Utah Car Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, you need to contact an experienced Utah car accident attorney from Swenson & Shelley right away. With over 200 million licensed drivers in the United States, it’s no wonder that there are over 6 million reported vehicle accidents each year. Sadly, many of these accidents result in severe injuries or death. For victims of these unfortunate accidents, there is often a long road to recovery after the crash. Physical and emotional wounds can stay with victims for years after their accident. While this can be an incredibly difficult time, there are attorneys like Swenson and Shelley who are waiting to help these victims get the justice and compensation they deserve.

You are probably here because you were involved in a car accident. We want to express how sorry we are that this has happened to you. Car accidents can be traumatic and cause a lot of grief for yourself and your family. Your health may be compromised, your finances are probably strained, and your normal daily life is probably different. Our experienced car accident attorneys in Utah understand just how much this can affect you and we want to work hard to defend your right to full and fair compensation. After reading about your car accident case, please do not hesitate to give our office a call to set up a free initial consultation to go over the details of your case. Here are some of the most important aspects that you should be aware of.

Avoiding Case-Ruining Mistakes

Insurance companies are not all that helpful after your car accident. They have a very important goal to stick by; keeping their costs down. They can’t do that and give you the compensation you deserve, so they have ways to try to lower their responsibility of compensation to you. Shortly after the accident, it is almost guaranteed that they will reach out to you and ask for a recorded statement. If you allow them to ask you questions, you will be making a huge mistake. The questions they ask will be twisted in a way that forces you to answer unfavorably and it could give them a reason to reduce or eliminate your claim. If they get the opportunity, they will pin blame on you. If you are 50% or more at fault, you will be banned from receiving compensation.

Common Car Accident Injuries

There is no way to predict when, how, or why an accident will occur. There are, however, many common causes of accidents that can be avoided. By recognizing these hazards and working to avoid them, many vehicle accidents can be avoided altogether. Having this knowledge can make the road safer for all drivers.

Road HazardFallen trees, construction site objects, property lost from another vehicle, potholes, and even animals can be considered road hazards. These hazards are very common to encounter while driving, which is why they are responsible for many accidents each year. With road hazards, it is sometimes difficult to prove who is at fault. However, the right attorney can work to get to the bottom of who is to blame for the accident and help the victim receive the compensation they are entitled to.

SpeedingSpeeding drastically increases the likelihood of having an accident. A driver who is speeding will have less time to react to changes on the road such as stopped vehicles, vehicles changing lanes, and road hazards. A vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed can cause much more damage than a vehicle that is going the speed limit. Because of this, accidents caused by speeding are usually very devastating. Victims of vehicle accidents caused by speeding should do all they can, with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, to pursue action against the speeding driver.

Alcohol UseDrunk driving continues to be a major problem across the United States. With a limit of just .05%, Utah has the lowest legal alcohol limit of any state in the US. This means that anyone driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of over .05% is guilty of driving under the influence. When accidents are caused by drunk drivers, it is the unsuspecting victims they crash into that suffer the most. Victims of drunk drivers should let Swenson and Shelley handle their legal issues, so they can focus on recovering from their accident.

Distracted DrivingDespite the increasing awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, many accidents are caused by using cell phones and other devices while driving. Texting and driving accounts for nine deaths and over 1,000 injuries every single day in the United States. The victims of distracted drivers will suffer unduly from their uncaring actions and are entitled to compensation as a result.

Car accidents unfortunately happen all the time and affect so many people in Utah every year. Sometimes people can brush off their injuries, get some ice on it, and be okay the next day. Other times, people aren’t so lucky. If you came to our page, it’s likely you were not so lucky. The most common car accident injuries include:

Broken bones and fractures
Tendon, nerve, and tissue damage
Concussion
Traumatic brain injury

Spinal cord injury
Extremity injury
Paralysis

In the worst of the cases for surviving victims of car accidents, these injuries can permanently affect your health and your life. When we come up with a number to ask the other driver’s insurance company for compensation, we take all of this into consideration. The worst your injuries are, the more compensation we will ask for. That’s what we mean by full and fair compensation. You deserve to have all of your damages covered and we will dedicate ourselves to making sure that happens.

Knowing What to Do After the Accident

Following your accident, you have several things to keep in mind. The most important thing is your own health. Immediately after the collision, there is a chance you have adrenaline coursing through your body that might mask any pain you are in. Don’t let that fool you into thinking that you do not need medical attention. There’s also a possibility that you’re so badly injured, the only thing you can do is get into an ambulance and go to the emergency room. Regardless of the severity of your condition, it is important that you get to a medical professional at some point. Don’t try to be tough and shake off your pain. You could worsen your condition. Also, the insurance company will need documented proof that you were hurt in the accident when they consider giving you a settlement reward.

