In 2021, there were 61, 406 car accidents in Utah. Often, these are life-changing events that leave victims struggling to recover physically, emotionally, and financially. If your accident was caused by another person’s recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation by that person for your damages. You may wonder if hiring an attorney is necessary. However, even if you believe your case is simple or easy, there are several reasons why it is important to have a car accident lawyer represent you in your case:

1. Attorneys have more knowledge and experience

In your car accident case, you need a lawyer who specializes in accident cases. Look for someone with at least 10 years of experience who can answer all your questions and explain the legal process to you.

A car accident lawyer will know how to handle your case well because they have the knowledge and experience to do so. Insurance companies might try to blame you or offer you a low settlement, but a car accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.

If you’re not sure about your case, Liberty Law offers a free consultation with no obligation. Talk to one of our experienced car accident lawyers to figure out the best course of action for your situation.

2. Attorneys can evaluate damages.

In some situations, you may need a lawyer to help you with your car accident case. This is especially true if:

1. It involves injuries (specific injuries with damages more than $3,000, ranging from dismemberment, permanent disfigurement, death, and permanent impairment), which may require prolonged medical attention;
2. You’re unsure about how serious your injuries are;
3. You received a low settlement offer.
4. You’re suffering from financial stress;
5. Your initial treatment isn’t working; or
6. You’ve missed work as a result of the accident.

It’s important to understand that handling the financial matters alone after a car accident, especially if you’re not at fault, can be difficult. That’s why an experienced car accident lawyer can be extremely helpful. They can effectively assess the damages and work hard to hold the at-fault party’s insurance company accountable for the full long-term cost of your medical treatment.

Certainly, an attorney can help you accurately evaluate the damages that you have suffered because of the car accident. This includes consideration of medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, reimbursement for repairs, wrongful death damages, and any other expenses related to the accident.

By working with an experienced lawyer, you can ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses, even for the injuries that didn’t seem apparent during the accident. So don’t hesitate to seek legal help to get the best possible outcome for your case.

3. Attorneys have negotiation skills.

It’s common knowledge that insurance companies will try to offer you the lowest settlement. Attorneys are skilled negotiators who specialize in dealing with insurance companies. They have the ability to secure the best possible settlement for you that is legally acceptable.

Aside from helping you navigate the complex legal system, attorneys know the tactics used by insurance companies, can counter these tactics, and can effectively negotiate on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve. Don’t underestimate the importance of having a skilled negotiator on your side when it comes to getting the best possible outcome for your case.

4. Attorneys can represent you in court.

Meanwhile, an attorney can speak up for you in court by presenting evidence and making arguments on your behalf. They can also cross-examine witnesses to strengthen your case. For all these reasons, it’s important to have an attorney represent you.

Self-representation in court can be risky if you don’t know your way around the legal system or don’t have enough knowledge. On the other hand, a car accident lawyer has years of experience with these cases and can give you helpful advice throughout the whole process.

Filing a car accident case without an attorney representing you can be a costly mistake. You’ll have to file the necessary documents, keep up with court deadlines, and pay court fees. You risk losing your case and missing out on the compensation you deserve by trying to handle the case alone.

5. Attorneys can give you peace of mind.

One of the biggest benefits of having an attorney handle your car accident case is that you can focus on your recovery while they take care of the legal aspects of your case. This can be a huge weight off your shoulders during a difficult and stressful time.

Besides, a car accident attorney can take your case seriously and work to build a strong case on your behalf. They can obtain the police report, talk to witnesses and collect evidence, use expert testimony and accident reconstruction specialists, talk to your doctor, and get your most recent medical records.

Essentially, hiring an attorney for your car accident case can provide you with peace of mind, fair compensation, and a strong advocate to represent you in court. Don’t be afraid to talk to an experienced car accident lawyer if you want to make sure your rights are protected. Even more, get you the money you deserve.

Are there cases when you don’t need a car accident lawyer?

