If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you need to speak with a Utah car accident attorney now. You pay us nothing… until we win. Call for a free consultation with an injury lawyer.
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).
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
The most common types of car accidents in Utah
Lawyers see the following types of car crashes over and over again:
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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.
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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:
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- 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 an auto accident attorney?
Car accident lawyers usually get paid only if your case has a settlement. Attorneys that 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.
Call a Utah car accident attorney to a schedule a free consultation
Reach out to a car accident attorney as soon as possible. Good auto accident attorneys will help you file a car accident injury claim against the person who caused your accident and injuries. Clients with a law firm representing them typically get more settlement money and are able to exercise all of their rights under the law. Call now for a free consultation… it may change your life forever.
