Utah Personal Injury Law Firm Blog

Three Quick Tips

• Drivers and passengers that sustain injury in a car accident will each have a separate claim against the responsible party.
• Victims of Utah car accidents can file a personal injury claim against the driver of the vehicle they were a passenger when that motorist was the at-fault party.
• It’s common myth that if the driver of the vehicle was uninsured, there are no options or protections for the injured passengers.

Who Pays My Medical Bills?

According to Utah No-Fault Law, the primary insurance company for passengers who sustain personal injuries in a car accident is the insurance company of the driver/owner of the vehicle involved in the accident. This insurance company will provide the initial medical pay through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits purchased by the driver. In Utah, the minimum amount of PIP coverage motorists must buy is $3,000 per person. While this amount is rarely adequate to pay all medical bills associated with treatment for victims of auto accidents, it does help. Unless the driver of the vehicle you were a passenger of did not purchase insurance, you and that individual should each have at least $3,000 for treatment costs.

Multiple Insurance Benefits May Be Available to You

What most Utah residents are unaware of is that there are several types of insurance policies and benefits that can be applied simultaneously for specific types of motor vehicle accidents that involve injured passengers. However, with all insurance policies, there is fine print that can be difficult to understand. Filing paperwork incorrectly or providing certain types of information in recorded statements can negate your right to access these benefits. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney before signing or agreeing to anything.

Also, depending on the type of accident, the passenger who was a victim of a car collision may be entitled to multiple insurance claims and settlements. Again, the legalities and issues surrounding these areas are complex and best navigated by an personal injury attorney who has significant experiences with working with numerous insurance claims at one time and extensive knowledge of Utah law.

Case Study

Mary M., one of our clients, was involved a passenger in a vehicle that was t-boned during a snowstorm a few years ago. Unfortunately, Mary sustained serious injury that required intensive surgery that required her to miss months of work. In his immediate investigation, Attorney Ken Christensen discovered that Mary qualified for benefits under four different auto insurance policies, including her own insurance coverage. By acting quickly and efficiently, Mr. Christensen successfully constructed a clear plan of how each policy would provide maximum benefits without “stacking” or breaking any state law.

With mounting medical bills and not being able to work, Mary faced debt; however, due to the ability Mr. Christensen demonstrated in collaborating insurances’ med pay, loss of services etc. the potential financial damage was thwarted. In the end, Mary received substantial settlements from each insurance company and has been able to fully recover from her injuries.

Seven Biggest Mistakes that Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case

Attorney Ken Christensen wrote the book on how to handle the Utah Accident Case. His expertise and knowledge of Utah accident cases makes this book a valuable resource. This book corrects the many of the myths associated with insurance claims. Most importantly this book translates the complicated legal and insurance jargon into plain English, providing readers with the opportunity to better understand their case and make informed decisions. Visit us online at www.utahaccidentbooks.com or call us at 801.506.0800 to obtain your FREE copy of 7 Biggest Mistakes that Can Wreck Your Accident Case today.

Importance of Hiring an Experienced Utah Personal Injury Attorney

At The Christensen Law Firm, PLLC, we have extensive experience in representing victims of Utah auto accidents involving uninsured motorists. Being involved in a Salt Lake City car accident can result in serious injury and trauma and the financial burdens involved are very real. Our attorneys can help you in negotiations with insurance companies concerning compensation for medical and auto repair costs that you have paid. If you or a loved one has suffered such an injury, you may contact us online or call us at 801-506-0800 (Main number), 801-224-2999 (Utah County) or 801-294-9500 (Davis County) to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal rights.

Case Summary

Tragedy struck when twenty-six year-old Kody was driving home from work in Orem, Utah, on January 20, 2010. A man driving a Nissan Pathfinder ran a stop sign and struck Kody’s vehicle on the driver’s side. The force of the impact caused the airbags to deploy and totaled the small sedan. Kody sustained several neck and back injuries from the car crash. The Orem City police responded to the scene of the car accident and issued a citation to the driver of the Nissan Pathfinder for failing to stop at a stop sign and failure to yield to oncoming traffic.

Insurance Company Lets At-Fault Party off the Hook

According to the facts of this Utah car accident, it is clear who is at-fault and who should be held responsible for the car accident. However, in less than 48 hours, Progressive Insurance Company had an adjuster physically knock on Kody’s door. The Progressive Insurance adjuster was quite devious. He was “checking on their insured,” but he brought paperwork for Kody to release personal medical and employment information. The insurance adjusters told Kody that in order to cooperate with the investigation, Kody had to give a recorded statement.

When the Progressive adjuster offered to settle Kody’s claim for $500.00 by telling the young man that the car crash was non-reportable and a claim wouldn’t be worth pursuing, Kody knew he was being backed into a corner. The Progressive adjuster stated the insurance company was going above and beyond their services by offering money at all for this car accident. Kody was confused. He had been speaking to adjuster because his own automobile insurance company was Progressive Insurance Company. The Insurance adjuster was working both sides—the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance was also Progressive Insurance Company.

Would An Insurance Company Victimize their Own Insured?

Kody asked the Progressive Insurance adjuster whose side he was on—the gentleman that hit him or his. The adjuster didn’t lie but he was clearly conflicted when he stated he worked for Progressive and work for their insured’s best interests. The adjuster told Kody the money would go directly into his pocket. That PIP would take care of medical expenses (but PIP only covers $3,000 in medical bills and Kody's treatment will exceed that amount). Kody could feel the manipulation and fortunately asked the adjuster to leave. After seeing the television ad for the informative guidebook 7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case, Kody called the Christensen Law Firm. In just a week, Ken Christensen has been able to straighten this matter out which allows Kody to focus on healing and recovery.

Unfortunately, Insurance companies are not looking out for the best interests of their insured. They are a for-profit company. Insurance Companies don’t maximize their profits if their adjusters explain all the benefits their insured has purchased in their automobile insurance policy. In this case, Progressive Insurance made it painfully obvious that their main priority was profit—not Kody’s medical treatment, property damage, and further damages and losses he incurred as a result of the car crash.

Number One Misconception in Utah Car Accident Cases:

My insurance company will ensure that my best interests are met including receiving a fair settlement and payment for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and property damage.

Remember: Insurance Companies have no obligation to inform you of your rights.

Salt Lake personal injury lawyer Kenneth Christensen authored the book 7 Biggest Mistakes that Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case in his endeavors to level the playing the field between accident victims and the insurance company. This book provides Utah residents with valuable information and corrects many of the myths associated with insurance claims and provides detailed information on the tactics insurance adjusters use to maximize their profits. If you would like to request your free copy of this book please call 1.801.506.0800 or visit us online at www.utahaccidentbook.com.

If you have additional questions or if you have been injured in a Utah accident, we can help you. At the Christensen Law Firm, we offer a FREE no obligation consultation with one of our Salt Lake City, Utah personal injury attorneys. We believe that knowledge gives victims power and protection. We invite you take control of your accident claim.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a Salt Lake City, Utah pedestrian accident, request a free copy of Utah personal injury attorney, Kenneth L. Christensen's Utah accident book, 7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case. This book will help pedestrian accident victims understand how to deal with the insurance companies and learn what insurance policies the injured party can make a claim under. Get your free no obligation book at Utahaccidentbook.com.