West Valley, UT Personal Injury Lawyer
Siegfried & Jensen
A prominent suburb of Salt Lake City, West Valley City has one of the largest populations in the state of Utah. During the 2002 Winter Olympics, West Valley City hosted hockey events. Whether you enjoy aquariums, museums, historical sites, entertainment venues or outdoor activities, there is plenty to do in West Valley City.
With an estimated 2024 population of over 145,000 and an additional swelling of commuters and tourists, there are a lot of people in West Valley City at any given time. Many kinds of accidents can and do happen daily. You can seek compensation for your injuries if someone else’s negligence caused your accident, and a personal injury lawyer in West Valley City, UT, from Siegfried & Jensen can help.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury insurance claim is a way to seek compensation from the party that caused your accident. A personal injury civil lawsuit is another option, but an insurance claim is usually the better alternative.
Most personal injury claims are based on negligence, which means failing to behave as a reasonable person would in the same situation. To prove negligence, you must show that:
- Someone owed you a duty of care.
- That party breached their duty of care.
- You sustained injuries.
- The breach was directly responsible for your injuries and related damages.
Claiming that someone else is responsible isn’t sufficient to get a payout; you need solid evidence that supports your claim.
Although most personal injury cases begin with an insurance claim, there are times when filing a lawsuit is necessary. Insurance companies often try to minimize your payout. Although you can negotiate for a better offer, going to court is sometimes the only way to get them to be fair.
When you hire Siegfried & Jensen, we can help you with an insurance claim or lawsuit. We will explain your options and help you decide what action will best serve your interests.
What Kinds of Personal Injury Accidents Can Siegfried & Jensen Help You With in West Valley City, UT?
As a leading West Valley City, UT, personal injury firm, we can handle any type of personal injury claim effectively.
Traffic Accidents
In 2023, 2,665 crashes occurred in West Valley City. In those collisions, 1,385 people sustained injuries, and nine lost their lives. Teen and older drivers, speeding, distracted driving, alcohol, drugs and drowsy driving are among the listed contributing factors.
Traffic accidents can affect drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. The unfortunate fact is that the majority of these accidents happen due to some form of human error.
Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. These beasts are 13.5 feet tall and 8.5 feet wide, with an average length of 72 feet. A truck’s overwhelming size means that drivers and occupants of personal autos typically sustain serious injuries.
Preliminary 2023 figures for the state of Utah report 1,059 accidents involving large trucks. These collisions led to 474 injuries and 58 fatalities.
Truck accident claims are usually challenging to handle on your own. Unlike with most other types of motor vehicle accidents, there are several potentially liable parties for the truck’s actions. These include the driver, trucking company, truck owner, cargo loaders, parts manufacturers and truck maintenance providers.
In many cases, an in-depth investigation is necessary to find evidence proving fault. While you may not be able to investigate your truck accident thoroughly, your personal injury lawyer in West Valley City, UT, can.
Medical Injuries
Medical providers, including physicians, nurses, hospitals and long-term care facilities, must follow care standards. Many kinds of errors, neglect or abuse happen that may provide grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Misdiagnosis, birth injuries, defective medical devices, anesthesia or surgical errors, dangerous drugs and hospital or nursing home negligence are common kinds of medical malpractice claims. To qualify, you must show that the error worsened an existing condition or created a new one.
Other Injuries
Numerous other kinds of accidents can produce injuries that qualify you to file a personal injury claim. Your Siegfried & Jensen personal injury lawyer in West Valley City, UT, can help you with burns, electrical accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, workplace accidents, construction accidents and defective products, to name a few.
While some injuries are relatively minor, others are extremely serious and can have long-term repercussions. These include traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injuries, amputations and paralysis.
The Bottom Line
If you believe that someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you might have a valid personal injury claim. Siegfried & Jensen offers free, no-obligation case evaluations. We will discuss the facts of your accident and injuries, estimate how much your case might be worth and explain how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
What If You Share Fault?
In personal injury cases, fault refers to responsibility for causing an accident or injury and liability for financially compensating those injured as a result. It’s common for more than one party to share fault, so each state has laws to govern these situations.
In Utah, we use modified comparative negligence with a 50% cap. As long as you’re not more than 50% at fault, you can seek compensation from other at-fault parties. However, your percentage of fault also reduces your potential payout accordingly. For example, if you are 25% at fault for your accident, your maximum payout is 75% of your total damages.
Because your assigned degree of fault directly impacts your eligibility to seek compensation and how much you can obtain, ensuring that your percentage of fault is accurate is vital. Insurance companies that are liable for your damages often try to place an undeserved share of the blame onto you to avoid or minimize payouts.
You may find it difficult to prove that your fault was minimal unless you have a personal injury lawyer in West Valley City, UT, on your side. We won’t let insurance companies take advantage of you.
What Should You Do After an Injury Accident?
It’s often difficult to think clearly after an accident due to adrenaline and injuries. Regardless of the type of accident you have, there are a few things you should do — and not do — while at the accident scene and in the following days.
Notify the Authorities
The kind of accident you have determines who you should notify. Always report your accident, whether you need to dial 911 or notify your work supervisor or a store manager.
Reporting the incident allows you to seek assistance, but it also means that the authority figure should record your accident. Your attorney will use this report to establish how and when your injury occurred.
Use Your Phone
Take photos and videos of various things at the accident scene, such as your injuries, any property damage, anything that contributed to causing your accident (such as a pothole in the road, a loose stair tread, a malfunctioning traffic signal or an unsafe ladder), the weather and lighting conditions and other relevant details that can help substantiate your personal injury claim.
The evidence you provide is often instrumental in proving that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries.
Get a Medical Evaluation
Your health condition is your top priority. Accept or seek medical treatment immediately following your accident. Trained professionals can diagnose injuries that aren’t apparent.
Your health care provider will also document your condition, and your lawyer will use your medical records as evidence for your personal injury claim.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in West Valley City, UT
Contacting Siegfried & Jensen soon after your accident has many benefits. We can:
- Help you file your insurance claim
- Explain your legal options
- Handle all communications with insurance companies
- Investigate your accident while evidence is easier to obtain and eyewitness memories are fresh
- Negotiate a reasonable settlement offer or take your case to trial
We can also give you case-specific information and support. We will be your advocate throughout the claims process so you can recover from your injuries.
Things To Avoid
There are several things that people commonly do that damage their chances of obtaining fair compensation after an accident. Avoid apologizing or admitting fault because insurance companies can use your statements against you.
Refrain from posting anything on social media. Don’t discontinue recommended medical treatments before your doctor releases you from their care. Don’t speak to insurance companies that represent other at-fault parties or sign any documents they present. Don’t accept a fast settlement offer because your case is likely worth significantly more.
Why Should You Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer in West Valley City, UT, From Siegfried & Jensen?
Since our founding in 1990, Siegfried & Jensen has successfully handled numerous personal injury claims. Our experience, resources and dedication allowed us to win over $1.2 billion for our clients. We understand that your accident has likely created a financial strain, so we won’t ask for any money upfront. In fact, we only get paid if we win money for you.
If you need a competent personal injury lawyer in West Valley City, UT, contact Siegfried & Jensen 24/7.