If you were involved in a car accident that resulted in no or minor injuries, you may be able to handle the claim yourself. In Utah, drivers are required to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which can cover basic medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. Basically, if you have PIP coverage or your own car or health insurance, you can file a claim without the need for an attorney. But if your injuries are serious or if you aren’t sure who is at fault, it may be best to talk to a lawyer to make sure you get fair compensation.

Get in touch with our car accident lawyer at Liberty Law

Overall, hiring an attorney to help you with your car accident case can ensure you get fair payment for your injuries and other damages. Don’t go through this alone. A car accident lawyer on your side can make all the difference.

Call our lawyers at (801) 264-6666 for a free review of your case. We’re available 24/7.

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After a car accident, a driver’s own car insurance must pay for your additional medical bills, after all of the available money in the other, at-fault driver’s policy has been paid. This means the injured driver first makes a claim against the at-fault driver’s policy, then his or her own. And that is exactly what our client did.

If you were in the same situation as our client, you could only receive this extra money if you included underinsured motorist (UIM) protection in your car insurance policy. Every person who buys car insurance in Utah must be given the option to buy UIM coverage. You must expressly accept or reject this UIM protection before you finish buying the policy. Usually, the additional cost for UIM coverage is very small.

UIM coverage provides a lot of extra financial protection for you as a driver. If you are in a severe car accident, you likely won’t have enough coverage to pay for all your medical bills, without UIM protection.

The minimum levels of UIM protection are $10,000.00 for one person in an accident, and $20,000.00 for two or more people in an accident.

If you haven’t added UIM protection to your car insurance policy, we highly suggest you do so today. Call us for a free consultation: 801-264-6666, if you’ve been severely inured in a car or motor vehicle accident.

In 2011, there were 52,287 total reported traffic crashes, with 22,325 people injured and 243 people killed. While those numbers are high, in 2011 traffic deaths were actually at their lowest levels in Utah since 1974. Moreover, Utah’s death rate per vehicle miles travelled is still below the overall U.S. rate.

So what behaviors lead to traffic accidents? According to the Summary, 22% (11,511) of total crashes occurred from following too closely; 18% (9,254) from failing to yield; 18% (9,626) from inclement weather; and 17% (8,699) from speeding.

The number one reason for fatal crashes in Utah? Speeding, which caused 41% (90) of all fatal crashes in Utah in 2011.

Utah law says: “A person may not operate a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions…any speed in excess of the limits…is evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful.” These “existing conditions” can include dusty, snowy, wet or icy roads. If you are going at or above the speed limit in these conditions, and get in an accident (or are pulled over for speeding), you can get a ticket for “traveling too fast for conditions.”

Even if you are confident you can handle these conditions going in excess of the speed limit, a safe rule of thumb would be to drive at least 5 miles under the speed limit.

PIP is often referred to as “no fault” coverage. Regardless of who is at fault in an accident, your insurance must pay for your PIP expenses—even if you caused the accident. PIP also covers the medical expenses of passengers who were in the vehicle at the time of the accident, up to $3,000.00 per person.

Your car insurance will not pay any medical bills until you open an insurance claim and fill out the PIP application and HIPAA medical release. You will also need to submit additional weekly paperwork to get reimbursed for household services and lost wages. Keep in mind, with the rising cost of medical treatment, your medical bills can quickly go over the $3,000 PIP limits that your insurance company will pay.

If you’ve been involved in an auto accident in Utah, we’ll handle the PIP claim for you, free of charge, and work to recover the full amount for your medical bills. Call the attorneys at Utah Liberty Law for a free consultation: 801-264-6666.

If you think you have a serious injury (such as fractures or internal bleeding), first go to the hospital for an examination and/or X-rays. The doctors will make sure that you are stable and will check for life-threatening injuries.

