Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyers
Injured in an auto accident?
Many victims receive less compensation than they are entitled to after an injury in an auto accident. Insurance companies have lawyer teams working for them to reduce the amount you are compensated. You need your own team of attorneys to pursue all of your legal remedies, especially pain and suffering payment of your medical bills, loss of income, and any other damages that result from your accident.
Users personal information will not be shared or sold to third parties for purpose of marketing.
Next Steps After I’m In An Auto Accident
If you have been involved in a large truck accident, there are some steps you should take:
- Notify the police.
- Remain at the scene for the police to arrive.
- Take photographs.
- Gather and exchange driver information.
- Gather vehicle information, photos of documents, license plates,
- insurance companies are usually sufficient.
- Take a video of the scene.
- Get names and contact information from all witnesses to the accident.
- Call Zealous Personal Injury or fill out our secure online form.
Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Salt Lake City and Utah
Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries, extensive property damage, and financial losses that may affect you and your family for years. If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident in Salt Lake City, you do not have to face the trucking company, insurance carriers, and their attorneys alone.
Zealous Injury Lawyers represents truck accident victims in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah, as well as clients throughout Texas. Our attorneys investigate serious truck crashes, identify potentially responsible parties, document your injuries and losses, and pursue the compensation available under the law.
Truck accident claims can be more complicated than ordinary car accident cases. A collision may involve the truck driver, trucking company, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, cargo company, manufacturer, or multiple insurance policies.
Why Choose Zealous Injury Lawyers?
Experienced Legal Representation
Personalized Attention
Thorough Investigation
Strong Insurance Representation
Trial-Ready Representation
Free Consultation
Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Salt Lake City and Throughout Utah
Zealous Injury Lawyers represents victims of serious truck accidents in Salt Lake City and communities throughout Utah.
Whether your accident occurred in Salt Lake City, on a Utah highway, or elsewhere in the state, our team can help you understand your legal options.
Salt Lake City Truck Accident Lawyers Fighting for Injured Victims
A commercial truck collision can change your life in an instant. Because large trucks are significantly heavier and larger than passenger vehicles, crashes involving tractor-trailers, semis, and other commercial vehicles can result in catastrophic injuries.
The financial and personal consequences of a truck accident can continue long after the crash.
At Zealous Injury Lawyers, our Salt Lake City truck accident attorneys work to investigate what happened, determine who may be responsible, document your losses, and pursue the compensation supported by your claim.
If you were injured in a Salt Lake City truck accident, you may be facing:
✓ Serious or catastrophic injuries
✓ Emergency medical treatment
✓ Hospital bills
✓ Ongoing rehabilitation
✓ Lost wages
✓ Reduced earning capacity
✓ Vehicle and property damage
✓ Physical pain and suffering
✓ Emotional trauma
✓ Permanent disability
✓ Changes to your quality of life
Common Mistakes After An Auto Injury
Discover the common mistakes to avoid in the aftermath of an auto injury. Zealous Personal Injury provides vital insights for both victims and representatives, helping you navigate challenges and safeguard your rights effectively. Make informed choices to ensure a successful recovery journey.
When Should I Leave The Scene of the Accident?
All states have laws that require drivers to report accidents to the police. Reporting an accident creates an important record for use in recovering for your injuries. It’s always best to stop at the scene of the accident and call the police.
Should I Wait To Get Medical Care?
There are many reasons to get medical care immediately after an accident. Some serious injuries don’t show symptoms right away. You may not know that you are gravely injured. Getting medical care creates proof of your injuries and links them to the accident. This proof can be essential in obtaining compensation to cover your injuries, lost work, and pain and suffering. Some states have laws that require you to seek medical care within a certain period so that you can access no-fault benefits.
Should I Agree to Handle the Case Without A Lawyer?
Often, at the scene of a car accident, a party will suggest handling the matter without going through insurance or without having the assistance of a lawyer. You should not make that agreement at the scene of an accident, even if you don’t immediately notice your injuries. If you agree to keep insurance out of it or not to involve attorneys, you might realize later that the compensation owed to you is a lot more than you thought.
In addition, the other side may not hold up their end of the bargain and refuse to pay after the fact. If you don’t make a timely report to the insurance company, it gives the insurance company the opportunity to contest damages. It’s essential to report the accident to the insurance company as soon as possible.
Should I Gather Information From Witnesses?
Witnesses can be an important part of proving fault for a car accident. This information can be invaluable for your legal team in pursuing compensation for your personal injury case. The best time to identify witnesses is immediately after the accident. Getting names, phone numbers and addresses can help you follow up with these people to get more information. Bystanders and passengers in either vehicle can be helpful witnesses.
