When it snows in Utah, car accidents pile up, mainly because of over-speeding and reckless driving under unfavorable conditions. That could partly be because car owners are normally accustomed to speeding on Utah’s open roads in summers, and therefore their natural driving instinct may be to rip it up. Over-speeding often results in car accidents and the long and short of it is that whether it snows or shines, Utah’s car accidents remain at an elevated level.
Our Utah car wreck attorneys recently received a call from a victim of a car crash in Salt Lake City. After hearing him out in a free consultation session (which we offer to all parties in a personal injury case), they advised him that he didn’t need a lawyer because his case was minor in nature and simple to resolve.
The conversation inspired us to write this post for the benefit of folks involved in a car accident.
Cases in Which You Don’t Need a Utah Car Wreck Attorney
1. When the extent of personal injuries and property damage does not warrant a case
If the car accident is minor and the cost of treating physical injuries, fixing property damage, accounting for lost wages, and any future loss of income are not significant, then the driver can consider settling the case directly with the at-fault driver.
Also, Utah is a no-fault insurance state, so each driver needs to claim his medical expenses and property damages from his insurance company first. So, if the case is minor and the injuries and property damages can be calculated easily and the at-fault party is willing to settle, then it can be closed by mutual negotiations – but only after discussions with the insurance adjuster.
2. A Discussion with the Insurance Adjuster
Before agreeing to settle with the at-fault driver, you need to check if your insurance adjuster will cover your entire claim. The adjuster inspects the car and the medical reports, and calculates a sum that his company is willing to settle for.
Remember that all insurance adjusters play hardball and so you will have to calmly negotiate with him. If all the expenses are covered, the claimant has to write a demand letter that details all the expenses and losses, which should be backed by documentary proof.
3. Court Costs
Though Utah’s attorneys who specialize in car wrecks work on a contingency fee basis, their client is required to pay court fees and administrative charges to the authorities. When such costs do not justify filing a case, the driver should try his best to settle the case out of court.
But that is easier said than done because most car accidents are not as simple as they seem.
4. Other Factors
- The at-fault party can avoid hiring a lawyer if the victim is willing to settle on his terms.
- Victims who have a lot of time on their hands and know the accident and insurance laws also don’t need an attorney.
That said, all drivers must consider hiring a Utah car accident lawyer if the case is not minor. If they don’t, then chances are extremely high they will not receive the compensation they deserve.
Cases in Which You Need a Utah Car Wreck Attorney
Let’s face it – almost all car accidents are a complicated business and most cases can be resolved only with the help of an experienced attorney.
Immediately after an accident, victims worry about their medical bills, recovery time, the days of work they will lose, lost wages, the insurance company’s counter-offer, disability, and more.
In most cases, victims are surrounded by a defendant and a hard-balling insurance company, who do not agree with the victim’s contention. Some victims get so overwhelmed that they settle their case by accepting a sum that is far lower than what they deserve.
If the car wreck case is not minor, and the victim cares about his rights and wants justice to be done to him for his economic and non-economic pain and suffering, then he has no option but to hire an experienced Utah car wreck attorney.
NO-COST, NO-OBLIGATION OFFER
Our experienced team of Utah car wreck lawyers understands the pain and disappointment that a victim of a car accident goes through.
We have successfully helped hundreds of car accident victims receive millions of dollars in damages by negotiating out of court with insurance companies and defendants, or compellingly arguing the case during the trial.
We are here to protect your rights.
We ensure that we will help you during the stressful accident claim process so that you can focus on recovery and your work.
Whether your accident is minor or not, consider taking us up on our free consultation offer.
You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
