There is nearly a one-in-five chance that if you are injured in a car crash, distraction was to blame. Many things can cause distractions – think of the toy aliens operating the pedal and the brakes in Toy Story. You can truly save a life (and be “eternally grateful!) by avoiding distractions while behind the wheel.

What are common things drivers take their eyes off the road for?

Texting

Texting while driving is an increasingly common problem, especially among young drivers. Thirty-nine states have some kind of anti-texting law on the books; Utah’s is one of the toughest, with possible criminal penalties  and fines of up to $750. In November 2012, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood urged Florida – one of the eleven states with no anti-texting laws on the books – to pass applicable legislation. Kristin Murphy,  a resident of Naples, FL who”lost her pregnant daughter in an accident where the driver of the other car was on a cellphone,” was among the participants in the panel. About 3,000 people are killed and 400,000 injured in crashes involving distracted driving each year in the United States.

When you send a text, your eyes are off the road and on your phone for an average of 4.6 seconds – the equivalent of driving the length of a football field blindfolded. This problem is especially acute among teens – 40% of those surveyed said they had been in a car where the driver used their cell in a dangerous way. Overall, texting increases your risk of crashing by an astounding factor of twenty-three.

Cell phones

Not all states that outlaw texting outlaw talking on a cell phone, and vice versa. Cell phone usage is somewhat easier to police yet it is undeniably a major hazard on our roadways. Even using a hands-free device – a loophole in many state laws – increases your risk of crashing four times over driving dristraction-free. On January 15, 23-year-old Mohamed Moussa of Connectictut ran through a red light while chatting on his cell phone. His van crashed into a car, and he fled the scene, but cops were able to track him due to his license plate number. He was charged with ’reckless driving, evading responsibility, failure to obey a traffic signal and distracted driving.”
If you cause a crash while driving distracted, it is likely that you will have other charges heaped upon you.

Grooming

They may drive on the other side of the street in the United Kingdom, but that does not appear to have granted them immunity to the perils of distracted driving. About half a million crashes each year (in a country whose population is a fifth of that of the United States) were caused by women applying mascara and touching up their rouge while behind the wheel. Much like texting, young drivers were most at fault - females aged 17 to 21.

Eating and Drinking

Seventy percent of drivers admit to eating while driving, and over 80% sip from their collective lattes, Diet Pepsis, and flavor-infused water bottles. Unwrapping a burger or blowing your cocoa to cool it can be just as hands-on and distracting as sending a text.

A Massachusetts teen was reaching for a McDonald’s bag and crashed into a state trooper’s car in August 2012. Tia Grover, much like Mr. Mousa, was hit with multiple charges – “ yield to a traffic signal, failure to wear a seat belt, and impeded operation of a motor vehicle for having food in her lap.” As the language of the charges shows, sometimes states have laws against distracted driving that may not be called such, but effectively prosecute it.

Media

Cars are now installed with more gizmos and entertainment systems than most living rooms. Presumably for the benefit of today’s screen-addicted, slack-jawed children, adult drivers can certainly become distracted from flashing screens, adjusting their CD player or iPod, or perhaps most strangely, Honey Boo Boo.

Jennifer Lawrence, star of The Hunger Games and the Oscar-nominated turn in Silver Linings Playbooks, recently caused a fender-bender. While driving past a breast cancer parade, she saw a synonym for “breasts” which begins with “boo” on a large parade sign. “I thought it was saying, ‘Boo Boo,’” Lawrence said. “So I was like, ‘Well, does that mean there’s Honey Boo Boo?’ So I started craning my neck and then I saw a little girl.” She craned her neck, and taking her eyes off the road, rearended the car in front of her.

What to Do as a Driver or Victim

If your hands are on the wheel, your eyes should be on the road, plain and simple. Silence or turn off your cell phone. Save the chalupa for after you’ve safely parked. Don’t try to strain to see if child pageant contestants are marching in parades.

If you or a loved one has been injured or involved in a fatal car accident where distracted driving was involved, you could very well have legal recourse. In Utah, the penalties are high – a misdemeanor for injury-causing texting while driving, and a felony and up to a $10,000 fine if the victim was killed. Do not hesitate to contact Christensen & Hymas if you were injured by a texting driver by calling 801-506-0800. You may also order your FREE accident book, or call . We all have to join in the fight against distracted driving – if that email just can’t wait, hop on the FrontRunner instead!

