1. Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, medical malpractice, product liability, premises liability, dog bites

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, rideshare accidents, hit-and-run accidents, uninsured motorist accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, personal injury protection (PIP) claims, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: The firm has over 40 years of experience in Utah personal injury law and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients. They maintain five convenient locations across Utah including offices in Salt Lake City, Midvale, Ogden, and Provo. The attorneys understand the complexities of Utah’s no-fault insurance system and modified comparative negligence rules. The firm provides skilled and compassionate legal support with a proven history of success securing compensation for clients throughout Utah.

Location: 5665 S Redwood Rd, Suite 101, Salt Lake City, UT 84123

Contact: (801) 264-1930 | https://www.parkerandmcconkie.com/

Consultation: Free initial consultation, no-fee guarantee, contingency fee basis


2. Siegfried & Jensen

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, boat accidents, slip and fall accidents, workplace accidents, wrongful death, dog bites, product liability, premises liability

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, rideshare accidents, hit-and-run accidents, rollover accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, personal injury protection (PIP) claims, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims

Background: The firm has a 30-year track record of success with over $1.2 billion recovered for clients. They handle cases throughout Salt Lake City, Utah, and surrounding areas. Notable results include over $4 million recovered for a client who suffered devastating injuries in a commercial trucking accident. The firm handles negotiations with insurance companies and will take cases to trial when necessary to seek fair compensation.

Location: 5664 S Green St, Murray, UT 84123

Contact: (801) 266-0999 | https://siegfriedandjensen.com/

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis


3. Handy & Handy

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, personal injury

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, highway accidents, intersection accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, personal injury protection (PIP) claims, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: The firm has handled thousands of accident cases in Utah. Preston Handy has been a trusted advocate for the injured since 1994 and is known for securing multi-million dollar results in catastrophic injury cases. His early career included clerking for the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and he has been consistently recognized as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite.” Garrett Handy has been named among Utah’s “Legal Elite” personal injury attorneys for more than a decade. The firm provides close, personal attention to clients and their families.

Location: 8 E Broadway, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Contact: (385) 404-6398 | https://www.handylawutah.com/

Consultation: Free consultation with no obligation, contingency fee basis


4. The Advocates

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, personal injury

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, hit-and-run accidents, uninsured motorist accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, personal injury protection (PIP) claims, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: The Advocates have more than 30 years of experience helping car accident victims in Salt Lake City, Provo, and throughout Utah. The firm has recovered over $300 million for clients. Studies cited by the firm indicate that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than those who settle on their own. The firm has dozens of offices throughout the western United States staffed with attorneys who are local to the area and passionate about serving their community.

Location: 175 E 400 S, Suite 900, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Contact: (801) 326-0809 | https://www.utahadvocates.com/

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis, no upfront costs


5. LifeLaw Trial Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death, dog bites, premises liability

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, semi-truck accidents, rideshare accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, personal injury protection (PIP) claims, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: The firm specializes in personal injury cases including traumatic brain injuries and motor vehicle accidents. Notable results include $3.9 million for wrongful death medical malpractice, $3.8 million for wrongful death in automobile versus bicycle accident, $1.7 million for a client T-boned by a tractor-trailer, and $1.2 million for a client trapped in a defective automatic gate. The firm emphasizes trial experience as essential to maximizing potential settlements and has seasoned litigators who work to build cases and protect client rights.

Location: 1200 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84106

Contact: (801) 206-4002 | https://lifelaw.com/

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis


Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Utah

Statute of Limitations: Utah has a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from car accidents under Utah Code Section 78B-2-307. The clock begins on the date of the accident. For property damage claims, the deadline is three years from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of death. Claims against government entities must be filed within one year of the accident. Missing these deadlines typically results in losing the right to file a lawsuit or recover compensation.

No-Fault Insurance System: Utah is a no-fault state, meaning injured parties must first seek compensation from their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance regardless of who caused the accident. PIP coverage pays for medical expenses, lost income, and out-of-pocket costs up to policy limits. However, PIP does not cover pain and suffering. Utah law requires each person’s first $3,000 in medical expenses to be covered by their own PIP before filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer.

Threshold for Lawsuits: To step outside the no-fault system and sue an at-fault driver for damages including pain and suffering, your injuries must meet certain severity thresholds under Utah Code Section 31A-22-309(1)(a). These thresholds relate to the permanence and severity of injuries and whether losses exceed policy limits.

Comparative Negligence: Utah follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Utah Code Section 78B-5-818. You can recover damages only if you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. If you share any fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault and have $100,000 in damages, you would receive $80,000. If you are 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: For policies beginning through December 31, 2024, Utah requires minimum liability coverage of 25/65/15, meaning $25,000 bodily injury per person, $65,000 bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 property damage. For policies renewed or created after January 1, 2025, the minimums increase to 30/65/15, meaning $30,000 bodily injury per person, $65,000 bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 property damage. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage with a minimum of $3,000 is also required.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: While not legally required, uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is strongly recommended for Utah drivers. This coverage protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay for your damages.

Damage Caps: Utah does not cap compensatory damages for personal injury claims arising from car accidents. You can recover unlimited damages based on the strength of your case. However, punitive damages are rarely awarded in Utah and are governed by Utah Code Section 78B-8-201.

Accident Reporting Requirements: Under Utah Code Section 41-6a-401.7, drivers involved in an accident must immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency by the quickest means of communication available. You must report an accident if it results in injury, death, or property damage of $2,500 or more. The Utah Department of Public Safety may request drivers to file a traffic accident report within ten days.


Frequently Asked Questions

How does Utah’s no-fault insurance system affect my car accident claim?

Utah is a no-fault state, which means after a car accident you must first file a claim with your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance regardless of who caused the accident. Your PIP coverage pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and out-of-pocket costs up to your policy limits. However, PIP does not cover pain and suffering. You can only step outside the no-fault system and sue the at-fault driver if your injuries meet certain severity thresholds or if your damages exceed your PIP coverage limits.

What is the deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Utah?

Utah has a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from car accidents. For property damage claims, you have three years from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. If your claim is against a government entity, you typically have only one year to file. Missing these deadlines usually means losing your right to pursue compensation through a lawsuit.

Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Under Utah’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover damages only if you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 30% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $70,000. However, if you are 50% or more at fault, you are completely barred from recovering any compensation from the other driver.

What compensation can I receive after a car accident in Salt Lake City?

Through your PIP insurance, you can recover medical expenses, lost income, and out-of-pocket costs. If your injuries meet the threshold to sue the at-fault driver, you may also recover compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages. Economic damages in Utah car accident cases have no cap, so your recovery depends on the extent of your injuries and the strength of your case.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer?

Insurance companies often pressure accident victims to accept settlement offers quickly, and these initial offers are frequently far less than what the claim is worth. The first offer may not account for the full extent of your medical treatment, future expenses, or non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Consulting with an experienced car accident attorney before accepting any settlement can help ensure you receive fair compensation for all your losses.