Salt Lake City Car Accident Lawyers Helping You Win Your Case in Utah

Finding yourself caught up in an auto accident is a scary experience, and incidents can appear out of nowhere, with seemingly no warning. While many of us take our car for granted, there is no denying that these vehicles have the potential to be dangerous if misused, and they are capable of causing tremendous harm to victims.

Working with a car accident attorney can bring you compensation for the injuries that others have caused, which is why it can make a huge difference in your recovery.

When Might I Be Involved in an Accident?

Car accidents are sadly more common than we may like to believe, and the causes are numerous.

Driver distraction is a common cause of accidents and can pose a danger both to other road users and to the driver themselves. If you are behind the wheel, it is imperative that your total focus and attention is on the road in front of you; any distraction, even for a second, has the potential to cause tremendous harm. Accidents in the past have been caused by a driver eating or drinking while driving, taking a moment to change a song on the radio, or looking away from the road. Other passengers can also be a risk – if they are shouting or talking, you may find attention diverted from the road.

Using a cellphone while driving is another major hazard. Most driver’s kid themselves that they can simultaneously focus on a telephone conversation and handle the road, or that they can look down for a moment to answer a text. While this may seem tempting, both of these actions could have serious consequences – it only takes a moment for an accident to take place.

Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol are also hazardous. The substance will impair judgment, impacting every aspect of driving, from controlling the car to having the ability to make safe, educated decisions and judgment calls.

How Does Speeding Affect My Chances of Being Involved in an Accident?

The faster you go, the less control you have over the vehicle, and the higher the chances of being involved in a crash. Your stopping distance will be increased if you are traveling at a higher speed, and this means that more distance is required between you and the car in front to allow you to stop safely.

Other factors, including road conditions also exacerbate risks – a wet road increases stopping distance even more and makes it harder to stop or navigate suddenly when the need arises. Worn or misaligned tires also pose a higher risk to speeders, as do brakes which are not working in harmony – these factors mean that pressure will not be applied evenly, and you may skid or slide when you attempt to stop. High speeds mean you have less time to make these flash decisions and could result in tragedy.

How Are Car Accidents Linked to Personal Injury?

If you are injured in a car accident, you could find yourself eligible to file a personal injury claim against the other driver. If successful, this will allow you to pursue the other party for damages and compensation. This can also help with practical elements such as medical bills and expenses, adjustments, and any loss of earnings or reduced earning capacity.

In order to prove liability, the judge will need to rule that the actions, negligence, or recklessness of the other driver directly contributed to the accidents, and any injuries which you suffered as a result. Your Salt Lake City Personal Injury Attorney will use a variety of evidence to help build and strengthen your case, including police reports and analysis, witness statements, examining any photos or videos which may have been taken at the crime scene, and working with medical professionals to confirm and ascertain the source of the injuries. This evidence is then presented to the court as proof of the liability of the third party – the other driver involved – and the decision is made as to whether they are liable for the accident.

It should be noted that the state of Utah operates under the concept of comparative negligence; also known as the 51% rule. In short, this means that if you are found to be less than 50% responsible for the accident, your damages will be docked by the percentage you are deemed to be at fault (e.g., 10% fault means you lose 10% of the payout). If, however, you are found to be over 50% responsible, you will not be permitted to claim damages from the other party.

If you have been injured in an accident, contact 801-INJURED today, and see how we could help you take those first steps to justice. Call us at 801-465-8733.