Robert J. DeBry & Associates
Personal Injury Attorney
A Utah personal injury attorney who once defended insurers and Fortune 500 companies, Ricky Shelton now uses that inside knowledge for injured Utahns, on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless he wins.
Ricky Shelton is a Utah personal injury attorney at Robert J. DeBry & Associates who represents individuals and families dealing with serious injuries and losses. Raised in American Fork, he brings an unusually well-rounded background to his advocacy, and he works on a contingency fee basis, so there is nothing to pay unless he wins.
Before becoming a lawyer, Ricky worked as a counselor and social worker for disadvantaged youth, experience that still shapes how he listens to and cares for his clients. He pursued law to make that advocacy even stronger.
Ricky earned dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and psychology from the University of Utah, finishing at the top of his class, and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. After law school he clerked for a Utah federal judge and worked at the U.S. Department of Justice.
He then spent years at a major national firm defending large insurers, healthcare providers, and Fortune 500 corporations, the very companies injured people often face. Today he puts that insider understanding to work for plaintiffs, and he serves as a committee member for the Utah Model Jury Instructions.
Having sat on the other side of the table, Ricky knows exactly how insurers evaluate and fight claims. He uses that knowledge to anticipate their tactics, prepare thoroughly, and push for the full value of every case.
Ricky spent years defending insurers and Fortune 500 companies. Now he uses that playbook for injured Utahns.
Ricky focuses on the injury claims Utahns most often need help with.
Ricky handles car accident claims, building liability with evidence and anticipating exactly how the insurer will try to minimize your case.
Ricky represents families in wrongful-death claims, guiding them through a compressed timeline with care and diligence.
When unsafe property causes injury, Ricky pursues slip and fall claims, proving the owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
Utah generally allows four years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim, but only two years for wrongful death, and claims against a government entity carry even shorter notice requirements. Because evidence fades and deadlines run from the date of the accident, it pays to talk with an attorney early.
Under Utah’s modified comparative fault rule, an injured person can still recover if they are less than 50 percent at fault, though the award is reduced by their share. Insurers often argue the injured person shares blame, so building strong evidence of the other party’s fault is central to how Ricky approaches every case.
Every case starts with a free, no-obligation consultation. Ricky reviews what happened, explains how Utah law applies, and lays out your options. From there, the team gathers records and evidence, deals with the insurance company directly, and prepares the case for trial if a fair settlement is not offered.
The firm is licensed in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming and provides statewide representation, with attorneys who travel to injured clients who cannot come to the office. You can meet the rest of the team on the Robert J. DeBry attorneys page.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Free case evaluation, twenty four seven. Speak directly with Ricky’s team about your accident.