American Lawyer Academy » Kenny Christensen

Dog Bites and Related Psychological Trauma

Kenny Christensen — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:42:56 +0000

Dog bites are often considered freak accidents, an occurrence that could have been avoided if proper care had been taken. Although, of the 800,000 annually reported dog attacks, only 20 die from dog inflicted wounds, a significant percentage are injured in the neck and head area. The statistics are even worse in dog attacks on small children with about 64.9 percent of children under the age of 14 are injured in these areas. This can cause physical and emotional scarring that can last a lifetime.

The effects of disfigurement on a person’s mental state can be hard to quantify. A study published by Psychology, Health & Medicine notes that the main challenge that disfigured children face is in social interaction. Disfigured children are often subject to pointing, laughing and ridicule from peers. The reactions from adults are hardly better: obvious staring, startled reactions and looks of pity can leave a child feeling ostracized and very lonely. Worse than this is the finding that children disfigured by dog attacks often manifest low expectations about their life prospects.

Although most insurance companies will cover any medical expenses resulting from a dog attack, they most likely will not take into account the psychological ramifications of a dog bite. Likewise, if you are bitten by someone else’s dog it may be just as difficult in getting serious compensation for psychological issues that result from the attack.

If you have been bitten by a dog then you made need the help of a personal injury lawyer. That may be the only way to assure that you will get the compensation that you need and deserve after a tragic dog attack. A personal injury lawyer will work with the insurance companies and work with the liable dog owners.

What Accidents Are Not Considered Wrongful Death?

Kenny Christensen — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:26:12 +0000

The most common instances of wrongful death cases are automobile accidents or instances of medical malpractice, but a wrongful death is actually any death that results from the negligence of another party. The nature of some deaths can make it difficult to determine if negligence has occurred. Although every case is different, there are a few areas that are not generally considered wrongful deaths:

Suicide;
As a result of illegal drugs;
War in which the deceased was involved in combat
Physical or mental illness

If tragedy has struck your family, we offer our deepest sympathies. We know that nothing can bring back a deceased loved-one, but a wrongful death attorney can alleviate at least the financial burden by achieving compensation to pay for extensive hospital bills, and funeral and other related costs. At Christensen & Hymas we offer service with integrity and compassion. Please call us at (801) 506-0800 for a free consultation.

Motorcycles: Do I Have to Wear a Helmet?

Kenny Christensen — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:28:39 +0000

Wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle is often a disputed practice; there are proponents and opponents, each with their own reasons as to why their position is superior. Proponents’ reasons for helmet use most often revolves around safety and prevention of injury. Opponents to helmet use often state that a helmet limits the liberating feeling associated with wind rushing through their hair at high speeds; helmets can also be clunky, heavy, and sweaty. While both sides were battling it out on personal grounds, the federal government decided to take up the controversy into their own hands.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that it was in 1967 that the federal government attempted to force each state into enacting laws that would require motorcyclists to don a helmet. It worked for a period of time. States did in fact start enacting helmet laws due to financial penalties accessed by the federal government (the Department of Transportation). The fines were imposed upon states that desired federal funding for “certain federal safety programs and highway construction funds.” It didn’t take long for the states to react and rebel against the financial constriction, thus repealing the new laws they had just made. The repealing rebellion started in 1968 in Michigan.

In order to find out the helmet laws in your state, you can visit The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The helmet laws can be summed up by dividing them into three categories of motorcycle helmet requirement: all, some, or none.

Laws requiring ALL motorcyclists to wear a helmet: 19 states
Laws requiring SOME motorcyclists to wear a helmet: 28 states
No motorcycle helmet law: 3 states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire)

Motorcycles are dangerous and precautions should be taken to avoid injuries. Whether you wear a helmet or not, you should know that a motorcycle accident lawyer could be a useful tool if you ever get injured while riding your bike. If you get injured while riding your motorcycle because of the careless actions of a motorist, then call an attorney to see what kind of compensation might be available to you.

Steps to Take after a Utah Bus Accident

Kenny Christensen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:16:20 +0000

Traveling by bus is a relatively safe and cost effective way to get around. Unfortunately, bus accidents do happen and passengers can suffer serious injuries. According to a news report in The Deseret News, Utah bus accidents occur approximately every four days. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported that approximately 92 bus accidents occurred in Utah every year between 2002 and 2006. If you travel by bus in Utah, it is important that you understand your rights and what steps you should take following a collision.

If you have been hurt in a Utah bus accident, the law entitles you to compensation if the crash resulted from negligence or wrongdoing. Utah bus companies have a legal obligation to provide safe transportation to their passengers. This legal obligation includes hiring qualified and experienced drivers with safe records, properly maintaining buses and encouraging safe driving habits. When a bus driver behaves negligently or a bus company fails to keep passengers safe, the at-fault party can be held liable for the injuries suffered by the passengers.

Injured victims of bus accidents can seek financial compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, hospitalization costs, pain and suffering and other related damages. They will not, however, be able to pursue compensation if they cannot prove that they were on the bus. When the authorities arrive, make sure you get your name on the police report.

It may also be in your best interest to collect evidence from the crash site. Write down the bus number, the name of your driver, the license plate number of the vehicles involved and the specific details regarding where you were sitting and when the crash occurred. It is then important to seek medial attention. Getting prompt medical attention and treatment not only increases your chances for a speedy and complete recovery, but it also establishes a record of your injuries and the nature and extent of those injuries.

If your claim has been denied or if you have been offered an inadequate settlement, please do not hesitate to call a skilled Utah bus accident attorney. An experienced Utah personal injury lawyer can help you pursue fair compensation for the losses you have suffered.

The Importance of UIM Insurance

Kenny Christensen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:21:01 +0000

If you have been injured in a Utah car accident, you know that the incident can take both an emotional and financial toll. After considering the costs of surgery, lost wages, hospitalization fees and other damages, your financial losses can easily exceed tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is possible that the driver responsible for your considerable losses will not have adequate insurance to cover your losses. In some cases, the driver who caused your accident may not have auto insurance at all. According to a recent survey in the Insurance Journal, one out of five drivers in the United States does not have auto insurance. If you have uninsured motorist insurance (UIM), you may be able to tap into your own insurance policy to help cover your losses.

Our Utah uninsured motorist attorneys recently recovered $100,000 for a man who sustained neck, back, shoulder and arm injuries in a Utah traffic accident. The $50,000 provided by the at-fault driver’s policy did not fully cover the losses sustained by the victim. Our car accident attorneys helped the victim secure an additional $100,000 from their own UIM coverage.

You never know when uninsured motorist coverage (UM) or UIM coverage will prove useful. If you have the ability to purchase more than $100,000 in UIM protection, it may be wise to increase your coverage. In the case referenced in this article, it may have been possible to secure more than $100,000 in benefits if the victim’s insurance limits were higher. When you are injured in a car accident, your liability insurance covers other parties if the accident was your fault. However, it is uninsured motorist (UIM) coverage that protects you and your family. UIM coverage can be added on to your auto insurance policy for a reasonable increase in your premium.

If you have been hurt in a Utah car accident, please do not hesitate to protect your legal rights and options by contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer. A skilled Utah personal injury lawyer can help you pursue fair and full compensation for all the injuries, damages and losses you may have sustained in a crash.