Frequently Asked Car Accident Questions

How do I pick the best attorney for my car accident claim?

In the state of Utah, if you’ve been involved in a car crash, you need to get the help of an attorney. When you’re trying to decide which attorney to go with, you want to go with an attorney who has vast experience in car crash claims. Picking the wrong attorney can be extremely detrimental to you case for a number of reasons. One, your attorney may or may not understand the claims process or how insurance companies evaluate and value your claim. Two, insurance companies know which attorneys practice primarily in personal injury and which ones don’t. The attorney that you pick effects the value of the claim that an insurance company is willing to give to your car crash claim.

What mistakes should I avoid after being injured in a car accident?

There are several common mistakes that we see when somebody has been involved in a car crash in the state of Utah. First, talking with the insurance company and answering some of their questions that may or may not be misleading gives them ammo to use against you at a later point in the claim.

Another mistake is not seeking medical care right away for the injuries that you sustained. If you wait too long, insurance companies like to believe that your injuries were not caused by the crash.

Should I speak with insurance companies after a car accident?

If you’ve been in a car accident in the state of Utah, you may get a call from the insurance company of the other driver asking to take a recorded statement. I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to give the recorded statement to the other side. The insurance adjusters that take those statements are trained on how to take statements. They ask questions in a particular way to get the answers they need. The purpose of those calls is to show that you’re not injured or not as injured as you say so that they can reduce the value of the claim.

Who will pay for my medical bills after a car accident?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in the state of Utah, know that medical bills are handled by a number of different types of insurance. First off, Utah requires that all automobile insurance policies have what’s called personal injury protection; sometimes that’s abbreviated at PIP. PIP will cover at a minimum the first $3,000 of medical bills for each person that was injured in a car crash. Once PIP has been used up, the next layer of defense would be your health insurance.

We would recommend that any of your medical bills be processed through your health insurance carrier. In addition, if you don’t have health insurance and your medical bills are more than what is covered by the personal injury protection, we can help communicate with the medical offices and the medical providers and explain to them that we are going to help them get compensated and help them get their money for the medical services they provided once the case has settled. The medical bills would ultimately be paid out of the injury settlement.

Is a distracted driver automatically liable for a car accident?

We’re starting to see more and more distracted drivers. This is primarily a result of everybody with cell phones, and not paying attention to the road, whether that’s through a GPS or a text message. We’ve seen things as egregious as people watching YouTube videos while they’re driving. If somebody has been involved in a car crash and the other driver was a distracted driver, that’s something that we look into. There are ways to obtain phone records and phone logs to determine if that individual indeed was distracted by their device. That is something that plays into your claim.

What should I do if I was injured by a drunk driver?

If you’ve been involved in a car crash that involves a drunk driver, the claim process is rather similar. However, that’s a major factor that we do consider in the claim. There’s no excuse to ever get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’re intoxicated. If that individual has injured you and was intoxicated, we make sure that we hold that person responsible for the awful decision that they made to drive when they’re intoxicated and put everybody at risk.

What should I do if I was injured in a self-driving car accident?

If you’ve been injured in a car crash that involves a self-driving car, there are a number of factors that need to be looked at. One, you want to look at what the actions and the behavior of the person that was driving the car, what he or she did when the car crash occurred. You’d also want to look at the car itself and see if there’s a potential claim against the manufacturer of the vehicle. These self-driving cars are becoming more popular, and it’s creating some nuances in the law and in the legal analysis.

Can I receive compensation if faulty accident avoidance technology caused my crash?

It’s becoming more and more common for vehicles to have accident avoidance technology; things that alert you if a crash is ready to occur or things that will actually control your vehicle to help you avoid a collision. If that technology failed, that’s a factor that we need to look into to see if the vehicle itself could have or should have avoided the collision and the injury, and that’s something that we need to look at to see if the manufacturer of the vehicle might have some sort of responsibility in the collision.

What if the other driver is uninsured?

In the state of Utah, insurance is required on all vehicles. However, many people do drive without insurance. If you’re hit by a driver that doesn’t have insurance and it’s their fault, then the insurance companies look at your insurance and go to your uninsured motorists coverage. That’s where your insurance steps into the shoes of the driver who did not have insurance.

Will I be reimbursed for lost wages after a car accident?