Even if you aren’t sure how a witness may factor into your case right now, getting their information can help you and your lawyers evaluate the case and build your claim later.
Should I Take Photos And Videos of the Accident?
The accident scene can provide a lot of information about injuries to you and your car and other property. Take lots and lots of photos and videos. Too many people make the mistake of either skipping photos, relying on the police, or not taking enough pictures and later have difficulty in proving their case.
You don’t have to be a professional photographer. Take pictures of the accident scene, both vehicles, and the people involved. Images of injuries can be helpful, but images showing individuals who are not injured can also be helpful evidence.
Even if you forgot to take pictures, you still may have a very good case to compensate you for your injuries. Our legal team can help you even if you don’t take enough photos.
When should I contact a Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer after an accident?
You should contact a Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident, especially if you suffered significant injuries, missed work, or are dealing with an insurance company. An attorney can explain your legal rights, help preserve evidence, and determine whether you may have a compensation claim.
What does a personal injury attorney do for an injured accident victim?
A personal injury attorney investigates the accident, gathers evidence, communicates with insurance companies, evaluates medical and financial damages, negotiates settlements, and, when necessary, represents the injured client in court. The goal is to protect the client’s rights and pursue the compensation available under the law.
Why should I hire a Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer after a commercial truck crash?
A Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer can help investigate complicated truck crashes involving commercial drivers, trucking companies, insurers, maintenance providers, and other potentially responsible parties. Truck accident claims may involve extensive evidence and multiple insurance policies, making experienced legal representation especially valuable.
What should I do after a truck accident in Salt Lake City?
After a truck accident, seek medical attention, report the crash to the appropriate authorities, document the scene if you safely can, preserve photographs and other evidence, obtain witness information, and keep records of your medical treatment and expenses. You should also consider speaking with a Salt Lake City truck accident attorney before providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement from an insurance company.
How can a truck accident lawyer in Salt Lake City help prove liability?
A truck accident lawyer in Salt Lake City may investigate driver behavior, vehicle maintenance, trucking company practices, accident reports, electronic records, witness statements, photographs, video footage, and other available evidence. The specific evidence needed depends on how the crash occurred and who may be legally responsible.
National Statistics in Semi-Truck Injuries
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), in 2020, over 4,800 large trucks were involved in accidents resulting in fatalities, and another 107,000 large trucks had accidents resulting in injuries.
Semi-truck accidents are spread around the country. The following publicly available map shows the percentage of large trucks involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2018.
Who Is Injured In Auto Accidents?
Large semi-trucks are commercial and non-commercial vehicles are heavy trucks with a vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000. In 2018 there were an estimated 151,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks.
- 117,300 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in injuries in 2021, a 12% increase from 2020.
- 72% (108,000) were occupants of other vehicles.
- 26% (39,000) were occupants of large trucks.
- 2% (3,000) were nonoccupants such as pedestrians, cyclists, etc.
- How Many Deaths? 4,951 people died in crashes that involved large semi-trucks.
- Who Died? 71% of the fatalities were occupants of other vehicles – not the large truck drivers themselves or their passengers
- When? 77% of these fatal crashes occurred on weekdays
- Alcohol? Only 3% of the drivers of large trucks in fatal accidents had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher – much lower than drivers of other vehicle types such as motorcycles and passenger cars
Are Fatalities On The Road Rising In The U.S.?
- 5,700 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash in 2021, an 18% increase from 2020.
- There has been a 49% increase in semi-truck fatalities in the last 10 years.
- The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is up 7% from 2020, and up 22% in the last 10 years.
What are the Statistics for Large Semi-Truck Injuries In The U.S.?
Here is a graph showing large semi-truck fatal crashes from 2008 – 2021.
What can we learn about Semi-Truck Injuries in the U.S.?
- Smaller vehicles in large truck accidents are more likely to be damaged and occupants injured or killed. Large commercial trucks can weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars.
- Truck drivers don’t have to be drinking to cause serious injury or death.
- Truck drivers tend to have previous crashes on their records. The statistics show that truck drivers are more likely to have crashes on their driving record than other vehicle operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens When A Driver Has An Accident?
Commercial drivers must comply with accident reporting regulations. For example, they may be required to report file a motor vehicle accident if:
- A person was injured, or
- A person was killed, or
- A commercial vehicle was involved, or
- The crash caused $500 or more in property damage, or
- A wrecker must move one or more vehicles, or
- One or more drivers were driving under the influence, or
- One or more drivers fled the scene.
