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A pedestrian crash occurs when someone traveling on foot or using a mobility device is struck by a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, or other road user. Without the protection of a vehicle, pedestrians may suffer fractures, brain injuries, spinal trauma, internal injuries, or permanent scarring.
After a pedestrian crash in Sandy, Utah, move to safety when possible, call 911, obtain medical care, and make sure the collision is reported to the Sandy City Police Department. You should also preserve evidence, exchange information with the driver, identify witnesses, and avoid statements that could be misunderstood as accepting fault.
Sandy pedestrian accident lawyers at Craig Swapp & Associates can help injured pedestrians investigate the accident, handle insurance communications, document your losses, and pursue compensation through a settlement or lawsuit.
Your first priority is preventing another collision. When movement is medically safe, leave active traffic and remain nearby while waiting for emergency personnel.
Call 911 when anyone may be injured, traffic is blocked, or the driver has fled. Utah Code § 41-6a-401 requires prompt notice to Sandy Police after a qualifying collision.
Do not agree to handle the pedestrian crash privately. A police response can document the location, parties, road conditions, injuries, and witnesses.
Accept emergency treatment when recommended and arrange follow-up care promptly. Adrenaline can mask pain, while concussion symptoms and other signs of injury may become clearer hours or days later.
Tell each provider that your symptoms began after the pedestrian crash. Keep medical papers, bills, work restrictions, and a record of how the injuries affect daily life.
Utah’s personal injury protection (PIP) system may help pay early losses. Under Utah Code §§ 31A-22-307 and 31A-22-308, a policy covering a vehicle involved in a Utah collision may provide PIP benefits to an injured pedestrian, subject to statutory priority rules and policy terms. Utah requires at least $3,000 in PIP coverage for qualifying medical expenses and certain income losses.
Obtain the driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license number, license plate, insurer, and policy number when your condition allows. Ask witnesses for contact details because not everyone may appear in the police report.
Photograph the vehicle, impact area, crosswalk, signals, debris, lighting, obstructions, and injuries. Preserve damaged clothing, shoes, bags, phones, or mobility devices without repairing or discarding them.
Nearby businesses, homes, buses, and traffic systems may have video that is erased quickly. Pedestrian accident attorneys can preserve recordings, inspect the scene, review vehicle data, and compare the evidence with the driver’s account.
You can later request the report directly from the Sandy Police Records Division. Ask about identification requirements, processing time, and any current copy fee.
Cooperate with police and give factual answers, but do not guess about speed, distance, signal timing, or the extent of your injuries. A casual apology or statement such as “I am fine” may be taken out of context.
Notify the insurer that a collision occurred, but avoid a recorded statement, broad medical authorization, or quick settlement before your medical outlook is clear. Avoid posting crash photos or activity updates because an insurer may compare them with your claimed limitations.
A pedestrian crash claim may involve the driver’s liability insurance, PIP benefits, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, or commercial coverage if the driver was working. Utah’s minimum auto liability limits are $30,000 per injured person, $65,000 per crash for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Utah Code § 31A-22-309 may also affect when an injured person can pursue certain damages beyond no-fault benefits. The law generally looks at whether medical expenses exceed $3,000 or whether the injury involves permanent disability, impairment, disfigurement, dismemberment, or another statutory condition.
Recoverable losses may include medical expenses, lost income, future care, pain, emotional distress, scarring, and permanent impairment. An injury lawyer in Sandy can assess future effects instead of valuing the case from early bills alone.
The driver may not be the only responsible party. An employer, vehicle owner, road contractor, or governmental entity may share liability.
Utah has a 4-year personal injury statute of limitations under Utah Code § 78B-2-307, although exceptions may apply in government cases and other situations. Waiting can still weaken a case because video may be overwritten, witnesses may become unavailable, and road conditions may change.
A lawsuit arising from a pedestrian crash generally falls within Utah’s Third Judicial District in Salt Lake County. Depending on venue and assignment, a civil case may proceed through the West Jordan District Court or the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
Utah Code § 41-6a-1002 generally requires a driver to slow or stop for a pedestrian crossing within a crosswalk when the person is on the driver’s half of the road or approaching close enough to be in danger. The statute also says a pedestrian may not suddenly leave a place of safety and enter the path of a vehicle that is too close to stop safely.
Under Utah Code § 41-6a-1003, a pedestrian crossing outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection generally must yield to traffic. That does not automatically defeat a claim because the driver may still have been speeding, distracted, impaired, or turning without keeping a proper lookout.
Utah Code § 78B-5-818 follows modified comparative negligence. Compensation may be reduced by the pedestrian’s percentage of fault, and recovery is generally unavailable when the pedestrian is 50% or more responsible.
At Craig Swapp & Associates, our pedestrian accident attorneys are ready to obtain records, preserve video, interview witnesses, assess coverage and damages, negotiate with insurers, and prepare a case for court. Early legal help after a pedestrian crash in Sandy can prevent an insurer from controlling the flow of information or pushing a settlement before your condition stabilizes. Call us today at 801-845-9026 or contact us using our online form to schedule your free initial consultation.
Written By: Ryan Swapp Legal Review By: Craig Swapp