A Car Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case
The aftermath of a car accident is a particularly stressful time. You may be facing serious injuries, an inability to work, and medical bills piling up around you. It’s normal to feel as if your life is coming undone.
The Advocates understand what you are going through, and we are ready to help with your recovery. We are a personal injury law firm with more than thirty years of experience helping car accident victims in Salt Lake City, Provo, and all throughout Utah. The Advocates take pride in treating each and every client with the same dedication and respect we would give a member of our own family. That’s our commitment to you and your case.
Don’t wait to start the road to recovery. An Advocate is ready to speak with you about your automobile accident. Contact us today for a free consultation.
The Next Steps In Your Case
Injury
Immediately after your accident, check for injuries
Hire Attorney
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Treatment
Seek medical attention as soon as you can
Property Damage
Get your car fixed
Treatment Completed
Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward
Demand
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
Frequently Asked Questions
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.
Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.
The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.
You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case and you receive a settlement.
For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.
Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.
When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.
We Get Results
In Settlements
A Team of Legal Professionals Assigned to Your Case
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.Â
We can help you:
- Understand the claims process
- Investigate your accident
- Build your case
- Negotiate with insurance adjusters
Talking to a Professional
- No need to schedule an appointment
- No need to wait for an email response
- Free online consultation
- Talk directly with an attorney
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
What to Do At the Scene of a Car Accident
Examine injuries
Immediately after being involved in an accident, take stock of your injuries, and have all passengers do the same. If anyone suffered serious injuries, call 911.
Even if no one appears to be seriously injured, everyone involved should seek medical treatment as soon as possible after the accident.
Move your vehicle to safety
If you are physically able and your vehicle is operable, state law requires that you move your vehicle out of the way of traffic. Get onto the shoulder or, if possible, into a nearby parking lot.
In severe accidents where there are serious injuries or significant vehicle damage, the police and/or a towing company may need to assist with the removal of all vehicles from the roadway.
Don’t admit fault
Apologizing to the other driver or accepting part or all of the blame for the accident may feel like the nice thing to do. Do not do this. Admitting fault will seriously damage your ability to file a claim.
In many car accident cases, an investigation must be done to determine who was at fault for the accident and to what degree. If you accept the blame for the accident, an investigation may not be done.
Utah is a modified comparative fault state, meaning that even if you were partly responsible for the crash, you can still receive financial compensation, as long as you are not found to be more than 51% at fault.
By taking full responsibility for the accident before an investigation is ever done, you not only lose your right of action, but potentially open yourself up to suits from the other driver. Do not admit fault for the accident to the police, the other driver, insurance adjusters, or anyone else involved in the accident.
Call the police
Most insurance companies will require a police report in order to file a claim. Even if there is no apparent medical emergency and 911 is not called, you should call the local non-emergency line and request that a police officer come to the scene.
When the officer arrives, they will ask questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the accident. Give them the facts about your accident but avoid offering opinions or speculation on who or what caused the crash.
This police report can be used as evidence when building your personal injury claim.
Exchange information
In any accident that results in injury or property damage, you are required by law to exchange information with the other driver. Keep this conversation calm and professional. Be sure to obtain the following information from them:
- Full nameÂ
- Phone number
- Address
- Insurance information
- License plate number
Take photos
The more thoroughly you document your accident, the easier it will be to build your case later on. Photo and video footage are particularly useful, as they are more reliable than the memories of those at the scene. Take pictures and videos of the following:
- Â Your injuries
- All involved vehicles from multiple angles
- Traffic and weather conditions
- Marks on the pavement
- The scene as a whole from multiple angles
This documentation can be used by your attorney when building your case. Even if something doesn’t seem important, take a picture anyway. Your Advocate can help you determine what is useful later.
What to Do After Leaving the Scene
Seek medical treatment
If no ambulance was called to the scene of the accident, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not believe you are injured, it is crucial that you see a doctor. Tell your physician that you were involved in a car crash so they know what to look for.
You may have hidden injuries, such as internal damage, brain injuries, or small fractures. These injuries may not be apparent at first, but they can progress and become harder to treat the longer you wait to seek treatment.
Your doctor will also be able to document all your injuries and the treatment you receive for them. This will be useful when building your case and calculating your damages. You will not be able to send a demand letter to the other party until you have finished treatment.
File an insurance claim
Even if you plan to file a personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company, you should still file a claim with your own car insurance provider. Utah law requires all insurance policies to include at least $3,000 of personal injury protection, otherwise known as PIP. PIP can help cover medical expenses, lost income, and funeral expenses (in the case of a fatality). Your own coverage may include more than the $3,000 minimum.
In order to file a claim with your insurance provider, you should have the following information handy:
- Date, time, and location of your accident
- Name and contact information of other driver
- Other driver’s insurance and vehicle information
- Police report number
If your medical expenses exceed $3,000, or you face permanent disability or disfigurement as a result of the accident, you can also file a claim against the other driver. If someone died in the accident, you may file a wrongful death suit.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
An auto accident attorney can provide you with legal advice and guidance throughout the entirety of your recovery. The Advocates will help you access medical care, get your car repaired, build your case, negotiate with insurance companies, and receive fair compensation for your damages.
The statute of limitations for car accident injuries in Utah is four years. After this length of time, you lose your ability to file a personal injury claim. Call The Advocates’ Utah car accident attorneys today to get started on the road to recovery. You deserve fair compensation for your injuries. You deserve an Advocate.
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