Utah Rear-End Collision Lawyer

An accident can happen unexpectedly at any time, and rear-end collisions can be even more of a shock because one is almost impossible to anticipate or brace for. If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, working with a rear-end collision lawyer can significantly affect your chances of success on a subsequent injury claim. An attorney can be a reliable resource, offering knowledge, experience, and a team of professionals dedicated to assisting you.

The team at Valley Law Accident and Injury Lawyers has spent years committed to serving the local community through rear-end collision accidents, and we have attorneys standing by to aid you through yours! Case reviews are always free and confidential for rear-end collision victims. These consultations are a great opportunity to help you see a clearer picture regarding the upcoming legal process and damages might be appropriate for your situation. To book your no-obligation consultation, call (801) 810-9999 or contact us online today.

How Can Working With a Utah Rear-End Collision Lawyer Help Your Claim?

With about 1.7 million rear-end collisions on United States roadways every year, this type of accident is an omnipresent danger for drivers. When a car hits another vehicle from behind, it can leave significant damage to the vehicle and any passenger’s physical state.

Instead of pushing other aspects of your day-to-day life on the back burner, you can retain a professional to oversee your case alongside their entire team. An attorney can approach your case with their knowledge and experience to ensure that you are maximizing your chances of recovering all damages you have suffered.

When you work with a trusted legal team like the professionals at Valley Law, you’ll gain:

• An open line of communication: An attorney ensures injury victims have access to accurate information and the optimal legal strategy for their case. Any time you have questions or would like insights into your legal options, your attorney can provide the needed answers for you.
• Thorough investigation of your damages and fault: One of the most-critical services an attorney can provide is a complete investigation of your case. That includes its primary causes as well as the full extent of damages you have suffered and will suffer.
• Case management through every step of your claim: There are many critical details needed for a successful insurance claim. An attorney can oversee each one in order to maximize your chances of a successful recovery, from assessing damages to dealing with insurers directly.
• Protection from common insurance traps: Insurers will often see an unrepresented claimant as vulnerable to common tactics that can undervalue your claim. A rear-end collision lawyer can help you protect your legal rights throughout the process while ensuring that any offer made includes adequate compensation for the damages you have suffered.
• Experienced negotiation and litigation abilities: Many aspects of handling a claim are not intuitive. For example, many claimants will assume that when the insurer disputes fault or alleges that they have made “the one and final” settlement offer, that they have no recourse. An attorney helps you anticipate common challenges and then uses their experience gleaned from past cases to use the most effective strategies available for your particular situation.
• Preparation for a possible trial: Most injury claims will resolve with an out-of-court settlement, but some cases will need to proceed to a lawsuit and, potentially, a trial. Your attorney can prepare your case for a trial contest from the onset. This approach positions your case towards a successful strategy should it reach trial while also increasing the chances that the opposition will settle rather than face a strong legal claim for damages.

Damages Available in a Rear-End Collision Case

While every rear-end accident case will be unique, many will lead to the following types of damages:

• Medical bills, past and future
• Lost wages, including lost benefits and differences in earnings
• Out of pocket expenses directly related to post-accident injury treatment and other costs
• Pain and suffering to compensate you for the personal discomfort and loss of enjoyment of life you have experienced because of the accident
• Funeral and burial expenses for a fatal accident
• Punitive damages, which can be awarded by a jury in cases that proceed to trial

Your car accident attorney can help you determine which damages you have suffered — and are likely to suffer in the future. Many claimants will accidentally undervalue their claim by overlooking details such as differences in hours worked or the projected costs of future injury care. Don’t leave money on the table or force yourself to pay out of pocket for costs inflicted by someone else’s negligence; work with an attorney who can help you seek to recover all damages that you have suffered.

What to Do After a Rear-End Collision in Utah

Every accident will look different, as will its resulting claim, but when it comes to the compensation process, the steps generally follow a standard protocol. Below is a set of tips that can help a claimant to stay organized and maximize their chances of success in their fight for financial recovery.

Notify the Police and Gather Evidence of the Accident

Having a police report on record is essential for your insurance claim. If the police arrive on scene, they’ll help gather important details and build out a report. In cases where no first responders were dispatched, you can file a report with an appropriate precinct or highway patrol office. A police report will solidify many of the significant details about how the accident happened, which is important for the involved insurers and could be essential evidence if your claim evolves into a lawsuit.

Seek Medical Attention

One of the first things the victim of a car accident should do is seek the help of a medical professional for a physical exam. A rear-end collision can leave a passenger with serious neck, back, or spine injuries that require care and follow-up treatment like physical and massage therapy. A doctor will put together a comprehensive file that records every injury and their recommendations for recovery. This report is essential for establishing the cause of your injuries while valuing your claim.

Never Admit Fault

For some people, it may be in their nature to take some level of responsibility when it comes to serious situations like an accident. This can be an act of self-sabotage, as a simple ‘I’m sorry’ may derail the value of your claim in the long run. It is best to avoid speaking with the other party as much as possible, and it is only necessary to communicate to exchange information or when contacting the proper authorities for help.

Lawsuit or Insurance Claim?

Utah is considered a “no-fault” state when it comes to accident liability, which means that any person involved in a car accident must report the incident to their own insurance company and request compensation from that source. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required of all Utah drivers. The minimum protection from PIP insurance is $3,000 in medical expenses per person. Some people may personalize their coverage to offer more benefits, but in cases where PIP insurance won’t put a dent in the incurred expenses, another route may be more productive.

Certain cases can qualify for a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. Anyone can file a claim, but proving that the defendant is to be held responsible is the challenging step. In a claim regarding a rear-end collision, the plaintiff will need to prove that the defendant acted negligently and that their negligence caused an injury that meets Utah’s medical condition threshold. An attorney can help you assess the pros and cons of your options and ultimately guide you through your decision to file a claim or a formal lawsuit, depending on the details of your case.

Determining Negligence for a Lawsuit

Compiling evidence that proves the negligent actions of another person requires more than a simple assertion by police or a witness statement. To prove liability, a person’s actions must be qualified through each of the four points of negligence.

The four points of negligence are as follows:

• Duty of care: The person in question had a duty of care to the injured party. A duty of care refers to someone’s responsibility to act with the safety of others in mind.
• Breach in care: When a person fails to uphold their established duty of care, it is referred to as a breach.
• Causation: Said breach of duty is the proven cause of the accident.
• Injury: Finally, in order to determine negligence, the accident must have resulted in serious injury or other reportable damage, with provable damages of a financial or personal nature.

Call Our Experienced Utah Rear End Collision Law Firm Today

Recovering from a car accident is a time and energy-consuming process, but juggling litigation on top of your physical health can lead to small details slipping through the cracks.

An attorney can take many of the overwhelming aspects of litigation off your shoulders, so you can get back to your healing journey and promote a speedy recovery. An accident can happen to anyone, but knowing that there are experienced professionals to guide you through the legal process around the corner can make it easier to face.

You can learn more about the services of a Utah rear-end collision attorney during a free consultation with Valley Law Accident and Injury Laywers. To book your free, no-obligation consultation, call (801) 810-9999 or contact us online.