According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, there are over 50,000 crashes that happen in the state of Utah every year, and roughly 200 of these involve fatalities.

There are many reasons why car accidents happen in Salt Lake City, and one of the main ones is due to out of state visitors who are not familiar with the roads, the laws, and the speed limits. This lack of familiarity puts not only tourist at risk, but everyone else on the road as well.

When a traveler from another state causes an accident, there can be a number of unforeseen complications. The sound legal advice of a Salt Lake City out-of-state accident lawyer can mitigate many of these headaches.

What to Do After an Accident with an Out-of-State Driver

Tourists visit Salt Lake City to take in the city and have a good time, but that is not a good reason for the citizens of Salt Lake City to face the medical and repair expenses that occur after being in a car accident.

When looking to recover damages after being hit by an out-of-state driver, it is important to get the driver’s information, as he or she may leave town soon after the accident. Just like with any other accident, you’ll need to collect all of the following information from the other driver:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Vehicle identification number
  • Insurance information

Your Salt Lake City out-of-state car accident lawyer will need all of this information to ensure the other driver and his or her insurance company compensate you for any damages or injuries.

Out-of-State Considerations

From the perspective of Salt Lake City out-of-state car accident lawyers, one of the first things we want to know is what state and city the other driver is from. This allows us to look at specific laws, including whether we will want—or need—to engage legal counsel from the other driver’s state of residency as well.

Typically, this is not an issue, but we do want to make sure we cover all our bases, especially when we’re dealing with an out-of-state insurance company.

Local Vehicle Assessment

If the other driver’s vehicle has been damaged and he or she is from out of town, one of the things we can press for is to have the vehicle assessed locally in Salt Lake City.

This prevents an assessment from a small-town mechanic who may be looking out for the best interests of the out-of-state driver. If any damages must be paid for, we want to make sure any damage assessment is accurate and in your best interest.

Out-of-State Summons

It is important to let the judge know that you are dealing with an out-of-state driver, so the judge can properly summon all parties and ensure they have enough time to travel.

Out-of-state drivers who are involved in an accident in Salt Lake City cannot simply flee to their home state and avoid the consequences of the accident and their negligence.

If you have been injured or your property damaged, you may be entitled to compensation regardless of the state of residency of the driver.

Contact a Salt Lake City Out-of-State Accident Lawyer

To discuss your case and your options in further detail, contact a Salt Lake City out-of-state accident lawyer at the offices of Craig Swapp & Associates by calling 1-800-404-9000 or by reaching us online through the form at the bottom of this page.