Robert J. DeBry & Associates
President & Personal Injury Trial Attorney
A trial- and appeal-tested advocate, Mike Banks represents injured Utahns in car, truck, and motorcycle crashes, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, and other personal injury claims, on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless he wins.
Mike Banks is a Utah personal injury trial attorney and President of Robert J. DeBry & Associates. For nearly two decades he has represented injured people and their families, not insurance companies, in serious injury, wrongful death, and insurance disputes throughout Utah, building a reputation as a determined trial lawyer and a strong advocate for people whose lives have been changed by an accident.
Mike has represented hundreds of injured clients and recovered millions of dollars on their behalf. His experience spans automobile and truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, defective and dangerous products, unsafe premises, dog bites, and disputes with insurance companies over the value and coverage of injury claims. He works on a contingency fee basis, so clients pay nothing unless he obtains a recovery.
If you or a family member has been hurt in an accident in Utah, understanding what an attorney like Mike Banks brings to the table, and how the legal process works, can help you make informed decisions during a difficult time. Utah personal injury law covers negligence claims, and pursuing compensation involves insurance negotiations, evidence gathering, and sometimes litigation. Having a knowledgeable attorney manage that process lets injured people focus on care and recovery.
What sets Mike apart is not just the number of cases he has handled, but his willingness to take difficult cases all the way to trial when necessary. He has handled hundreds of arbitrations and mediations, dozens of bench trials, and multiple jury trials, along with appeals before the Utah Supreme Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. That depth gives him substantial experience presenting cases to judges, juries, arbitrators, insurance companies, and opposing counsel, and it means every case is prepared as if it could go to trial, even when the goal is a fair settlement without one.
Past results do not guarantee future results. Every personal injury case is different, and the outcome of any particular case depends on its facts and circumstances.
Mike Banks earned dual B.A. degrees from the University of Utah in Anthropology and Speech Communication, with an emphasis in Argumentation and Decision Making, in 2003. He then attended Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon, graduating with a J.D. in 2006. During law school, Banks was active in the Clinical Law Program and won an award for Best Appellate Argument. As a third-year law student, he successfully argued an appeal in the Oregon Court of Appeals, an experience that shaped his approach to thorough case preparation and appeals work.
After law school, Banks returned to Utah and joined Robert J. DeBry & Associates, where he began representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases. In 2015, he joined Adams Davis, P.C., where he continues to represent individuals and families in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He has litigated, mediated, and tried cases throughout his career, and his early appellate victories reflect the kind of preparation he brings to each client’s situation.
Robert J. DeBry & Associates was founded in 1981 and operates from multiple offices across Utah. The firm has built a long presence in Utah personal injury law, and Banks’ role as President and partner reflects both his commitment to the team and the trust the firm places in his work.
Client reviews praise Banks for his availability, attention to detail, and ability to reduce stress so clients can heal. His approach is client-centered, focusing on individual needs and circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all process. He emphasizes clear communication throughout the legal process, keeping clients informed about case developments, settlement offers, and litigation strategies.
Banks prepares each case as if it could go to trial, even when settlement is the expected outcome.
That preparation, rooted in his appellate and trial experience, strengthens negotiating positions and gives clients confidence that their case is being handled with care.
Each type of case involves different legal and factual issues. Here is where Mike Banks focuses.
Car and truck crashes often turn on negligence, distracted driving, and insurance coverage. Banks establishes liability with police reports, witness statements, and has the added complexity of commercial truck cases and impaired-driver claims.
Riders and cyclists face serious injuries and unfair bias from insurers. Banks builds strong cases for motorcycle and bicycle crashes and pedestrian claims using camera footage, witness accounts, and road-condition evidence.
Property owners must keep their premises safe. Banks handles slip and fall, dog bite, and maintenance-failure claims, proving an owner knew or should have known about a hazard through footage, logs, and testimony.
Mike Banks’ approach to client service reflects the broader culture at Robert J. DeBry & Associates, where the emphasis is on making the legal process as manageable as possible for people who are already dealing with injuries and financial strain.
During a free case evaluation, Banks assesses the potential claim by reviewing the facts of the accident, the nature and extent of injuries, and the available insurance coverage. Utah personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, which removes the financial barrier that might otherwise prevent injured people from seeking legal help. If a client cannot come to the office because of hospitalization or limited mobility, the firm can arrange to meet at the client’s location.
Building a strong case requires methodical evidence collection. Banks and his team gather accident reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any available video footage, and work with medical professionals to document injuries, because the medical record forms the foundation of the damages claim. Insurance communication is handled by the attorney’s office, protecting clients from adjusters who may try to minimize claim values. When negotiations fall short, Banks prepares for litigation, and his trial and appellate background means the case is ready for court if that is what it takes to pursue a fair outcome.
Early settlement offers frequently undervalue a claim, especially before the full extent of injuries is known. Banks guides clients on handling adjuster contacts and protects them from accepting offers that do not reflect the true cost of their injuries. Utah follows a comparative negligence rule under Utah Code section 78B-5-818: a partly at-fault person may still recover, reduced by their share of fault, but recovers nothing if found 50 percent or more at fault. That is why presenting strong evidence of the other party’s fault matters so much.
Gaps in medical treatment can be used by insurers to argue injuries were not serious. Utah’s no-fault system requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses regardless of fault and can help with immediate costs while the larger claim develops. Document the scene, preserve evidence, photograph injuries as they progress, keep all bills and correspondence, and obtain a copy of the police report.
Understanding available coverage, including uninsured motorist protection under Utah Code section 31A-22-305, determines what resources exist if the at-fault driver is uninsured. The statute of limitations for personal injury in Utah is four years from the date of injury (Utah Code section 78B-2-307). Wrongful death claims carry a two-year deadline (section 78B-2-304). Missing these deadlines can permanently bar a claim, and claims involving a government entity carry additional notice requirements and shorter timelines.
Mike Banks’ commitment shows at every stage, from the initial free consultation through resolution. His experience at Robert J. DeBry & Associates, combined with his trial and appellate background, gives him the tools to handle a broad array of personal injury matters across Utah.
Ready to reach out? A few steps make your consultation productive:
Attorneys at the firm are licensed in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, and the firm provides statewide representation. Whether it is a car accident in Salt Lake City, a slip and fall in Sandy, or a motorcycle crash elsewhere in the state, Mike Banks and the team are ready to evaluate your situation.
This is general information, not legal advice.
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