James R. Balmforth: ATV Accident Lawyer Salt Lake City Utah

In ancient times Utah was inhabited by various Native American groups. The ancient Pueblo People, also known as the Anasazi, built large communities in southern Utah from roughly the year 1 to 1300 AD. The Ute Tribe, from which the state takes its name and the Navajo Indians, arrived later in this region. Salt Lake City was founded on July 24, 1847, by a group of Mormon pioneers. (Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) The pioneers, led by Brigham Young, were the first non-Indians to settle permanently in the Salt Lake Valley. The Mormons came to the valley in search of a region where they could practice their religion, free from hostile mobs and persecution. On the very day of arrival the pioneers began tilling the soil and planting crops. Within a few days plans were drawn for Great Salt Lake City, named after the salty inland lake which dominated the desert to the west. In 1848, more emigrants came to the valley. But a late frost, drought, and a plague of crickets nearly destroyed the harvest. Flocks of seagulls consumed the crickets and enough of the crop was saved to enable the settlers to survive the winter of 1848-49. During the decade that followed they brought their culture, languages, and skills to the valley, building Salt Lake City into a cosmopolitan center.

When the Mormons first arrived in the valley the region was part of Mexico. A treaty signed in 1848 ceded it to the United States, and in 1850, the “State of Deseret” became the Utah Territory. Deseret means honeybee, a symbol of industriousness. Utah’s state symbol is the beehive. Construction on the Mormon temple began in 1853, but the capstone of this magnificent structure was not put into place until 1892. The temple was built with granite blocks which, until a branch railroad line was run into Little Cottonwood Canyon, were individually hauled by ox and wagon from the canyon to the building site. The California gold rush brought emigrants through Great Salt Lake City. U.S. soldiers were stationed here in the 1850s and during the Civil War. Trade with these sojourners brought to the Mormons a measure of prosperity, although agriculture continued as the mainstay. In 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed by the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit, some 80 miles northwest of Salt Lake City. Utah was thus connected to the East and West. Many people traveled by rail to see the “City of the Saints.” Some stayed to make and to lose their fortunes in mining. From the 1860s to the 1920s hundreds of copper, silver, gold, and lead mines were opened in the nearby canyons, including Bingham Canyon. The 1890s were a decade of change. The Mormon Church officially ended the practice of polygamy. In 1896, Utah became the 45th state and the third to extend the vote to women. Salt Lake City was its capital. “Great” had been dropped from the name in 1868. Salt Lake began to assume its present character in the early 1900s.

The State Capitol and many other historic buildings were constructed. Electric trolleys, garaged at Trolley Square (now a popular shopping mall), were installed to transport people living in the Avenues, Capitol Hill, Liberty Park, and Sugarhouse areas to downtown. The trolleys were gradually replaced in the 1930s by buses. The last streetcar line was discontinued in 1941. Eagle Gate, which had served to mark the entrance to Brigham Young’s estate, was reconstructed to allow traffic flow. City parks were built, sewer systems and street lighting were installed, and streets were paved. Between 1900 and 1930, the city’s population nearly tripled. During the 1960s several commercial and service centers were built in the suburbs, drawing business away from downtown. To help counteract this movement, the Mormon Church invested $40 million in development of a downtown shopping mall. The ZCMI Center Mall, named for Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution, a prominent retail chain which was begun in Salt Lake’s pioneer days, is the result of that effort. In the 1970s new businesses and shopping malls were built and classic older buildings were renovated. The downtown skyline changed again in the 1990s when the Salt Palace Convention Center was rebuilt and a major office tower and new courts complex were constructed. Redeveloped city blocks, restored building facades and new urban parks further enhanced the beauty of downtown. The Salt Palace Convention Center once again underwent expansion. It now features 53 meeting rooms, 370,000 square feet of exhibit space, and a 45,000 square foot ballroom. A 243,000 square foot suburban convention center has also been recently constructed. Transportation projects have included the I-15 freeway reconstruction and the launch of TRAX, a $312 million light-rail system which transports passengers north and south through the Salt Lake valley and downtown. Salt Lake was proud to host the Olympic Winter Games in February 2002. The largest city ever to host the winter games, Salt Lake prepared well in advance for the most prestigious event of its history. Many venues are still in place and are available for the public to enjoy and relive Olympic memories.

ATV Accident Attorney

An ATV accident can be considered a personal injury case or a defective product case, depending on the nature of the incident. If the accident was caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another driver, it will likely be filed as a personal injury case. This will involve the insurance company of the other driver, and possible negotiation with the at-fault party. Injuries resulting from a defective or malfunctioning ATV are classified as product liability cases and fall into a realm outside of traditional accident law. In defective product cases, the at-fault party is the creator and/or seller of the defective ATV, and cases are built against the company manufacturer/seller, rather than an individual. Backed by proven results representing victims of car, truck, bus, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents, we know how to build a strong case on your behalf. In addition to our track record of success, we are committed to learning from victims, their families, and medical professionals striving to gain a greater understanding of the people behind the litigation. The All Terrain Vehicle has grown in popularity for its high speeds and use on rough surfaces. ATV’s have also grown as a source of injury. The weight and speed of these vehicles create risks for unprotected drivers and riders. A significant risk is vehicle rollover, which is a factor of the design and manufacture of the vehicles. Defects in the machines can reduce operational safety to dangerous levels and there have been a number of manufacturer recalls for All Terrain Vehicles. ATV injuries can be severe. Many models have no protection for riders and the weight and speed of these high-powered vehicles create a significant amount of force and powerful impacts.

