According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, there were over 61,000 automobile crashes in the state during 2021. Close to 27,000 people sustained injuries, and more than 300 people died in those collisions.
The laws governing compensation for damages resulting from car accidents are confusing to most people. Accident victims without legal representation in these claims typically recover much less than those with an experienced car accident attorney on their side.
Siegfried & Jensen can help you with your Utah car accident claim. Our Utah personal injury lawyers understand the complex laws and how to navigate them to our client’s advantage. We also know the tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying claims, and we won’t let them get away with paying you less than you deserve.
Utah Car Accident Statistics
Even the most cautious driver can suffer an unexpected car accident at any time in Utah. This is simply because one person cannot control the actions of other drivers on the road. In a split second, a driver can take his or her eyes off the road and this could result in an accident. Traffic crashes usually cause multiple injuries for victims and sometimes cause fatalities.
A traffic accident occurs in Utah every 8 minutes, while it is also estimated that a person is injured in a car crash every 20 minutes.
In 2022, there were 59,858 total accidents recorded in Utah which included 17,619 injury crashes resulting in 25,341 injuries. Meanwhile, 320 people sadly passed away in the 276 fatal crashes that year.
All these numbers show a decrease compared to the previous year. However, 2022 represents the second consecutive year that deaths by car accidents in the state topped 300. In fact, according to one source, this is worse than in the last 11 years!
A specific area of concern in Utah is Salt Lake City. According to one report, Salt Lake City ranked 11th as the city with the worst drivers in the nation, with alcohol-related and speed-related accidents resulting in 522 injuries during 2021.
Additionally, some of Utah’s most dangerous roads include Interstates 15, 70, and 80 along with Highway 6. Their hazardousness is due, in part, to the high speeds, narrowness, and limited visibility commonly found on these roadways.
For a free legal consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Utah, call (801) 266-0999
How Can Utah Car Injury Attorneys Help You?
When you hire a car injury lawyer after an accident, he or she will take multiple steps to get you the compensation you deserve.
Your car accident injury attorney can:
- Conduct a thorough investigation of the accident: Your lawyer will gather evidence to determine the circumstances that led up to the crash and exactly how you were injured.
- Identify all liable parties: There may be multiple parties involved in the accident. Your lawyer will make sure that each person is held accountable for his or her negligence.
- Commission expert witnesses: The testimony of expert witnesses can be very beneficial in successfully resolving some injury claims. Your injury attorney may retain respected medical professionals, investigators, accident reconstructionists, and others to aid your injury claim.
- Document the extent of your injuries: Your lawyer will work with you and your physicians to document the full range of your injuries. He or she can then calculate the long-term impact these will have on your life.
By taking such steps, your injury lawyer will be able to establish the facts of your case. From there, we will have a solid foundation on which to build your personal injury claim. We help clients with many types of motor vehicle accident claims, including:
- Utah Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer: We represent victims hurt by drivers who speed, tailgate, or drive aggressively.
- Utah Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer: We fight for those injured by drivers who were texting, calling, or otherwise distracted behind the wheel.
- Utah Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer: We seek justice for victims of crashes caused by impaired or intoxicated drivers.
- Utah Hit and Run Accident Lawyer: We help clients recover compensation even when the at-fault driver leaves the scene.
- Utah Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer: We represent victims of crashes caused by unsafe lane changes, speeding, and other reckless behavior.
- Utah Rideshare Accident Lawyer: We handle claims involving Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare services, whether as a passenger or another driver.
- Utah T-Bone Accident Lawyer: We help victims of side-impact crashes pursue compensation for serious injuries and vehicle damage.
- Utah Whiplash Injury Lawyer: We support clients with soft tissue injuries like whiplash after rear-end or sudden impact collisions.
Utah Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
Situations in Which You Should Hire a Utah Car Accident Lawyer
It is always advisable to seek the opinion of an experienced car injury lawyer when you find yourself hurt in a collision. However, certain situations may especially justify contacting an attorney.
When your injuries are significant
If you were seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident, it is in your best interests to consult a car injury attorney.
A lawyer can help you to pursue damages for medical treatment, missed wages, and other losses. This can be a complicated process. A car accident lawyer can help you attain maximum compensation.