Utah’s Hit-and-Run Laws

Utah’s legal code explicitly provides for punishment for ding-and-ditch drivers. Let’s examine the exact language:

(5) Except as provided under Subsection (6), if the vehicle or other property is unattended, the operator of the vehicle involved in the accident shall:

(a) locate and notify the operator or owner of the vehicle or the owner of other property damaged in the accident of the operator’s name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle causing the damage; or

(b) attach securely in a conspicuous place on the vehicle or other property a written notice giving the operator’s name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle causing the damage.

(6) The operator of a vehicle that provides the information required under this section to an investigating peace officer at the scene of the accident is exempt from providing the information to other persons required under this section.

(7) (c) A person who violates the provision of Subsection (5) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

A person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor may be sentenced to imprisonment as follows:

(2) In the case of a class B misdemeanor, for a term not exceeding six months

The law is clear: if you hit someone’s parked car, you are legally obligated to leave your personal information (name, address, and vehicle registration number) with either a police officer or in note form on the car itself when the car is unoccupied. Failure to do so means the perpetrator is guilty of a class B misdemeanor and subject to six months’ imprisonment. Hit-and-runs involving bodily injury or death are even more serious and subject the instigator to a class A misdemeanor (up to a year in prison and/or a $750 fine); in Utah, this is not a felony, unlike in other states – for example, Virginia and Texas.

Types of Insurance

There are several types of car insurance. Understanding which types are most likely to cover a hit-and-run of a parked car will help you with your claim.

Liability – pays for someone you hit
Collision – pays for your own car when you hit someone else
Comprehensive – non-human actors; e.g., when a tree falls on your car

So what kind of insurance is your best recourse when you’re the victim of a hit-and-run?

Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist – Property Damage & Bodily Harm – pays for crashes when the perpetrator is unable to pay

First, you need to file a police report. It will be a hit-and-run report, complete with photos, dates and times. Document completely. Take photos showing any scratches or different-colored paint. Filing a police reporpt will make working with your insurance company easier. If the police do not come to your home, they should be able to file a claim over the phone. The report protects the insurance company from fraud.

Next, you need to find your auto insurance contract. You may think you only have one type of insurance (Collision, for example), but may find you have additional coverage – UM or UIM that covers bodily injury, property damage, or both. Property Damage coverage is most applicable in a hit-and-run situation.

Lastly, call your insurance company. Have a copy of the police report at hand. If you have Un- or Underinsured Motorist Coverage, you should be able to successfully file your claim.

Fortunately, Salt Lake City ranks high in safety when it comes to this kind of accident – 178 cities experience hit-and-runs more often. Remember that if your car is parked in a commercial parking lot at a mall, grocery store, or school, there may be surveillance cameras which could have caught the perpetrator. Also ask any bystanders, and immediately call the police.

Christensen & Hymas is here to help if you are the victim of a hit-and-run. We know it can be frustrating to deal with recalcitrant insurance companies, and to understand what kind of automobile insurance you have (every insurance company treats hit-and-runs differently). Call us at  (801) 506-0800 or get your FREE accident book here.

Distracted driving – whether applying mascara, chatting on a cell phone, or increasingly, texting – caused 3,000 deaths in 2010 alone. Thirty-nine states have laws banning texting on the books, but enforcement and penalties among states vary widely.

Connecticut & Massachusetts Texting Laws

These two Northeastern states are really cracking down on drivers who text. Each state recently received a federal grant of $275,000 to develop aggressive anti-texting enforcement campaigns, which include such strategies as posting police officers on overpasses so they can get a better view of drivers’ hands.

Fines in Connecticut were increased in July 2011 to $125 for the first offense, then $250, then $400. In 2011, 40,000 texting-while driving tickets were issued in the Nutmeg State.  Massachusetts fines drivers $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second, and $500 for the third. Massachusetts has issued fewer tickets – about 1,700.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is personally behind the federal program. Says he, “we have come a long way in our fight against distracted driving, but there is still much work to be done. Texting behind the wheel is especially dangerous, which is why we’re working with states like Connecticut and Massachusetts to address this important safety issue.”