Even if the hospital doctors do not find any life-threatening injuries, this does not mean that you have not been harmed. If you are in pain, a health care specialist should quickly examine you—be it your family physician, doctor of osteopathic medicine, or a chiropractor— to determine the source of the pain. Since the muscles and ligaments that stabilize the spine are particularly vulnerable to injury in a car accident, it is important to quickly establish whether your spine has been damaged or become misaligned. Your health provider will therefore order X-rays of your spine and/or neck.

Serious symptoms can result from spinal injury and/or misalignment, including:

• neck pain
• upper back pain
• lower back pain
• headaches
• whiplash
• pinched nerves
• organ problems
• limited range of motion

It is essential that you receive rapid treatment for an injured spine, particularly if the spinal vertebrae have become misaligned. As the soft tissue around the spine heals in the weeks following the accident, the muscles will again try to stabilize the spine—i.e., lock these joints down into their misaligned position. This can lead to a host of symptoms (some listed above) that may occur months or even years after the accident happened.

Your car insurance will usually pay for the first $3,000 in medical bills related to treatment for your injuries. You can also receive additional medical treatment without paying the bills up front. If you have been in a car accident and suffered an injury, contact an attorney to discuss the financial options available to you.

1. If your vehicle skids: Skidding is caused when the rear wheels of your vehicle lose their grip and pass to the front. To correct any skid, let up on the gas and gently turn your wheels in the direction you want to go. Do not re-apply the gas until you are safely driving again.

2. Drive more slowly than the posted speed limit. Add extra distance between you and the car in front of you, so that you can brake comfortably if the car in front of you stops suddenly.

3. Anticipate turns and stops and approach them gently. Don’t apply the gas or the brake while turning. Your tires could lose traction, making you lose control of your vehicle.

This amount of money is called a “reserve,” and insurance companies first decide what the reserve will be with little information—usually your name, address, and a brief description of the accident and/or injuries. How do you get the reserve as high as possible? Here are some helpful tips:

Within 15 days after you report a claim, your adjuster should finish a report of the accident. This report details your insurance coverage and lists any liabilities, injuries and/or damages from the accident. After this report is submitted, your insurance company will increase or decrease the reserve amount to settle your case. It’s very important that you document injuries and damage to your vehicle (pictures, written statements, medical records, etc.) and submit this information, along with any medical bills, to your adjuster as soon as possible. The insurance company can then increase the “reserve” amount needed to pay for them.

What if you need ongoing treatment—how will this be reflected in the reserve amount? It is helpful to know that the adjuster may continue investigating your claim after the 15-day report; he or she often will file a second report with the insurance company after a 30- to 90-day investigation. This allows you time to gather all your medical bills and receive treatment. Make sure you are constantly informing your insurance adjuster of these increasing medical bills so he or she can put this in their report.

Your personal injury attorney will discuss these things with the adjuster to obtain the highest compensation possible for your accident. If you want to avoid litigation, it’s important to contact an attorney and begin your personal injury case as quickly as possible. Contact us at Utah Liberty Law for your FREE consultation: 801-264-6666.

1. Check everyone in your vehicle for injuries.
2. Make sure you are not in danger of a secondary collision from oncoming traffic and move your vehicle out of the roadway if necessary.
3. Call 911, a police officer will be dispatched and will complete an accident report.
4. Make sure you give the police officer a written statement of how the accident happened.
5. Exchange insurance information and contact information with the other driver.
6. Obtain the names and phone numbers of all witnesses before you leave the accident scene. This is very important, as sometimes people involved tend to change their stories when reporting the accident to their insurance company.
7. As safety permits, take pictures of damaged vehicles, positions of the cars, any skid marks and any injuries sustained.
8. Call your insurance provider to report the accident and write down your accident claim number. You will need to give this claim number to all your medical providers (if you are injured) for payment of medical services.
9. Keep a written account of any conversations with the insurance adjusters, agents, and any other people involved in your claims process.
10. Call a personal injury attorney if you have any questions about additional compensation which you can recover for your accident.