Utah Car Accident Lawyers
- $ Millions Won For Our Clients
- No Fees Unless We Win
- 4 Utah Offices
- 300+ 5-Star Reviews
Partner With Experienced Utah Car Accident Attorneys For Your Case
You didn’t ask for this. One moment everything was normal, and now you’re juggling hospital visits, insurance calls, and a recovery that keeps stretching on longer than expected. Utah car accident claims are complicated, and insurance companies count on you being too worn down to push back.
Creekside Legal was built for moments like this. We get between you and the pressure tactics insurers rely on, take over your bills and treatment coordination, and fight for every dollar of compensation you have coming. We have done it for clients across Utah, and we will do it for you.
Our fee comes out of your settlement, so there is nothing out of pocket. Ever. And we take a smaller percentage than most firms, because getting hurt has already cost you enough.
“…this law firm is fantastic and professional in every aspect.”
“I was involved in an automobile accident 4 years ago, I figured I needed legal assistance. Difficult finding a legal firm in Logan to represent me in the possible injury claims. After much searching I called Creekside Injury Law firm. Matthew was really willing to take on the case. All I can say is he stayed with it through out the 4 years. He worked diligently with all the insurance companies to provide me with excellent legal representation. If anyone should require legal assistance for an injury, my opinion is this law firm is fantastic and professional in every aspect. I would give them 10 stars but there is only 5 available they are all GOLD.”
– Claire M.
What Our Clients Are Saying
“Matt has been awesome to work with.”
“He took all the stress out of dealing with a car accident. Car was totalled 1 month after purchase and he was able to get us back everything we payed out of pocket for the car, loan, etc. as well as all medical covered and a good amount left over for us from the medical settlement. I will definitely be returning for any future accidents”
– Ryan C.
“Getting hit head on by an impaired driver was the last thing I needed!”
” My husband ended up in the hospital 5 months later on life support from an illness. Matt made it so I NEVER had to worry about any steps that needed to happen. He truly held my hand through this.
I needed a light at the end of my tunnel and he was it.”
– Susan M.
“I was in a horrible car accident and Matthew helped me through all of it!!”
“For the past two years I’ve worked with Matthew and he has exceeded exceptional work. I was in a horrible car accident and Matthew helped me through all of it!! He did everything he could do and it absolutely showed. I’d recommend him to anyone!!
Thank you so much Matthew!!”
– Hannah L.
“Matt has been so nice to work with! He always had a positive attitude and drive to help us through our case. “
“He has been very diligent on updating us and letting us know what was going on! I knew something like this would be a process but he made it a stress-free and easy one. Me and my newborn daughter were in a car accident where the other driver didn’t yield and T-Boned us. Matt made working with the insurance companies a breeze! I would recommend him to anyone looking for a good accident attorney, fingers crossed nothing will ever happen again but if something ever did I would definitely go back to him!”
– Shelby S.
Utah Car Accident Case Results
$7,000,000
Family in Car Accident
The insurance company didn’t take this case seriously until we fought aggressively via a lawsuit.
$2,600,000
Highway Truck Accident
The insurance company tried to downplay the value of our elderly client’s injuries due to age, but we battled until they surrendered.
$483,334
T-bone SUV Accident
The original offer was for less than $25,000 (before we got involved).
$400,000
Rear-end Car Accident
Insurance company doubted our client’s injuries were from the accident, but we made them believe.
$335,000
Rear-end Car Accident
Insurance company initially offered $125,000, but we got them to increase that amount by more than 260% via a lawsuit.
$275,000
Car Accident
Fender bender car accident. Insurance company initially offered $0.
Why Work With Us?
Experienced & Dependable
With over three hundred five-star reviews, you can be confident that we will take care of you and your case.
Pay Nothing... Until We Win
We won’t let you pay us… until we win. We also take less of your settlement than other personal injury law firms.
Medical Bills & Treatment
We will help you with your medical bills. We also make sure that you get the right medical treatment.
Get A Larger Settlement
Studies show that injury settlements are larger when a personal injury lawyer is representing you.
Our Utah Car Accident Injury Team
Matt Schmoldt
Lawyer
Jenny Hoppie
Lawyer
Tyler Tapp
VP of Legal
Annie Edwards
Senior Paralegal
Sandra Westwood
Paralegal
4
Office Locations
300+
Five Star Reviews On Google
$0
Free Consultations
Utah Car Accident FAQs
Should I get a Utah car accident lawyer after a car crash?
