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Car Accident
Don’t allow a negligent driver’s poor decision to leave you buried in medical debt and other losses. Get the compensation you are due by seeking help from a vehicle wreck lawyer.
Work with a Salt Lake City car crash attorney from Craig Swapp & Associates to recover your losses. Our lawyers will help you get the compensation and justice you deserve for what you’ve suffered.
Car accidents are a leading cause of serious injury and death in this country. Many people’s lives are changed in an instant when they suffer injuries in these collisions. If you were seriously injured in a preventable car crash, you could be eligible for compensation from the at-fault driver.
Utah’s personal injury laws are wordy and not easy to understand, and filing a personal injury claim isn’t easy, either. When you work with a Salt Lake City car accident lawyer from our office, we will provide you with up-to-the-minute information and guide you through the process of filing a personal injury claim. Our car accident lawyers will do everything in their power to make sure you receive a positive outcome and provide you with the practical legal representation and professional care you deserve.
Dealing with Insurance Companies After an Accident
For minor car wrecks, it’s common to just file a claim with the insurance company to recover your damage and losses. Your damages will likely be low—minor damage to your vehicle and maybe some small medical bills. But when you’ve been involved in a serious accident, the damages and expenses can really skyrocket.
Worse, the person responsible for your injuries may do everything they can to not compensate you for the damage and injuries you suffered. While the other driver didn’t set out to injure you, it’s still a fact that their negligence caused the accident, meaning they need to see you compensated.
Insurance companies are for-profit organizations, which means they have procedures in place meant to reduce their financial losses. That absolutely includes trying to lower the amount of compensation for your injuries. Don’t be surprised if you get a personable insurance adjuster who seems to care about what you’ve suffered, only to then receive a low-ball offer to settle your car accident claim. Your crash and damages are not personal for them. They have profits to make and investors to please.
That’s especially difficult if you’re dealing with specific types of accidents, like trucking accidents. These vehicles tend to cause more devastating accidents due to their size. Because of this, your claim may be more expensive. Likewise with a motorcycle accident: motorcycle riders tend to experience serious injuries due to the open nature of their vehicle. Unfortunately, insurance companies may try to avoid paying the full value of your accident needs.
Our legal consultants won’t let them treat you that way. Your attorney can take their calls and has the necessary knowledge and experience to negotiate a fair settlement so they won’t be able to cheat you out of the compensation you need and deserve. Don’t accept a settlement offer from an insurance company without discussing it with your attorney first.
How Utah’s Negligence Laws Impact Accident Victims
After being injured in a automobile crash, most residents of Utah and the surrounding areas believe they just have to file a claim with their insurance company, and their damages and medical bills will be covered. That’s great in theory, but what if you’re seriously injured in the accident?
Serious injuries could have you in the hospital for months—or even leave you permanently disabled. Will the insurance company cover your losses? All of the losses and damage related to the accident? That’s where a personal injury lawsuit comes into play. You need compensation not only for the immediate hospital bills, but also for your lost wages and future medical expenses related to your injury.
When it’s been determined that someone else’s negligence caused your crash, that person should be held responsible for any expenses and medical care that resulted from the vehicle accident that exceed what your insurer will cover.
But pushing the at-fault party to provide compensation may not be easy. Utah uses a system called modified comparative negligence to determine how much each party involved is responsible for their share of the incident. Unfortunately, this system may benefit the at-fault party who doesn’t want to compensate you for what the accident caused.
Utah uses a system called modified comparative negligence to determine how much each party involved is responsible for their share of the incident. Getting the most accident compensation under this system will require providing substantial evidence of the other driver’s negligence.
If you’re found partially responsible for your injuries, your compensation award can be reduced by the percentage for which you’ve been found responsible. If you’re found 50 percent or more responsible, you will lose the right to seek damages altogether. Be careful to avoid admitting any fault for an accident you didn’t cause, and let our accident lawyers handle the communication with the insurance company on your behalf so that you don’t lose any of your rights.
Get a Free Consultation with Our Car Accident Attorneys
Being injured in an auto collision is an experience that wasn’t on your bucket list, but you got through it. Now, let us help you recover from it by getting you the justice and compensation you deserve. Craig Swapp & Associates can help you file your claim for car accident compensation today.
We will do the legal heavy lifting, from obtaining your accident report to winning in court, so you can focus on recovering from this difficult incident. To get your questions answered by a qualified Salt Lake City car accident lawyer, call us for a free case review at 1-800-404-9000 or fill out the online contact form at the bottom of this page.
Client Reviews
“I was concerned with all the paperwork”
Before calling your firm I had 2 big worries. One was I didn’t want to do more paper work, and that fear was resolved when I had to do very little, but Craig Swapp and Assoc. did most of it, and when I did have to come in to sign papers they worked around the times I could do it. Worry 2 was I didn’t want people to think I was “sue happy” and that I was just out to get money. I just wanted my bills to be paid for that were from the accident, and that was resolved I think by Mr. Wes Mortenson and Theresa because they listened to what I had to say.
