Posted By Ron Kramer on March 11, 2010

Karen Gummow and Lla Jean Moore were killed during an accident in St. George, Utah on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. The fatal St. George accident happened just before 1 p.m. near 900 S. River Road. According to KSL news, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper was responding to an accident on Interstate 15 and traveling on north on River Road. Reports indicate the trooper had his emergency lights and sirens on. Another vehicle, occupied by a 71-year-old Karen Gummow, and her 75-year-old sister, Lla Jean Moore, attempted to make a left turn in front of the patrol car. The two vehicles collided killing the two woman on impact. “He was using his emergency lights and sirens, so he would have been traveling at a high rate of speed. What exactly that speed is, we don’t know,” said St. George police Lt. James Van Fleet.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

What a tragic accident. The sisters lived together just a few blocks from the site of the accident. My thoughts and prayers are truly with the family of these two women as they are given word of the passing of their loved one. I wish the best for the officer and he recovers.

In reviewing the comments to this story, I noticed that most were taken with how fast the officer had to have been going at the time of the crash. After looking at the severe damage to the two women’s car, I would have to agree. This raises the question of whether this officer was driving too fast for conditions in this area. Yes, officers are allowed to pursue suspects, but the suspect in this case was apparently miles away — and not directly in front of this officer. The need to apprehend a suspect must always give deference to the safety and well being of motorists that a police officer shares the road with.

I was glad to hear that this crash is being investigated. Key information will be the dash camera. The camera not only records the visual in front of the police car, but also monitors the speed the patrol car is traveling at. It also records conversation and other sounds inside the patrol car’s cabin. It will show whether the officer took any evasive action just prior to impact, such as braking, horn/siren noises, etc. It will also show if the patrol car’s emergency lights and/or siren was on at the time.

The speed limit on the street this St. George accident happened on was 40 miles per hour. Even though this is a heavily-used road, I doubt these women would have reasonably anticipated or appreciated that a police car could come barreling down the road at such a high rate of speed. If the woman did turn left in front of the officer, it may have been that she did not appreciate or understand that the patrol car was traveling so fast.

I would recommend that the family of these two sisters contact an experienced Utah personal injury and accident attorney to help them get to the bottom of why this accident really happened in the first place. Hopefully, such an accident will never happen in St. George again.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the blog article above. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call a reputable Utah personal injury law firm. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified Utah personal injury attorney.

Category: Personal Injury, Utah Wrongful Death, Utah vehicle accident | No Comments »
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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 11, 2010

A man, 34 year-old Christopher Goins of Provo, Utah, is dead following a fatal single-car rollover accident on March 11, 2010, in the Slate Canyon area of Provo, Utah. According to KSL News, Goins drove his truck into an area that was declared off-limits to vehicle traffic. While driving up some old switchbacks, the truck slid off the trail and down a steep embankment. The truck was found upside down near the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Goins had flown out of the vehicle as it made its way down the hill and tragically died at the scene.

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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 11, 2010

A woman, Kristen Kay Taylor, 25 years-old of Salt Lake County, is dead following a fatal accident involving a semi-truck on March 10, 2010. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, an accident with another semi had just occurred near mile marker 35 (just north of Pintura, Utah) on the I-15, causing traffic to back up in the southbound lanes. Kristen Taylor was driving a Kia Spectra at the time with her fiancé Gregory Bennin when she stopped for the backed-up traffic. A truck driver driving a Wal-mart semi truck just behind her was unable to stop in time and smashed into the rear of her car, pinning her car under the semi truck in front of her. Another car then crashed into the back of the Wal-Mart truck.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Because of the severity of the crash, Kristen Taylor died at the scene. Her passenger, Gregory Bennin, sustained critical injuries, including a severe injury to his arm that may require amputation. He was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center. Others involved in the initial crash were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. It is reported that there was a total of 15 cars involved in this crash. Highway 15 ended up being shut down for several hours

My heart goes out to the family of Kristen Taylor and her fiancé. From reports, they were on their way to Las Vegas to get married when this tragic crash happened. She even had her wedding dress in the back seat of the car. I also learned that she was expecting at the time of the crash. Such a tragic loss.

In situations like this, we look to see how this crash could have been avoided and what caused it to happen. Based on the news reports, it appears that the Wal Mart truck driver may have been driving at speeds too fast for conditions. We are told that the conditions were snowy on this highway at the time. Under the circumstances, commercial truck drivers are required to slow their speed so that if they have to make a stop, they can do so in a safe manner, without causing injury or property damage to another.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established rules which govern how these big-rig drivers must drive in hazardous conditions.

Section 392.14 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations states:
“Extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction.”

The big question is therefore whether the truck driver exercised “extreme caution” as he or she was driving this stretch of the highway. Extreme caution in this circumstance could very well have required the driver to reduce speed and maintain a greater distance between the semi and Taylor’s small passenger car so as to facilitate a stop or evasive action should vehicles slide out or collide in front of the driver.

Another issue is whether the driver was driving while fatigued or was somehow distracted before this crash occurred. Driver’s logs can help show where the driver had been and his sleep history. These logs, however, are kept for only 6 months before they are destroyed. If the driver was texting, cell phone records could also show the text messaging history.

