Kenneth Carroll: ATV Accident Lawyer Orem Utah

The City of Orem was organized in 1919 and named after Walter C. Orem, President of the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad. Orem is now the commercial and technological center for Central Utah and is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Housing, educational, and employment opportunities continue to be in high demand as Orem’s population approaches 91,000 residents. The City of Orem is located on the eastern shore of Utah Lake and extends on the east to Provo and the foothills of Mount Timpanogos. It shares the general location with Provo, and its history is closely related to that of Provo.

Its recent explosive development and growth have resulted in Orem’s population exceeding 67,000 people, according to 1990 census figures. Prior to its incorporation, Orem was known as the “Provo bench,” and its fertile orchards and farmlands added to Provo’s early reputation as the “Garden City of Utah.” Orem was incorporated in 1919 because residents recognized the need to develop a water system for the area. Orem has little naturally occurring water, and local residents believed that Provo was unlikely to provide the public financing necessary to construct a water system. One of the first acts of the new town was to issue $110,000 in bonds to construct the water system, which solved the area’s long-standing shortage of water. The new town took its name from Walter Orem, the owner of the interurban railroad that ran between Salt Lake City and Provo, in an apparent attempt to curry the favor and attract the investments of this prosperous resident of Salt Lake City. Unlike many Utah towns and cities, Orem was not laid out in regular city blocks with houses clustered closely together. Instead, Orem’s origins are in homesteads settled along the territorial highway (now State Street) and along other substantial arteries where area farmers built their homes and to live near their fields and orchards. As prime farmland along primary roads was taken, farms sprang up in other parts of the “bench” that is now Orem, and rural roads soon crisscrossed the area connecting the farms. This type of development, known in Utah as the “Gentile manner,” differed from typical historical development by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who were often counseled by church leaders to live in the city and cultivate farmland outside its limits.

One of the cohesive influences in Orem has been the Sharon Community Educational and Recreational Association, better known as SCERA. SCERA was created in 1933 under the guidance of Arthur V. Watkins, then president of the LDS Sharon Stake and later a United States Senator from Utah, as a substantial community effort at “planned and organized recreation.” SCERA has fulfilled much of its anticipated role in the city since its birth in the depths of the Great Depression.
The first major evolution of Orem began in the early 1940s when the Geneva Steel Works was constructed by the federal government as an inland producer of steel. Built along the eastern shore of Utah Lake, Geneva has provided employment to many local residents, either directly or indirectly. In recent times, Geneva has spawned controversy because of increasing concerns over environmental damage caused by the plant and related concerns about lost employment which would be caused by the shutdown of the plant. USX Corporation, the former owner of Geneva, ceased active production of steel at the plant for a brief period in the mid-1980s and then sold the plant to a small group of investors who revived operations. (The steel plant has closed since this writing)
The second major change to the landscape of Orem came as many of its farms were converted to shopping centers and malls along State Street and the University Parkway, the intersection of which now probably stands as the focal point of the metropolitan Orem/Provo area. First the University Mall and later other malls attracted business away from downtown Provo, historically the central shopping area of Utah Valley. Little successful central planning has taken place in Orem, and it is as much without a central core now as it was when it was known as the Provo bench. Pockets of commercial and residential development dot the expansive area that is Orem.
The third major evolution of Orem has been caused by the city’s development as a center of computer technology and development. Giant WordPerfect Corporation, founded by a former Brigham Young University professor and one of his graduate students and headquartered in Orem, has provided the impetus for the creation of other computer software companies in the city. A fledgling entertainment industry, begun with the construction of Osmond Studios in northeast Orem, has also helped change the face of Orem.
Many of the past developments in Orem can be seen in the city’s present form. Orem’s proximity to the Wasatch Mountains and Utah Lake make it an all-season center of recreation. Geneva remains a large employer and a center of controversy. Often unchecked commercial development of the city continues. New high tech firms such as WordPerfect now compete with Geneva as the largest private employers in the city. Orem has come a long way from its days as the sleepy unincorporated Provo bench and even from its early days as an incorporated town comprised of scattered farms and orchards. It is now a vital city that must confront the issues that urbanization brings.

The population of Orem is approximately 88,328 (2010). The approximate number of families is 17,965 (1990). The amount of land area in Orem is 46.487 sq. kilometers. The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers. Orem is positioned 40.29 degrees north of the equator and 111.69 degrees west of the prime meridian. Orem elevation is 4,770 feet above sea level. The geography for Orem is Orem is at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in the area known as the “mountain land region.” The mountains spread out to the west into rolling hills and flatter areas with Utah Lake a prominent feature. Some mountains of the area rise up to 12,000 feet above sea level. Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo Utah, Lindon Utah, and Vineyard and is about 45 miles (72 km) south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitian Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and Juab counties. The population was 84,324 at the 2000 census, while the 2010 population was 88,328 making it the sixth-largest city in Utah. Utah Valley University (UVU) is located in Orem. The Orem Owlz of the minor league baseball Pioneer League plays their home games at the college. Orem uses the moniker “Family City USA”. In fact, in 2010 Forbes rated it the 5th best place to raise a family. The climate for Orem is moderate. Snowfall is 10-20 inches in town -with much more snow in the mountains for wonderful skiing. Orem average annual rainfall is 16 inches per year Orem average temperature is (January) 21; (July) 83 degrees F.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an ATV crash and it was somebody else’s fault, you may be able to receive valuable compensation for your loss. Some things can never be replaced, but through the legal process you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, vehicle repairs, pain and suffering, loss of earning, and future loss of earnings. In the extremely unfortunate event that a death has occurred as a result of the crash, you can file a wrongful death suit.

