Auto Accident Injury in Sat Lake City, UT

Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Sat Lake City? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in and around Sat Lake City, UT that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Sat Lake City, Utah

According to the National Safety Council, in 2019 about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents and an estimated 38,000 were killed. The Utah Department of Highway Safety, calculated a total of 62,074 accidents across the state in 2019, the most recent data available. In the same year as a result, almost 18,000 of those crashes caused injuries and a total of 25,645 people were injured across the state.

On average, a motor vehicle crash occurs in Utah every 8.5 minutes, a person is injured in a crash every 20.5 minutes, and tragically, someone dies as the result of a car crash every 33 hours. As a resource, Salt Lake City’s Transportation Website provides a heat map which allows drivers to see the most hazardous roadways in their area.

What to Do After an Auto Accident

It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.

Receive Immediate Medical Attention

What is the most important step that you need to take after an auto accident? You need to receive immediate and proper medical treatment. You may believe that the injuries sustained after an auto accident are minor. Proper medical treatment helps ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries that you may not be aware of.

File a Police Report

Even if no one sustained injuries, you still need to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, jot down each one’s name and badge number. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t volunteer any unasked for information, especially your thoughts on exactly what happened or who caused the car accident. Be sure to ask the officers for the number of their police report. Also ask when and where you can get a copy of it, including how much it will cost you.

The Salt Lake City Police Department recommends that you involve police regardless of the severity of the accident. If there are any serious injuries or significant damages, officers will write a report on scene. If for some reason officers are not involved you can fill out a report form online, ideally within 24 hours of the accident.

Gather the Appropriate Documentation

While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:

• Full name, address, phone number and email address
• Driver’s license state and number
• Auto insurance company name, policy number and phone number

Use your cell phone to take pictures of each driver’s license, auto insurance card, your vehicle and each additional vehicle involved in the car accident. Don’t rely on verbal communication. Having as much information as possible will only help you and your case later on. Try to keep this exchange as civil and friendly as possible. However, do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate in any way that you think you may have caused it. 

Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury

After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.

Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:

• Burn injuries
• Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
• Brain and head injuries
• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries
• Soft tissue injuries

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention $336 Million was the cost of settlements across the state of Utah when accidents involved fatalities. As stated in the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association states with mountainous regions have a higher than average settlement costs. For reference the national average settlement for an accident involving an injury is estimated to be just over $61,000. Drivers involved in accidents in Utah can expect to pay even more depending on the severity of the crash.

Hiring a car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses that have occurred as a result of a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork that you will have to complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.

Auto Accident Laws in Utah

Liability Laws for Sat Lake City

When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process.

Utah is a “no-fault” state, meaning that drivers are not assigned fault after an accident making insurance companies more liable for payments and damages. As a result, Utah requires a minimum amount of liability “no fault” coverage to legally drive. Drivers are held to minimum policies of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $65,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 per accident for property damage.

Statute of Limitations in Sat Lake City

Each state has its own tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while some others may give you up to six years. If you are injured in a Utah car accident, the statute of limitations on your case is typically 4 years. This means that you have 4 years from the date of your accident to file any personal injury lawsuit.

This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.

Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near Sat Lake City, UT

After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in Utah!