Personal Injury Attorneys in Utah and Nevada

Texting While Driving Statistics

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:41:38 +0000

The Facts Don’t Lie

In 2012 alone, we’ve seen too many accidents and fatalities caused by texting while driving. We wanted to dive into the subject once more to provide some statistics of how texting while driving is still a growing problem. Too many of us say, “I can drive perfectly fine while texting.” Then you get injured, and you life changes forever. These stats were gathered from real people with real consequences.

Texting While Driving Leads to….

1,600,000 accidents per year according to the National Safety Council.
330,000 injuries per year according to Harcard Center of Risk Analytics Study.
11 teen deaths every day according to the Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts
Your break reaction speed decreasing by 18% according to Human Factors & Ergonomics Society
Drivers leaving their lanes 10% more often according to Clemson University

From the US Department of Transportation

11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in crashes were reported as distracted.
Texting created a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not texting.
In 2010, 18% of injury crashes were caused by distracted driving.

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Texting While Driving: $500,000 Later

admin — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 20:32:58 +0000

David and Linda Kubert’s lives were changed forever when a teenager who was texting while driving hit them on their motorcycle. They each lost a leg from the effects. 3 years later, the lawsuit is settled, and the driver has been fined $500,000. The Huffington Post states that “The settlement amount for David and Linda Kubert equals the maximum payment driver Kyle Best’s insurance would cover.”

David’s left leg was torn off above the knee during the accident while Linda’s left leg was later amputated. David can’t work because of the injury, causing many financial problems.

Kyle Best, the driver who hit David and Linda, was ordered to speak to 14 high schools about the dangers of texting while driving. Even though his driver’s license was not suspended, he still have to pay a fine of $775.

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Ambulance Crashes Into Van in Hurricane, Utah

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 01:18:42 +0000

On July 28, 2012, an ambulance collided with a minivan in Hurricane, Utah, leaving an 8 year old girl from Switzerland in critical condition. The other individuals sustained injuries as well, but none quite as critical as the girl.

The ambulance was carrying 7 people, including a stroke victim and his wife. The minivan was a rental from California carrying 4 people, a family from Switzerland. As the minivan was making a left turn eastbound at a green light, the ambulance was crashed into them going westbound through the intersection.

Serena, the 8 year old girl, was transported to Dixie Regional where she was then transported by Life Flight helicopter University Medical Center in Vegas. Joyce Kuzmanic of St.GeorgeUtah.com says that “the hospital reports Serena remains in critical condition, she is not breathing on her own, has a fractured leg as well as head injuries, her blood pressure and heartbeat are strong; there is no additional prognosis at this time.” The ambulance driver was issued a citation for running a red light.

We want to let all of those effected by this injury that our thoughts and prayers are with them.

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Don’t Text and Drive

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:27:27 +0000

Witness a Real Texting While Driving Accident

It was determined after the accident that the driver of the SUV was texting right up until the crash. If you think that big vehicles will protect you when you’re texting. WATCH THIS ! And most importantly, share it with your friends and family. Folks, texting and driving is STUPID. And, I’m not sorry if that hurts your feelings. I might just save MY life in saying it.

Texting While Driving Accident

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St. George Lawyers

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:58:22 +0000

Call (435) 652-9000 | The Most Reputable Lawyers in St. George

Attorneys at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford are known for how well they handle each case brought to them. Being injured by another is something they take serious. It’s their job and pleasure to make sure you, as an injured person, receive the compensation you deserve.

The St. George lawyers at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford specialize in a variety of legal areas of practice, including:

Personal Injury

Whenever you’re hurt and the cause is someone else’s negligence, you have a “personal injury” claim. The most common personal injury lawsuits are auto accident cases, although many other kinds of accidents are considered personal injury as well. Product liability (injury from a harmful product), medical malpractice (injury caused by a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider), and slip and fall (injury because of unsafe conditions or another’s inattentiveness to safety) are all types of personal injury.

Arbitrations and Mediations

When used properly, these forms of alternative dispute resolution can save you both time and money. However, if the case is not ripe for mediation or arbitration, you will spend time and effort with little or no results. Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford help you decide if alternative dispute resolution is beneficial for your unique case.

Banking

Our lawyers have many years of experience in preparing promissory notes. We can use our experience to ensure that the transaction will move forward smoothly by preparing loan documents that accurately reflect the agreement between the lender and the borrower.

Any real estate trust deed foreclosure can be complicated by liens and encumbrances against the collateral. Attorneys at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford review each loan file on a case by case basis to protect the collateral and to ensure the best path to taking possession of collateral.

Civil Litigation

If your business is facing issues relating to contracts, real estate, accounts receivable, accounts payable, or other concerns, attorneys at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford stand by ready to work for you and provide the most comprehensive representation possible while taking the stress of litigation off of your shoulders.

Collections Law

Experienced in Breach of Contract, Lender Representation, and Motion of Relief from the Automatic Stay, our goal at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford is to move you toward a satisfying resolution, while at the same time aggressively preparing for trial if necessary.