The honest answer is that you don’t always need a lawyer after a car accident. Some crashes are small where nobody is injured and there is very little motor vehicle damage. You probably don’t a lawyer in those types of situations. However, if you’re unsure, you might as well call for a free case evaluation.
Get a larger recovery for your injury claim
Multiple studies by the insurance industry show that on average, car accident victims with a personal injury attorney get settlements 3.5 times larger. So, one of the ways an attorney can help you is by getting you more compensation (statistics are on your side if you hire a lawyer).
Stop car insurance companies from contacting you
An injury attorney will tell car insurance companies to STOP contacting you. This gives you some peace and prevents you from saying something to an insurance adjuster that could harm your case.
Help with your medical treatment
Injury victims and their family often can not afford the cost of proper medical treatment. Good car accident attorneys will make sure that you get the medical attention that you need to recover, even if you can’t pay for it. Once your settlement comes in, the medical providers will be paid for the things they did to help you.
What should you do if you’ve been in a car wreck?
It is so difficult to think straight after a wreck. But, here is a step-by-step list of strategies to follow :
Call the police
Even if there are no apparent injuries, you should always have a police officer investigate the accident. You will want the official accident report if you later realize that you were actually injured. Your compensation success rate dramatically improves with an accident report.
Take pictures of both vehicles
Take multiple pictures of all vehicles involved at the scene of the crash. This is valuable evidence in your case and can improve your chance of recovery. Also take pictures of the road and remember to get shots from several different angles.
Get medical attention ASAP
If you are injured, receiving medical attention after a car wreck should be your top priority. Let the ambulance take you to the hospital so that you can get immediate medical help. After you’re release, make it a point to see a physician as soon as possible. These providers will include important details in their medical notes relating to your injuries, including the pain you are experiencing after the car accident. This helps your body and your future injury claim recovery.
Get a car crash lawyer
A car crash victim often does not know the large issues they should be looking out for when it comes to talking with insurance companies. For this reason, law firms should be the ones talking with insurance adjusters. Please feel free to contact our law firm, it won’t cost you a dime and we will treat you like family.
Who pays for the damages to your vehicle?
If you pay for property damage insurance on your own vehicle, you can ask your own insurance company to pay. Later, they will ask the at-fault driver’s insurance company to reimburse them (they will also reimburse you for any deductible that you had to pay up-front).
If you don’t want to go that route, you could ask the liable driver’s insurance company to pay for the vehicle damages. They sometimes will fight responsibility and try to blame you for the crash. Having an experienced Utah car accident lawyer can help ensure that you are being paid what you should be for the damages to your vehicle.
What is personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance?
All Utah drivers are mandated by law to carry personal injury protection coverage (PIP) of at least $3,000. This excludes motorcyclists and semi-truck drivers. If you are injured in an accident, you are required to file a PIP claim with your own insurance company.
PIP pays for lost income, medical expenses such as emergency room visits, physical therapy, prescriptions, and other related expenses. This coverage is also commonly referred to as no-fault insurance and covers these expenses no matter who is at fault for the accident. It extends to any passengers in your vehicle at the time of the accident, as well as any pedestrians or bicyclists involved.
With PIP coverage, you don’t have to pay the benefits back, and it’s usually paid by your own insurance company.
What is underinsured motorist / uninsured motorist coverage?
If the liable driver’s auto insurance coverage is not sufficient to cover all of your cases damages, your own underinsured insurance coverage will kick-in to pay for the rest of your damages. If the other driver doesn’t even have insurance, then your own uninsured coverage will take over.
If your car insurance is claiming that you waived UIM/UM coverage, a seasoned Utah car accident lawyer can help you fight their denial.
What is the statute of limitations for Utah car accident claims?
In Utah, the statute of limitations for car accidents is four years from the date of the accident. If your lawsuit isn’t filed within this timeframe, you will lose your claim to the compensation you deserve for your damages.
The time limit is even shorter if the accident involves a governmental employee or agency. It’s important to know that many fantastic cases have been lost due to the time running out. Good lawyers never let that happen.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact an experienced accident lawyer as soon as possible.
What causes car crashes in Utah and around Salt Lake City?