In the state of Utah, if you have been injured in a car crash, you can receive compensation for your lost wages through your no-fault coverage. The requirements are, first, you need to miss a consecutive three days of work. After you’ve missed those three days of work, you can recover lost wages. You can recover up to $250 per week, or 80% of your normal wages, whichever one is the lesser of the two. You can recover those if you receive a medical document from your doctor stating that you’re unable to work. You can submit that to your own insurance carrier, which will then reimburse you for those lost wages.

How much is my car accident case worth?

Several times a week, I’m asked, “What is the value of my case?” That’s a question that’s very difficult to answer early on in a case. It depends on the severity of the injury, how much work somebody has missed, and the limitations that are put on the person. In a car crash case, it also depends on the amount of insurance that’s there. If somebody hits you and you’re seriously injured, but they have the state minimum insurance of $25,000, that doesn’t go very far. You should always make sure that you have enough underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage to protect you.

What Our Clients Say

Brian Shelley is the best lawyer in town! Honest, kind, and a great bedside manner makes me feel reassured that any issues I have will be resolved. Has advised me in many things and taken very good care of me and my business. Couldn’t recommend a more qualified lawyer then Mr. Shelley.

Austin H.

Crystal is incredibly kind, sharp, and responsive. She has a great legal ability and good rapport.

Jacob A.

I had a great experience working with these guys. So kind and helpful!

Aaron W.

Getting Things Done Timely

In Utah, you have a statute of limitations of four years from the date of your accident to abide by. You may not know what a statute of limitations is if you have never needed to file a personal injury claim before. A statute of limitations is the amount of time in which you are allowed to bring your car accident claim or file the claim in civil court for a settlement. If you value your case, you will not delay in bringing your claim to an attorney. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to build a strong case and if you wait longer than four years to talk to an attorney, there is nothing they can do for you. This statute of limitations is strict and you will be barred from compensation if you wait more than four years.

The Aftermath of an Accident

In the wake of an accident, victims and their families can be subjected to many terrible consequences. Aside from injuries that can take years to begin to heal, there are legal issues that can arise long after the accident occurs. If not handled by a professional, these legal issues can begin to grow and become overwhelming for victims and their families. Though Swenson and Shelley cannot heal physical wounds after an accident, we can ensure that legal troubles won’t get in the way of the healing process.

Severe Injuries

Injuries from an accident are often extensive and life-altering. The healing process can involve a great deal of time spent in the hospital, completing rehab, and relearning how to do basic daily tasks. While it seems obvious that the medical expenses from an accident should never fall on an innocent victim, it happens all too often. That is why it is crucial to call one of our Utah car accident attorneys to represent the victim and their family as soon as possible.
Sometimes emotional damage caused by and accident can be even deeper and slower-healing than physical injuries. Though these wounds cannot be seen, they can be just as devastating as broken bones and scars. Just because these wounds cannot be seen does not mean they do not matter. Compensation for emotional damages is just as important as the compensation for physical ones.

Inability to Work

Physical and emotional wounds can leave victims unable to work, either for a short period of time or permanently. It is not the victim’s fault that they are unable to work and earn money as they did before the accident. Victims should never be penalized and left in financial ruin from an accident they did not cause. Those who are unable to return to their jobs after an accident deserve to have a financially secure future.

Families are Left with Expenses

In the unfortunate event that an accident results in death, sometimes the families of the victim can find themselves struggling to pay final expenses or remaining medical costs. This can be especially difficult if the victim was the main provider for a family. In these cases, the family of the victim is entitled compensation for the insurmountable task of having to learn to live without their loved one.

While vehicle accidents can be extremely devastating, there are many things about motorcycle accidents that make them even worse. The destruction of a crash, the way motorcyclists are treated, both in court and by insurance companies, and public perception about motorcyclists mean they don’t always get fair treatment after a crash. This applies even to accidents where only the motorcyclist was involved and no one else was injured. In vehicle accidents without a clear person at fault, motorists are treated much more fairly. These differences in the treatment of motorcycle accidents versus vehicle accidents are one of the many reasons motorcyclists need an unbiased attorney to make sure they’re treated fairly.

Call Our Utah Car Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation

To learn more about your car accident claim and compensation, please call our experienced Utah car accident attorneys today for a free consultation. Their aggressive approach, professionalism, and attention to detail will ensure that victims get what they deserve after suffering from a vehicle accident. Don’t be one of the thousands of people who accept less than they deserve after an accident. Contact Swenson and Shelley of Utah today. We will guide you through this legal situation with support, experience, and strength. You will be in good hands with us.