Personal Injury Law in Salt Lake City, UT

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Salt Lake City? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Salt Lake City, UT can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Salt Lake City relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Salt Lake City, UT

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Salt Lake City 

According to Utah’s Public Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS), unintentional injuries are the top cause of death or disability. Accidental poisoning and falls take the second and third spots. Unfortunately, death due to injuries increased by 8.2% from 2009 to 2019 in Utah.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Salt Lake City, UT

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Utah

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

After the discovery phase in a Salt Lake City court, expect a pre-trial settlement conference to occur. The court must learn about the case and resolve any potential issues that need addressing. Plaintiffs also have the right to waive a jury in favor of a bench trial before a judge, but most suits will settle rather than go to court.

Utah Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

Every case varies in the actual amount of settlement awarded to a plaintiff, so it’s crucial to understand what to expect in Salt Lake. Utah is unique because it’s one of twelve states with a no-fault law, which means finding the driver responsible for a car accident isn’t required for insurance to cover medical bills for either party. The advantage of this system is that minor accidents don’t clog the court system for complicated cases.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in UT, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Utah

If your Utah personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

In Utah, damage caps depend on when cases become filed in Salt Lake. Suits that occur on or after May 15, 2010, have a limit of $450,000.

Statute of Limitations in Salt Lake City, UT Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Utah has a statute of limitations of four years for personal injury cases. Residents of Salt Lake that experience an accident or injury must file a lawsuit within that time.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Salt Lake City, UT Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Salt Lake City against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Utah state lines.

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