Taylorsville Car Accident Lawyer
Taylorsville is a quickly growing city within Utah, and one that is rapidly becoming a very popular place to live for families who want to be close to downtown Salt Lake and cities like Murray (which hosts one of the busiest intersections in the state and one of the country’s best hospitals) while also maintaining access to to the outdoors and all of the perks that come with a small city feel, including events such as Taylorsville Dayzz.
But with rapid growth and expansion and more people comes more vehicles and more traffic. In fact, I-215 runs right through Taylorsville, as does Redwood Road – one of the busiest streets in the state. Which is why it is no surprise that every year, there are a number of fatal and serious accidents that occur within Taylorsville’s boundaries.
At the law offices of Christensen & Hymas, we know that despite how common car accidents are, if you are involved in a crash, it can feel as though you’re all alone in the world. In the aftermath of an accident when you are coping with serious injuries, emotions, and questions about what happens next, our Taylorsville car accident lawyers will be by your side to provide you with the support you need.
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Recovering Compensation After a Crash
In addition to healing from your injuries to the fullest extent possible, you are certainly concerned with making sure that you are compensated for all of the economic and noneconomic losses that you have incurred, including:
- Hospital bills and medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Property damage to your vehicle; and
- Pain, suffering, and emotional anguish.
But while you may be hoping to recover every penny that you have lost, doing so may be easier said than done.
After a crash, the first party that you will turn to for compensation is your own insurance company, per Utah’s insurance laws which require that all drivers carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Drivers are required to carry PIP in an amount of at least $3,000, which is used to pay for medical expenses before a claim is filed against another driver.
Once your PIP limits are exhausted, the next option is filing a claim with the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Like PIP insurance, drivers are also required to carry liability insurance which is used to pay for damages caused to others. (In the event that the driver who caused your accident and injuries does not have insurance, you may be able to turn to your own policy’s uninsured/underinsured coverage for compensation).
In order to file a successful claim against another driver, you will need to prove that the other driver was at-fault for your injuries, as well as the extent of damages that you have suffered. However, even if fault is clear, remember that the job of an insurance adjuster is to save the insurance company money, and your settlement offer may be much lower than you expect as such.
Rejecting a Car Accident Settlement from an Insurance Company
Before you accept a settlement offer and sign a release of claims, you should have the offer reviewed by a reputable car accident attorney who is familiar with your case. If the settlement is not reflective of the amount of damages that you have suffered, you have the right to reject the settlement and negotiate for a higher offer. An attorney can represent you in settlement negotiations, and help you to understand the value of your claim and what you should demand.
Proving Fault and Understanding Comparative Negligence
As stated above, in order to recover compensation from another party, you will need to prove that your accident and injuries would not have occurred but for the negligence (the failure to act with a reasonable degree of care) of that party. Negligent acts that cause car accidents include, but are not limited to:
- Speeding;
- Driving drunk;
- Distracted driving;
- Tailgating;
- Driving aggressively;
- Failing to yield; and
- More.
Proving that a driver acted negligently, and that the negligence was the cause of your crash, can be difficult. Our lawyers collect police reports, interview eyewitnesses, photograph evidence and data, analyze electronic control module information, and even hire accident reconstruction and other experts to determine fault and build your case.
In some cases, you will also need to prove that you were not at fault, in any way, for the accident. Per the rules of modified comparative fault, if you were to blame for your crash, your damages can be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
Act Now Before It’s Too Late
It is important to act quickly after a Taylorsville crash to preserve your right to damages. You will need to file your car accident claim with the insurance company within the required time frame, and if you are filing a lawsuit, you must bring forth your civil suit within four years’ time from the date of the occurrence of the accident. If you wait longer than four years, you may be permanently barred from recovering compensation. What’s more, the longer you wait, the more evidence that is potentially destroyed, and the harder it may be to build a winning case.
Our Car Accident Lawyers in Taylorsville Are Here to Support You
We know that being involved in a car accident is scary, and that all you want now is to receive the compensation award that you deserve and be able to recover and move on with your life in peace. When you hire our experienced Taylorsville car accident attorneys, we will work swiftly and efficiently on your behalf to recover you the settlement you need and to which you’re entitled.
You can call our law offices today, or send us a message using the confidential intake form on our website, to request a free consultation. We are highly experienced, and have a track record of success. Reach us today to learn more about our legal services and how we can help.