malbon’s family for this tragic loss.

It is unknown if Mr. Malbon was wearing a helmet at the time of this motorcycle accident. Regardless, a fall of 60 feet, even with a helmet, may have nonetheless ended with the same result. Motorcycle riders, please obey the speed limits and practice defensive driving!

Ron Kramer is a Utah personal injury attorney and motorcycle accident lawyer and helps motorcycle riders who have been injured because of the negligence of someone else.

A man, Steven Sabatini, is dead following a motorcycle accident in St. George, Utah, on April 17, 2010. According to KSL News, Steven Sabatini, 33 years old, and his wife Yvonne Bonhard, 24 years old, were riding together on a motorcycle that Sabatini had recently purchased. The two were said to have been speeding down East Ridge Drive around 9:30 p.m. when Sabatini approached a curve in the road. Because of the sharp turn, he was unable to slow down, and the motorcycle continued to go straight, off the road, colliding at high velocity into a parked truck. The resulting crash left Sabatini with a severe head injury. He was taken to a local hospital, but sadly, perished there shortly thereafter. His wife, Yvonne, was flown to the hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, none of them were wearing a helmet. The two had married only one month earlier. Police suspect that Steven may have had alcohol in his system at the time of this motorcycle crash.

My condolences go out to the family of Steven for this tragic loss. I can’t help but think, though, that if he had a helmet on, that he very well would be alive right now. An exposed head striking a stationary object at high speed can inflict unrecoverable, severe damage to a person’s brain.

Legally speaking, Steven’s widow could have a claim against her husband’s estate. Although he was said not to have had insurance, if he had recently acquired the bike, it may fall under the 15 to 30 day window that an existing auto policy may have to add another vehicle, unless that policy excludes motorcycle additions. If she had her own policy, then she should look to either the uninsured or under-insured component, depending on the status of insurance covering the motorcycle. I would recommend that she or her family contact an experienced Utah motorcycle accident attorney for assistance in reviewing what remedies may be available to her.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the article at the time it was written. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call us or another reputable St. George , Utah personal injury law firm. Do not act based on the above information without getting a consultation. The best personal injury attorneys will offer a free consultation. We offer a free and confidential consultation to those (and their family members) not substantially at fault in causing their accident. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified Utah personal injury attorney.

A motorcycle carrying a 39-year-old man and a 6-year-old girl struck a recliner chair on April 10, 2010 outside of Santaquin, Utah. According to a report given by KSL news, the chair had fallen off the back of a truck on Interstate 15. The 39-year-old man was riding on I-15 when a recliner fell off the back of a pickup truck. He was unable to avoid the chair and both he and the 6-year-old passenger were thrown from the motorcycle. The man was taken by helicopter to Utah Valley Medical Center with injuries that are not considered life-threatening. The passenger on the motorcycle suffered minor injuries.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Utah Highway Patrol Troopers say that crashes like this are completely preventable if people spend a little extra time to ensure their cargo is secured properly. “It just takes a little more time to tie down the load, strap it down correctly, make sure it doesn’t go anywhere, so something like this doesn’t happen,” Nigbur said.

UDOT spends about 1.8 million dollars each year cleaning debris off Utah highways. More importantly, debris on the road causes hundreds of crashes each year. In this case, it appears the motorcyclists could do nothing to avoid the recliner so fault should lie with the driver of the pickup truck. Utah law requires us to secure the cargo we are carrying and any damage caused by such cargo is the responsibility of the carrying party carrying.

I wish the two well as they recover from their injuries. I recommend they contact and experienced Utah motorcycle attorney who will help they obtain fair compensation for their injuries.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the blog article above. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call a reputable Utah personal injury law firm. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified Utah personal injury attorney.

A motorist who makes a left-hand turn has a duty to yield to oncoming motorists. It’s the law. According to KSL News, this law was broken on March 24, 2010, when a vehicle traveling through the intersection of 123rd South and Minute Man Drive failed to yield the right-of-way to two motorcyclists and struck them as they were traveling through the intersection. Both men are said to have injuries to their backs and lower legs and were taken to the hospital. Police are deciding whether the woman will get a ticket or not.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

First of all, best wishes to these two men as they recover from this totally preventable motorcycle accident. Unfortunately, too many motorists fail to yield when they make a left-hand turn. Since the failure to yield is a violation of Utah law, I am not sure why the woman would not get a ticket for causing the Draper motorcycle accident to happen. I happen to have likewise been a victim of a driver who failed to yield when making her left turn at this very intersection.

The motorcyclists should keep in mind that most motorcycle policies don’t have the regular PIP, or Personal Injury Protection benefits that drivers of cars do. So unless they purchased additional med pay coverage for their bikes, there may be no money on their policy to pay for medical bills. Typically, this med-pay component will pay up to $3,000. Hopefully both men have health insurance that will cover these medical expenses. Of course, a claim can and should be made against the at-fault driver in this case for the amount of medical bills, time off of work, any permanent impairment, etc. If the woman did not have enough in insurance coverage, then the men could look to their own policy for “under-insured” coverage.

Ron Kramer is a Utah motorcycle accident attorney with an office just a few blocks east of this intersection.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the article at the time it was written. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call us or another reputable American fork , Utah personal injury law firm. Do not act based on the above information without getting a consultation. The best personal injury law firms will offer a free consultation. We offer a free and confidential consultation to those (and their family members) not substantially at fault in causing their accident. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified Utah personal injury attorney.

Southbound Interstate 15 lanes in Utah County were closed on Monday, November, 4, 2009 following a Utah County Car crash. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, a Mazda 626 carrying two people overturned after it was cut off by another car. The two people were transported to the hospital by ambulance in fair condition. Both of the injured parties are from St. George.

Utah Auto Accident Statistics

The number of people who died on Utah roadways was the lowest total in 16 years. Utah Department of Public Safety Research says there were 272 traffic related fatalities on Utah roads in 2008, down 17 percent from 2007. Motorcycle deaths were up to 35, the highest total since 1985. Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Cameron Roden says one possible explanation of the lower fatality numbers is the high gasoline prices which may keep many Utah motorists off the road.