Injured in a Salt Lake City car accident? Robert J. DeBry & Associates has represented Utah crash victims since 1981 from our office at 35 West Broadway, Suite 300. We handle car accident claims on a contingency fee basis, with no fee unless we win, and offer free 24/7 consultations, including home and hospital visits.
Utah’s no-fault insurance system, serious-injury thresholds, and comparative fault rules create a legal landscape where car accident victims benefit from working with an attorney who understands local courts and state law. This page covers what Salt Lake City residents need to know about car accident claims in Utah, from the no-fault system and when you can sue beyond PIP, to common crash locations, investigation, and next steps. It is general information, not legal advice.
A car accident personal injury claim seeks financial compensation for injuries and losses caused by another person’s negligence. In Salt Lake City, these claims are shaped by Utah-specific laws, particularly the no-fault framework that governs how medical bills, lost wages, and other damages are initially handled, and understanding it determines whether your injuries qualify for a claim beyond your own insurance and how quickly you must act.
Utah is a no-fault auto insurance state, so every driver must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which pays certain expenses regardless of who caused the crash, with a minimum of $3,000. Under Utah Code 31A-22-302, required policy components include liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and PIP. Your PIP benefits cover medical expenses up to the first $3,000, lost wages at 85 percent of gross income up to $250 per week for up to 52 weeks, and replacement household services at $20 per day for up to 365 days. Your own insurer pays these initial costs regardless of fault, but because PIP covers only limited damages, many victims need to pursue additional claims.
To recover general damages, including compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and suffering, from the at-fault party, you must meet Utah’s serious-injury threshold under Utah Code 31A-22-309. You can pursue a claim if your injuries include death, dismemberment, or permanent disability, permanent impairment based on objective findings, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or medical expenses exceeding $3,000. If your injuries fall below this threshold, your claim for general damages is barred, which is where legal help matters: an attorney can evaluate your medical records, consult with medical professionals, and determine whether your injuries meet the threshold, since insurers frequently dispute borderline cases.
Navigating Utah’s no-fault system, proving injuries meet the threshold, and negotiating with the other driver’s insurer takes a firm with deep local knowledge. Robert J. DeBry & Associates brings decades of experience handling Utah car accident cases from our Salt Lake City office.
We have served Utah residents since 1981, handling personal injury cases across Salt Lake City and the surrounding area, and our attorneys are familiar with Salt Lake City district courts, local procedures, and the challenges that arise from SLC’s traffic patterns and road conditions. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront fees and no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Client reviews and testimonials offer insight into a lawyer’s professionalism and results. Robert J. DeBry & Associates has earned strong five-star reviews from car accident victims and other injury clients we have represented across Salt Lake City, and our record reflects a commitment to pursuing fair outcomes for every client.
Car accident injuries can leave you unable to visit an office, so we offer a free consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and our team can come to your home or hospital room. Reaching out promptly helps you understand the legal process while protecting critical evidence and preserving deadlines.
Salt Lake City’s traffic environment creates distinct crash risks. In 2023, Utah recorded 60,021 total crashes statewide, resulting in 26,637 injuries and 279 fatalities, with a crash roughly every 8.8 minutes. Salt Lake County consistently ranks among the counties with the highest crash rates, and nearly 47 percent of all Utah crashes happen at intersections. Distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, running red lights, and poor weather are all leading contributors, particularly during Utah’s winter months.
I-15 and I-80 both traverse Salt Lake City, carrying high volumes of traffic at high speed, and they see frequent multi-vehicle collisions, especially during winter weather when ice and reduced visibility contribute to chain-reaction pileups. A crash on I-15 or I-80 often involves serious injuries due to vehicle speeds, and determining liability in a multi-vehicle crash requires extensive investigation, including accident reconstruction.
Downtown’s grid creates heavy interactions between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, and pedestrian and bicycle accidents cluster along major arterials, with the city’s Vision Zero data showing serious or fatal crashes concentrated in high-traffic corridors. Signal-timing issues, tourists unfamiliar with local roads, and commuter congestion during the afternoon peak all increase risk, and a T-bone crash at a busy intersection can cause severe brain damage, spinal cord injuries, or wrongful death.
Salt Lake City has frequent infrastructure projects that create lane shifts, detours, and unclear signage, raising complex liability questions, since responsibility may extend beyond the other driver to contractors or government agencies. Our attorneys investigate whether the negligent parties include construction companies, municipalities, or state agencies, each of which has different requirements for filing claims.
