KUTV brings us a story from Tuesday night, where in Midvale, Utah a woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Around 9:30 pm, 22-year-old Cecily Fields and a friend were walking across State Street near 8000 south. Police report that there was no crosswalk where they were passing, the street was poorly lit,  and the two were trying to walk across several traffic lanes.

The driver who hit Fields was 20 years old and stopped at the scene. Cecily was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition. Her friend fled from the scene. But police were able to track her down. She admitted to leaving the scene because the two of them had been drinking, and she was afraid she might be held responsible.

It is illegal, and dangerous to drive a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, but what people might not necessarily know is that walking under the influence is incredibly dangerous as well. According to an article from Alcoholism Rehab, “alcohol impairs not only your ability to drive, but also your ability to walk. Drinking impairs coordination, reflexes and the individual’s judgment.”

Over the course of a 25-year-study, 58% of pedestrians killed on New Year’s Day had high blood alcohol concentrations. In an article by SunSentinel.com, 13% of all pedestrian deaths in 2010 involved the pedestrian drinking.

If you’ve had a drink, it is the responsible thing not to drive, but consider being safe all around. When you drink and drive, you have a high probability of causing harm to another person, but when you walk under the influence, there is a very high chance you could hurt yourself.

Keep yourself and everyone around you safe when drinking, and stay out of the roads.

If you have any questions or concerns related to an accident that occurred in part because of alcohol, please call Christensen & Hymas: 801-506-0800. We’d be more than happy to give you a free consultation, and help you figure out your next steps.

Image courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society

A story brought to us by Fox News shares the tale of a 15-year-old boy in Kearns, Utah, in now in critical condition. Tuesday, March 12th, at 7:15 am,  a group of teenagers were crossing at 5300 W and 5400 S on their way to Kearns High School. One car stopped suddenly to avoid the group of pedestrians, but a second came around and swerved into the boy. Unified Police Department Lt. Justin Hoyal said the kids had not been using a crosswalk. A woman who lives nearby, Amanda Simpson, told police that many students cross on that street every day on their way to school. While this is a main road, Simpson thinks the authorities need to reduce the speed limit because of all the kids walking around on a regular basis. She thinks it is not safe to keep it at the current 40 mph.

There is not a single crosswalk on 5400 South, and the Utah Department of Transportation claims there is no need for one. The past three to four year, the UDOT has conducted several studies with various factors, strongly considering the amount of pedestrians. Department spokesperson Adan Carrillo said that the situation of the road does not, “meet the warrant for an installation of a crosswalk or traffic signal at this point.” The results of the many studies did not signal the need to add any safety measures. However, the UDOT is still planning on researching the stretch of road on 5400 South, and the potential addition of road signs or safety precautions.

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In Millcreek, Utah of Thursday afternoon, 64-year-old Larry Madison died. Around 7:00 am, Madison was jogging along 1100 East near 3800 South, when a southbound Chevy Astro van ran into him. Lt. Justin Hoyal, of the Unified police, said that it was not clear exactly where he was jogging, or what caused the crash.

Police found Madison in critical condition, and quickly transported him to Intermountain Medical Center, where his body succumbed to the injuries of the crash, and he passed away.

Police are still investigating the details of the crash.

We hope there will be just consequences for the tragedy that has occurred. We know nothing can make up for such a loss, but our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Larry  Madison who are currently suffering.

A life shortened for a seemingly senseless reason, is never easy to accept. The grief that comes from losing a loved one is ineffable, and dealing with the social ramifications can be stressful, confusing, and frustrating, If you or a loved one has suffered because of an accident that could have, or should have been avoided, you may need legal help. If you would like to talk to the expert Utah Accident Attorneys, call Christensen & Hymas for a free consultation: 801-506-0800. They would love to hear from you, or help answer any questions or concerns you might have about your case specifically, or any other questions that you might have. Feel free to visit our website as well: http://www.utahpersonalinjurylawfirm.com/

We hope that we can help you through this difficult time.

Image courtesy of ksl news

A terrible accident occurred this morning in Salt Lake City, UT. According to KSL5 and FOX13, 15-year-old Edwin Cardoso was walking to school around 7 AM when he was hit by a utility truck turning left. Both the boy and the driver had a green light, yet the driver failed to yield to Cardoso, who had the right-of-way and was also in a crosswalk at the time of the accident. The boy suffered head injuries, and less than two hours was pronounced dead.

Words of condolence fall miserably short at such a time. On behalf of Christensen & Hymas, we wish to say we are truly sorry to the family for this loss.

In circumstances such as these, it is crucial for the family to know that they may receive compensation to help cover the costs of medical bills and other costs related to the loss. This can be a very, very expensive time, especially since no one plans to lose a loved one. Often adding insult to injury, insurance companies will show up days after the event and offer a ‘settlement’, neither leaving time for the family to grieve nor offering an amount that will even begin to help defray the costs. Call the pedestrian accident lawyers at Christensen & Hymas if you find yourself being hassled by insurance companies—let us deal with them for you. Call (801) 506-0800 for a no-commitment free consultation.