If you’ve suffered an injury from someone else’s negligence, you are probably wondering what you are supposed to do. Since the injury likely caused you both physical and mental stress and also limited your ability to work, it is only fair that you seek compensation from the person or entity that is responsible.
That’s where a personal injury attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah resident’s trust will come to the rescue. At Valiente Mott, our attorneys can help you navigate the challenges associated with a personal injury claim, ensure you get the help you need, and fight for just compensation from the responsible party. Call today for a free and confidential case evaluation with our Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer.
Recent Results in Personal Injury Cases
- $3,025,500 – Brain Injury
- $2,800,000 -Car Accident
- $1,000,000 – Brain Injury
- $750,000 – Slip and Fall
- $775,000 -Car Accident
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Before we can move on to the specific details about finding the right lawyer, we must first clearly establish what personal injury law is.
Personal injury is a legal term that describes the area of law where a lawyer helps individuals injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. The injuries may include physical, mental, or emotional injuries. The injuries may also include lost income stemming from missed time from work. When the injuries lead to the death of an individual, however, this becomes a wrongful death case. Such cases are usually filed by the person’s surviving family members.
Common Types Of Salt Lake City Personal Injury Claims
Some of the common examples of a personal injury case include car accidents, bicycle accidents, truck accidents, slips or falls, any injury from defective or unsafe products, burn injuries, and dog bites (to name a few).
Here are some examples of cases we commonly see:
- Car Accidents: One of the most frequent causes of personal injury claims in Salt Lake City. Car accidents in Salt Lake City often result from factors like distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving, leading to injuries ranging from minor to severe.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Occurring in public places or private properties, slip and fall claims are common and can result from hazards like wet floors, icy walkways, or uneven surfaces.
- Medical Malpractice: Claims against healthcare professionals or facilities for injuries caused by medical negligence, such as surgical errors, misdiagnosis, or improper treatment.
- Workplace Injuries: Injuries occurring in the workplace, especially in industries like construction or manufacturing, can lead to personal injury claims if they result from unsafe working conditions or employer negligence.
- Product Liability: These claims arise when defective or dangerous products cause injury to consumers. This can include anything from household appliances to motor vehicles.
- Dog Bites: Injuries caused by dog attacks can lead to personal injury claims against the dog owner, particularly if the dog was not properly restrained or had a history of aggression.
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: With the city’s active outdoor culture, accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists are common and often result from motorist negligence.
- Wrongful Death: A wrongful death claim in Salt Lake City usually consists of claims filed by the family members of an individual who died due to someone else’s negligent or intentional act.
While the types of injuries that occur in personal injury cases is quite long, the underlying principle remains the same – personal injury law refers to obtaining a monetary recovery for injuries that are caused by someone’s negligence.
The Benefits Of Hiring A Salt Lake City Personal Injury Attorney
A lot of people wonder whether or not they need an injury lawyer. Salt Lake City certainly has some cases where people have tried defending themselves in a bid to receive fair compensation.
However, that rarely goes according to plan. To succeed, you need to have a working knowledge of and plenty of experience in personal injury law. Salt Lake City, UT also has a legal process with various complexities that can be hard for a non-lawyer to navigate.
For the best chance of success, it’s wise to get the services of a personal injury attorney. Salt Lake City, Utah insurance companies and corporations know every available loophole in the legal system and will use them against you. So you need an experienced personal injury attorney in Salt Lake City who will prevent you from making costly mistakes in the presentation of your case. Mistakes could cause your case to be dismissed or at the very least significantly reduce the compensation that you receive.
In personal injury cases, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff and his injury lawyer in Salt Lake City. It is absolutely essential that every detail of your case is considered to ensure your case is presented perfectly to obtain the largest recovery possible for your injuries.
Finally, if you want to get the maximum amount of compensation, you need the expertise of an experienced personal injury attorney. Salt Lake City, Utah insurance companies, as we mentioned, will use all of their available resources to lower the amount of compensation paid. A good lawyer can negotiate a fair deal and can explain to you the realistic options for your case.
Negligence In Salt Lake City Personal Injury Claims
In Salt Lake City personal injury claims, establishing negligence is fundamental for a successful case. Negligence is a legal concept that requires proving certain elements to hold another party responsible for the injuries suffered. These elements include:
- Duty of Care: The first element is establishing that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. This means that the defendant had a responsibility to act in a certain way to avoid harming others. For example, all drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely to prevent harm to other road users.
- Breach of Duty: Once a duty of care is established, it must be shown that the defendant breached this duty. This breach could be an action (like running a red light) or a failure to act (such as not fixing a known hazard on a property).
- Causation: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant’s breach of duty directly caused their injuries. This means linking the negligent act to the injuries suffered. It’s not enough to show that the breach occurred; it must be the cause of the harm.
