Being involved in a car accident can have an enormous impact on a victim’s life. This is especially true in cases which result in physical injuries. Individuals who sustain injuries in car accidents often face extensive medical treatment, which is typically followed by rehabilitation and therapy. Not only do car accidents cause serious physical and emotional pain, but they can have a devastating impact on a victim’s financial security.
Individuals who are involved in car accidents are often forced out of work to deal with their injuries and recovery. During this time, the amount of money they are charged for their treatments continues to increase. Unfortunately, there are many car insurance companies that go after victims and offer them a quick financial settlement in exchange for them waiving away their legal rights to file personal injury lawsuits in the future. Quite often, accident victims sign for these settlements simply because they are desperate to take care of their financial obligations.
Sadly, accident victims have several questions after being involved in an accident that go unanswered. Before signing anything, it is imperative for accident victims to consult with experienced auto accident attorneys who are willing to represent their best interest in the Utah court system.
Fault In Automobile Accidents
Determining fault is often a critical part of determining whether a personal injury lawsuit can be filed, along with against whom it is filed. Knowing the exact cause of the car accident can be directly related to who is at fault, as well as the severity of injuries sustained, can have a major impact on your ability to obtain compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
Unfortunately, no matter how precautious a person is before going out on the roadway, they cannot be 100% safe from being involved in a car accident. There are various factors that can contribute to a car crash happening.
Drivers Who Are Under The Influence
A large percentage of car accidents in Utah are caused by individuals driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These accidents cause thousands of injuries each year to innocent drivers, passengers, and pedestrians along roadways.
Individuals who drive while impaired often have problems seeing the roads clear and making sound decisions. When alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream, a person’s vision becomes blurred and their reflexes become dulled, causing drivers to lose focus on the road, their surroundings, and their speeds, and subsequently cause horrific accidents. Drivers who are under the influence often speed without realizing it and lose control of their vehicles. This can cause head-on collisions and other serious accidents resulting in head or spinal cord injuries.
Distracted Drivers
Distracted driving is another reason for numerous car accidents across our state. Individuals who become distracted while in control of their vehicle can become involved in rear-end accidents and crash into other vehicles. Some common distractions are cell phones, radios, GPS, eating, and talking to others in the vehicle. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous, especially when drivers are traveling at high speeds.
Individuals who are driving vehicles with loud or moving passengers can become distracted easily as well. This type of distraction is often overlooked but has a serious impact on a driver’s ability to maintain control of their vehicle.
Committing Reckless Actions While Driving
Reckless driving includes various acts that could be considered as breaking the law while operating a vehicle. Speeding is one of the most common reckless acts which cause car accidents. Driving over the speed limit can have a major impact on a person’s ability to react to potential dangers on the roadway, which can easily lead to drivers losing control of their vehicles or failing to stop in time to prevent a collision from happening.
Failing to yield to traffic signs or signals are other actions which often cause car accidents in Utah. These acts are considered reckless and usually occur at intersections, resulting in T-bone accidents. A T-bone accident is one in which a vehicle strikes another along the driver or passenger side. Unfortunately, T-bone accidents often result in serious injuries to those along the side struck by the reckless driver.
Drivers Who Are Fatigued Behind The Wheel
Too many drivers stay behind the wheel for far too long. Driving for extended periods without rest is extremely dangerous, and is often considered almost as dangerous as drunk driving. Individuals operating vehicles while overly tired are at an increased risk of engaging in erroneous driving or falling to sleep behind the wheel. Likewise, fatigued driving can have a major impact on a driver’s ability to make sound decisions and respond to dangers on the roads.
Driving fatigued increases the risk of individuals being involved in head-on collisions; individuals who are driving fatigued often swerve in and out of their lanes, speed up and slow down repeatedly, or drive off the side of the road.
Why It Is Important To Contact A Utah Car Accident Lawyer
Proving the cause of an accident is not as easy as you would like to believe. It is quite difficult for injured drivers to navigate the legal system alone. Thus, it is imperative to contact a car accident attorney immediately to protect your legal rights. Working with an experienced attorney will ensure you can collect fair and full compensation for your injuries and damages.
Reputable and knowledgeable attorneys will help you navigate the legal system by investigating your crash and utilize resources that will help prove who is at fault for your accident. Once the reason for your accident has been determined, you can begin filing a personal injury claim against the driver to obtain repayment and justice. Attorneys at Siegfried & Jensen have over 30 years of experience helping accident victims across Utah earn the maximum amount of compensation for which they are entitled. We have extensive knowledge and experience of personal injuries laws in our state, which has helped us protect the rights of over 35,000 accident victims.
It is crucial for you to work with an attorney who is willing to fight to protect your legal rights so you can focus on your recovery. Contact Siegfried & Jensen at (801) 845-9000 to schedule a free consultation today.
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.
