1. Parker and McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Personal injury law, motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, intersection crashes, distracted driver accidents, drunk driver collisions, wrongful death from motorcycle crashes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries
Legal Services: Free case evaluation, accident investigation, evidence gathering, police report analysis, forensics review, liability determination, insurance negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation
Background: Parker and McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers has been serving Utah since 1978. The firm has nationally respected trial attorneys with over 100 years of collective experience who have helped clients recover hundreds of millions in financial awards. The firm has multiple Utah offices including Salt Lake City, Midvale, Ogden, and Provo.
Location: 466 S. 500 E., Suite 100, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Contact: (801) 851-1202 | https://www.parkerandmcconkie.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation available, contingency fee arrangement
2. Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC
Practice Focus: Personal injury law, motorcycle accidents, car accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, failure to yield accidents, distracted driver crashes, drunk driver accidents, road hazard accidents, defective motorcycle cases, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Free consultation, accident investigation, evidence gathering, insurance negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation
Background: Younker Hyde Macfarlane has been handling personal injury cases for decades. The firm’s attorneys are motorcycle riders themselves, providing firsthand understanding of motorcycle accidents. John Macfarlane’s father was grievously injured in a motorcycle crash, losing his leg, which provides additional motivation in representing victims. The firm includes Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese speakers.
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact: (801) 335-6467 | https://www.patientinjury.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
3. Cutt, Kendell and Olson
Practice Focus: Personal injury law, motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, intersection accidents, weather-related crashes, road hazard accidents, motorcycle defect cases, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries
Legal Services: Free consultation, accident investigation, evidence gathering, insurance negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation
Background: Cutt, Kendell and Olson has achieved significant verdicts and settlements for injured clients, including multi-million dollar recoveries. The firm’s attorneys have experience fighting against bias toward motorcycle riders and work to counter prejudice in pursuing claims. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis.
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact: (801) 901-3470 | https://www.ckolaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available, no fee unless case is won
4. McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Personal injury law, motorcycle accidents, auto accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, hit-and-run accidents, drunk driver crashes, distracted driver accidents, intersection accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries
Legal Services: Free consultation, accident investigation, evidence gathering (accident reports, medical records, forensics reports), insurance negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation
Background: McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers has been advocating for injured motorcyclists in Utah for nearly 20 years. The firm has achieved case results totaling more than $500 million in settlements and jury awards. The attorneys are recognized by The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo.com, and the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys.
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact: (385) 462-7630 | https://www.mcminnlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee arrangement
5. Gosdis Law (MotoLaw)
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury law, auto accidents
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, intersection crashes, distracted driver accidents, drunk driver accidents, road hazard accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, property damage claims
Legal Services: Free consultation, accident investigation, evidence gathering, insurance negotiations, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation, property damage recovery
Background: Gosdis Law operates under the MotoLaw brand and focuses specifically on motorcycle accidents in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah. The firm has collected millions in compensation for motorcycle accident clients. The firm is dedicated to protecting riders from insurance companies and approaches each case with expertise, professionalism, and empathy.
Location: Salt Lake City, UT (serving all of Utah)
Contact: https://shanegosdis.com | https://utahmotorcyclelaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Utah
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Four years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For claims against government entities, the deadline is one year.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death: Two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Claims against government entities have a one-year statute of limitations.
Fault System: Utah follows a fault-based system. The party responsible for causing the accident is liable for damages. However, Utah also has no-fault insurance provisions for certain coverage.
Comparative Negligence: Utah follows a modified comparative fault rule with a 50% bar. An injured motorcyclist can recover damages only if their fault is less than 50%. If the motorcyclist is 50% or more at fault, they are barred from recovery. Damages are reduced by the motorcyclist’s percentage of fault. For example, a rider found 30% at fault would have their award reduced by 30%.
No-Fault Insurance: Utah is a no-fault state for automobiles, but motorcycles are excluded from the no-fault system. However, motorcyclists injured in accidents with motor vehicles may be entitled to no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits from the motor vehicle’s insurer. Motorcyclists can also purchase optional PIP coverage for their motorcycles.
Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements:
Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, $65,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
Helmet Laws: Utah has a partial helmet law. All motorcycle riders and passengers under 21 years of age must wear DOT-compliant helmets. Riders 21 and older are not required to wear helmets. Utah offers an $8 discount on traffic violation fines if the rider was wearing a helmet and was not intoxicated.
Helmet Use as Evidence: Under Utah law, failing to wear a helmet does not constitute contributory or comparative negligence on the part of a person seeking recovery for injuries. The fact that a rider was not wearing a helmet cannot be introduced as evidence in civil litigation on the issue of negligence, injuries, or mitigation of damages for adult riders. However, for riders under 21 who violate the helmet law, non-compliance may affect their claim.
Eye Protection Requirements: There is no legal requirement for eye protection while riding a motorcycle in Utah, though it is recommended.
Lane Splitting Laws: Lane splitting (riding between lanes of traffic) is illegal in Utah.
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements: Riders must have a Class M motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license. To obtain the endorsement, riders must pass written and skills tests or complete a motorcycle safety course.
Motorcycle Equipment Requirements: Motorcycles must have a braking system capable of stopping the vehicle within specified distances, headlamps, tail lamps, license plate illumination, stop lamps, and red reflectors. Handlebars cannot exceed shoulder height.
Lane Sharing: No more than two motorcycles can ride side-by-side in a single lane. Other vehicles are not allowed to share a lane with a motorcycle.
Damage Caps: Utah does not impose caps on compensatory damages in most personal injury cases. Punitive damages may be awarded for gross negligence.
Wrongful Death Claims: Surviving family members, including spouses, children, and parents, can file wrongful death claims within two years of the date of death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Utah?
A: Utah has a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits arising from motorcycle accidents. This means you must file your lawsuit within four years from the date of the accident or you will likely lose your right to pursue compensation. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death. Claims against government entities (such as when poor road maintenance contributed to your crash) have a shorter one-year statute of limitations. While four years may seem like ample time, gathering evidence, obtaining medical records, and building a strong case takes time, so consulting with an attorney soon after your accident is advisable.
Q: How does Utah’s modified comparative fault rule affect my motorcycle accident claim?
A: Utah follows a modified comparative fault rule with a 50% bar. This means that you can recover compensation as long as your fault in causing the accident is less than 50%. If you are found to be 50% or more at fault, you are completely barred from recovering any damages. If you are less than 50% at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault for an accident with $100,000 in damages, you would receive $80,000. Insurance companies often try to assign blame to motorcyclists to reduce their payout, which is why having an experienced attorney to protect your interests is important.
Q: Can I still recover compensation if I was not wearing a helmet in Utah?
A: For riders 21 and older, Utah law explicitly states that failing to wear a helmet does not constitute contributory or comparative negligence and cannot be introduced as evidence in civil litigation on the issue of negligence, injuries, or mitigation of damages. This means your decision not to wear a helmet should not legally reduce your compensation in a lawsuit. However, insurance companies may still try to use this during settlement negotiations. For riders under 21 who are required to wear helmets by law, violating the helmet law may potentially affect their ability to recover compensation, particularly for head injuries. Regardless of legal protections, wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of fatal head injuries and is strongly recommended.
Q: Is lane splitting legal in Utah, and how does it affect accident liability?
A: Lane splitting is illegal in Utah. Motorcyclists must follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles and cannot ride between lanes of traffic, even when traffic is stopped or slow-moving. If you are involved in an accident while lane splitting, you may be found at fault or partially at fault for the crash, which could significantly reduce or eliminate your ability to recover compensation under Utah’s modified comparative fault rule. If another driver’s negligence caused an accident while you were lawfully operating your motorcycle, you may have a valid claim for compensation.
Q: What compensation can I recover after a motorcycle accident in Salt Lake City?
A: Utah law allows motorcycle accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses (current and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, motorcycle repair or replacement costs, and rehabilitation expenses. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. If a loved one died in a motorcycle accident, surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship. In cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.