When the insurance company is attempting to settle your claim immediately
If you have suffered injuries due to the negligence of another driver, his or her insurance company is likely to try to settle the claim quickly. Insurance adjusters will often work to undervalue your injury claim, to lock you into a settlement agreement before the full extent of your damages is realized.
Car injury lawyers can handle insurance negotiations for you. This serves as a protection; you won’t be pressured into accepting an unfair settlement that cannot meet your future needs.
When the insurance company denied your injury claim
It is not unusual for an insurance company to deny that their policyholder is responsible for an accident. They may try to shift the blame to you, even misconstruing your words to make you appear liable.
When an insurance company denies your claim, it does not automatically mean your case is over. A skilled car injury lawyer can go to bat for you by using his or her legal resources to prove your side of the story.
When your damages include more than medical costs
The pain and suffering resulting from a car accident can reach far beyond the initial medical expenses. Injuries sustained in car wrecks can lead to chronic, life-long pain. Further, an especially serious car crash may result in increased anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
Your quality of life may have been considerably affected by the accident. A car accident lawyer can help you attain rightful compensation for your personal losses, perhaps even loss of enjoyment of life.
Your injury lawyer may also be able to negotiate reduced medical bills. At times, this is possible after you have reached a settlement agreement with the insurance company.
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What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
Motor vehicle collisions can injure you whether you’re in a vehicle, a motorcyclist, pedestrian, bicyclist, or scooter rider. There are several things you should do immediately after a crash to protect your health and legal situation as well.
Help Other Accident Victims
If your injuries permit, try to provide assistance to others involved in the accident. Even if you can’t actively help them, you’ll have details to give to the emergency dispatcher that might save lives.
Dial 911
You have a legal duty to report the accident. Give the 911 operator details about the number of people involved and the types of injuries they have. These details allow dispatchers to send appropriate first responders to the scene.
Take Photos and Videos
You have a unique opportunity to gather potentially crucial evidence. Use your phone to record the accident scene:
- Vehicle placement and damage
- Injuries
- Skid marks
- Witness statements and contact information
- Your description of the events leading up to the collision
- Conversations you have with other drivers, witnesses, and emergency personnel
Accept a Medical Assessment
Accepting medical treatment is critical even if you believe your injuries aren’t severe. Some injuries develop over time, and an initial assessment can catch them early. In addition, you’ll need these reports to use as evidence in your personal injury claim.
Consult a Utah Car Accident Lawyer
Accident victims can unknowingly damage their cases. Hiring an attorney immediately after your accident can save you from making potentially costly mistakes. The earlier you obtain legal representation, the faster we can get to work gathering evidence and helping you in other ways.
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What Utah Laws Affect Car Accident Damage Recovery?
Like every state, Utah has several laws and statutes that govern handling car accident claims. Even though you may not even be aware of these laws, insurance companies are. They can and do use their knowledge to pay those injured in car accidents less than they deserve.
Don’t let that happen to you. Consult Siegfried & Jensen to find out how we can assist you if you’ve been hurt in a car accident, or if a family member lost their life.
Personal Injury Protection Statute
Utah requires drivers to have 25/65/15 minimum liability insurance coverage:
- $25,000 bodily injury, per person
- $65,000 bodily injury, per accident
- $15,000 property damage
You must also have $3,000 in personal injury protection insurance.
Regardless of who causes a car accident, your own PIP coverage pays for medical and injury-related expenses. However, you can seek compensation from another responsible driver if you have specific kinds of injuries, if the expenses exceed certain limits, and in other circumstances.
Your car accident lawyer from Siegfried & Jensen will tell you the legal options you have to recover damages. We will also help you file insurance claims and negotiate to get maximum compensation for you.
Modified Comparative Negligence
There is more than one person responsible for causing many car accidents. Utah is one of many states that uses modified comparative negligence to determine each person’s eligibility to recover compensation for damages.
In Utah:
- If the accident is at least 50% your fault, you aren’t eligible to recover damages.
- Your degree of assigned fault must be lower than other drivers’ to seek compensation.
- Your percentage of fault reduces the amount of compensation you can receive by that same percentage.
