Memorial Day weekend has traditionally been of the most dangerous weekends on Utah’s roads, and if the trends of this year continue, we may see more of the same. The Utah Department of Transportation reports there have already been 74 fatalities on Utah’s roads thus far in 2012, up from 72 at the end of May last year. Said Robert Hall, director of traffic and safety for the Utah Department of Transportation, “We’re now trending above last year’s fatality numbers, which is a very disturbing trend.” Fatalities have been down 37% since the year 2000, though it appears this year may prove different.

With 6 major constructions going on across Utah right now, drivers need to watch for cones, signs, decreased speed limits, and temporary traffic signals. There have already been 2 deaths in construction zones so far this year, and millions are expected to travel by vehicle over the course of the next few days. For your sake and the sake of others, please be careful and vigilant while you drive.

If you or a loved one is involved in a car accident over Memorial Day due to the negligence of another, contact an auto accident attorney to discuss your case. The Christensen Law Firm will help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (801) 506-0800.

A man died in Weber County, Utah after the semi tank trailer he was driving rolled.

The truck was carrying liquid propane and rolled over on a ramp from westbound I-84 to southbound US 89, completely blocking the offramp.

The semi was the only vehicle in the accident and the driver, Louis Joseph Cisneros, 48, was the only person involved.

Cisneros was killed after he was ejected from the cab of the semi.

Further danger was prevented when the propane load was found to still be secure.

When a single-vehicle accident occurs it is often left up to passersby to report the crash and aid the victims until emergency services arrive.

Seeing a crash and being present on the scene can be a stressful time. To prevent mistakes being made the California Department of Motor Vehicles published an article on what to do when you see a vehicle collision.

Their recommendations are as follows:

• “If you are the first person at a vehicle collision scene, pull completely off the road, away from the collision. Emergency personnel must be able to see the collision and stop next to it for easy access to injured persons.

• Check to see if anyone is injured. Search the area for victims who may have been thrown from a vehicle. They may be hidden in tall grass or bushes.

• Call 9-1-1. If another person stops to help, ask that person to call 9-1-1.

• The person calling 9-1-1 must be ready to answer questions and provide information, such as the location of the emergency (cross streets, freeway on/off ramp information) and how many people need help (is anyone bleeding, unconscious, or without a pulse).

• Don’t hang up! Let the emergency dispatcher hang up first.

• If possible, use flares or emergency triangles. If there is a gasoline leak or fumes, do not use the flares and don’t smoke!!

• Help anyone who is not already walking and talking. Do not move an injured person unless he or she is in a burning vehicle or in other danger. Moving someone incorrectly often makes an injury worse.

• Move the vehicle(s) involved out of the traffic lane if it is not disabled. Turn off the ignition of wrecked vehicles. Don’t smoke! Fire is a great danger.”

Following these guidelines will help you to stay safe and possibly save others. If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi accident, the attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm can help. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to find out what options are available to you.

A landscape company worker was mowing the lawn Tuesday on Salt Lake’s 1300 South near the 2100 East intersection when a car hit him.

The driver of the vehicle, 60-year-old Arlene Hinich was driving west when she suddenly veered into the man.

He was initially transported to the hospital in an ambulance but was later found to have suffered minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

Authorities who arrived at the scene performed a field sobriety test on Hinich and ordered her blood be drawn. According to Salt Lake police detective Cary Wichmann, she was then booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of driving under the influence.

Driving under the influence is a risk that is not worth taking. When you drive under the influence of alcohol you are trying to function under the influence of a depressant drug which slows down your brain and body which is why your alertness and motor coordination are reduced. You are incapable of reacting as quick as you might need to properly handle situations on the road.

Not only is your reaction time affected but your entire sensory system that is imperative to safe driving is also affected. Often those under the influence of alcohol suffer from blurred or doubled vision. This alters your depth perception, making it extremely difficult to tell where other vehicles, pedestrians and other roadway objects are.

Other prescription drugs are also depressant drugs. They can be prescription drugs like sedatives, painkillers and any other drug that causes drowsiness including some cough, cold and allergy medications.

Think ahead and find someone to drive you when you are going to be in the situation to drink or when you know you will be on certain medications. No matter how good a driver you are, you are no match for chemical changes that alter your brain and body. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident where one or more drivers were under the influence, call the attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm to find out what options are available to you. Call us today at 801-506-0800.

The Utah Department of Health held a press conference, “Zero Fatalities,” in an attempt to persuade teens to drive safer.

In 2010 alone, 25 Utah teens died in car crashes. The families of these teens were present during the conference and spoke about their children.

More Utah teens between the ages of 13 and 19 are killed every year in motor vehicle crashes than any other cause of death, according to the Utah Department of Health.

These numbers have decreased significantly in the last ten years. In 1999 56 teens died compared to the 25 in 2010.

There are many ways to prevent teenage driving accidents. The Utah Department of Health recommends schools implement policies that set out clear consequences for students who do not use seatbelts or have bad driving records.

They also suggest restricting distractions like cell phones, mp3 players, food, loud music and friends.

Driving is a serious responsibility that can have even more serious consequences. Encourage your teens to minimize distractions and practice safe driving. If you or a loved one has been in an accident caused by distracted driving the attorneys at Christensen Law Firm can help. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to find out what options are available to you.

An accident is under investigation after a 40-year-old woman was hit and later hospitalized in critical condition.

The three-car accident began when, according to Salt Lake city police detective Cary Wichman, the woman was traveling east on 800 South and was hit by a Toyota 4-Runner heading south on 1100 East.