Construction Defect Defense

Many of our St. George lawyers have worked in the construction industry, so you can trust that we have the practical, hands-on construction knowledge you need. We offer a wide range of services to developers, contractors, and subcontractors. Our firm consults with, advises, and represents construction clients in matters of project development, CC&R’s, subdivisions, zoning, municipal land use applications, construction contracts, mechanic’s liens, public works, payment bonds, licensing bonds, collections, contract creation and compliance, construction defects, warranties, insurance, and toxic mold.

Construction Law

We are experienced in Mechanic’s Liens/Collections, Construction Disputes, Contracts, Real Estate Transactions, and more.

Corporate and Business Planning

Whether you are buying or selling a business or need help with contract negotiations, contract preparation, or preparation of business forms, we have the experience you need.

Family Law

We specialize in Adoption, Divorce, Alimony, Child Support, Child Custody, Marital Property Asset Valuation and Division, Premarital and Inherited Asset Tracing, Divorce Decree Modification, Guardianships, Prenuptial and Postnuptiual Agreements, and Protective Orders and Criminal Defense of Domestic Violence Charges.

General Real Estate

We are experience in Real Estate Transactions, Quite Title/Boundary Line Disputes, Promissory Note and Trust Deeds, Trust Deeds Foreclosures/Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure, and Lease/Purchase Contracts.

Real Estate Development

We specialize in Land Use Planning, Sales & Acquisitions, Real Estate Development, Municipal/Land Use Law, and Homeowner’s Association/CC&R’s.

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St. George Car Accident Attorney

admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:52:23 +0000

Professional Car Accident Attorneys in St. George, Utah

With years of experience as accident attorneys in St. George, attorneys at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford have seen so many accidents that should not have occurred, especially in the past few years. Distractions have almost become a permanent companion while driving. We wanted to give you a perspective on just how many people have been effected by automobile accidents.

Motor Vehicle Accidents | Number and Deaths

In 2009, there were 10.8 million motor vehicle accidents throughout the United States. There were 35,808 motor vehicle deaths. Those numbers are staggering. We’re waiting to see the 2010 and 2011 statistics. Even though state after state is banning the use of hand-held devices while driving, more and more people are getting in accidents and even dying because they neglect those laws.

In Utah alone, there were 244 fatalities from car accidents in 2009.

Distracted Driver Accidents

Distracted driving is an enormous problem today. Whether somebody is on their phone or playing with the radio, driving while distracted can be fatal.

In 2009, there were 448,000 estimated crashes that were caused by distracted driving. 5,474 people were killed from those crashes. That is 4,898 people that could still be alive today if someone wasn’t texting, eating, playing with there radio, or performing any other distracting activity while driving an automobile.

20% of injury-related automobile crashes involved reports of distracted driving in 2009. That needs to stop. As St. George car accident attorneys, we’re are aware of what goes on in peoples’ minds behind the wheel. It is very easy to get distracted. But these statistics open our eyes to just how important it is to focus when we’re driving. Our negligence can end someone’s life in an instant.

The statistics above were taken from the United States Census Bureau and Distraction.gov.

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St. George Attorney Ronald Truman Fights and Wins Case for Injured Welder

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:42:43 +0000

The Issue

St. George resident and welder David Salinas we recently injured while working on the Dixie Center, suffering multiple fractures which required multiple surgeries. He fell 30 feet from the roof of the Dixie Center onto a concrete sidewalk.

Ronald Truman, St. George attorney at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford, fought his case and won compensation for Mr. Salinas. The Mainstreet Business Journal states that “Truman argued that the general contractor knew, or should have known, that the welder was working without the benefit of a horizontal lifeline safety cable and did nothing to stop the work from proceeding.”

The Results

The jury agreed with Truman’s argument and awarded Mr. Salinas over 1.2 million dollars in compensation for lost wages and medical expenses.

Here’s what Mr. Salinas had to say about Ronald Truman:

“Ron Truman couldn’t have been more diligent in protecting my interests and fighting for a fair jury verdict. Not only did Mr. Truman work extremely hard to get me fair compensation, he was very compassionate and genuinely concerned about my family and me as fellow human beings. His genuine concern for us was significant to me.”

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St. George Personal Injury Attorney

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:42:47 +0000

Experienced PI Attorneys in St. George, Utah

Whenever you get hurt and the cause is because of someone else’s negligence, you have a “personal injury” claim. Some of the most common personal injury lawsuits are auto accident cases, but there are many other kinds of accidents that are considered personal injury related, including:

Product Liability (injury from a harmful product)
Medical Malpractice (injury caused by a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider)
Slip and Fall (injury because of unsafe conditions or another’s inattentiveness to safety)

What Can a Personal Injury Attorney do to Help?

A personal injury attorney is one who is dedicated to the welfare of injured persons. A personal injury (PI) attorney will fight for your rights and stand up for you in every way permitted by the law to ensure that you are fairly treated and receive the right compensation.

