Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Attorneys in Salt Lake City, UT

If you’ve ever traveled down I-15 or I-80, you’ve probably seen an 18-wheeler. They’re impossible to miss, especially when there’s an unsecured load dropping pebbles or debris onto your windshield and scratching the glass.

Even worse, when there’s an accident involving one of the behemoth trucks, you might see injuries, damaged vehicles, or even loss of life. If you are ever in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you may need a Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer to help you get compensated for your medical bills, pain, and emotional suffering.

Hire a Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyer

Nearly 25% of all vehicles on Utah roads are commercial trucks. I-80 is one of the largest transporters of goods across the United States. On the treacherous roads around Salt Lake City, the monstrous trucks can be dangerous, causing injury and damage, especially if weather conditions are poor or a driver is negligent. A storm on I-80 can turn a 20-minute commute into more than an hour.

When you are in an accident with an 18-wheeler or other commercial truck, your vehicle could be seriously damaged, and you could sustain severe injuries, simply due to the size and weight of the truck. You may lose out on wages, have extensive medical bills, or need long-term care. When you hire a Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer, you can start planning for your case immediately.

At the Garner Law Firm, we provide your lawyer’s personal cell phone number because we know access to your lawyer is imperative when you have been in this kind of accident. You need to be able to trust the person working with you, and we work hard to build that relationship with our clients.

We are personal injury lawyers with a proven track record, and our truck accident attorneys have experience litigating against big insurance companies over big trucks. Our clients know we are fair and honest, and we fight for their interests with fierce integrity. We’re not afraid of going to trial because we are trial attorneys, and we go to court to win.

Our Method

A Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer can investigate your case and gather evidence to support your claim. They take a detailed account of what occurred so they can negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company. At the Garner Law Firm, we give your case the attention it deserves. With insurance companies that are desperate not to pay you, we gather the evidence to counter their tactics.

Some of the evidence we can gather may include:

• Medical records showing the extent of your injuries
• Physical therapy co-pays
• Doctor bills and co-pays
• Driver logs from the trucking company
• Witness statements
• Driving record of the truck driver
• Estimates of future treatments
• Police reports

Once we gather as much evidence as possible, we begin negotiations with the insurance company, keeping you informed of every step. Our intent is to reach your outcome goals as efficiently as possible.

Types of Negligence by Truck Drivers

You can sustain injuries from many different accidents involving trucks. However, proving negligence on the part of the driver or company is an important part of your case. Some common types of negligence by truck drivers include:

• Driver fatigue. Driver fatigue affects many drivers and is widely recognized as a cause of driver negligence. According to the Truck Safety Coalition, 65% of drivers report feeling drowsy as they are driving, and nearly half admit they have fallen asleep at the wheel. This is a recipe for disaster.
• Distracted driving. Utah has strict laws regarding cell phone usage while driving, yet every year, more accidents are caused by this electronic distraction. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2022 alone, over 62,000 crashes involved cell phone usage.
• Aggressive driving. Road rage incidents are prevalent in Utah, even with new laws to prevent aggressive drivers.
• Mechanical issues. Commercial truck drivers are required to have their trucks inspected by authorized safety inspectors. State inspectors perform most inspections, though about 5% are conducted by federal inspectors. An inspection failure results in an OOS, or out-of-service order. A driver is not allowed to return to service until the violations are repaired.

Commercial truck drivers are required to keep detailed records, and a Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer can review the records for your case. Any irregularities may be used to show negligence on the driver’s part. This is why it’s so important to hire a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. Drivers keep their logs for a few months, but they may disappear if you wait too long.

How Your Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyer Investigates

After gathering the required information from you, your truck accident attorney can investigate the cause of the accident and attempt to determine liability. Liability helps determine what, if any, compensation you are entitled to. Our Salt Lake City truck accident lawyers present you with all your options, whether that’s through negotiation or going to trial.

Utah’s Comparative Negligence and PIP (Personal Injury Protection)

Utah requires drivers to have PIP (personal injury protection) to cover both themselves and other drivers in the case of an accident. PIP covers up to $3,000 for your own medical expenses, so an evaluation of your case by a trusted truck accident lawyer can help you decide if your case is worth going to trial. If you have expenses over $3,000 or you have sustained a permanent injury or scar, you may be eligible to make a viable claim.

Utah also has comparative negligence laws that bar you from filing a claim if you are 50% or more at fault. When you are partially at fault, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault you share. Your truck accident lawyer can help you navigate the complicated laws and insurance rules that govern truck accidents in Salt Lake City.

At the Garner Law Firm, our truck accident attorneys are highly skilled at accounting for all of the expenses you need covered, both now and in the future. Most lawyers are out to get a quick payout because that means payment for them. Our team believes every case is unique and each case deserves the time it takes to negotiate the compensation you need and deserve. We are not afraid of going to trial to fight for a better future for you.

FAQs

Is It Worth Getting an Attorney for a Truck Accident?

It is worth getting an attorney for a truck accident in most cases. An experienced truck accident lawyer can make sure every avenue for compensation is explored, including lost wages, medical expenses, and vehicle repairs. Legal representation gives you the highest possible chance of receiving full compensation for your injuries and other damages.

How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?

The amount of a truck accident settlement can vary widely depending on the extent of injuries, the amount of insurance both parties have, whether it’s a commercial vehicle, and whether you have a respected truck accident lawyer on your side, working to get you justice. At the Garner Law Firm, our Salt Lake City truck accident lawyers work with you to build a case and identify all options available for trial or settlement.

What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need to File a Claim Against a Trucking Company?

You need a personal injury lawyer to file a claim against a trucking company, but if you want to build a successful case, you need a lawyer with experience in truck accident cases.

Commercial laws are different in Utah than the laws for a standard car accident. A diligent attorney can investigate whether the truck’s load was properly secured, the driver’s logs, any driving infractions on record, and more to prove negligence on the part of the truck driver or company.

What Happens If a Truck Has an OOS When the Accident Occurs?

When a truck driver has an out-of-service order (OOS), they must cease services until they comply with federal regulations. OOS orders are serious violations and indicate an unsafe vehicle. In 2023, over 881,000 OOS orders were written, underscoring the need for more safety compliance. In a truck accident case, it is crucial to scrutinize OOS orders to build a stronger case against negligent drivers.

Don’t Fight Big Companies Alone

The worst thing you can do when you get in an accident involving a truck is let the insurance companies take advantage of you. They profit by avoiding payouts, and the reality is they often employ every tactic in their arsenal to disprove your claim.

The Garner Law Firm isn’t afraid of big insurance companies. We are trial lawyers, so we are willing to go all the way to trial to get you the compensation you deserve. Truck accident injuries have the potential to change your life with traumatic injuries and emotional distress. Our job is to ensure you get the proper compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, damaged property, and future.

Contact us today to evaluate your case with one of our truck accident lawyers.