Amber W.,
Spokane, WA
"I would hire them in a second"
My biggest fear was not having all the expenses caused by the accident paid for in full. I was assured they would be taken care of but I admit I was skeptical. When we wrapped everything up (which happened quicker than I was originally told) I had extra money in my pocket. I honestly thought there was a catch but my attorney explained everything to me in detail. If I am ever in that position again I’ll be giving Craig Swapp a call.
Robert N.,
Spokane, WA
"I was afraid of the fees"
I was afraid of the fees I would have to pay a lawyer. I waited over a year before hiring your law firm. I finally reached out to your online help where they were able to help me understand the process and what would happen. In all honesty I absolutely loved working with the individuals that were involved in my case. They were genuine & heartfelt about my case. It felt as though they really cared and were concerned about me, not just as a client but as a person.
Lacey B.,
Salt Lake City, UT
"I was afraid that my issue was too small"
I was afraid that my issue was too small to be handled, and that it would just be rejected. Or that I’d end up having to pay for my medical expenses and any of your teams expenses. I would definitely answer yes, it was resolved! I wasn’t ever made out to feel like my little issue didn’t matter, and my expenses were paid for- just what I wanted/needed.
J. Rohas,
Caldwell, ID
"I am very pleased with the results"
My biggest fear was that it would be pointless to pursue legal action in my case. I felt like maybe I didn’t have much of a case. After speaking with Paul, I realize it was not of my own fault and that others can be held responsible for the pain and suffering I went through.
Dollie J.,
West Jordan, UT
Our Salt Lake City Office
Salt Lake City Car Accident FAQ
The type of personal injury you suffer in the accident will largely depend on the seriousness of the accident you were involved in. We have seen injury types ranging from broken bones and whiplash to traumatic brain injuries and amputations.
You should always be prepared to go to court, although our personal injury attorneys are usually able to avoid going to trial by successfully negotiating with the insurance company to obtain a settlement that is both fair and reasonable for your injuries.
When you choose an injury attorney at Craig Swapp & Associates, you won’t have to worry about how much it costs unless we win your case. We don’t charge our clients a dime unless or until we win.
No, you are not legally obligated to accept an offer made by the insurance company. In fact, if the insurer made you an offer quickly, it’s very possible that the insurance adjuster understands that your claim is worth a lot more and they are hoping to avoid paying you the full amount of compensation you’re owed.
Before accepting an offer, you should review it with a Salt Lake City car accident lawyer from Craig Swapp & Associates so we can go over what your damages really are. You don’t have to settle for less than you are entitled to when we’re handling your claim.
We will work hard to ensure that your every medical cost, both now and in the future, is covered. Some medical expenses that might be included in your claim are as follows:
- Cost of prescription medications
- Copays
- Hospital and medical bills
- Ambulance fees
- Medical equipment
- Adjustments to your home to accommodate medical equipment
- Diagnostic imaging
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Rehabilitative services
- Mental health counseling
- Transportation costs
If a family member was injured in an accident and passed away due to critical injuries, Craig Swapp & Associates will pursue a wrongful death claim against the party responsible for causing the accident.
In the state of Utah, wrongful death claims are pursued the same way a personal injury lawsuit is, and damages are calculated as if the deceased had been alive and able to file a claim on their own behalf.
Generally speaking, most states will put a cap on noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or in medical malpractice claims in general. Utah has placed a cap of $450,000 on these types of noneconomic damages.
This damage cap does not apply to financial losses like medical bills and vehicle damage, however.
You will be awarded punitive damages in your injury lawsuit if the judge determines that the actions of the defendant were malicious or egregiously negligent. Punitive damages are unique in that they aren’t meant to compensate you for your losses; they are designed to make an example of the grossly negligent behavior of the wrongdoer.
Yes, as long as you are found less than 50 percent responsible. However, your compensation award may be reduced by the percentage of responsibility you hold. For example, if you’re found 30 percent responsible and you are awarded $100,000 in damages. You will only receive $70,000 because your 30 percent of the responsibility will be deducted.
No. You should let your auto accident attorney handle all communications with the insurance companies. Your insurance company will often use what you say against you to reduce your compensation, so it’s often better to get help with the right words to say and questions to ask.
That depends. It could take a few months or up to a year or longer. Insurance companies use stalling techniques in the hope of wearing you down so you’ll accept a lower settlement offer. Let us help you deal with insurance. To get fair compensation for your car crash, you need to hang in there and team up with a qualified Salt Lake City car accident lawyer who won’t be afraid to go to court if need be.
It should also be noted that the statute of limitations in Utah for personal injury claims is four years, and the sooner you get started with your case, the easier it is to collect the necessary evidence and witness testimony.