American Lawyer Academy » Kenny Christensen

3 Safety Measures to Protect Yourself From Trucking Accidents

Kenny Christensen — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:24:23 +0000

Over a month ago, KSL reported on a trucking accident on Highway 40 in the town of Duchesne, Utah. The trucker apparently over-corrected after drifting to the right side of the road. Fortunately the trucker survived with no injuries and there was no other vehicle involved in the accident. Semi-trucks are dangerous vehicles due to their weight and size, thus as drivers we must learn to respect these massive vehicles. And most importantly, the trucker must be experienced at driving the motor vehicle and be exceptionally vigilant to their surroundings. If you should ever experience a collision involving a semi-truck, contacting a trucking accident attorney is a critical step in your path to recovery.

How to Avoid a Collision With a Semi-Truck

After driving for a few years, drivers notice how long it takes a semi-truck to move forward after leaving an intersection. In addition, it doesn’t take long for a new driver to figure out a truck can’t stop as quickly as a regular family car. Sharing the road with these enormous vehicles, which sometimes transport thousands of pounds of cargo, can be quite hazardous. The following list includes safety tips on how to avoid a trucking accident:

When passing a semi-truck, try to stay out of the blind spot;
Do not ride too close to the bumper of the semi-truck; and
When passing a semi-truck, make sure you do not enter their lane until you see both headlights in your rear-view mirror.

The outstanding trucking accident attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm serve their clients and community with dedication and passion. With each case we guarantee personal attention and our best. For a free consultation, call us at 801-506-0800.

7 Must Do’s At The Scene Of A Bike Accident

Kenny Christensen — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:58:48 +0000

If you have been in a bike accident, there are certain things you must do if you wish to seek compensation. Oftentimes victims of bike accidents commit small errors that hinder their chances for full compensation. It is important to follow these seven tips that have been provided by the Davis Law Group. A bicycle accident attorney will help you with the case, but it is up to you to do the front loading of information gathering. Be proactive.

Remain Calm

Make sure you are clear of any further danger by remaining calm and looking at your surroundings. Take a deep breath. Assess the situation. Get out of harm’s way if needed.

Do Not Admit Fault

It is a huge mistake to quickly assume fault or to even apologize. There may be certain elements to the accident that you are not aware of which should be accounted for. Again, assess the situation but do not readily admit guilt. Get the facts first.

Call 911

If you are hurt, call an ambulance. Get the medical attention you need. Do not hesitate to be treated for aches and pains. The police can often be your best advocate. They will report any and all information given. Be accurate.

Find Eye-Witnesses

It is vital to any case to have reliable eye-witnesses who are capable of sharing what they saw in accurate detail. Get names and contact information from anyone who may have seen what happened. Get at least two witnesses, more if possible.

Take Pictures

Documenting the scene can be one of the best things you can do as a victim. Take pictures of your bike, the at-fault party’s car, bike, etc. Take pictures of any injuries you have sustained. Take pictures of skid marks, broken glass, damage to any plants, roads, etc. Any photo documentation can boost your case’s chances of succeeding.

Gather Information

Information including the license plate number, VIN number, make, model, and color of the car, etc., will aid your case. Any information regarding the other party could be useful to you. Do not scrimp on the details of the other people involved.

Record All Details

This section is for the details of the damage incurred; this would be the description of the included photos. Where did the accident occur? To which part of the body did the injuries occur? Drawing out a diagram helps tremendously.

Bicycle Accident Attorney

A bike accident lawyer from the Christensen Law Firm will help anyone who has been injured in a bike accident. There is no need to get buried with all the medical bills and insurance bureaucracy on your own; let a bike accident lawyer help. Call us today at 1-801-506-0800. We are eager to hear from you.

After 2 Battle Injuries, Paralyzed Marine Sgt. Has a Grand Homecoming

Kenny Christensen — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:20:50 +0000

After being hit from shrapnel, Marine Sgt. Ben Thomlinson was sent on another deployment back to Afghanistan once he recovered from his previous injuries. It was while on this second tour that he was shot in the back from enemy fire, resulting in a severe spinal cord injury and paralysis. According to Deseret News, Sgt. Thomlinson had only one fear and it was not the fear of dying. This soldier’s only fear was to be forgotten from the folks back home. Once you are away for sometime, it’s hard to imagine what everyone back home is doing and thinking about.

That fear quickly dissipated when he came home to Jacksonville, AL with a town waiting for his arrival. The residents of the town lined the streets in the town square, and donated money to help the costs of restructuring his house into a wheelchair-friendly home. This was an event which humbled Sgt. Ben Thomlinson and reminded him of how appreciative his community really is for his service to our country.

