Utah Motorcycle Accident Guide
If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, you may be wondering what you can do to recover. The Utah Motorcycle Accident Guide was created by Swenson & Shelley Injury Attorneys to help residents obtain maximum financial compensation.
Motorcycle accidents can be completely devastating and can change your life forever. It is a terrifying experience to go through and we want to express how truly sad we are for you to have to deal with this. Our skilled and knowledgeable Utah motorcycle accident attorney is ready to take your call to get your case started. You deserve to have every right for compensation protected and we want to dedicate ourselves to getting a successful outcome for you.
Please call our office today after you read about your motorcycle case and set up a free initial case evaluation. We are ready for your call.
First Steps for a Successful Claim
After the accident, there is a lot of evidence that needs to be collected. Have a friend, family member, or attorney come to the scene to do this if you are unable. What needs to happen is you have to get photos and possibly videos of the scene of the accident. You can record the tire marks, any vehicles involved, and your injuries. Anything that you think is important needs to be documented. You should also get contact information from all witnesses and every driver involved in the accident. All of this is highly important when trying to create a successful and strong case.
What is more important than evidence collection is your health. As mentioned, you might not be able to stay on the scene if you are too injured. You may have been whisked away on an ambulance. That’s when you rely on others to help with evidence. But you should prioritize yourself in these scenarios. You need to make your health more important than the accident scene. Get to a doctor when you need to and don’t risk worsening your condition by trying to shake off your injuries as they may be severe and life-altering.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can be particularly damaging because of the lack of protection from the impact when you’re on a bike. You don’t have a metal frame that will take most of the impact for you. You might have had your helmet on and may have been wearing clothes that protect you somewhat, but generally a motorcycle accident will cause more severe injuries. These injuries frequently include:
- Road burn
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Broken bones and/or fractures
- Concussion
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injury
It is possible that these injuries can lead to permanent damage. In that case, you will have a compensation reward that suits the amount of damage you have had. You can discuss everything with your Utah motorcycle accident attorney to see how to get the fullest amount of compensation available.
Timeline for a Successful Claim
In Utah, you have four years from the date of your motorcycle accident to bring a claim. That is called your statute of limitations. It may seem like it’s a long time, but you should not use that as an excuse to delay getting the ball rolling on your case. You should be talking to an attorney right away so that your evidence does not disappear and your witnesses don’t forget the fine details about the accident. Moving quickly is so important. If you wait longer than these four years to file a claim, you will be barred from receiving any compensation.
Avoiding Making Big Mistakes
Another big risk for being barred from compensation is if you talk to the other driver’s insurance company. They will be reaching out to you very shortly after you are injured and they will be looking to get a recorded statement from you about the accident. You should know that you are under no legal obligation to give them a statement and if they need to talk to someone, they can talk to your attorney. They have a way about asking questions that make it seem like you were to blame for the accident and if they can pin you for enough blame, they can bar you from receiving compensation. Utah follows shared fault negligence rules for compensation and when you are found to be 50% or more at fault, you lose your right to compensation. We want to avoid making the mistake of talking to the insurance company so that they cannot throw away your claim. It just is not fair to you when you are hurt because their insured did something that put you in danger.