How Can An Auto Injury Attorney Help Me After My Accident?
When the driver’s company has made mistakes driving or maintaining its equipment, it may be liable for semi-truck accidents. Working with a lawyer can help you assess whether the driver or the company or both are liable for your injuries.
It may be the case that the automobile was not properly maintained, or that the driver was overworked. Even in cases where it is unclear who is at fault, a lawyer can be very helpful in assessing your rights.
What Causes Most Auto Accidents?
As of 2023, big trucks and tractor-trailer truck drivers were ranked 8th among the most dangerous occupations, based on recent fatal injury statistics with crashes cited as the leading cause of fatalities and injuries.
When Should I Leave The Scene of the Accident?
All states have laws that require drivers to report accidents to the police. Reporting an accident creates an important record for use in recovering for your injuries. It’s always best to stop at the scene of the accident and call the police.
Should I Wait To Get Medical Care?
There are many reasons to get medical care immediately after an accident. Some serious injuries don’t show symptoms right away. You may not know that you are gravely injured. Getting medical care creates proof of your injuries and links them to the accident. This proof can be essential in obtaining compensation to cover your injuries, lost work, and pain and suffering. Some states have laws that require you to seek medical care within a certain period so that you can access no-fault benefits.
Should I Agree to Handle the Case Without A Lawyer?
Often, at the scene of a car accident, a party will suggest handling the matter without going through insurance or without having the assistance of a lawyer. You should not make that agreement at the scene of an accident, even if you don’t immediately notice your injuries. If you agree to keep insurance out of it or not to involve attorneys, you might realize later that the compensation owed to you is a lot more than you thought.
In addition, the other side may not hold up their end of the bargain and refuse to pay after the fact. If you don’t make a timely report to the insurance company, it gives the insurance company the opportunity to contest damages. It’s essential to report the accident to the insurance company as soon as possible.
Should I Gather Information From Witnesses?
Witnesses can be an important part of proving fault for a car accident. This information can be invaluable for your legal team in pursuing compensation for your personal injury case. The best time to identify witnesses is immediately after the accident. Getting names, phone numbers and addresses can help you follow up with these people to get more information. Bystanders and passengers in either vehicle can be helpful witnesses.
Even if you aren’t sure how a witness may factor into your case right now, getting their information can help you and your lawyers evaluate the case and build your claim later.
Should I Take Photos And Videos of the Accident?
The accident scene can provide a lot of information about injuries to you and your car and other property. Take lots and lots of photos and videos. Too many people make the mistake of either skipping photos, relying on the police, or not taking enough pictures and later have difficulty in proving their case.
You don’t have to be a professional photographer. Take pictures of the accident scene, both vehicles, and the people involved. Images of injuries can be helpful, but images showing individuals who are not injured can also be helpful evidence.
Even if you forgot to take pictures, you still may have a very good case to compensate you for your injuries. Our legal team can help you even if you don’t take enough photos.
Do I Need to Keep Records?
Memories quickly fade after an accident. You might think you’ll remember everything one month or six months from now. But when the time comes, it can be hard to remember everything. Take some time shortly after the accident to write down what you remember, even if it doesn’t seem important.
Have I Understood My Rights And Damages?
In general, the person who causes an accident should cover losses sustained by the victims. Even when there are no-fault laws, victims may have a way to claim third-party compensation for serious injuries.
Too many people make the mistake of underestimating their legal rights. They accept the first offer from the insurance company, or if the insurance company doesn’t want to pay, they assume there’s nothing they can do. In fact, victims have rights protected by law. But to receive compensation, they must act. The best way to act is with your team of qualified attorneys.
Should I Read My Insurance Policy?
The insurance company isn’t going to volunteer information about your policy. And it goes without saying, that the truck driver responsible for the accident is unlikely to provide you full insurance information.
Be sure to read for yourself and with your legal team the applicable insurance policies, ascertain your deductible, rental car coverage, vehicle repairs, and other things that may work to your benefit. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that the insurance company is going to do much to help you.
Do I Need To Accept The First Offer From My or the Driver’s Insurance Company?
Many people stop after they get a first offer from the insurance company. They may not like it, but they assume they can’t get more. However, you can appeal or file a legal claim. The insurance company has a legal obligation to pay a valid claim in a timely manner. It’s a common mistake to give up too soon.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Our attorneys offer free consultations for semi-truck and catastrophic injuries. It is generally a good idea, to consult with legal counsel before speaking to the insurance companies. Advice from counsel can help you avoid common mistakes and protect your rights.