April 27, 2012

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that while the death rate among teens and young people is dropping, the agency has noted a trend in the increased numbers of poisoning and drug overdose deaths among individuals in this age group. The CDC added that drugs and chemicals commonly found in household medicine cabinet caused most of these deaths.

A disturbing and dangerous new trend among teenagers is drinking hand sanitizer. According to KSL News, kids are drinking it because it contains alcohol.

An online search yields dozens of videos that show how to distill the hand sanitizer to a liquid using salt. The result is an alcoholic beverage that is 65 percent alcohol. This means that the drink created is around 130 proof, making it potentially stronger than vodka.

Dr. Calvin Lowe, a physician at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, says he has treated 16 cases in the last few months of teens who have consumed the concoction. He added, “A person who has never had alcohol before can get drunk instantaneously. It is very, very dangerous.”

The Utah Car Accident Lawyers with Robert DeBry and Associates know that this trend could lead to an increase in the number of teen accidents caused by drunk driving. That’s why they suggest parents have an open and honest conversation with their teens about the dangers of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

April 20, 2012

Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that most fatal bicycle accidents were the result of traumatic head injuries. Further research from these findings concluded that riders who wear helmets were much less likely to suffer injuries or be killed in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle.

They found that 97 percent of cyclists who were killed over the period of one year were not wearing helmets at the time of their accident. Only 13 percent of cyclists involved in accidents who were wearing helmets suffered injuries. The rate was even lower—three percent—for those who died.

A 79-year-old man was saved recently because of his helmet in Provo, Utah. KSL News says that the man was riding his bike down a steep grade on Foothill Drive at 8:00 p.m. when he suddenly picked up too much speed. He lost control of the bike and tumbled to the asphalt where he was knocked unconscious.

He remained unconscious until arriving at the emergency center of the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for what witnesses described as a large “goose egg” on his head. He remains in hospital care today.

The Utah Personal Injury Lawyers with Robert DeBry and Associates would like to remind all cyclists to always wear a helmet when riding. It is the only protection you have and may save your life.

March 30, 2012

After several pedestrians were hit by trains in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Board of Trustees with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) announced earlier this week that UTA officers would be fining pedestrians who seem distracted on the train platforms.

According to KSL News, the new regulation defines distracted behavior as, “texting, talking on the phone, listening to headphones and not paying attention to your surroundings,” stated Gerry Carpenter, a UTA spokesperson. An offense is considered a class 3 violation, which is punishable by a $50 fine for a first offense and a $100 fine for each offense thereafter.

The rule was put into effect after two teens were killed after being hit by an oncoming train. Area residents raised questions after the accident as to whether or not there was enough warning signage at the intersection and if there was a blind spot at the location. Less than a week later, UTA began removing sound barriers along the tracks to improve vision at some intersections, including 3200 West where the accidents occurred.

Those who are charged with an offense can pay the fine, take a safety course for a reduced fine, or contest the charges in court.

The Utah Personal Injury Lawyers with Robert DeBry and Associates ask that pedestrians who use the local train system for transportation stay safe by eliminating distractions if you are walking in the vicinity of a train.

March 16, 2012

A man is in critical condition in the ICU of a Utah hospital after he was injured last Friday by a faulty brake system in his Land Rover SUV. According to reports from the Herald-Journal, the crash happened as the vehicle was coming out of Sardine Canyon, just outside Logan, Utah, that afternoon.

The driver of the Land Rover, who was on his way to propose to his girlfriend, called 911 and said that the brakes in his vehicle weren’t working and the accelerator was stuck. While the dispatcher tried to pinpoint the vehicle’s location, the phone call suddenly went quiet.

Troopers located the vehicle down an embankment next to the road. Trooper Cory Thomas said that it appeared the vehicle had swerved across the highway several times before striking a concrete barrier. Thomas believes the vehicle was traveling at roughly 80 mph when it rolled down an embankment 50 yards from the highway. The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle.

The victim was taken to Logan Regional Hospital in critical condition and with massive head injuries. He was later transferred by helicopter to Ogden McKay-Dee Hospital Center with several brain tears, bruised lungs, and a fractured skull

The Utah Auto Accident Attorneys with Robert Debry and Associates would like to wish this young man a speedy recovery and would also like to remind all motorists to always buckle up.

March 9, 2012

The parents of a 15-year-old Utah girl who was killed when the car she was riding in crashed into a giant storm-related sinkhole are suing the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for the wrongful death of their daughter. According to reports from KSL News, documents filed on behalf of the suit in Salt Lake City’s 3^rd District Court Tuesday morning indicate that the family is seeking at least $1 million in damages.

The accident happened on July 13, 2011, along Route 35, after the girl’s father had driven her and a friend to Altamont. By the time they headed back down the highway, it was dark and they were unable to see the giant 20-feet deep and 30-feet wide sinkhole that had formed when the road had been washed away during an earlier storm. The vehicle crashed, killing the young girl; her father suffered only minor injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital.

The lawsuit alleges that UDOT was negligent by not posting warning signs of the imposing danger near the area. UDOT contends they had just checked the flooded culvert before a later storm washed out the road.

The Utah Wrongful Death Attorneys with Robert Debry and Associates would like to send their condolences to the parents and family of the girl who tragically died, and wish her parents the best of luck in holding the negligent parties accountable for this accident.

