E. Dale LeBaron, 75, a retired Brigham Young University professor, was killed last week after he, his wife and a friend were struck by a car on an Orem street. The 21-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck the trio said that he did not see them because the sun was reflecting off of frost on his windshield as he made a turn. City prosecutors have the case under review for possible charges against the driver.
This accident is certainly a tragedy for all involved, but it appears that it could have been prevented. The winter driving season is upon us and as I’ve written in the past, drivers must be prepared. One aspect of such preparedness is to make sure that you have a clear field of vision at all times while driving. Frost and snow pile up on cars when they sit outside and it is very easy to simply clear a small area to see through and be on your way. It may be easy, but it is also very dangerous. All drivers must take the time to fully clear and defrost all windows before heading down the road. And the sun can easily blind drivers when it is rising, setting, or is otherwise reflected toward vehicles. If you are temporarily blinded, slow down or stop immediately if you can do so safely and then wait until you can proceed with full visibility.
Bret Hanna of Wrona DuBois in Utah, focuses exclusively on litigating plaintiffs’ medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury cases. He has represented clients in state and federal courts, in mediations, and in administrative proceedings in Michigan and Utah since 1991.
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