Design flaws or manufacturing mistakes can reduce the amount of control, steering, and stopping power needed for safe operation of high-powered machines, particularly on difficult terrain. Anyone injured by or during the use of an All Terrain Vehicle should act immediately; get a free consultation with an experienced ATV accident attorney. Being involved in an accident on an ATV, also known as an all-terrain vehicle can have a lifelong impact on your quality of life. If you have been injured in an accident due to the negligence of another ATV rider, or a motor vehicle driver in an area that permits the use of ATV’s on the roadways, you have the right to a personal injury attorney to defend your rights, negotiate and litigate on your behalf, and compensation for costs that you have incurred due to the accident. Because living in Utah provides close access to areas deemed desirable to ride ATV’s, including areas like Utah’s famous sand dunes, traffic in these areas can often lead to an accident. Holidays and weekends can produce more traffic in these areas, which can often lead to an accident. If you were riding an ATV and were involved were rear ended, side swiped, run off the trail, involved in a head on, or were hit by a careless ATV rider, contact the ATV accident lawyers. Because of the dangerous nature of ATV’s, many riders choose to carry insurance to protect their liability for property damage and bodily harm that could potentially happen while riding their ATV. All ATV’s that are street legal are required to carry insurance coverage.

Risks and Regulations

Utah recently instituted laws specifying that minors have to pass ATV safety course and be supervised by adults. However, parents themselves often break the rules associated with safe operation of ATVs. Many riders have suffered catastrophic injuries or been killed with ATVs rolled over them. Amputations and spinal cord injuries are common.

How Can ATV Accident Lawyers Help You

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are popular among adults and teens. Some people use them for fun, and other people use them to haul heavy objects. Despite their benefits, ATVs can also be dangerous. Even when used properly, ATVs can still lead to serious injuries or death. You should contact a Lawyer immediately after the accident so that we can review your case before the evidence disappears. Some of the most common injuries that can occur during an ATV accident include brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. Make sure to seek immediate medical care following an accident. Besides seeking medical care, you should also hire an experienced ATV accident lawyer. Figuring out who is responsible for the accident is challenging. You may need to file a claim against the owner of the ATV. If you were riding the ATV on a damaged trail, then the party who owns the trail may be responsible. Your attorney may also suggest filing a product liability case if the vehicle was defective. Through the legal process, you may receive compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, vehicle repairs and loss of earnings. In the event that a death occurs, you or a family member can file a wrongful death lawsuit. Even if you only suffered minor injuries, you should still visit a medical professional to document your injuries. Sometimes, minor injuries can turn into a more serious problem.

ATV Rollover Accidents

ATVs have become popular for work and recreation on many farms and ranches. Unfortunately, reported cases of serious injury and death from ATV accidents and rollovers have increased along with their increased use. Most of these ATV rollover injuries and deaths can be attributed to unstable design, too high center of gravity and/or operator error. Make ATV safety a priority on your farm or ranch;
• An ATV is not a toy.
• Children should not be permitted to operate ATVs without specialized training and then they should be allowed to only operate an ATV of an appropriate size.
• Contact the ATV Safety Institute to enroll in a course.
• ATVs with an engine size of 70cc to 90cc should be operated by people at least 12 years of age.
• ATVs with an engine size of greater than 90cc should only be operated by people at least 16 years of age.
• Wear appropriate riding gear: DOT-, Snell ANSI-approved helmet, goggles, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, long-sleeve shirt and long pants.
• Read owner’s manuals carefully.
• ATVs are not made for multiple riders. Never carry anyone else on the ATV.
• Any added attachments affect the stability, operating and braking of the ATV.
• Do not operate the ATV on streets, highways or paved roads.

The number of four wheel ATVs in use in the United States has increased from just more than 2 million to more than 6.9 million in the past decade. From 1982 through 2004, there were nearly 6,500 deaths involving ATVs. In 2004, an estimated 136,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries many life-altering. In 2003, an estimated 740 people died nationwide in ATV incidents. About 30 percent of all deaths and injuries involve children younger than 16. Regulators want to reduce the number of children who are being hurt or killed because they are riding on adult-sized all-terrain vehicles. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says children accounted for 30 percent of the estimated 740 ATV deaths in 2003 in this country. The CPSC’s Scott Wolfsan says 90 percent of those deaths were because children were riding an adult-sized ATV. Wolfsan says children 15 years old and younger should be on off-road vehicles that weigh 150 pounds with speeds of 15 miles per hour. An adult sized ATV can weigh up to 800 pounds and reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. Among the CPSC’s recommended safety steps for all riders: Never allow a child to operate or ride an adult-size ATV, always wear a helmet, never ride tandem on a one-person ATV, and never ride on paved roads. The safety commission wants to make the current voluntary safety standards mandatory for the ATV industry. It also wants regulations that would ban three wheeled ATVs, and set up three youth size ATV categories.

Salt Lake City Utah ATV Accident Attorney Free Consultation

When you need legal help with an ATV Accident in Salt Lake City Utah, please call Ascent Law LLC for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.