People in Utah are injured every day through various means. In 2021, there were some 5.4 million motor vehicle-related injuries nationwide, costing more than $498.3 billion total in damages. In addition to car accidents, there are other ways you could wind up injured, such as medical malpractice, workplace accidents, use of defective products, and more.
When you have been injured due to the actions of another person, you likely want to receive something for what you have suffered. Compensation can help make up for the costs of lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. The best way to know what you are entitled to is to speak to a personal injury lawyer.
Siegfried & Jensen has been helping our Utah neighbors get compensation for their injuries since 1990. We know how to take a case from start to finish and fight for the rights of our clients to receive compensation. Contact us today to learn more about your next steps toward compensation.
What Compensation Can Include
The money you receive for something you have suffered or lost due to the actions of others is known as compensatory damages.
The purpose of compensatory damages is to give the victim back what he or she has lost, either economically or non-economically. This means that any financial, physical, or emotional consequences you have suffered due to your injury may have a dollar amount associated with them.
Standard compensatory damages, under Utah law, are:
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Medical costs
- Property damage
- Mental impairment
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of bodily function
- Permanent disability
While you may not have suffered all such losses, your compensation settlement will be as unique as your case. You should look for a lawyer who listens to the specific facts of your situation and can give you the best idea of the damages you qualify to seek as compensation.
If your injury happened in the workplace, another claim procedure – through Utah’s workers’ compensation law – dictates how much compensation you may receive.
In cases such as truck accidents or construction zone accidents, you will likely be dealing with a corporation and its insurance company, armed with their own experienced attorneys. That is why it’s absolutely essential to have experienced legal help by your side in your fight for just compensation.
How to Maximize Your Compensation
While each case is different, there are generally a number of different things you can do to try and maximize your Utah personal injury settlement. Consider these steps we recommend.
It may be prudent in your case to:
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible
- Follow the medical treatment plan and keep all records
- Avoid speaking to insurance companies on your own
- Maintain records and photos of pertinent information
- Seek counsel before considering or accepting settlement offers
- Refrain from posting on social media about your accident
- Hire a skilled personal injury attorney to represent you
By taking these steps, you can help your personal injury case along while also giving yourself a chance at a higher settlement.
When it comes to maximizing your compensation, plenty of paperwork can be involved. Detailed medical records, witness statements, police reports, photographs, and more will need to be compiled. Usually, this compiling work is done by investigators. Make sure that the law firm you choose to handle your case has the resources to pursue all possible avenues of restitution on your behalf.
While some of the costs of a personal injury have a finite numerical figure, others are more open to interpretation. For example, the effect that your accident has had on your life will be drastically different from that of another person in similar circumstances. Be aware that compensation amounts do have a cap in Utah – when it comes to non-economic damages.
Settlement or Trial
Most cases start with an attempt at settlement. A demand letter can come from either side, but your legal team may send one to the alleged perpetrator or entity responsible. This letter includes an overview of your case, what economic and non-economic damages you will be pursuing, and a proposal for a compensation amount.
This settlement process may go back and forth between legal teams for quite a while. Throughout this stage, your lawyer will protect your rights to compensation and work toward getting you the maximum amount of compensation possible. However, not all settlement negotiations succeed out of court.
If settlement talks come to a stalemate, your attorney may advise you to file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to trial. Then, the judge or jury will decide whether or not you have a valid case. If your case is successful, the court may even award damages. Taking your case to trial will require more legal preparation, but it may give you the best possible outcome.
Talking to your lawyer about settlement versus trial options can assure you that all legal options are being explored. The priority should be your physical and financial recovery.
How Siegfried & Jensen Can Help You Get Compensation
As a Utah law firm with more than 30 years of experience, Siegfried & Jensen has helped numerous clients recover from physical and financial setbacks after injuries caused by other parties. We prioritize our clients and keep them apprised of each and every step of their case, from beginning to end.
If you are not sure where to turn in order to get compensation for your injuries, consider calling the legal team at Siegfried & Jensen. With a 97-percent success rate with over 35,000 cases and over $1.2 billion recovered for our clients, we would like to help you, too. We offer a free case evaluation to each new client, and we can come to you if necessary. In Utah, you can find us in Salt Lake City where we have two offices, Ogden, Orem, St. George, Layton, Logan, and upcoming offices in Saratoga Springs, Payson, and West Valley. In Washington, you can find us in Spokane and in Spokane Valley soon. In Idaho, we are available in Boise and soon in Meridian.
We only get paid if we win you money, so there is no up-front cost to you. We fight for the little guys, standing up against corporations, hospitals, and insurance companies to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact us 24/7 at (801) 845-9000 or complete our online form.
Content checked by personal injury attorney Todd Bradford. I worked for a small law firm in Utah County, where I handled various types of cases. My main focus was personal injury and I decided that is what I enjoyed doing the most. I rejoined Siegfried and Jensen in 2012 where my focus is solely on helping personal injury clients. I take pride in helping personal injury clients and enjoy serving them. If you need an attorney for auto accidents or injuries of any kind in Salt Lake City, UT, Ogden, UT, Spokane, WA, or Boise, ID, contact us.