Personal injury cases are unique. Your settlement will depend on your specific circumstances. It takes experience and the support of a great team to win a case. Therefore, choosing a PI attorney to work with is something to be taken seriously. It is critical for you to work with someone that you are comfortable with. Your attorney must have your best interests in mind through the entire process.

How do I Find the Right PI Attorney for Me?

Before hiring a personal injury attorney, you should always check his or her previous records. An attorney’s credibility can be reviewed through the number of cases he or she has had and their success ratio. Even details such as time taken to resolve previous cases should be looked into.

Call (435) 652-9000 for Your St. George Personal Injury Attorney

If you live in St. George, Utah, there is one personal injury law firm that has enough experience and motivation to make sure that your rights are upheld and your privacy is preserved.

Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford are dedicated St. George personal injury attorneys. As seasoned PI attorneys, we know the law and have strong relationships with the St. George court system and prosecutors alike.

A St. George personal injury attorney at Dixon, Truman, Fisher & Clifford treats each client as an actual human being with real problems. We have families and understand the importance of keeping our loved ones safe. Let us show you how we reflect that in the legal world.

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Utah Cell Phone Use and Texting While Driving Laws

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:00:52 +0000

Nevada’s New Ban on Any Cell Phone Use While Driving

On January 1, 2012, a new law on cell phone use in Nevada was passed, prohibiting motorists from texting, accessing the Internet, and any handheld cell phone use while behind the wheel. Hands-free headsets are still okay to use as well as making voice calls and touching the phone to activate or deactivate it.

Fines in Nevada

In Mesquite, Nevada, fines for the first offense equals $97, $182 for the second offense, and $342 for the third offense.

The Law in Utah

Motorists in Utah can talk on their cellphones but cannot text message. The first offense in Utah equals $310.

In the past, legislators have discussed banning cell phone use period. Representative Bradley Last stated that he would like to see the data of handheld cell phone use vs. hands-free cell phone use before voting on that decision. “Data is starting to show that texting while driving is equivalent to driving under the influence,” Last explained.

Believe it or not, a University of Utah study showed that texting while driving nearly doubled the impairment level as that of driving under the influence. That was probably a huge factor of Utah’s texting ban.

The text messaging law in Utah passed in 2009. These Utah cell phone use and texting while driving laws were considered one of the harshest laws in the U.S. According to Zero Fatalities, a state program that combats distracted driving, motorists in Utah could possibly face 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if they killed someone while texting behind the wheel.

Many people don’t know this, but drivers in Utah can also be cited for careless driving if they commit a traffic violation while talking on their cell phones.

Will Utah Follow Nevada?

Senator Stephen Urquhard said that “Manipulating keys takes much more concentration.” He later stated, “I’m driving now and talking. If you were sitting next to me I’d be talking to you. What’s the difference?”

Representative Evan Vickers agrees with the ban on texting while driving but also said that he wouldn’t agree with putting a ban on simply talking on the phone. Vickers says that “So much business is conducted while driving. You can’t really legislate that.”

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Distracted Driving

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:08:25 +0000

Texting, Emailing, and Other Deadly Driving Distractions

Texting while driving, especially with younger motorists, is still an increasing problem despite all of the criticism and legal bans. Around half of all American drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 say that they have messaged or emailed while driving. And for some odd reason, a lot of drivers don’t think it’s dangerous.

There is a national survey regarding the study of distracted driving by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that describes the difficulty authorities face battling texting and cell phone use while driving.

The safety administration says that at any given moment last year on the streets and highways of America, nearly one in every 100 drivers was emailing, texting, surfing the Internet, or otherwise using a hand-held electronic device. Those and other similar activities have spiked about 50 percent from last year, and that is with the rush to ban these practices. In fact, Pennsylvania became the 35th state to forbid texting while driving last month.

Officials say that they used a new methodology aimed at getting a more accurate picture of deaths from distracted driving that cannot be compared to tallies from previous years. From that new methodology, the safety administration also states that in 2010, there were an estimated 3,092 deaths from automobile accidents related to a wide range of driver distractions.

The agency takes an annual snapshot of driving behavior. They stake out intersections to count people using cell phones, electronic devices, and other distracting behavior. While more and more drivers are using electronic gadgets, motorists are deeply conflicted.

An NHTSA survey of over 6,000 drivers found that most people said they would answer a cell phone call while driving and continue to drive after answering. Almost 2 out of every 10 people surveyed said that they send texts or emails while driving. More than half of these people stated that making cell phone calls makes not difference to their driving performance, while a quarter said says that texting or emailing makes no difference. On the other hand, 90 percent says that when they are passengers in a vehicle, feel very unsafe if the driver of that vehicle is using their cell phone behind the wheel.

A large majority of drivers surveyed in the U.S. 71 to 94 percent) support bans on cellphone use. Most say that they want violators to be punished with fines of $100 or more. Almost a quarter supported punishments from $200 to $499.

For more information, read CNN’s December 13th, 2011 article, NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving.

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