The effects of a car accident can significantly impact both your physical health and financial stability. While you recover from painful injuries and deal with being unable to work, you may also encounter hefty medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repair expenses, and additional difficulties.

Then, when you seek help through an insurance claim, you could be met with even more challenges.

In Utah, it’s essential to understand the state’s no-fault car insurance laws. The mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance only covers up to $3,000 in medical costs.

If your medical expenses exceed this limit or you’ve suffered a permanent disability or impairment, you may be entitled to file an at-fault claim for further compensation.

When pursuing an at-fault claim, you can expect the insurance adjuster to explore any excuse to deny your claim—including shifting the blame to you.

If they can’t reject the claim entirely, the adjuster may offer a reduced settlement based on your partial fault—but did you really contribute to the accident? Has your share of fault been calculated correctly?

To answer these questions and ensure your interests are protected, we recommend you seek a copy of your police accident report and consult an experienced car accident attorney. Our legal team at Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers is always ready to assist you with a free consultation.

We’ll answer your questions and explain the options so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.

Where Can You Get Your Sandy Police Department Car Accident Report?

You can file a Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) request with the Sandy Police Department in person or electronically. The form is available online, or you can wait until you arrive at the police department.

The crumpled hood of a grey car stuck under the truck bed of a pickup truck.You’ll be asked to describe the records you need. First, look for any paperwork you received at the scene of the accident. The responding officer usually provides a piece of paper with the case number, which you should include in your description.

The date, location, and approximate time of the accident are also helpful.

You can choose to view the records for free or request a copy for a $10 fee. Having your own copy to refer to is often beneficial, so we recommend this option.

Utah’s privacy laws restrict who can obtain car accident records, so there is also a section that determines if you should have access. People directly involved in a collision, such as drivers, passengers, injured parties, and owners of damaged property, should select “I am the subject of the record.”

At the bottom of the form, you’ll fill out your contact information, including name, address, phone number, and email address.

Once the form is complete, you can drop it off at the Sandy Police Department during normal business hours. The address is:

Sandy Police Department

10000 Centennial Pkwy

Sandy, UT 84070

You must bring a government-issued ID for identification purposes.

To submit the form online, email it to PDRecords@sandy.utah.gov with a notarized letter authorizing release.

What if the Other Driver Says You Are at Fault?

This is a frequent question in car accident cases. Often, drivers have very different accounts of what occurred in a collision.

To confuse matters further, witnesses may also have different recollections or may not have seen everything that happened. Or, there might be no other witnesses.

The responding officer does their best to determine what caused the accident and ultimately chooses from a long list of “contributing factors” when compiling a police report. Multiple contributing factors are common; some may be attributed to both drivers.

If necessary, the officer will issue a citation for traffic violations, but it isn’t their job to have the final say on fault.

Who Decides Fault in a Car Accident?

In most cases, one or more insurance adjusters determine fault. The police report is a significant piece of evidence, so it’s essential to review your report with an attorney.

If you feel that something on the report is incorrect or that the report favors the other driver’s version of events, we can investigate further. Should we uncover more evidence to show the other party is at fault, we may be able to challenge the report.

What Is Modified Comparative Negligence?

In personal injury cases in Utah, parties to an accident or injury can share fault. When you are partially at fault, you can recover damages if you are less than 50 percent responsible.

Your percentage of fault will reduce your final settlement, so your lawyer will fight for a fair evaluation of responsibility.

If the insurance adjuster overestimates your culpability, you could lose thousands of dollars or more that you deserve for your injuries. This is frequently a problem for injured people who don’t have attorneys.

It’s hard to estimate your own degree of fault when you aren’t an expert, and the insurance adjusters will be most interested in saving their companies money. For this reason, engaging a skilled personal injury attorney is the best solution for protecting your interests.

Where Can You Get Help With Your Car Accident Police Report or Insurance Claim?

The legal team at Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers is prepared to help you with your car accident or personal injury claim anywhere across Utah. Please contact us for a free consultation, during which we’ll review your accident report and address any questions or concerns you have.

Our experienced attorneys will walk you through the process of pursuing compensation. There’s no obligation, and you won’t owe us any fees unless we successfully win or settle your case.

Established by attorney Brigham Richards, Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers has always advocated for injury victims and their families. Brigham Richards’ practice is rooted in a commitment to responsibility, treating each client with the utmost care and importance.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, he is passionate about securing the best possible outcome for every personal injury case. He is licensed to practice law in both Utah and Nevada.

At Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we have recovered over $100 million on behalf of our injured clients. Reach out to us at (801) 810-9999 today to learn how we can help you.

Additional Questions?

We have helped many clients recover from injuries resulting from car accidents in West Valley, Salt Lake City, and the greater Utah area. We are here to help you recover after an accident. If you've been injured, don't hesitate to call Valley Law Accident and Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. We have recovered millions for our clients and we are ready to fight for you.

Get in touch

Work with the team that cares

Office
5255 S 4015 W Suite 207C,
SLC, UT, 84129, United States.

Call 24/7 801-810-9999

Directions Sign
Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Logo

Book a Consultation

Find out why so many clients appreciate the amount of work we put into their case.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Brigham Richards
Receive top-tier legal guidance from a leading expert in the valley
Call to action

2021 and 2022 Gold Winner for Top Law Firm by Salt City Best

Phone

Call 24/7 801-810-9999