March 2, 2012

The father of a Salt Lake City, Utah, boy is suing his son’s school and the school district after the child was injured during a school activity. According to reports from KSL News, the lawsuit claims that the school district and its staff were negligent in the supervision of the children and the selection of the activity.

The lawsuit, filed yesterday in the 3rd District Court, says the accident happened on January 20 during a “sledding day” that the boy’s fourth-grade class had earned. The school allowed the children to slide down hills surrounding the school property after a light snow had fallen the night before.

While sledding, the boy lost control and hit his face on rocks, breaking his jaw and several teeth, which required surgical repair.

The lawsuit claims the Granite School District and its employees failed to properly supervise the children during the event and were also negligent in the selection of safe activities. The lawsuit also alleges that staff failed to provide adequate care for students.

The family of the boy is seeking compensation for court costs, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, as well as general relief.

The Utah Personal Injury Lawyers with Robert Debry and Associates urge parents to be aware of the activities your child participates in while at school. This will help to ensure they are not put in harm’s way by another person’s negligence.

February 24, 2012

New legislation in Utah could change the requirements for individuals over the age of 19 who are attempting to get a driver license. According to an article released by The Salt Lake Tribune, HB 266 would eliminate the need for drivers over the age of 19 to take a driver training course.

Rep. Bradley M. Daw, R-Orem, came up with the idea after noticing that a friend’s wife had gained enough driving experience with a learner permit to pass her license exam. His idea is to replace the mandatory driving education class in Utah with a set number of hours drivers must log with a learner permit and a licensed driver accompanying them. Under the new legislation, drivers would have to log 40 hours of driving, including 10 hours at night, during their 90-day period under a learner permit.

Opponents of the law say that the quantity of time behind the wheel doesn’t necessarily make for quality driver training, and not all licensed drivers are good drivers or good driving instructors. They also warn that the licensed passenger might not correct the learning driver’s mistakes like a qualified instructor would.

The Utah Auto Accident Attorneys with Robert Debry and Associates help victims of accidents that were injured by another driver’s negligence. If you have been hurt in a crash that was no fault of your own, contact us today for a free consultation of your case.

February 17, 2012

Johnson & Johnson has recalled all bottles of infant Tylenol in the United States. According to reports from KSL News, the recall of 574,000 bottles of medication is in response to complaints from parents who are having problems with the newly designed bottles.

The bottles were introduced to the market three months ago and are designed to give a single, exact dose of medication. The medication comes with a syringe-like plunger that is inserted into the bottle. The bottle is squeezed to release a dosage of medication into the plunger, and the liquid is then placed in the child’s mouth.

Complaints say the protective cover on the top of the bottle designed to limit the amount of liquid that comes out gets pushed down into the bottle when the plunger is inserted.

The new bottles of infant Tylenol were one of the company’s first drugs put back on the market after around 25 recalls shut down all of the company’s manufacturing plants. The bottles were rushed back onto the market after the recalls and subsequent shut downs cost the company roughly $1 billion last year.

The company says to discontinue use of the infant Tylenol product.

The Utah Defective Product Lawyers with Robert Debry and Associates are available to speak with you about any questions you may have if a problem with a medication or product caused you serious harm at no fault of your own.

February 10, 2012

A propane tank explosion in the town of South Jordan, Utah, has left three workers injured. According to reports from The Salt Lake Tribune, the explosion happened on a work site for the Rocky Mountain Power Company on W. Old Bingham Highway around 10:00 AM.

The three electrical workers were working on a project near the tank when they somehow sparked gas that was leaking from the tank. The explosion caused debris to be thrown hundreds of feet from the sight of the explosion.

One of the workers was severely burned in the accident and was flown to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. An ambulance took another worker to Intermountain Medical Center where he was treated for lacerations and bruises caused by flying debris. The third worker was treated for minor injuries and was released at the scene.

Propane explosions are blamed for more than 6,000 accidental fires in the United States each year, many of which are sparked by leaking tanks.

The Utah fire and burn injury lawyers with Robert Debry and Associates know how dangerous propane explosions can be, so it is vital that you do everything possible to prevent a propane leak. Smelling for the gas is the most common way to detect a leak–gas smells similar to rotten eggs. A gas detector should also be installed in all buildings using propane and a trained technician should inspect your tank regularly.

February 3, 2012

A 50-year-old Salt Lake City, Utah, construction worker was injured this past Monday in an on-the-job accident. According to reports from FOX 13 News, the man was hurt at approximately 11:00 in the morning at the Altaview Concrete gravel pit at 500 South 6800 West in West Valley City, Utah.

A spokesman for the West Valley Fire Department, Fire Chief Bob Fitzgerald, stated that the man was driving a bulldozer along the edge of the gravel pit when he got too close and went over. The bulldozer rolled approximately 40 feet down the hillside before coming to rest at the bottom of the pit. The man was ejected from the machinery and a piece of the equipment landed on top of him.

The man was swiftly airlifted to the University of Utah Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Mining workers, like those at the gravel pit, face some of the most dangerous working conditions there are today. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows that the number of fatal work injuries in the private mining sector rose from 99 in 2009, to 172 in 2010. That is a 74 percent rise in deaths in one year within that particular industry.

The Utah workers’ compensation attorneys with Robert Debry & Associates work hard to fight for the rights of accident victims who suffer from on the job injuries. If you have been injured, contact an experienced attorney today.