I would recommend that the victims and their family of this tragic semi truck accident act quickly to retain an experienced Utah truck accident attorney to preserve all evidence that could be used in exploring and making a claim against the trucking company.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the blog article above. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call a reputable Utah personal injury law firm. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified Utah personal injury attorney.

Category: Utah Trucking Accident | No Comments »
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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 9, 2010

A crash involving multiple vehicles left one woman in critical condition and injured 4 others. This accident happened in Riverton, Utah at 12600 south 2700 West near Riverton High School. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, a driver of a Suburban was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto 12600 South when it collided with a westbound Jeep. The suburban then hit another car which was stopped at a red light. The accident happened at around 7:20 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. The 16-year-old passenger of the Suburban either fell or was ejected during the collision. She was life flighted to the hospital in critical condition. The four people riding in the Jeep also suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital.

I offer my thoughts and prayers to the young teenager in critical condition. I hope that she makes a speedy recovery. I wish the very best to all those involved as it appears all parties were injured.

Police have not yet issued any citations but it appears fault lies with the driver of the Suburban attempting to make the left turn. The girl riding as the passenger has a claim against the insurance of the Suburban. Policy limits on the Suburban’s policy may not be sufficient to cover the medical bills of all the injured parties. If the policy limits are not sufficient, the injured will be able to tap into the under- insured motorist policy of the Jeep or their individual auto insurance.

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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 9, 2010

A semi-truck collided with a pickup truck in Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah killing 24-year-old Trent Walker and leaving 45-year-old Slobodan Spanovic in critical condition. This fatal Utah accident happened on Saturday, March 7, 2010, sometime around 2:45 in the afternoon. According to a report provided by the Salt Lake Tribune, the accident took place near Birdseye, Utah when a semi-truck carrying mattresses, hit a Silver Ford F-150 on U.S. Highway 89 close to milepost 305. Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Todd Johnson said that the driver of the pickup, Trent Walker, crossed the center line attempting to pass another vehicle and caused this fatal Utah trucking accident. Walker past away at the scene.

Spanovic, the driver of the semi-truck, was taken by helicopter to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah in critical condition.

I offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Mr. Walker as they attempt to cope with this loss. I also offer my best wishes to the semi driver who was injured in this crash and wish him a speedy recovery.

I represent another client who was in an accident just a few miles from the spot of this one. Spanish Fork Canyon is dangerous because of the high speed limit and poor visibility. In this case, I recommend that driver of the semitruck contact an experienced Utah personal injury attorney. After he leaves the hospital he will be faced with numerous hospital bills as well as bills for future medical care from chiropractors and physical therapists. If the injuries are as severe as the report indicates, he will most likely have to miss work to recover. An experienced personal injury attorney can help him receive compensation for these damages.

I came across a press release about increasing commercial vehicle safety. It seems that the driver of the semitruck had basically no time to stop once he saw the pickup truck come into his lane, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is setting new regulations to increase the breaking capabilities on new commercial vehicles. Beginning with the new semitrucks made in 2012, NHTSA will require that trucks traveling at 60 mph come to a complete stop in 250 feet instead of the old standard of stopping within 355 feet. The NHTSA estimates that this will save 227 lives annually as well as prevent 300 serious injuries and reduce property damage costs by over $169 million annually. I’m sure this change will be welcomed by commercial and civilian drivers alike.

Category: Utah Trucking Accident, Vehicle Accidents, Wrongful Death | No Comments »
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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 5, 2010

If you’ve been involved in a Provo, Utah, auto accident, remember that insurance companies have one goal: to keep their money. Personal injury attorney Ron Kramer has seen far to many people fall victim to the tricks of those big insurance companies. To combat this trend, he authored a book called The Utah Accident Book that teaches the 13 mistakes that can kill your accident case. Ron is offering the book, free of charge, to all those who call to request it.

The Utah Accident Book contains valuable information for anyone who has been involved in a Provo auto accident, even those who don’t need an attorney. Ron includes a chapter that will help you decide whether or not you will need to get a lawyer involved. He also includes a chapter that will help you negotiate higher value for the property damage on your vehicle.

Ron has been practicing personal injury law since he graduated from law school and has seen all the tricks and tactics used by insurance companies. This book will help obtain the settlement you deserve. To get a copy of the Utah Accident Book, call (801) 374-7445 or visit MyAccidentBook.com.

Ron Kramer is a Provo personal injury attorney with an office at 495 North University Ave. Suite 100, Provo, UT 84601. Stop by his office, Monday through Friday for a free consultation.

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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 5, 2010

An annual event for Utah brain injury attorneys, the Utah Brain Injury conference will begin its second day on March 5, 2010. This seminar is taught by leading legal and medical professions and addresses all areas of brain injury litigation, including cutting-edge imaging techniques which help to objectify the sometimes murky picture of a brain injury. All proceeds earned from this event go to benefit the Utah Brain Injury Association (BIAU).

