Utah Resident Injured in Idaho Car Accident

If you are a Utah resident involved in an Idaho car accident, you must act responsibly in accordance with the Idaho State law. However, Idaho State Laws may be unfamiliar to you. An accident alone is stressful, but one away from home is even more upsetting.

If your accident happened in Idaho, then you will need to hire an attorney that is licensed in Idaho. Our attorneys are licensed in both Idaho and Utah. This is helpful because we are familiar with Utah doctors and hospitals. We can help you get the right medical care close to home, we will collect all your medical records, and work with the insurance adjustors in Idaho.

Since we are located in Utah, you can meet with us face to face and we can work on your case together – in person.

If you are in an Idaho accident, follow these five steps:

Table of Contents

Stay

As a responsible driver, you must stay on the scene of the accident. If you leave, your driving privileges could be revoked or your license suspended.

At the scene of the accident be aware of the traffic situation and any other potential dangers, such as a fire.

Assist

Idaho has a Good Samaritan law that ensures that you are protected from any civil claims that may arise as a result of your actions in helping people at the scene of an accident. Do your best to provide assistance to other motorists, passengers or pedestrians that may have been injured in the accident.

In Idaho, any person who witnesses the accident and stays on the scene to assist may be subjected to four demerit points on their driving record.

Exchange

If you are involved in an accident in Idaho, you are required to provide certain information to the other parties involved. In addition, fellow motorists, passengers, or pedestrians involved in the accident must share similar information with you. It is important to have easy access to the information about the witness(es) in case you need a statement from them at a later date. Also, be sure to get copies of any medical expenses that were caused by the accident. Keep them organized in a safe place.

The key information to exchange in the aftermath of an accident includes:

Name, address and contact details
Driver license number
License plate number of the vehicles involved
Auto insurance information for the motorists involved
Photographs of accident

Report

It is mandatory to report accidents to the Idaho police. However, you are not required to report any accidents to the Idaho Transport Department. The police will develop a crash report. Which, you can request for your records.

Contact your auto insurance company and report the accident to your agent.

Being out of state requires questions that you may not ask in an in state accident, such as:

What does your policy cover in terms of out- of-state towing?
What does your policy cover in terms of out-of-state auto repair?
What does your policy cover in terms of out- of- state car rentals?

The largest expense in out-of-state accidents is typically transporting the vehicle back home. Towing costs can quickly add up, and your insurance company will most likely only pay a portion of this.

You don’t have a very long period of time to file your claim under http://statelaws.findlaw.com/idaho-law/idaho-civil-statute-of-limitations-laws.html Idaho Code 5-219. If you have suffered injuries, your time line is two years from the date of the car accident. If you are only claiming property damage, you have three years from the date of the incident. Missing a deadline could mean that you miss the opportunity for a case altogether.

Recover

We covered how to react in a car accident specifically in Idaho, but there are other considering factors that a personal injury attorney will make clear. A stressful situation in an unfamiliar place is difficult and there will be challenges to overcome.

In the event of an injury caused by the accident that was not your fault, contact a personal injury attorney.

As a Utah resident you may wonder, “do I hire an attorney in Utah (home) or Idaho (the place of the accident)

Hiring a Utah based attorney will be the best decision because you won’t be the one to navigate how to receive the most optimal settlement. In addition, hiring an attorney will relieve stress when you need to heal. Compared to other Utah personal injury attorneys, Christensen & Hymas provides services with integrity and compassion when you’ve been injured.

Our dedication to our clients is what separates us from other Utah law firms. From the moment you call us or visit our office, you will feel the passion we have for helping our clients. We will provide you with helpful information, take the time to answer your questions, and even point you in the right direction if we can’t help. Call us today and find out for yourself. We will handle everything for you, so you can focus on healing. For us, the highest honor is not an award or recognition. It’s the satisfaction of the people that we represent.

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