Each year, there are thousands of crashes in Utah and around Salt Lake City. As car accident lawyers can tell you, many different causes contribute to these wrecks. Common causes of car accidents include:
Distracted driving
Distracted driving can take on many forms, but it all comes down to drivers behind the wheel that aren’t focusing on the road. In 2016 alone, Utah had 5,748 distracted driver car crashes resulting in 3,303 injured individuals and 27 fatalities.
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about 28 percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents involve drunk driving. Illegal drugs and prescription medications also contribute to Utah and Salt Lake City accidents.
Fatigued driving
Recent studies show that driving while fatigued can be just as or even more dangerous than intoxicated driving. After being awake for 18 hours, getting behind the wheel is, in essence, the same as driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05 percent.
Defective vehicles
No matter how careful people are, sometimes accidents occur due to a vehicle’s safety equipment being defective. When airbags or brakes are defective and fail, accidents are much more likely to occur. In these cases, the manufacturer can be held liable for the accident along with any injuries to the car accident victim.
Hazardous road conditions
Utah and its cities (like Salt Lake City) must keep roadways, traffic lights and signs in good repair. This duty involves preventative and routine maintenance as well as taking care of hazardous conditions such as potholes, debris, and obstructed signs.
What are the most common types of car accidents in Utah?
Lawyers see the following types of car crashes over and over again:
Rear-enders
Rear-end collisions can range from minor to quite severe, depending on the speed at the time of the crash. Most of these car accidents happen because the rear driver was following too closely or wasn’t paying attention. Cases like these can bring great results for clients.
T-bones
Also known as side-impact collisions, a “T-bone” happens when a car’s side is hit by the front or rear of another vehicle. These crashes frequently cause severe injuries.
Sideswipe collisions
Sideswipe accidents are commonly caused by folks who don’t check their blind spots before changing lanes. At slow speeds, side-wipe collisions usually cause cosmetic damage. However, at high speeds, the injuries can be life changing for our clients.
Head-on collisions
Head-on collisions occur when two vehicles collide directly with each other while traveling in opposite directions. Even at moderate speeds, the results of these crashes often include fatal injuries.
Rollover accidents
Rollover accidents occur when a vehicle is overturned because of a collision or from leaving the roadway. Often, they’re severe accidents that can cause traumatic injuries and even death.
Hit and run accidents
If a driver in an accident flees the scene, it’s called a hit-and-run. These always involve the driver leaving the scene without giving contact information and frequently are the result of drunk driving. If you were involved in a hit-and-run accident, a personal injury lawyer can help you determine other potential sources of compensation.
What is Utah’s required liability car insurance minimum?
In addition to PIP coverage, each Utah driver must carry insurance coverage to pay for the injuries or deaths of other parties if they’re at fault. The minimum amount required is $25,000 / $65,000. This means $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident and $65,000 for two or more people who are injured or die as a result of a single-car accident.
What requirements are there for filing a Utah car accident lawsuit?
Not everyone can file a personal injury lawsuit if they’re injured in a Utah auto accident. To be eligible under Utah laws to file a personal injury lawsuit, your claim must meet one of these requirements:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Permanent disability or permanent impairment based upon objective findings
- Permanent disfigurement
- Medical expenses to a person that exceed $3,000
If you are unsure if your case is eligible, it’s best to speak with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer. When you meet with a lawyer, they’ll determine your legal rights.
How much is your Utah car accident claim worth?
If you were recently injured in an auto accident, you may be wondering what your case is worth.
Unfortunately, there is no sure fire way to predict exactly what your case is worth. However, experienced Utah car accident attorneys should be able to estimate the compensation you can expect from your case.
Many factors can increase or decrease the case value, including:
- The severity and type of injuries sustained
- Your pain and suffering
- Any temporary or permanent disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Any loss of lifestyle
- Your future medical needs
- Past medical bills
- Comparative fault
- The amount of time you will be off work
- If you will be able to return to work
- Your personal injury lawyer
To help determine the value of your case, a good Utah car accident attorney will look for comparable jury awards and may use mock jury surveys to evaluate the value of your case.
How do I pay for a Utah auto accident attorney?
Car accident lawyers usually get paid only if your case has a settlement. Attorneys who charge injured people an hourly fee are rare and should be avoided.
Why? Well, when attorneys are paid by the hour, they have an incentive to take as long as possible on your case. This delays you from getting the compensation you need and slows down your life.