Often known as the “silent injury,” brain injury cases are often undervalued, and even unrecognized, by many attorneys. Without the proper workup, however, the brain injury victim can never hope to capture the real cost that the brain injury has inflicted upon them. Because in many cases the attorney has to front the cost for expert witnesses testing and evaluation, many attorneys do not become “invested” in this most serious Utah personal injury. This seminar is useful, even essential, in that it helps educate Utah personal injury attorneys as to the unique nature of these legal claims and just how they should be worked up.

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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 3, 2010

KSL News today, March 3, 2010, brought to light the fact that Utah Apartment Association is actively attempting to conceal from prospective renters, the fact that the apartment or house they may wish to rent is a former contaminated meth house. According to this story, letters were sent out by Paul Smith, executive director of the UAA, to meth decontamination businesses in Utah. In the letter, the specialists are told that they are to “comply” with the new Utah Code section 57-26-201(2)(a) that basically states that apartment owners do not have the obligation to report to the government, or Utah Dept. of Health, that the unit has been contaminated by meth users and/or manufacturers. This provision reads:

“If an owner’s or lessor’s real property is contaminated from the use, storage, or manufacture of methamphetamines, the owner or lessor may report the contaminated property to a government agency responsible for monitoring the decontamination process and documenting that the test results meet decontamination standards.”

The letter goes on to state that if the decontamination specialist wishes to be placed on a list of specialists that the 2500 member-strong UAA will endorse and/or use, that the decontamination expert needs to acknowledge in writing that they will “follow state law” by affirmatively NOT disclosing the existence of a unit’s contamination to the Utah Health Dept. without the landlord’s express permission. Failure to do so, according to the letter, will result in the vendor being black listed. According to the letter: “If you do not agree or fail to respond, we will place you on the list on vendors not recommended.”

So, does “following the law” under Utah Code 57-26-201(2)(a) mean that a decontamination specialist can only advise the Utah Dept. of Health of the existence of meth-contaminated property if the landlord agrees? The answer is: only under UAA’s twisted interpretation of the law.

Clearly under Utah law, decontamination specialists can advise whomever they want of the existence of a meth-contaminated property. In other words, they don’t need the property owner’s permission. Or, they can go along with the UAA coerced cover-up and become accessories in hiding the meth-use history of a property and in allowing unsuspecting persons to move into a house or unit that could very well turn out to be unfit for human habitation.

Ron Kramer is a Utah chemical poisoning lawyer with offices in Bountiful, Draper and Provo, Utah.

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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 3, 2010

A cement truck collided with a passenger car on March 3, 2010, in Weber County, Utah, leaving Robert Davis, the driver of the cement truck, and Klint Peterson of West Haven in serious to critical condition. According to KSL News, the Utah accident happened at the intersection of 1200 South and 3500 West in unincorporated Weber County. Details are sketchy, but early reports suggest that the passenger car may have not yielded at a stop sign or simply gone through it without seeing the cement truck. The speed limit for the cement truck was reported to have been 55 miles per hour. Peterson was flown by helicopter to the University Hospital in Salt Lake City.

I extend my best wishes to both of these men, especially Klint Peterson, who is reported to be in critical condition at this time.

In a contest between a cement truck and a passenger car or truck, the passenger vehicle will often be the losing vehicle. However, the cement truck driver could also sustain a serious injury since there is little to no “crush” that occurs when the truck is hit. That appears to have been the case in this accident.

I would recommend that the innocent victim of this truck-car accident contact an experienced Utah accident attorney to discuss the remedies that may be available to them.

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Posted By Ron Kramer on March 3, 2010

A SUV and motorcycle collision in Lindon, Utah seriously injured one person on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, this Utah motorcycle accident happened around 12:10 a.m., near 700 North and State Street in Lindon, Utah.

According to Lindon police, the driver of the SUV, a 19-year-old Pleasant Grove woman, made a left turn into the path of the 29-year-old motorcyclist from Provo, Utah. The accident left the motorcycle driver in serious condition. The SUV driver allegedly told police that she took a quick look at her watch before she made the left turn onto 700 North. She didn’t notice the motorcyclist coming from the south side of the street. The driver of the motorcycle was able to lay down his motorcycle, but still clipped the front fender of the SUV. The biker was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and officials are not sure how fast he was going.

Emergency personnel responded and transported the motorcycle driver by helicopter, to Utah Valley Medical Center. He suffered serious chest and leg injuries. At the time of this report, no citations had been given.

I wish the man the very best as he recovers.

Unless the biker was found to be going an excessively high speed, the driver of the SUV will probably be found to be at-fault for this accident. She has a obligation to yield when making a left turn. The driver of the motorcycle will have a claim against the at-fault parties insurance.If the woman was actually texting as she made her turn, things will be much worse for her under Utah’s new texting statute which imposes minimum criminal penalties for those that injure another while they text and drive. Further, the woman is exposed to punitive damages for her role in causing this crash to occur.

Ron Kramer is a Utah motorcycle accident attorney who helps his clients recover costs of medical bills, receive payment for lost wages and be compensated for pain and suffering.

Category: Motorcycle Accident, Uncategorized, Utah Text Messaging Accident | No Comments »
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