This honorable soldier was injured in battle while serving his country. Although many other citizens will never carry this honor after enduring a spinal cord injury, they are just as important to our communities. If you should ever become a victim of such a difficult injury, you at least have a spinal cord injury attorney available to assist you.

Support Your Troops

Many troops come home with a similar fear as Sgt. Thomlinson, and unfortunately some do come home unnoticed, despite their injuries. As involved citizens, especially ones who have suffered injuries similar to these veterans, you have the potential to be a great inspiration and resource to the morale of these men and women in military uniform. The following is a list of how you can get involved:

Donate your time or assets to a local charity that assists injured veterans;
Write a thank you card; and
Volunteer at a local Veteran Affairs Hospital.

If You Are Going To Get Drunk, Follow These 3 Transportation Steps

Kenny Christensen — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:58:28 +0000

Drinking alcohol with friends has been a part of social activities for thousands of years. It is part of culture. Today, however, there is a great need to address the issue of transporting those who get too imbibed. There is no longer the option of having your horse find its way home for you. Cars have changed the social activity of drinking dramatically. If preventative actions are not made, and an accident does occur, the victim of the accident may involve a drunk driving accident attorney in which case the penalties can be prodigious. To avoid accidents, follow these 3 simple steps.

Give your keys to someone else

Not having keys in your hand at the end of the night eliminates the option of driving. There will be no rationalization or justification to drive because the option will not be available. This is a very simple solution to a potentially potent problem.

Designate a sober driver

Better yet, don’t even bring your keys. Designate a friend who will remain sober. If your car is not available to drive, the rationalization to drive is further removed. The problem with having a designated driver is they may want to join in on the drinking. This cannot happen. It is important to know that peer pressure can get to people, so choose your designated drivers well.

Determine beforehand to take public transit: cab, metro, bus, etc.

Possibly the best option to a night of drinks on the town is to plan to take public transit. With no possible way to drive, either by your own car or someone else’s, the impossibility of an accident will be certain. This option allows for your friends to join in on the fun.

A drunk driving accident attorney from the Christensen Law Firm

The reality is that many drinkers do not take preventative measures to avoid accidents. It often becomes late, you are tired, you just want to get home and sleep and so you rationalize driving. The thinking is that “I can handle it,” or, “I have not had that much to drink.” The problem with these thoughts is that decision making is impaired by the alcohol itself, sleepiness, tiredness, etc., but the law does not care much for poor decisions. You will get prosecuted for consequences, not intentions.

The Christensen Law Firm helps those who have been injured due to another’s bad choices. They always have a drunk driving accident attorney on hand to prosecute those who hurt others. If you have been injured or been in an accident because of a drunk driver, call us at 1-801-506-0800.

6 Year-Old Pedestrian Accident Victim Ambrosia Amalatitoda Passes Away

Kenny Christensen — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:46:14 +0000

According to KSL5 in Utah, last week a woman in her twenties and her six year-old daughter were hit by a Chevy Cobalt while walking in an intersection crosswalk. The vehicle drove around two other vehicles that had actually stopped for the pedestrians and proceeded over the median in the other lane, hitting Natalie Randall and her daughter Ambrosia Amalatitoda. The mother is in critical condition while Ambrosia has unfortunately passed away due to severe head trauma. Our prayers and condolences go out to the victims of this accident. In the event you become a victim of a pedestrian accident, hiring a pedestrian accident attorney is crucial and probably one of the best decisions you could make.

Pedestrian Safety Measures

Pedestrian accidents happen all too often, and particularly at intersections. It is safe to assume that when you cross the street, there is no guarantee that any on-coming traffic will stop for you, regardless of whether or not you have the right-a-away. In many cases, drivers involved in pedestrian accidents usually are unaware of the pedestrians for numerous reasons. The situation above was an interesting case in that the driver literally drove around stopped drivers and ended up in the lane of opposing traffic. This story is a great example of how a few lives could be saved if we just follow the rule of thumb: expect the unexpected. Provided by safekids.org is a modified list of pedestrian safety tips for you and your family:

Cross at a corner, usually at given crosswalks or traffic lights. Make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you. Never assume that they are aware of you even though you notice them;
Look left, right and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Never run across the street; walk and be vigilant;
Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible;
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up; and
Parents and kids should hold hands in parking lots.

The Christensen Law Firm is consistently devoting their time and effort to our clients and community. We promise compassionate service along with personal one-one-one attention to your case. Call us at 801-506-0800.