- Damages: Finally, the plaintiff must prove that they suffered actual damages as a result of the breach. Damages can be physical, financial, or emotional and must be directly attributable to the defendant’s negligence.
In the context of a Salt Lake City personal injury claim, successfully proving these elements of negligence is essential. Utah Code 78B-5-817 provides more clarification on comparative negligence.
Expert Testimony In Salt Lake City Personal Injury Claims
In Salt Lake City personal injury claims, expert testimony is often a crucial component, providing specialized insights essential for validating the various aspects of a case. Medical experts play a key role, offering detailed evaluations of the plaintiff’s injuries, their causation, required treatments, and potential long-term effects, including any permanent disabilities. Similarly, accident reconstruction specialists are vital in cases involving vehicle accidents, using their expertise in physics and mechanics to decipher how the accident occurred and identify contributing factors.
Economic or financial experts may be needed to quantify the economic impact of the injury, such as calculating lost wages and future earning capacity, as well as estimating ongoing medical costs. Mental health experts may also contribute, especially in cases where the plaintiff suffers psychological trauma, by providing insights into the psychological effects and the necessity of mental health treatments. Occupational and rehabilitation experts may assess the plaintiff’s ability to return to work and the requisite rehabilitative care, thus aiding in a comprehensive understanding of the injury’s impact. The objective analyses provided by these experts in Salt Lake City personal injury cases serve as credible evidence that can significantly influence the outcome and ensure a fair resolution for the injured party.
Damages In Salt Lake City Personal Injury Claims
In Salt Lake City, personal injury claims encompass various types of damages that a plaintiff can seek compensation for. These damages are intended to cover both the tangible and intangible losses resulting from the injury. The common types of damages in personal injury claims include:
- Medical Expenses: This includes costs for emergency services, hospitalization, surgery, doctor visits, medication, physical therapy, and any future medical treatments related to the injury.
- Lost Wages and Lost Earning Capacity: Compensation can be sought for wages lost due to the inability to work during recovery. If the injury affects the victim’s ability to work in the future, damages for lost earning capacity may also be claimed.
- Pain and Suffering: This covers the physical pain and emotional distress suffered because of the injury. It can include ongoing discomfort, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life.
- Property Damage: If personal property was damaged as a result of the incident (such as in a car accident), the cost of repair or replacement can be included in the claim.
- Punitive Damages: In cases where the defendant’s actions were particularly reckless or egregious, punitive damages might be awarded as a means to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior in the future.
- Loss of Consortium: In cases of severe injuries, a spouse or family member may claim loss of consortium, which compensates for the loss of companionship, affection, and support.
What To Look For in a Personal Injury Attorney
If you want to win your case, it’s essential to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. However, not all lawyers are created equal and not all law firms are equipped to handle serious injury cases. You need to be very picky and choose a competent legal professional that really cares about you and your case.
So, what should you look for in a personal injury lawyer? Salt Lake City has no shortage of these legal professionals. But how do you pick the right one for you?
Well, first off, since this type of law involves injuries, the Salt Lake City personal injury attorney must have in-depth medical knowledge, including how to prove in court that your injuries were caused by the accident.
Moreover, they should be able to clearly demonstrate how your injuries have become a debilitating liability to you, then effectively prevent the defendant from discounting claims.
Finally, having a wealth of knowledge regarding previous, similar cases is the hallmark of a great accident attorney. Salt Lake City and the state of Utah have plenty of personal injury cases, and your lawyer should be able to use these to understand the best way to present your case.
Why Valiente Mott
Valiente Mott is a well-established firm run by experienced Salt Lake City personal injury attorneys. From Salt Lake city brain injury attorneys to a bus accident injury lawyer, our personal injury attorneys are here for you.
Mike Valiente and Tim Mott were born and raised in the Mountain West and have established themselves as the city’s leading personal injury attorneys. Salt Lake City, however, is just one of the many practice areas where they have helped thousands of clients. They have represented thousands of clients in Nevada and Utah, and are also licensed to practice law in California and Washington. This experience in dealing with injury law in multiple states allows Valiente Mott to find the best course of action in every situation.
The firm places huge importance on representing their community, and takes pride in holding corporations and insurance companies accountable by getting fair compensation for their clients.
When dealing with a personal injury case, you want someone who not only understands the legal realities of such trials, but also has your best interests in mind.
Contact Our Salt Lake City Personal Injury Attorney
The attorneys at Valiente Mott are so confident in their ability to help you, their fees are only collected if they win the case. This means that you only need to pay once they win your case, and if the case doesn’t win, you pay nothing. In fact, Valiente Mott promises their clients that they won’t take more money than them at the end of their case.
You can rest assured that, at Valiente Mott, we have you covered. After all, we’re the personal injury attorney’s Salt Lake City, Utah residents trust and rely on.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll help you figure out the best way to move forward with your personal injury case.