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Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyers

The truck accident attorneys with The Advocates can help people with personal injury claims through the legal process and get them the financial compensation they deserve.

Two Attorneys walk down a hallway

A Truck Accident Attorney Can Help Assist You with Your Case 

Salt Lake City has many truck accidents, which result in many injury victims. Big rigs cause massive damage to passenger vehicles. Imagine a tractor-trailer coming unattached on I-15 or a truck crash caused by poor weather conditions—thousands of Utahns don’t have to imagine these scenarios because they have lived them.  
The Advocates are here to help anyone in a commercial truck accident. If that is you, we are sorry for the pain and suffering you have gone through. Our legal team will work tirelessly to get you fair compensation.   
We will help you put liens on your medical bills, defend you from insurance company adjusters, and provide you with legal advice throughout the whole process.  
With one of our Utah truck accident lawyers on your side, you can go from an injury victim to a victor over your injuries. 

Contact us today for a free consultation!

The Next Steps in Your Utah Truck Accident Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Property Damage

Get the damage on your car assessed and fixed

Treatment

Seek medical treatment as soon as you can

Finish Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment, your attorney will compile your medical records

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.  
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.  
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case and you receive a settlement.  
For more information on how settlements and payments work, please see our contingency fee information page.  

If the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.
  
Your attorney will gather evidence, monitor your medical treatment progress, keep an accurate record of all relevant documents and facts to support your claim, negotiate and correspond with insurance companies on your behalf, and represent you in court if necessary. 

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will zealously pursue your claim through resolution.   

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process depends on many factors, including but not limited to the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and much more.  
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to several years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which, if you do not resolve or file a lawsuit within the prescribed time, you will lose your right of action.  

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you focus on healing. Generally, once all evidence has been gathered and your medical treatment has been completed or you are back to feeling yourself again, your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company to secure a settlement on your behalf.  
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a lawsuit in the litigation phase. Your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator. 

A Team of Truck Accident Professionals Assigned to Your Case  

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive fair compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.  
We can help you: 

  • Understand the claims process 
  • Investigate your accident 
  • Work together with you towards a full resolution of your injuries 
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters 
  • Obtain a settlement or judgment against the at fault party 

Hable con un profesional

When Should I Hire a Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyer? 

Vehicle accidents are never easy, especially when large trucks are involved. If you are in an accident like this, the liable party should give you proper compensation for your injuries.  

That is where The Advocates come in. We are a law firm based in Salt Lake City, staffed by locals who know this city and are proud to call it home. Give us a call, and within minutes, you can have a free case evaluation with one of our attorneys.  

You deserve a semi-truck lawyer to help you navigate the legal process and get the compensation necessary to recover. You deserve an Advocate. 

Trucking Around Salt Lake City 

What exactly is a truck? 

A truck is a vehicle larger than a passenger car, mainly used as commercial vehicles to transport special equipment or other goods.   
A whole range of vehicles can be considered a commercial truck. Some of the defining qualities of this type of vehicle are:  

  • Weight: Trucks have different weight categories. They range from a Class 1 pickup truck weighing less than 6,000 pounds to a Class 8 tractor-trailer (also called a semi-truck) weighing 33,001 pounds or more.  
  • Purpose: A good rule of thumb is that trucks transport things while passenger vehicles transport people. However, there are some exceptions, such as buses. City transit and school buses are categorized as trucks.  
  • Design: Trucks usually have a much heavier chassis or frame, which supports the heavy loads they have to haul.   
  • Height: Trucks are usually taller, wider, and longer than passenger vehicles. They have a higher ground clearance and a much more durable suspension system.   

Knowing what a truck is can help you with your personal injury claim. This information will help your personal injury lawyer better investigate your accident.   

The most common causes of truck accidents   

  • Mechanical failures: Over time, the wear and tear on a big rig can lead to critical issues such as tire blowouts. 
  • Speeding: Most accidents occur on dry roads, meaning human errors are the main causes of crashes. Speeding is the primary culprit. Speeding trucks have longer stopping distances, less time to react to sudden changes in the road, and a greater inability to see what is in their blind spots. 
  • Driver fatigue: Only 15.2% of fatigued driving crashes in 2023 involved a commercial motor vehicle. Most vehicles involved were passenger vehicles (83.9%). The majority of fatigued drivers were male (74.7%). 
  • Driver negligence: Truckers are just as susceptible to modern distractions as any other driver. Four seconds of looking at a text is all that is needed for the truck owner to cause an accident.  

The critical reasons why truck drivers crash 

Rather than examining the factors that cause truck crashes, like fatigue or drug use, it is much more helpful to know why a driver might crash in response to certain factors.  
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has four categories for the reasons truck drivers might crash:  

  • Performance: The driver overreacted to road conditions by overcorrecting on ice, for example.   
  • Non-performance: The driver failed to act because of an impairment, such as falling asleep or having a heart attack.  
  • Decision: The driver made a bad choice, such as speeding.   
  • Recognition: The driver was inattentive or distracted and did not see the impending accident. 

Most common truck accident injuries   

  • Traumatic brain injuries   
  • Neck and back injuries   
  • Broken bones   
  • Internal injuries   
  • Lacerations and contusions   
  • Burns   
  • Psychological injuries  
  • Wrongful death of a loved one 

What to do after a truck accident   

Experiencing a truck accident can be chaotic and stressful. However, it is crucial to stay as composed as possible and follow these steps:  

  • Ensure safety  
  • Call 911 
  • Provide the police with facts of the accident 
  • Exchange information with all parties involved in the accident 
  • Take pictures of every aspect of the accident scene 
  • Keep all documents related to the accident, such as medical bills 
  • Do not admit fault 
  • Seek medical attention 
  • Consult an experienced personal injury attorney

Understanding Trucking Accidents and Personal Injury Law in Salt Lake City  

How fault is determined in a Salt Lake City trucking accident   

Please understand: Our goal is not to ruin the lives of truck drivers by inflicting punitive damage. Rather, getting fair compensation for our clients is what we seek. In most cases, insurance companies are the ones who pay out on injury cases, not individuals. 
Truck drivers will usually take the blame if they do not follow traffic laws and practice safe driving. If their negligence, such as drinking and driving, causes you serious injuries, then they will usually be personally responsible.   
Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring driver competence, conducting thorough background checks, and providing adequate training. They must also properly maintain their fleets to prevent mechanical failures and comply with federal hours-of-service regulations to avoid pressuring drivers into unsafe practices. Failure to meet these responsibilities can result in liability for accidents and legal repercussions.  
Determining fault is a migraine-inducing yet essential part of the personal injury claim process, and it is best left to the legal experts. 

Statute of limitations for trucking accidents   

The statute of limitations in Utah is four years from the accident date. The courts will probably deny any claim you make after this timeframe.    

What damages can I seek in my truck accident claim?  

Every case is different, so you should speak to a personal injury attorney to know what you can seek in your specific case.  
As a general guide, some common damages sought by truck accident victims include:  

  • Medical expenses  
  • Property damage  
  • Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity  
  • Non-economic damages like emotional distress 
  • Funeral and burial expenses in cases of wrongful death  

A personal injury attorney with The Advocates can help you determine what you can seek. Contact our Salt Lake City office today for a free case review.