Motorcycle accident
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Salt Lake City, Utah
The firms in this guide
- Parker and McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers Call Parker and McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers: (801) 851-1202
- Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC Call Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC: (801) 335-6467
- Cutt, Kendell and Olson Call Cutt, Kendell and Olson: (801) 901-3470
- McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers Call McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers: (385) 462-7630
- Gosdis Law (MotoLaw)
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
Helmet Rules Under 21, the Helmet Evidence Bar and Comparative Fault for Salt Lake City Motorcycle Crashes
A Salt Lake City motorcycle crash claim can involve Utah’s helmet rule for riders under 21 and its rule that not wearing a helmet is not negligence and cannot be used as evidence of it. Utah then lets a rider recover from defendants whose combined fault exceeds the rider’s own, with each paying only its share.
Helmets for Riders Under 21
Under Utah Code 41-6a-1505(1) and (3), a person under 21 may not operate or ride a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle on a highway without protective headgear meeting 49 CFR 571.218. Under (2), the section does not apply within an enclosed cab.
The Helmet Evidence Bar
Under Utah Code 41-6a-1505(5), failing to wear protective headgear does not constitute contributory or comparative negligence on the part of a person seeking recovery for injuries, and it may not be introduced as evidence on the issue of negligence in civil litigation.
Comparative Fault
Under Utah Code 78B-5-818(1) through (3), the rider’s fault does not alone bar recovery, the rider may recover from any defendant or group of defendants whose combined fault, with immune persons and nonparties, exceeds the rider’s, and no defendant pays more than its proportion of fault.
Government Claims and Wrongful Death
Under Utah Code 63G-7-402, a notice of claim against a governmental entity or its employee must be filed within one year after the claim arises, and under 78B-2-304(2), a wrongful death action must be brought within two years.
Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident Questions
Do adult riders in Utah have to wear a helmet?
No. Utah Code 41-6a-1505(1) applies to persons under 21, though under (4) a court waives $8 of a moving violation fine for a rider 21 or older who was wearing compliant headgear.
Can not wearing a helmet reduce my recovery?
No. Under Utah Code 41-6a-1505(5), not wearing protective headgear is not contributory or comparative negligence and may not be introduced as evidence of negligence in a civil case.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, from defendants whose combined fault exceeds yours. For example, imagine $110,000 in damages and 40 percent of the fault on the rider, with 60 percent on the driver: under Utah Code 78B-5-818 the driver would be liable for its proportion, $66,000.