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U.S. News has published rankings for which states have the best/safest teen drivers. They’ve included Washington D.C. on the list and it happens to come out on top but only because it has less than 3,000 teen drivers.

First place went to California. Utah made the list at #9, Washington at #10, and Idaho at #45. Must be something in the water… Actually, Idaho allows teens to get their licenses as early as 14 which could account for a large part of this poor showing. All the states scoring higher (worse) than Idaho are big rural states (Iowa, the Dakotas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming) which may also allow for younger drivers to help out with the farming needs in their area.

http://www.usnews.com/news/teen-driving

Not that anybody plans on getting in an accident, but knowing these simple tips may save you a lot of headaches. Read this new article and improve your odds of getting a fair and full auto accident settlement.

There is no legal requirement for an individual to be represented by an attorney in order to file bankruptcy. However, I would think long and hard about not hiring an attorney who is experienced in bankruptcy before you dare go it alone. In other words, it is not recommended. In some localities you can get help from a bankruptcy petition preparer, but they are expressly prohibited from giving you legal advice.

If getting yourself involved in a highly specialized legal matter governed by a very complex federal bankruptcy code, procedural rules, and local rules, as well as many areas of state law, without obtaining any legal advice is your idea of a good time, then, by all means, give it a shot. If something blows-up in your case, you will then need to hire an attorney anyway or you may lose important legal rights. It will also be much harder now to find a lawyer to represent you and much more expensive, because many attorneys will not accept a bankruptcy case that they did not handle from the beginning.

Your best bet is to hire a bankruptcy attorney from the get-go who is experienced in navigating a safe course through the mine field. By shopping around a little, you will easily be able to find an affordable bankruptcy attorney who will skillfully apply his trade for your benefit and in your best interest. To be sure, it will be the best money you ever spent.

Gregory & Swapp does handle bankruptcy cases in Utah. If you would like a free evaluation, contact us today.

An alert reader has sent in this photo of new highway signs being posted to help drivers of Toyota vehicles know what to do when they have sudden acceleration issues. :)

Imagine going for a stroll or walking out to get the mail and suddenly one or both of your femur (thigh) bones just snap in half. An ABC News report shows some of the excruciatingly painful breaks that can occur from side effects from fosamax medication. These side effects show that even with the testing that goes on in laboratories and by the FDA, there is still no guarantee that some harmful effects of the drugs will not wind up causing other problems for people that take these medications long term.

Pharmaceutical companies rely on “major use” drugs to help compensate for the many failed trials their research and development teams experience. Occasionally, a manufacturer crosses the line knowingly and markets a drug even though internal documents showed them the drug would be harmful to users (as was the situation with Fen-phen).

Fosamax is prescribed to help people with osteoporosis, but two major side effects have been shown in osteonecrosis of the jaw (deterioration of the bone), and in a major weakening of the femur bones which can cause them to break during low-impact activity.

If you know anyone who uses this drug and may need a Fosamax lawyer, please have them contact us today.

Fosamax Side Effects Report

The owner of a 2008 Toyota Prius considers himself fortunate after his vehicle accelerated to 90 miles per hour on the California highway and he couldn’t stop. Physically pulling up on the gas pedal didn’t stop the acceleration and laying heavy on the brakes just produced a lot of friction and odor. The owner was finally able to slow down sufficiently to get the car to shut off but it was definitely not a case of a faulty gas pedal or floor mat according to the police officer on the scene. Here’s ABC’s video report and a link to the full article. Toyota is sending techs to investigate.

If you know someone that has been injured in an accident or runaway Toyota accident, contact us today. Our car accident lawyers can help preserve your rights.

SB 113 (Sponsored by Senator Romero) has passed the Utah legislature prohibiting minors (under 18) from using cell phones while driving a vehicle. Several exceptions are given which are as follows:

1) when reporting a medical emergency
2) when reporting a safety hazard
3) when reporting a criminal activity
4) when speaking with a parent or guardian

The bill will now go to the Governor for his signature. The sponsor believes this bill will reduce accidents.

If you have been a reader of this legal blog, you’ve seen some examples of minors texting while driving and the life-changing accidents that have occurred as a result. Texting while driving is already banned in Utah and is a very dangerous thing to attempt to engage in

Idaho injury attorney news – A fatal rollover accident which killed 1 and injured 4 after the driver fell asleep at the wheel.  Police report alcohol was not a factor.

Last Monday morning outside of Twin Falls, ID, a driver fell asleep at the wheel and upon suddenly awaking, over-corrected the vehicle causing it to roll and eject three backseat passengers. One of the victims died at the hospital from injuries sustained while two others remain in serious condition. Only the driver and front seat passenger were wearing seat belts.

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

Article link

More and more it’s looking like Toyota’s sudden acceleration issue isn’t about the gas pedal at all, but more with the internal computer that tells the car what to do.

Owners of vehicles that have been “fixed” by replacing the floor pad or acceleration pedal have still reported sudden acceleration issues. One driver who had his vehicle fixed said “I can drive up to 30 miles an hour without applying the gas.” (link)

The car giant is going to have growing liability issues and a significant public trust problem in the coming months and years unless they get to the bottom of this and correct the root of the problem instead of trying to look for the quick and dirty way out of the situation.

If you are involved in an accident and suspect a sudden acceleration issue, contact one of our Salt Lake City auto accident lawyers today. We can help you determine the best course of action to take.

Have you ever had to sweat through a call from a creditor knowing you didn’t have the funds to repay an obligation, and not knowing what to say? Financial difficulties affect millions of people, especially during this down economy. There are alternatives to bankruptcy that can help you get relief from creditor calls and allow you to focus on getting back on your feet again. Click here to read more about these alternatives to bankruptcy.