I have been in an Accident, Now What?

Most people who have been in an accident have a lot of questions: Who is going to pay my medical bills? Do I have a good case? How can I support my family if I can’t work? How long is it going to take? Do I need a personal injury lawyer? What should I do next?

At the law firm of Driggs Bills & Day, we are here to be your Advocates. As your Utah personal injury law firm we will help you through the insurance maze and legal system to make sure you’re fairly compensated for your personal injury and other losses. Since 1992 our personal injury lawyers have recovered more than $100,000,000.00 for our personal injury clients. We have hundreds of active cases working through the legal system. Our personal injury attorneys are experienced and dedicated to helping you and answering your questions.

Call us now for answers to any questions you may have and you will be speaking to a personal injury lawyer anytime, night or day. To better meet your needs, we have offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden and Provo, Utah.

Who Is Going To Pay My Medical Bills?

Quite simply, insurance should pay for your accident medical bills. That’s why we all buy insurance. However, figuring out whose insurance will pay in an accident or injury is more complicated.

Utah law requires all automobiles to have liability insurance and personal injury protection (known as PIP). Liability coverage is provided by the at-fault driver’s insurance for the other party’s injuries. For instance, if you are rear-ended, the driver that hit you is liable and his insurance should pay as part of liability insurance.

PIP, on the other hand, is provided by the injured party’s own insurance and must be used before liability insurance. For example, if the medical bills from getting rear ended are $5,000, your insurance would typically pay the first $3,000 as PIP insurance and the at-fault driver’s insurance would pay the remaining $2,000.

If the other driver is not insured, your insurance company will pay for your damages pursuant to the uninsured motorist coverage portion of your policy.

In many cases, however, insurance companies fail to take into account expenses such as loss of income and emotional damages, which can go far beyond what the insurance company offers.  We encourage you to call a personal injury attorney today to make sure you receive every penny you deserve.

Do I Have a Good Case?

Although there are countless factors that contribute to making a strong case, there are two questions that can help you know if your case would be good.

First, was the accident or injury someone else’s fault? If someone ran a red light and hit you, they should be liable, but if you ran the red light, you are responsible.

Second, are your medical bills over $3,000? If not, you should be able to get your own insurance to pay all your bills under PIP without much hassle. If your bills are over $3,000, then PIP would likely be exhausted and you would have to get the at-fault driver’s insurance to pay. That is where we can help.

If you have any question as to whether you have a good case, contact us and you can talk it over with your personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City, Provo, or Ogden for free. Call The Advocates, your Utah personal injury law firm.

How Can I Support My Family if I Can’t Work?

In addition to paying medical bills, PIP also provides payment for lost income up to $250 per week for a maximum of one year. PIP can also provide $20 per day for household services. Contact your insurance company for more information about your PIP benefits.

Even with all that help from PIP, the medical bills can still stack up. In such caseswe may be able to work with your doctors and service providers to put a lien on any settlement we get for you. That way, you can get the treatment you need without having your accounts go to collections.

Do I Need A Personal Injury Attorney?

A personal injury attorney can take care of getting you fairly compensated for your injury while you focus on getting better. Insurance companies are in business to make money and, accordingly, they will try to minimize your claim.

You can protect yourself and your rights by hiring a personal injury attorney. A good personal injury attorney in Utah understands the way insurance companies work and has the additional leverage of legal action if a fair settlement is not reached. Your personal injury attorney in Utah can help you get a larger settlement and receive it faster than if you are unrepresented.

We realize that accident victims can sometimes be in a tough spot financially, so we pay all of your legal costs up front and only collect from you if we win.

In addition, there are many pitfalls in the process that a personal injury attorney in Utah will be aware of and will help you avoid. One of these issues is the statute of limitations, which limits the amount of time you have to sue for your injuries (as little as one year). In order to avoid losing your claim it is usually best to consult one of the dedicated injury lawyers with The Advocates, your Utah personal injury law firm, sooner rather than later.

“The Advocates are very friendly, honest and trustworthy law firm. My case was settled very quickly and fair. They’re willing to answer any questions I have, even after they had settled my case. You can’t say that about other law firms!” – Gregory G., West Valley City, UT.