The driver of the 4-Runner ran a stop sign at the intersection and crossed over a median and then hit the woman’s Mini Cooper. The 4-Runner then rolled and collided with a Mercedes that was stopped at a stop sign on 1100 East.

The two individuals in the Mercedes were not injured and neither was the driver of the 4-Runner or his 9-year-old passenger.

Wichmann reported that the woman in the Mini Cooper was seriously injured and was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System analyzed their databases to find out what proportion of accidents were caused “due to signal and stop sign violations.” They found that in 1999 and 2000 13,627 fatal accidents occurred at stop signs.

Running a stop sign is just as serious as running a red light at a traffic signal. Lights and signs are posted to organize roadways and prevent accidents. Trust is placed in traffic lights and signs and trust is placed in other drivers to understand their meaning and follow it.

When this chain of trust is broken, accidents can follow, for when a driver has the right-of-way he/she feels secure enough to drive through an intersection, often without making sure that another car is not coming.

Drivers need to always be aware of their situation. Even if it is your turn to go, take a few extra seconds to check the direction of oncoming traffic to make sure that there is no danger in proceeding. The little time this takes could save your life and the lives of others.

Trust is an important aspect of driving but blind trust is not safe. Unfortunately, not all drivers obey road rules all of the time, so take your safety into your own hands. If you or a loved one does end up the victim of a reckless driving accident, the attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm can help. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to find out what options are available to you.

17-year-old Jaxen Henderson was killed in a West Jordan car accident on Monday.

The police said that the accident occurred when a pick-up truck hit the driver’s side of Jaxen’s car as she tried to merge onto the New Bingham Highway into the path of the truck.

Jaxen died on the scene and two people inside the truck suffered minor injuries.

A medical helicopter had initially been called to the scene of the crash but was then cancelled.

The teen’s death is the fifth student death at Copper Hills High School this year. The principal of the school, Todd Quarnberg, knew who Jaxen was and said that she was a well-known student who had a very positive impact on her peers.

The crash was under investigation but it has not yet been released whether Jaxen was distracted or if she just did not see the truck.

The Utah Department of Public Safety found that failing to yield to right-of-way accounts for 13.4% of teen accidents on Utah highways. Yielding to the right-of-way when you are merging onto a highway is extremely important. The cars that are already on the road will often be traveling at speeds higher than yours and cutting them off could end in an accident.

Car crashes happen often and many can name loved ones that have been affected by a deadly accident. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident you know that it is a time full of questions, stress and emotion. The attorneys at Christensen Law Firm are extremely experienced in handling car accident deaths and can empathize with you and your family. Call us today at 801-506-0800 and find out what options are available to you.

A car hit a 15-year-old girl in West Jordan Monday morning in front of Heartland Elementary School.

The girl, whose name was not released, was walking across a crosswalk at 6:50am in dark clothing when the car hit her. There was no crossing guard on duty during that time.

“The combination of heavy traffic, dark intersection, dark clothing and a fast-moving pedestrian caused the accident,” said Sgt. Drew Sanders of the West Jordan Police Department.

Though, at this time her injuries are not believed to be life threatening, she is in serious condition.

According to walkinginfo.org in 2009 there were 59,000 reported pedestrian injuries, which comes out to about one every 9 minutes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compiled a list of why pedestrian accidents occur. About 11% of these injuries, like in the case of this 15-year-old teen pedestrian, stated visibility as a contributing factor.

A pedestrian can be hidden from the view of a driver in many different ways; physical objects, like a car or a sign, bad weather conditions such as rain or snow and decreased visibility during certain times of the day that include, early morning, late afternoon and night.

It is important that during these conditions pedestrians take extra precautions while walking among road traffic. You cannot just assume that because there is a crosswalk all drivers will notice you walking into the middle of the street. Take the time to make sure that a driver sees you before proceeding.

Pedestrian accidents are all too common but that doesn’t make the legal process any more simple. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident you are going to need an experienced and compassionate legal representative. The attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm are well versed in pedestrian accidents and handle each and every case with respect and sensitivity. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to find out what options are available to you.

A man was killed and a woman injured Tuesday on the eastbound I-80 near Parleys Canyon Summit.

The man, Tyler Matthew Bowcutt, 32, of Tremonton, was driving a Mazda MX-3 sports car at suspected excessive speeds when he slammed into the back of a Subaru sedan.

After impact Bowcutt veered, overcorrected and then ran off the road through a barbed wire fence, down an embankment and into a telephone poll. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jody Lynn Baker, 46, of Park City, was the driver of the Subaru. After the crash she was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries.

As of Wednesday the accident was still under investigation.

According to smartmotorist.com, excessive speed is a factor in one third (30%) of all fatal car crashes, trailing only alcohol (39%), the two of which are quite often partners in crime.

Speeding is a problem because it decreases the amount of time you have to avoid a situation and increases the severity of an accident once it happens. Speeding is not just when you are driving faster than the posted limit. It is also considered ‘speeding’ to be driving to fast for current conditions such as bad weather and increased traffic.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has said that with every 10 mile per hour increase in excess of 50 miles per hour, the crash forces on impact double! When crash forces increase, so does the likelihood of being killed or seriously injured in an accident.

Speed limits are set for a reason and disregarding their presence simply puts you and those around you at greater risk of serious injury or death. No destination is worth the life of another person. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a high-speed car accident call the attorneys at Christensen Law Firm to find out what options are available to you. Call us today at 801.506.0800.