Car / Truck / Motorcycle Accidents
Utah Injury Attorney
On highways in nations worldwide, car accidents are by far the most common, followed by truck and motorcycle collisions. There are more than 240 million licensed U. S. drivers, and the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates 20 million vehicles are in accidents each year, resulting in serious injuries, death and property damage.
Overtime, certain motor vehicles accident statistics have remained relatively unchanged.
- Motor vehicle accidents claim more lives than all natural disasters combined.
- In the U. S., males are twice as likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than females.
- The incidence of highway accidents is greatest for males and females between 16 and 24 years of age.
- Alcohol is a factor in over 20% of fatal accidents for individuals between the ages of 16 and 64 and 50% of fatalities in the 21-44 age range.
- Death is 10 times more likely for individuals driving a motorcycle than any other type of vehicle.
If you are injured in any vehicle accident, there are important steps you should take, especially if you plan to file an injury claim to recover damages.
- Notify the police immediately and file an accident report.
- Get photos of the scene of the accident, showing damages, and if possible, document any evidence that shows the cause. Did the accident occur in the middle of a snow or rainstorm? Was there an unexpected object in the roadway? Document the circumstances. And, have someone take photos of your injuries.
- Get the names of anyone who witnessed the accident as well as contact information.
- Keep notes of your conversations with people involved in the accident and any remarks made after the accident, such as “I didn't see you.” or “The rain fogged my windshield.”
- Write down all details about the accident, your injuries and any losses (lost wages, car rental fees, etc.) you incurred because of the accident. Be sure to note if anyone seemed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Notify the person(s) who caused the injury accident about your intention to file a claim.
If you are involved in a minor accident, you can easily handle an insurance claim on your own. However, in the case of catastrophic injuries such as paralysis, loss of limbs, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or loss of vision, an experienced personal injury lawyer is essential to protect your rights and handle the often complex process of assessing the worth of your claim and recovering fair compensation to cover medical expenses, rehabilitation, and possibly assistive care for the remainder of your life.
At the Law Offices of Steven B. Smith, an integral part of our civil litigation practice is devoted to assisting individuals who suffer serious personal injuries in car, truck, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents. When you need legal help to hold negligent parties responsible for their actions, we add value to your case by providing expert witnesses, accident reconstruction specialists compiling compelling evidence, and building a winning strategy to obtain a settlement or verdict on your behalf.
Skilled in negotiations, arbitration and mediation, personal injury lawyer, Steven Smith effectively settles many cases out of court. However, when necessary to obtain the compensation you deserve, he is always prepared to take your case to a jury of peers. Eighteen years of experience as a trial lawyer gives him a competitive edge that gets results.
If you are injured through the negligence or wrongful conduct of another person, we encourage you to take advantage of our no cost, no obligation case review. Call our law firm at (801) 534-4443 to arrange an appointment.
