Unexpected injuries are an all-too-common occurrence across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, there were 40 million injury-related emergency department visits in 2021. Utahans were not spared; in 2021, car accidents alone caused more than 26,000 injuries and 300 fatalities.
These numbers paint a sad picture of how common personal injuries are, but they do not tell the whole story of the effect these injuries have on the victim and his or her family. The emotional, physical, and financial impacts can be felt for years. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury, what are your options?
You likely have questions – and at Siegfried & Jensen, we want to help you find answers. Our team is available 24/7 for a free case review so you can know if you have a case and figure out your next steps. Fill out our online form, start a live chat, or call us anytime at (801) 845-9000 to start your case evaluation today.
Your Rights for Compensation
Many times, if someone is injured, another person’s negligence may have either caused or contributed to the injuries. When this is the case, the law provides the injured victim with the opportunity to seek compensation.
Personal injury laws across the United States are similar, but each state has its own specific set of laws. In some states, access to compensation depends on the injured person’s level of fault for the incident – but in other areas, that may not be the case. As these laws vary depending on the state, consulting a local personal injury firm can help you better understand the regulations and timelines that apply to your specific circumstances.
In most personal injury cases, compensation can be recovered through an insurance claim. Depending on the nature of the incident, one or more claims could be filed with homeowners insurance, motor vehicle insurance, or business insurance. Additional compensation may also be available through a personal injury lawsuit.
The personal injury lawyers at Siegfried & Jensen have worked with many clients on a variety of personal injury cases, including but not limited to the following:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Dog bites
- Slip-and-falls
- Workplace injuries
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
- Surgical errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Prescription errors
No matter how or where you were injured, if another person’s negligence caused or contributed to your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. But in Utah, Idaho, and Washington State, you can come to Siegfried & Jensen to learn your specific options.
Types of Compensation Available in Personal Injury Cases
Compensatory damages after a personal injury are generally separated into two categories: economic and non-economic. Additional damages may be available in wrongful death claims and when punitive damages are awarded.
Economic damages
Economic damages that can be awarded in a personal injury claim include:
- Medical expenses: Often, the largest part of compensation is related to medical expenses. This can include emergency and ambulatory care, surgical services, rehabilitation, as well as ongoing and future medical expenses related to the accident.
- Lost wages: While recovering from an injury, a person will often lose out on substantial time at work. Compensation can be recovered for all lost wages during the recovery period, including medical appointments and other related activities.
- Lost earning capacity: If a person’s injuries prevent him or her from returning to the same work as before the accident, compensation can make up for the loss of future income.
- Replacement services: Many daily activities may become impossible while recovering from injuries. Compensation from a personal injury claim can include replacement services, such as child care, cleaning, and other house and yard work.
In addition to economic damages, other losses are not as easy to quantify with a dollar amount. Such intangible losses are known as “non-economic damages.”
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages that can be awarded in a personal injury claim include:
- Pain and suffering: Serious injuries often result in a substantial amount of physical, emotional, and mental pain and suffering. This can be seen through anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other issues after an accident. Compensation can be awarded for the psychological impact as well.
- Permanent disfigurement or impairment: When injuries result in considerable scarring, disfigurement, or permanent disabilities, additional compensation can be awarded for these losses as well.
- Reduced quality of life: To determine the full impact of the victim’s condition, some factors to be considered include the extent to which the person’s daily life and quality of life has been negatively affected and how long the situation is expected to continue.
Wrongful death
Wrongful death claims are similar to personal injury claims; however, there are some notable differences between the two. For example, as the victim is deceased, the compensation is awarded to his or her surviving family members.
Like personal injury cases, compensation in wrongful death claims can include the economic and non-economic damages experienced by the victim before death, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and earning capacity. In addition, funeral costs, burial expenses, and loss of consortium may be counted.
Punitive damages
In rare cases, a personal injury lawsuit settlement can award punitive damages in addition to the economic and non-economic damages.
These damages are not compensatory damages, as they are not meant to compensate or make up for your losses. Instead, these additional damages are meant to punish the at-fault party due to gross negligence while also deterring others from taking the same actions.
Call Siegfried & Jensen to Schedule Your Free Consultation
For nearly 35 years, the team at Siegfried & Jensen has been dedicated to helping injury victims in Utah and surrounding areas. We understand the effect a personal injury can have on a family and how difficult it can be to face an insurance company or a hospital alone.
If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your losses. Over the course of 35,000 cases, our personal injury lawyers have fought to win more than $1.2 billion for our clients, and we want to do the same for you and your family.
Whether you are looking to hire a lawyer right away or are unsure whether you have a case, give us a call. Across Utah, we’re stationed in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Orem, St. George, Layton, and Logan. Don’t forget to check out our upcoming offices in Saratoga Springs, Payson, and West Valley. In Washington, you’ll find us in Spokane and soon in Spokane Valley. And in Idaho, catch us in Boise and expanding soon to Meridian. We can answer your questions and offer the legal advice you need to make an informed decision. Contact us today at(801) 845-9000 for your free consultation.
Now you can contact our personal injury lawyers in Las Vegas, Logan and Nevada. If you’ve been injured in any of these areas, give us a call for a free case evaluation.
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.
