1.
Don't Wait - Too many claims are lost because injured people don't know their rights and the Statute of Limitations passes.
In Utah, the statute of limitations for many injury cases is 4 years from the date of the accident.
However, medical malpractice cases are 2 years, and some cases are only a year.
It's better to be on the safe side and make sure you don't lose your rights.
The Advocates have attorneys available 24/7.
You can call or drop by during business hours (9-5) and talk directly to an attorney.
If you call after hours or on the weekend, your call will be forwarded directly to an attorney's cell phone and consultations are always free, no strings attached.
You can also chat with an attorney at The Advocates any time about your case for free.
Don't wait, call us now at 801.
355.
5550.
2.
Get Pictures - Make sure you document your injuries by taking photos at each stage of your recovery.
In addition, make sure to get photos of damage to your car or photos of the place you were injured as soon after the injury as possible.
Don't let your car be repaired or get a cast taken off until you have pictures of it.
Having the photographic evidence of a dangerous tripping condition, a badly wrecked car, or how bad you looked after your accident can make all the difference in getting fair compensation for your injuries.
3.
Get Medical Treatment - If your injuries are severe enough to need medical treatment, make sure you get it and follow through with your doctor's recommendations.
Insurance companies love to point out when injured people wait before getting treatment or don't go back to the doctor until much later.
Gaps in your medical treatment can harm your case because the insurance company can argue that something else happened to cause your injuries and they aren't responsible.
4.
Get Witnesses - Get the names, phone numbers, and even email addresses of any witnesses to your accident.
Not only are they necessary further down the road if your case goes to trial, but talking to witnesses shortly after the accident will help them have a better recollection of what happened.
This is especially important if a police officer or EMT could be a witness.
They see many accidents, and you want them to remember you and the circumstances of your accident.
5.
Get Bills & Wages Paid Now - Injury cases can take months or years to resolve, but you don't have to wait to get your bills paid from your car accident.
In Utah, every car insurance policy is required to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
Your own insurance pays for your medical bills and some of your lost wages immediately (usually $3,000).
PIP usually pays immediately, hassle-free, so you don't have to have collectors hounding you until your case is resolved.
If you have bills from your car accident, let us help you get them taken care of right now.
6.
Be Reasonable - You may have heard attorneys claiming they can get you big money for your injury, and they may be right.
But as the old saying goes "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
" The same goes for injury cases.
If you were in a car accident, and you weren't badly injured, you won't be getting a six-figure settlement.
By the same token, if a car accident was your fault, or if you tripped and fell over your own feet, you probably don't have a good case.