Let’s say that parties or the court decide that you are 25% at fault for the accident, and total damages are $100,000. The most you can receive is $75,000 ($100,000 – 25%).
One of the more essential duties your car accident lawyer has is to prove that your responsibility for causing your accident is minimal.
Statutes of Limitations for Lawsuits
You’ll need to file insurance claims within a few days of your auto accident. State laws allow specific timeframes if you need to file an additional personal injury or wrongful death claim. If you don’t file your suit within the allotted time, the courts will likely dismiss it, and you’ll lose the opportunity of receiving compensation.
- Any claim against government agencies — only one year after the accident or death date
- Personal injury cases — four years from the accident date in most situations
- Wrongful death — two years after the death date
Your car accident lawyer from Siegfried & Jensen knows how to file your lawsuit properly, and we will do so before the statute of limitations for your particular case expires. Preparing a claim takes time, so be sure not to wait too long to hire an attorney to represent you.
No Caps for Damages
Car crashes can cause many kinds of harm to victims. Insurance, personal injury, and wrongful death claims seek financial compensation for those damages. Some states put a maximum limit, or cap, on the amount of damages you can recover in car accidents. Utah doesn’t have damage caps for these claims.
What Types of Damages Can You Recover?
Ask your car accident lawyer which of these categories applies to your specific claim.
Economic Damages
Car accident victims often face many expenses directly caused by the crash. Economic damages intend to reimburse you for things like:
- Medical bills, including transportation costs, prescriptions, rehab, and necessary medical equipment
- Caregiver expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage repair or replacement
Keep your receipts for all expenses related to your accident and injuries. You’ll need to prove what you’ve paid or how much you owe. Ask your auto accident attorney if you’re unsure that a specific expense qualifies.
Non-Economic Damages
Many injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions qualify the victim for non-economic damages. This category typically doesn’t have directly related dollar amounts:
- Pain and suffering — physical, emotional, and mental
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Inconvenience
- Damage to personal relationships
- Loss of the capacity to enjoy life
- PTSD
- Diminished earning capacity
- Future medical expenses
Generally speaking, the worse your injuries and their impact, the more money you’ll get.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages seek to punish the guilty party for willful misconduct or extreme negligence. Another aim of punitive damages is to deter people from engaging in these behaviors in the future. Not all car accident claims qualify for punitive damages, so ask your attorney if you’re eligible.
Why Do You Need a Utah Car Accident Lawyer?
People pay monthly premiums to your car insurance company to cover them against losses if there’s an accident. You’d think that these carriers would pay claims fairly without someone having to force them, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Insurance is big business; companies care more about keeping their profits than paying injured accident victims or their families. They often use underhanded strategies and lowball offers to keep from paying any more than they have to.
A competent car accident lawyer will prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of you. When you hire an attorney from Siegfried & Jensen, we will:
- File all paperwork for you.
- Gather evidence to prove your claim.
- Serve as your representative with insurance company investigators and attorneys.
- Negotiate with insurance carriers to get the compensation you deserve or take your case to court if necessary.
- Focus on business so you can focus on recovering from your injuries and the adverse effects they have on your life.
Don’t feel guilty for expecting insurance companies to pay a reasonable amount for the damages their policyholder caused. You’re not trying to take advantage of the situation, only collect on what’s owed.
Get the Help You Need and Deserve
You have nothing to lose by picking up the phone and talking to us
The call is FREE. The consultation is FREE. The initial meeting with an auto accident attorney is FREE. There is no obligation and no pushy sales tactics.
There is literally no downside to you picking up the phone and calling us right now. IT WON’T COST YOU ANYTHING to see if we can help.
If you call and don’t end up hiring us then you’re no worse off than you are right now.
However, if you do call to find out if you have a case, you will be one enormous step further down the path of getting back to how life was before the accident.
However, if you don’t call then there’s no telling the type of help we could have provided for you if you’d only taken a couple of minutes to talk with us on the phone.
We’ve done this over 34,000 times and have won over $1.2 billion dollars for our clients in our 30 years of business. Let us use our decades of experience to help you get your life back on track.
Don’t have the time to talk right now? No problem, just click here to schedule a time that is convenient for you. We look forward to talking with you soon.
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