Statistics bear him out: texting elevates your risk of a crash 23 times. Unfortunately, texters are much harder to catch than cell phone talkers. The grant program will train officers in how to spot this even more dangerous form of distracted driving.

Georgia vs. New Jersey Texting Laws

Georgia severely under-enforces their anti-texting law, on the books for nearly three years. The fine for a first-time offender is $150. Only 1,300 citations have been issued, sending a signal that enforcement of the ban is not a high priority. Georgia Tech professor Robert Rosenberger states that “we tend to recognize that cell phones transform others into poor drivers, but also tend to think that we are each ourselves an individual exception to that rule. Thus, one of the main reasons that enforcement of anti-texting regulations is so important is that it conveys a strong and clear message that cell phone usage while behind the wheel is dangerous.” He proposes outlawing all cell phone usage, which as seen in the case of Connecticut and Massachusetts, would make enforcement against all types of distracting driving easier.

New Jersey provides a contrasting case. Their police officers issue 91,000 cell-phone-related tickets each year, and both talking and texting on a cell phone is outlawed. Their policy seems to be working, as driver inattention contributed to only 178 New Jersey fatalities in 2011, contrasted with the less-populated Georgia experiencing 3,840 traffic accidents (fatal and non-fatal) due to cell-phone distraction. Even factoring in non-fatal New Jersey accidents, when tickets for texting go up, crashes and deaths go down.

Utah Texting Laws

Here in Utah, we have one of the toughest anti-texting laws in the nation.

Zero Fatalities is Utah’s campaign combating distracted driving. Its program director, Brent Wilhite, summed up the law thus: ”If you are just caught texting while driving, it can be up to three months in jail and a $750 fine. And if you kill someone, it’s up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.”

Researchers at the University of Utah have found that driving while texting increases impairment at double the rate of drunkenness. You’re more likely to be hit by someone who has been texting than someone who is drunk.

The 2006 case of Reggie Shaw, a nineteen-year-old who texted while driving and killed two scientists, galvanized the state to take action. Police were able to determine by looking through Shaw’s phone records that he and his girlfriend had been texting back and forth immediately prior to the crash. Other motorists saw him swerving. Utah’s law took effect in May 2009.

Use Caution

If caught texting in Utah, you could be hit with a misdemeanor; should you cause someone’s death while texting behind the wheel, that charge can grow to a felony.

If you have been involved in a crash where the driver had their eyes on an SMS rather than the road, contact Christensen & Hymas today. Utah’s tough anti-texting laws are on your side, and polic officers across the country are becoming more and more effective at enforcing them.

Sports Injuries

Concussions are a frequent occurrence in sports. There are some warning signs that an athlete may have suffered a concussion:

• headache
• sensitivity to light and sound
• double or blurry vision
• nausea or vomiting
• confusion and feeling sluggish

Concussions among youth athletes are a growing problem. In the decade from 2000 to 2010, the number of young sports players treated in the ER for concussions sustained on the playing field doubled. As far as team sports, football and ice hockey were the most dangerous for concussions. Skiing, biking, and playground activities were the most frequent causes of individual sports concussions. Female student athletes are more likely to sustain a head injury playing the same sport as her male peer.

Concussions in teens can take a deadly turn – in North Carolina, two high school football players died after sustaining traumatic brain injuries in the space of two months. These tragedies led that state to require a doctor’s clearance before an athlete can return to the field after suffering a blow to the head. Even a decade ago, it was common to see students back on the field minutes after: coaches and physicians agree that it is imperative that a player be examined by a concussion specialist before resuming play. This month, two female basketball players in Illinois were sidelined after suffering concussions.

Helmet wearing in all these activities is especially important. Coaches can enforce helmet wearing in football and ice hockey (while not completely eliminating the risk), but parents have the responsibility to enforce helmet wearing for their children who bike, ski or snowboard, and skateboard.

Figure skating is another individual sport where the risk of concussion is high. According to Peter Zapalo, the director of sports science and medicine at U.S. Figure Skating, “a missed landing or collision with the rink wall could lead to a concussion, sprain or broken bone. The more complex the move, the greater the risk.”

Car Accident Injuries

The number one way to prevent concussions (and death) in a car crash is to wear a seatbelt. Obeying posted speed limits and refraining from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are also paramount in preventing accident-related brain injuries.

On January 20, 27-year-old Jared Kenyon crashed in Ellisburg, New York, and suffered a concussion. His car veered off the road and flipped over. The cause was speeding. No other vehicles were involved.

Victims of concussions caused by cars need not be driving themselves. Seven years ago, in Ontario, then-13-year-old Tyler Lisacek was riding his bike home from swimming. He removed his helmet due to feeling overheated. He was hit by an SUV going 60 miles an hour. Lisacek’s injuries were extensive – no section of his brain was spared. He has been able to pursue Photography at Algonquin College, but his life has never been the same. He now speaks to youth  groups and urges kids to always wear their helmet while biking.

What You Can Do

There are 1.4 million traumatic brain injury-related deaths, ER visits, and hospitalizations each year. In addition to sports and motor vehicle crashes, falls, assaults, and collisions are the most common causes. Those most at risk are children and young adults up to age 24, and the elderly  over 75.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, you can

Make living areas safer for seniors by:

• Removing tripping hazards such as throw rugs and clutter in walkways
• Using nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors
• Installing grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower
• Installing handrails on both sides of stairways
• Improving lighting through­ out the home

And you can make living areas safer for children by:

• Installing window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows
• Using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around
• Keeping stairs clear of clutter
• Securing rugs and using rubber mats in bathtubs
• Not allowing children to play on fire escapes or on other unsafe platforms.

If you, your child, or a loved one has sustained a blow to the head and could have suffered a concussion, first, contact a physician. Next, contact a brain injury attorney, such as the lawyers at Christensen & Hymas, for a free consultation. Medical bills and lost wages can quickly add up in brain injury cases, depending on severity, so it’s a good idea to speak with someone who deals with such matters.

Carbon dioxide, CO2, is what we all breathe out every day, and what plants use to photosynthesize. Carbon monoxide, with one rather than two oxygen molecules, may be colorless, odorless, and tasteless, but it is deadly. It is a byproduct of incomplete combustion, or burning of organic matter when there is not enough oxygen present.

The young and the elderly are particularly susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning, as are pregnant women and those with pre-existing health problems, particularly asthma and low blood iron.

The first and most important step to preventing carbon monoxide deaths is to install a carbon monoxide detector and to check it regularly to make sure it is working order. Common emitters of carbon monoxide include small space heaters, kerosene and natural gas, and charcoal. Any old-fashioned, not-well-ventilated heater is prone to giving off carbon monoxide. Make sure any small heaters, barbecues, or vehicles are in a well-ventilated area. Car exhaust is a common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning, and is it vital to not leave vehicles idling in a garage, whether closed or open. Tobacco smoke, fires, and indoor cooking appliances (or those in a tent) also can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may mimic other illnesses- dizziness, difficulty breathing, and nausea. More severe symptoms include irregular heartbeat, disorientation and confusion, chest pain, and blurry vision. If your child, grandparent, or spouse exhibit these symptoms, it is important to get the victim into fresh air, call 911, and administer CPR if the subject stops breathing.

To protect the most vulnerable – children and the elderly – there are steps you can take to improve carbon monoxide safety. Get your furnace and fireplace regularly checked. Don’t use space heaters in enclosed spaces like tents or cars. Take care with all appliances which rely on gas, from barbecues to generators.

Now that we are in the depths of winter, the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning goes up because people use heaters more. Additionally, the risk is greater at higher altitudes like Utah’s.

An eighteen-year-old Utah resident died of carbon monoxide poisoning in November. While visiting his girlfriend in Meridian, Idaho, McQuen Forbush, a Marine on leave, started to feel dizzy and unwell. His girlfriend also suffered the effects of the poisoning but eventually recovered. This tragic death illustrates that young people are indeed at higher risk of dying from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Utahns have wonderful recreational opportunities on our lakes and rivers, and camping in a houseboat on Lake Powell is a popular pastime. However, the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning from gasoline-powered generators is high: nine boaters died at Lake Powell due to carbon monoxide poisoning between 1994 and 2000, and 100 boaters suffered nonfatal illnesses due to CO exposure between 1990 and 2000. Those that fell ill were often swimming in the water near the engine. The most acute danger of carbon monoxide exposure is death, but dizziness, nausea, and disorientation are no laughing matter, especially when boating.

Carbon monoxide deaths are not consistent from year to year, however, it appears that Utah’s fatality rate is about double what might be otherwise expected from population. The combination of long, cold winters, high altitude, and use of natural gas engines in water recreation have led to spikes, such as the 18 deaths in 2005 (11 of those fire-related) and 12 in 2009 (none of which were fire-related).

Reducing your risk for carbon monoxide poisoning is inexpensive and easy: detectors can be bought at home improvement or grocery stores. Should you have any questions about how to protect you and your loved ones from carbon monoxide fatalities, contact Christensen & Hymas for a FREE Accident Book.

A “presumptive personal representative” is, first, the spouse of the deceased, assuming that the spouse is not alleged to have contributed to the death. Next in line to be a personal representative are the adult children, with the same conditions applying. If no spouse or adult children exist or are eligible, next in line is the parent of the deceased.

One cannot file a wrongful death suit immediately, but must wait forty-five days after the death of the family member. A suit can be filed if the death was “caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another,” according to the Utah State Code.

The monetary level of claims varies depending on insurance status – $25,000 for uninsured motorist claims,  and $10,000 for under insured motorist claim. The claim is presented directly to the insurer. An authorized affidavit must be presented to verify that you are, indeed, the personal representative, that no other claims have been filed, and that a notice of intent to file has been sent to all known heirs of the deceased.

If you file for personal injury protection benefits resulting from the death of an insured family member, you are exempt from the 45-day waiting period, otherwise, the other steps apply.

Filing a wrongful death suit does not exempt you from legal duties to provide for the deceased’s heirs. The personal representative’s claim will be on behalf of all heirs.

The presumptive personal representative will be dealt with by the insurance company in the same manner as a personal representative upon presentation of the required notarized affidavit. The insurance company is not required to investigate the truth of the claim.

Nothing about a wrongful death suit prevents the insurance company from paying out standard first party benefits. A tort feasor (the individual who commits a wrongful act that injures another) can still be liable. Lastly, the presumptive personal representative cannot distribute more than 50% of any settlement to any minor heirs before court approval.

A dead person cannot sue under common law, so the wrongful death suit is a loophole whereby the close relatives of the deceased can seek damages against the party which caused the death.

The standard evidence is a preponderance of evidence; therefore, it is often easier and more likely to succeed to pursue a civil wrongful death case rather than a criminal case, though the two are not mutually exclusive. Wrongful death claims are also the only way to sue a company held to be liable for a loved one’s death, as corporations cannot be tried under criminal law. Tobacco companies have been sued (both successfully and unsuccessfully) in wrongful death claims.

Emotions run high in the case of a loved one’s death. Call Christensen & Hymas to get the best advice on how to proceed with a wrongful death lawsuit. As the Utah laws make clear, time is of the essence. The closer you were related to the deceased, the greater the chance of successfully moving forward to get what is owed.

In such cases, it can be very difficult to assign fault and even more difficult to claim compensation from the party responsible when injury follows the auto accident.  Consultation with a personal injury attorney may be the only way to know what course to follow.  Therefore, while not all accidents are preventable, it’s best to take precautions against the following risks:

1. Potholes

Running over a pothole is a splendid way to do a number on your tires in one fell stroke.  The sudden redistribution of weight and the difficulty of pulling the swallowed tire back into the air have tremendous potential to throw off the alignment of the vehicle at least, and to pop the tire at most.  Hopefully, the city you live in and/or its construction contractors don’t leave potholes lying open for unsuspecting drivers to find moments before they go careening off the road.  Just to be safe, be watchful of this hazard.

2. Lacerations

Lacerated tires are a less frequent cause of tire blowouts, simply because people tend not to leave their machetes turned blade-up in the middle of the road.  However, larger objects that have been dropped or discarded through car windows or debris from poorly-maintained roads can create large tears in a tire and cause a blowout.  Exercise particular caution when driving through low-traffic roads.

3. Punctures

Punctures commonly occur when hitting a curb.  A puncture will not immediately cause an auto accident, but will cause the tire to release air more rapidly.  The decrease in air pressure within the tire makes it more susceptible to a blowout later on.  To catch punctures early on, monitor tire pressure often.

4. Overloading

This is not a problem most passenger vehicles are likely to encounter at any point, since it takes a comical amount of overload to cause a tire to give out.  Yet, it happens, and drivers should be aware of the risk:  Under no circumstances should you burden your vehicle with enough cargo to significantly affect air pressure of the tires.

5. Underinflation

An underinflated tire may result from a puncture or from normal wear and tear over time.  Since it is sufficient air pressure that allows tires to support the car’s weight, care should be taken to keep tires inflated—or to replace them in the event that they go bald.

6. Tread separation

Tread separation, like overloading, is far more common in large trucks than in passenger vehicles, but it does happen.  The tread begins to separate from the tire when it has been improperly attached, sometimes because of a manufacturer’s defect.  This sort of problem is easy to spot with even cursory inspection.

Regardless of the upkeep of a vehicle, tire blowout is subject to external factors and cannot, therefore, be prevented with absolute certitude.  Luckily, many personal injury attorneys give free initial consultations to determine whether their services would be worth your time.  (Naturally, if a case is not viable or not likely to win a substantial amount of money, it is outside the interest of a personal injury attorney to mislead the prospective client.)  To request free advice from accomplished personal injury attorneys in the Salt Lake City area, turn first to Christensen & Hymas.  No one has a more sterling reputation for serving the people of Utah than their Draper-based firm.  To request one of their free booklets on auto accident claims, call 1-800-LAW-BOOK, or (801) 506-0800 for a consultation.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a motorcycle with an airbag or a seatbelt. So if you do crash all you have to protect you from probable death is the half-inch of plastic and fiberglass that they use to make the helmet.

Thankfully, if you frequently drive a motorcycle there are things you can do to lessen the risk of being involved in an accident while driving.

Appearance

The first thing that you should do is wear clothing and gear that stand out. Wearing and displaying easily visible colors and reflectors is important in ensuring that you can be seen. A black bike, helmet and leather jacket, although common, are probably not the best things to wear while riding a motorcycle. Instead you should look for gear that has reflective material embedded in because this will greatly increase your visibility on the road.

Movement

Another way to make yourself more visible is with movement. Humans are apt to notice quick movement. Motorcycle riders can take advantage of this trait and make others aware of our presence through deliberate movements while riding. When traveling in a straight line, try moving your bike side to side, staying within your lane. This will remind other drivers around you that you are still there. You can also use hand turn signals if you are unsure if the cars around you are aware of your presence; the extra hand wave may avert an accident.

Noise

In addition to doing your best to be visible on the motorcycle, there are also a few things that can alert others to your presence audibly. When riding you should make yourself heard by using your horn frequently. Cover your horn when riding through a parking lot or areas with high pedestrian traffic. Make other drivers aware of your presence by making some noise when it is apparent they do not visually notice you.

You can also use your engine noise to make yourself noticed. When down shifting, when you pull in the clutch, give the engine a quick rev of the throttle before letting the clutch out. You only need a half second or so between revving the engine and releasing the clutch. This technique’s main purpose is to ensure the bike goes through a smooth transition between gear shifts by ‘tricking’ the engine into thinking it is going faster than it actually is but the loud resulting noise will likely be heard by those around you.

By using a helmet and using these safety techniques while riding a motorcycle you can greatly reduce the risk of being involved in a fatal or serious traffic accident. Even after taking these precautions there is still a chance that you may still wind up the victim of a serious accident. If this happens, seek immediate medical attention. You may also need the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer, such as those at Christensen and Hymas, to ensure that the guilty party be held responsible.

The simple act of sitting down with your teenagers and discussing the dangers of texting while driving sends a strong message. As you discuss this try to help them understand the consequences and don’t be subtle. Explain that people die every year because of distracted driving and possibly share a specific example that you’ve found in the paper or online. You can also share some of the shocking distracted driving facts that can be found at distraction.gov. In addition to the physical dangers of texting and driving, you should also explain that it is illegal and could result in serious legal trouble if they are noticed by a police officer.

2. Set firm rules

Nothing will tell your teenager that you are serious about not texting and driving like a firm family rule. You can make a rule that the cell phone should be kept in the back seat of the car or in the pockets at all times while in the driver’s seat. This boundary is a lot clearer than simply saying that they should not texting while driving. Most teens claim that they ‘rarely’ text while driving but they should know that it only takes one time to be killed or seriously injured. If they know that they can’t even look at their phone while stopped at a stop light they will quickly drop any dangerous cellphone habits they may have had.

3. Set an example

No matter how many times you tell your children that they should never drive and text, if they see you doing it they will as well. Remember that it is just as dangerous for you as it is for them. If you have set firm rules as a family you should also follow them as well.

4. Download some helpful apps for their smart phone

If you fear that your children are still using their cellphones while behind the wheel you can download a number of helpful apps onto their phone that will prevent them from using it while driving. Some apps like the key2safedriving app and Sprint Drive First app (available only to Sprint subscribers) detect the movements of driving and do not allow text messages to be sent. Other apps allow the parent to monitor where messages are being sent and even allow you to set no-texting zones i.e. at school.

5. Monitor their habits

Pay attention to your children’s habits while in the car. When you are driving together let them drive every so often. This will give you a chance to see how they act behind the wheel. Your kids will try to prove that they are responsible drivers but if they are still in the habit of texting and driving they will probably reach for their phone out of without thinking if they receive a text.

Another good pre-emptive measure is to educate yourself and your teen drivers about what to do in case of an accident. Don’t be a victim of insurance companies whose only real interest is protecting their bottom line. Be empowered, and empower your friends and family by ordering the free Utah accident book, 7 Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case from the personal injury attorneys at Christensen & Hymas by calling 1-800-LAW-BOOK or filling in this form.

There is much to celebrate in the commencement of FrontRunner, even without taking into account the time it will save so many commuters: the more people opt to take the train, the fewer will be expending energy by driving singly; and the less congestion on I-15, the fewer opportunities there will be for traffic accidents. Auto accidents are common nationwide, but train accidents are exceedingly rare. (Utah saw only 2 last year, according to a report from the Federal Railroad Administration.) However, the growth of the rail system calls for a discussion of the risks that do accompany the operation of a locomotive, relatively few though they may be.

1. Derailment

While derailment usually occurs with trains carrying a lot of weight over a high center of gravity, passenger trains are at risk on misaligned rails or tight curves at high speeds. A train with an even weight distribution that is skillfully handled should be impervious to this sort of trouble. If a train’s design is well in keeping with its purpose, train accidents are far less likely.

2. Collision with motor vehicles at railroad crossings

Predictably, the motor vehicle on the receiving end of such an accident will get the short end of the stick. However, a sizeable obstruction on the rail could cause derailment and additional damage to the train and its contents. This is a particular risk to smaller, lighter trains, which may be thrown off by something as small as an animal, like a deer. Particular care should be taken to keep the path of a train free of obstacles

3. Electronic or mechanical malfunctions

Electrical misfire or a chemical imbalance in a train’s engine can pose a variety of dangers: fires may ignite, explosions may ensue, and any sort of mayhem may follow that sort of disaster.  Derailment may result from other malfunctions, leading to still more mayhem in places where derailment would not normally be a risk. Proper care to keeping a train in good working order should prevent such accidents.

4. Poorly maintained railroad tracks

A common reason for trains running off the rails is poorly-made/kept tracks. Unevenness, weathering, and faulty track geometry, especially on an incline, put trains at risk for perilous loss of stability and loss of contact with the rail line. Railroad tracks should be kept in

5. Conductor oversight

By and large, train conductors are highly competent individuals with an appreciation for their responsibility to keep their passengers safe from harm to the best of their ability.  Unfortunately, there are a few exceptions to every general rule. A railroad conductor who doesn’t take their work seriously has the potential to author tragic calamities.

If the worst should take place, and you or a loved one are injured in a train accident, there is help for recovering damages insofar as that is possible.  Utah personal injury attorneys Christensen & Hymas sport a proud history of assisting their clients in their search for treatment and closure with integrity and compassion.  To discuss your situation with caring, qualified professionals, call toll-free at (801) 506-0800.