Common causes of car accidents include speeding, distracted driving, or ignoring traffic signals. No matter how carefully you drive, another motorist’s lack of care can cause an accident, often resulting in painful injuries and missed time at work.
Utah’s mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance should help cover medical expenses, but these policies are minimal. The required PIP amount is only $3,000.
While you can purchase additional PIP or Medical Payments coverage, many people only have the minimum amount. Even those with extra coverage may find a severe injury outpaces their insurance limits.
What can you do about medical bills, lost income, and related expenses that exceed your PIP policy limits?
If your medical bills are over $3,000, you could seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance. It’s important to understand that this opens up new avenues for the insurance company to deny your claim based on fault, as opposed to PIP, which is “no-fault” insurance.
Because proving fault could be essential, obtaining a copy of your accident report and consulting with an experienced car accident attorney is crucial. The Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers team offers free consultations to help you explore your legal options and answer any questions.
How Can You Get a Copy of Your Price Police Department Car Accident Report?
The Price City Police Department is located at:
910 North 700
East Price, UT 84501
You can visit the Department during regular business hours to request a report. To save time, you may print and complete a copy of the online Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) form.
You’ll need to include your name and date of birth and explain in as much detail as possible what records you need. Ideally, you should use the case number from your accident, which is usually on a paper provided by the responding officer.
However, if you misplaced the paperwork, you can include the location, date, and approximate time of the collision instead.
Next, you can choose to view the records or seek a copy you can keep. Viewing the records is free, but a permanent copy may be more helpful.
Police reports cost $20, although there may be additional charges if the report is longer than five pages. This is unusual for a car accident report.
If you can’t afford the report, you can request a fee waiver, which requires proof of your financial situation.
Accident records are not public in Utah, but they will be released to people involved in the collision or their representatives (like lawyers or insurance agents). The next section of the form asks why you are entitled to access the records.
If you were involved as a driver, passenger, injured person, or property owner, you can choose “I am the subject of the record.”
How Should You Proceed After Receiving Your Police Report?
Filing an insurance claim to seek compensation for your damages is typically the next step. However, it’s advisable to consult with an experienced car accident attorney beforehand for several reasons:
A Lawyer Can Help You Determine Which Type of Claim or Claims to File
Depending on the situation, you may need to file a claim with your insurance company, the other driver’s insurer, or both. It can be challenging to track which company is paying for what, and both insurers will likely try to minimize their costs.
Many people become frustrated when dealing with insurance companies.
Conversations with insurance adjusters are often more complex than they seem, especially when dealing with an at-fault claim. Innocent comments might be misinterpreted, potentially placing fault on you for the accident.
Your lawyer will ensure your claim is handled professionally and the accident details are explained without ambiguity.
Your Lawyer Can Help You Understand Fault
If you’re unsure or suspect you might be at fault, an attorney can help clarify liability. Avoid admitting fault at the scene or discussing it with anyone other than your lawyer, as people often misunderstand the actual cause of an accident.
Remember that you only have your own perspective on what occurred, and there may be facts you don’t know.
An attorney will review the police report and ask you questions to learn what happened. If necessary, they can perform a thorough investigation.
Sometimes, when clients believe they are at fault, we find they did nothing wrong. If you are at fault, we can examine your options—in many situations, you may still be able to recover some damages.
In cases where both drivers share some responsibility for the collision, your lawyer will help determine the degree of fault for each party. As long as you’re less than 50 percent responsible, you can still seek compensation, although your settlement may be reduced based on your share of the blame.
Insurance adjusters sometimes inflate your level of fault, reducing your compensation, but your lawyer will advocate for an accurate assessment.
Your Attorney Will Fight for a Proper Valuation of Your Damages
Another potential difficulty is an undervalued claim, which can occur when a claims adjuster overlooks certain losses or underestimates the compensation you deserve. Since most people aren’t familiar with how to calculate a fair settlement, they might accept an offer that’s far below what they’re entitled to.
Consulting with a lawyer before accepting any offer is crucial, even if you filed the claim independently. We’ll review the insurance company’s offer and fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Where Can You Go to Learn More About Your Car Accident Claim or Police Report?
The team at Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers is ready to assist you with your personal injury or car accident case. During your complimentary consultation, we’ll review your accident report, address all of your concerns, and provide a thorough explanation of your legal options for pursuing compensation.
There’s no obligation, and if you choose to hire us, you won’t owe any fees unless we successfully win your case or secure a settlement.
Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers was established by attorney Brigham Richards, who is dedicated to defending the rights of injured individuals and their families. With a focus on accountability and a client-centered approach, Mr. Richards ensures each case is handled with care.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, he works diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients in personal injury matters. Work with his team today when you call (801) 810-9999.
