Utah is a state famous for the beauty of its mountain and desert landscapes and for having some of the greatest snow on earth.

Many people living along the Wasatch enjoy hiking, skiing, camping and other recreational activities. However, with the benefits of Utah's unique weather and wild environment come potential dangers.

Find out the four worst-case scenarios for people living in Utah and how you can survive them.

A bad-weather car accident

One of the most common types of accidents in Utah are car crashes, and many are caused by bad weather.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, "On average, there are over 5,748,000 vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 22% of these crashes — nearly 1,259,000 — are weather-related."

Some ways that adverse weather affects vehicles and driving are: preventing cars from responding to drivers, cutting visibility, obstructing lanes and creating pavement slickness or friction.

Traffic professionals advise drivers to drive as little as possible during extreme weather conditions like snow or thunderstorms. They also warn that drivers should take their time and ensure their vehicles have tires and brakes in tip-top shape.

Taking the time to tune up your car and practice defensive driving before the bad-weather season could save your life.

Running into a wild animal

Cougars and bears are two common types of wild animals campers and hikers have run into in Utah.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says there are a few simple tips you can use to avoid getting into cougar trouble. They advise to not run, to pick up children and to make yourself look as big and intimidating as possible.

The UDWR states, "If you encounter a cougar in a residential area, or if you have an aggressive encounter with a cougar, please alert the Division of Wildlife Resources."

As for bear attacks, according to Lynn Rogers, founder of the non-profit North American Bear Center in Minnesota, they are rare: "Sixty-two people nationwide, including the Ives boy — Utah's only known bear attack fatality — have been killed by black bears in 109 years of record-keeping. Bee stings or lightning kill more people each year."

However, this doesn't mean you should take the wild animals lightly. Make sure to know when you're in bear territory, make plenty of noise when you’re there and, if you spot one, stay as far away as possible. Make sure to bring bear-safe food containers and seal all trash if you're camping overnight in an area with bears.

Getting lost outdoors

According to a statistician Robert Koester, who specializes in finding lost people, "Overall, people hiking by themselves account for 58 percent (of lost hikers)" and the average lost hiker is male and the most common environment to get lost in is in the mountains.

When you're hiking in Utah's beautiful mountains, make sure someone at home knows where you are. If you lose sight of the trail, don't plow forward.

Koester says the most effective get-found strategy is actually the least used, and that’s backtracking until you know where you are.

Experiencing an earthquake

A new report states "the probability that at least one magnitude 6.75 earthquake could rattle the Wasatch Front in the next 50 years is 43 percent."

To prepare for an earthquake, investigate earthquake insurance. This could help you recoup losses on your property in case of a disaster.

You should also prepare an earthquake plan. Do some research about how close you are to the fault line at work and home. Are the buildings you spend time in earthquake proof? Take some time to find the safest rooms in these buildings and form an evacuation plan. Take a look at ready.gov’s tips on what to do in an earthquake.

Be prepared in any situation. In the case of personal injury, turn to Robert J. DeBry and Associates. They’re prepared to help you.

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