Things You Need to Do after an ATV Crash

• See a medical professional. Minor injuries can turn into major problems, especially with the neck and back. You will also need documentation of your condition if you proceed with the legal process.
• Get as much information you can about the crash. Top items include the names, numbers, and addresses of all the people involved, including witnesses; the most precise location of the crash; information about the ATV, including the make and model number, etc. You will also need copies of all the insurance information.
• Do not talk to anyone about your accident other than law enforcement officials. Anything you say to insurance company representatives or investigators could make it harder for you to settle your claim. It is also a good idea not to sign anything, particularly some kind of release form, without talking to an attorney first. This is just a smart way for you to protect yourself.

• Keep in mind that you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. There is usually a statute of limitations, or a legal deadline, for filing a lawsuit when it comes to ATV accidents. If your claim is not brought within that time, it may be barred regardless of its merits. It is best to not wait until the legal deadline to file a lawsuit.
• Consult a lawyer. You probably have a lot to handle right now. A competent lawyer can make sure everything gets done right. A lawyer can also make things a lot easier for you by negotiating with insurance companies and guiding you through the legal process.
Crashes Caused by a Defective ATV
Some collisions are caused by manufacturing defects. In legal terms, “manufacturing defects” are flaws in the manufacturing process that result in injuries. “Failure to warn” describes a situation in which a manufacturer knows of a hazard regarding the product and does not warn consumers about it. “Design defects” are errors in the product design that make the vehicle dangerous. People are winning defective product lawsuits against manufacturers. Hundreds of thousands of these products have been recalled since 2000. You may have the right to sue for compensation even if there is not a recall. If there was a recall of your ATV prior to your accident, a lawyers can help determine if the recalled part was the cause of your accident. Insurance companies will take into consideration many different factors when insuring your motorcycle in Utah. One company is not always the best fit for everyone that is why we compare companies for you. These factors include:
• Driving record
• Credit History
• Your Age, Address
• The Type of Motorcycle
• The Number of Drivers

Registering Your ATV
• If you operate or transport an ATV on public lands, roads, or trails, it must be registered as a recreational vehicle.
• To register an ATV, visit any Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (UDMV) office where you will complete a registration application and pay the required registration fee. When you go, take the following documentation with you:
• Proof of ownership, such as a title or bill of sale, and…
• The tax certificate from the county assessor of the county where the OHV is taxed and…
• The current registration card (for renewals).
• ATV registration is valid for one year and expires on the last day of the month when the OHV was registered.
• After receiving the appropriate documents and registration fee, the UDMV will issue two registration stickers and a registration card containing the vehicle number.
• The registration card must be carried on the vehicle and made available for inspection by law enforcement officers.
• Registration stickers must be visibly displayed on the vehicle in the following manner.
• Type I and Type II ATVs: Affix the stickers to the front and rear of the vehicle.
• Motorcycles: Affix the stickers to both sides of the fork.
• If an ATV is used only on a farm or ranch or for other agricultural purposes, it may be registered at a UDMV office as an implement of husbandry.

• The one-time registration fee is $10.00.
• The UDMV will issue an off-highway implement of husbandry sticker. The sticker must be affixed in a visible location on the left side of the vehicle.
• If you also operate the ATV on public property for recreational purposes, the ATV must be registered as a recreational vehicle.
• Dual-sport off-highway motorcycles may be registered as recreational ATVs or as street-legal vehicles. To be street legal, the motorcycle must have the required safety equipment, pass a state safety inspection, and carry proper insurance.
• If your ATV is currently registered and you wish to renew, you may do so online.
• ATV operators who are not residents of Utah must purchase a non-resident permit for each ATV they bring into Utah.
Meeting ATV Helmet Requirements
Each year a majority of the fatal ATV accidents in Orem involve someone not wearing a helmet. Some of these victims could have survived had they been wearing a helmet. A helmet is the most important piece of equipment you can own. DOT-approved ATV or motorcycle helmets are required for all ATV operators and passengers under age 18. Bicycle helmets do not meet this requirement.

ATV Lawyer in Utah Free Consultation

When you need a personal injury attorney for an ATV accident in Orem, Utah, please call Ascent Law LLC for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.