Our attorneys handle every phase of your case, from gathering evidence at the scene through trial if necessary.
Establishing negligence in Utah means proving duty, breach, causation, and damages, and our investigation includes immediate scene documentation and securing the police report, witness interviews, compiling all medical records and expert opinions, including for hidden injuries, acquiring traffic-camera, dashcam, and business surveillance footage, and retaining accident reconstructionists when needed to establish the at-fault driver’s negligence.
Adjusters work to minimize what the other driver’s insurer pays. We handle negotiations on your behalf and protect you from low-ball offers that fail to account for your full medical expenses, lost wages, treatment costs, vehicle repairs, and future needs. Our understanding of Utah insurance law and PIP coordination ensures your claim accounts for all covered damages, both economic losses and the pain and emotional distress the crash caused.
When a fair settlement cannot be reached, our attorneys represent clients in Salt Lake City district courts and handle trial preparation to seek compensation before a judge or jury. Not every case goes to trial, but having a firm prepared to litigate strengthens your position throughout negotiations.
Several Utah-specific laws directly affect your ability to seek compensation.
Utah has a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, so you must file within four years of the accident, and missing it can cost you your case regardless of how strong your evidence is. Property damage claims have a three-year limit, and claims against government entities require notice within one year and must be filed within two years, creating an even shorter window. These deadlines make it critical to contact an attorney as soon as possible, since evidence degrades and witnesses forget details.
Under Utah Code 78B-5-818, you can recover damages only if your percentage of fault is less than 50 percent. At 50 percent or more, recovery is barred entirely. Even when you can recover, your compensation is reduced by your fault, so a 30 percent fault finding reduces your damages by 30 percent. Insurers frequently try to shift blame onto injury victims to reduce payouts, which is why having an attorney who can minimize your assigned fault is essential.
Coordinating your PIP benefits with a third-party claim against the at-fault party is part of managing multiple coverage sources, and subrogation, your insurer’s right to recover PIP payments from the at-fault driver’s insurer, adds another layer of complexity. An experienced lawyer manages this coordination so you receive the full value of your claim, including economic damages for medical expenses and lost wages, non-economic damages for pain and suffering, and, in cases of gross negligence like drunk driving, punitive damages.
Robert J. DeBry & Associates represents car accident victims throughout Salt Lake City and surrounding communities, including West Valley City, Sandy, Murray, and South Salt Lake, and our office at 35 West Broadway, Suite 300 is centrally located for in-person consultations. If you or a family member has been injured in a Salt Lake City car accident, call us at 801-888-8888 for a free 24/7 consultation, request a home or hospital visit if you cannot travel, and bring any documentation you have. Not all accidents require a lawyer, but if you are dealing with serious injuries, disputed fault, or an insurer that refuses a fair settlement, experienced representation can make a substantial difference. This is general information, not legal advice.
If you suffered serious injuries due to another person’s negligence, a lawyer can help you navigate Utah’s no-fault system, prove your injuries meet the serious-injury threshold, and negotiate with insurers. Not every accident requires a lawyer, especially minor incidents without significant injuries, but victims often benefit from representation when facing insurance disputes, complex liability, or injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or broken bones.
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront fees and you pay no legal fees unless your lawyer recovers compensation for you. Robert J. DeBry & Associates operates on this model, with no fee unless we win your case.
Utah has a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, so you must file within four years of the accident date. Property damage claims have a three-year deadline, and claims against government entities have shorter deadlines. Missing these deadlines can result in losing your case.
We serve Salt Lake City and surrounding communities including West Valley City, Sandy, Murray, South Salt Lake, and the broader Salt Lake County area. Our office is at 35 West Broadway, Suite 300 in Salt Lake City.
Call emergency services if anyone is injured, gather evidence like photos and witness information, and do not admit fault at the scene. Seek medical attention promptly, since some injuries such as internal injuries or traumatic brain injuries may not produce immediate symptoms. Obtain a copy of the police report, notify your insurer, and contact a lawyer promptly to protect your rights and preserve evidence.
Utah requires all drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which pays your initial medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and household services regardless of fault, with a minimum of $3,000 in PIP. To seek compensation beyond PIP from the at-fault party, including damages for pain and suffering, you must show your injuries meet Utah’s serious-injury threshold.
This is general information, not legal advice. Contacting Robert J. DeBry & Associates or submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship.