Utah has historically been a leader in reducing driving under the influence (DUI). It was the first state to lower its DUI limit to 0.08 percent in 1983, which led to the other 49 states doing the same over the next two decades.
Now, Utah is once again taking the lead to reduce DUI fatalities by lowering drivers’ blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits to 0.05 percent. This change took effect on December 30, 2018.
If you are injured on someone else’s property and the premises was dangerous, you may feel you have the right to recover damages for your injuries. While you should not have to pay for someone else’s negligence, your perceived role in the accident could lead to less compensation.
Utah has a comparative negligence law, which means courts look at the accident in full to see how each party contributed to the injury. Even if you are considered at fault in any way, if the fault of the person you are suing exceeds yours, you can recover damages.
The snow has finally begun to fall and winter driving is upon us. There are many simple tips that can help you to be safe as you drive in winter weather. One of the easiest ways to stay safe on the roads in winter is to allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Heading out the door with enough time to clear off your car, clean off your windshield wipers, let the defrost begin to work and the car to warm up can make a big difference. But more importantly, having the time to move at a safe slow speed on slushy, snowy or icy roads will help you to arrive at your destination safely.
In a recent blog, we covered the severity of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its symptoms. In this post, we wanted to focus specifically on what TBIs can do to our little ones.
Knowing when to spot the symptoms of a TBI in a young child is important when they can’t communicate that they have a headache, are dealing with sensory problems, are experiencing confusion or any of the other symptoms we’ve already discussed.
When you think about slip and fall accidents, you might be picturing a banana peel and a pratt fall from a cartoon. In reality, slip and fall injuries are no joke. They account for over 1 million hospital visits each year. Slip and fall injuries are the leading cause of workers compensation claims and on the job injuries for people over 55. Twenty-two percent of slip and fall injuries each year results in more than 31 days of missed work. The most common on the job slips and falls occur on slick floors.
Car accidents can be dangerous for drivers and passengers. Even though there are airbags and other safety features designed to reduce impact for vehicle occupants, crash victims can still sustain serious injuries.
One of the most common car accident injuries is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs typically result from a blow or jolt to the head, though sometimes it is caused by an object penetrating brain tissue. They can be serious enough to result in long-term complications or death.
According to the Governor's Highway Safety Association, "In recent years, the number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States has grown substantially faster than all other traffic deaths. The number of pedestrian fatalities increased 27 percent from 2007 to 2016, while at the same time, all other traffic deaths decreased by 14 percent. Pedestrian deaths as a proportion of total motor vehicle crash deaths increased steadily, from 11 percent in 2007 to 16 percent in 2016. Pedestrians now account for a larger proportion of traffic fatalities than they have in the past 33 years."
In the past five years, the state of Utah has seen a 25 percent increase in fatal pedestrian crashes. So what is the cause of this increase? While experts do not give a definitive answer for the increase, several contributing factors have been identified. Impaired and distracted driving are the two most common contributing factors to auto-pedestrian accidents. Impaired drivers' reaction time is affected and distracted drivers do not see pedestrians because they are not focused on the road. Two additional increases in behavior that have not directly been linked but may have a corollary connection are an increase in pedestrian traffic and smartphone use while driving.
The holidays bring families together who travel long distances to see relatives and share in seasonal memories. Unfortunately, it can also be a busy time on the road for drunk drivers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that every year hundreds of lives are lost during this time that should be full of merriment. Here are a few drunk driving statistics to know as you prepare to travel for the holidays:
Whether cyclists are pedaling for their morning commute or for recreation, they deserve to be safe on the road. And while Utah is ahead of most states regarding bicycle safety, there are still improvements to make.
The League of American Bicyclists ranks all 50 states for bicycle safety and creates a report card highlighting the state’s strengths and weaknesses. As of the most recent data in 2017, Utah ranks No. 8 in the nation. Utah has been a Top 10 state for three of the past 10 years.
Most people are aware of the dangers of driving distracted or drunk, but many of us have no qualms about driving while tired. However, these driving patterns can be just as dangerous.
Drowsy driving is defined by sleepiness or fatigue caused by someone not getting enough sleep, having an untreated sleep disorder, taking a drowsy medication or shift work. Drowsiness is dangerous because it:
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Handy & Handy Attorneys-At-Law
2150 S 1300 East
Suite 300
Salt Lake City,
UT
84106
Phone:
801-639-9678
Fax:
801-203-0761
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