Salt Lake City Personal Injury Attorney

People get injured or killed every day in accidents. Sometimes, they’re because of random chance or our own negligence. In those cases, we have to bear the consequences. However, if someone else caused your injury, you or your family, in case of death, can seek compensation.

The personal injury attorneys in Salt Lake City at 1Law are ready to give you free legal advice on what to do after personal injury accidents. The range of personal injury accidents is huge, so you will need to do your research to find the best one for your needs.

What to Look for in a Personal Injury Attorney

Not all personal injury attorneys are equal, so it’s important to know what to look for and what to ask in your initial consultation. The consultation is like a two-way interview. The lawyer wants to see if you have a case, your chances of winning, and if they can help you. You need to feel confident they can get the result you want.

Here are some things to ask when you speak with a personal injury attorney:

• Have you worked on a case like mine before?
• How long ago was the last time?
• What was the outcome of that case?
• Can you tell me about your recent successes?
• How much will it cost to hire you? How would those costs change if we go to trial?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
• How many successful verdicts have you won in court?
• How many clients do you handle at a time?
• What’s your preferred method to keep me updated on the progress of my case?
• Who will be my contact person at your firm or practice?
• Can you give me a range of what my case might be worth, based on what you know so far?
• Do you think the insurance company will want to settle my case?
• Are you willing to go to trial on my behalf?

Firm answers to all these questions may not be possible if they don’t have all the information they need, but a good personal attorney will tell you what they can’t answer and why. Also, ask the attorney for any general advice they’d give to anyone in your situation. Even if you don’t end up hiring that lawyer, this advice can protect you.

Standard Best Practices for Personal Injury Situations

In any personal injury situation, the priority is to seek medical help if it’s an emergency. If it’s not an emergency, report what happened to an authority. In most cases, that will be the police or a supervisor at work. This starts a record of evidence about your case.

Even if you feel okay after an accident, go to a doctor for an examination and tell them you were in an accident. Injuries can hide for days or even weeks before you notice them. By working with a doctor early, you can find hidden injuries, start treating them, and show that you were worried about your health after the accident.

If your doctor finds an injury, follow all their advice and call a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City as soon as possible. Try your best to avoid speaking with your insurance company before they reach out to you. Utah may use no-fault insurance for the most common personal injury situation—car accidents—but the insurance companies are not on your side.

What the Insurer Wants

When an insurer talks with you, their goal is to find reasons to pay you as little money as possible. Some of this is due diligence. After all, insurance fraud does happen. But they go a lot further than they need to, and some resort to dirty tricks to get you to give over incriminating information unknowingly.

Even saying, “I’m fine,” as a response to, “How are you?” can be used against you! So, how do you avoid these tricks? The single best way is to hire a personal injury attorney and have them do all the talking. Once the insurers know you have a lawyer, they have to go through them.

If an insurer contacts you before you can hire an attorney, do not agree to anything over the phone or sign any paperwork until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. They might say things like you need to sign something before they’ll cover your doctor’s visit after an accident. Don’t believe it. Be polite, but be firm about your wish to speak with an attorney first.

What a Personal Injury Lawyer Does

Personal injury lawyers represent their client’s interests, namely, to get you compensation for your injuries using the legal system. The laws are clear on what has to be proven to a court to show negligence.

If your lawyer can show that you have a strong case, an insurer might try to settle your case outside of court. This is faster and may get you reasonable compensation, but sometimes a court case is in your best interest. Your lawyer can advise you on the pros and cons.

Once you have a lawyer on your side, you can focus just on recovery from your injuries. They will handle the investigation and negotiation. All you have to do is follow their advice. They’ll take care of the rest.

Hire a Salt Lake City Personal Injury Attorney

The 1Law app can connect you with a Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer to help you with your case. We have over 1,200 attorneys in our network. If you’re looking for an attorney, call the number on your screen to get connected, or use our free legal chat service.