You do not need every report, bill or insurance document before asking for help. Tell us what happened, where it happened and what concerns you most. Nuttall Brown & Coutts serves injured people throughout Utah from our Cottonwood Heights office.
What should I do after an accident?
Put safety and medical care first. Call 911 when emergency assistance is needed and follow the responders’ instructions. If it is safe, take photographs, obtain witness contact information and exchange the information needed for the accident report and insurance claim. Do not put yourself at risk to gather evidence.
Keep your report number, medical records, receipts and communications from insurers. Describe what you know accurately; avoid guessing about speed, fault or injuries you do not yet understand. Notify your own insurer promptly and ask about any duties under your policy.
Who pays my medical bills while the claim is pending?
Payment depends on the accident, the vehicles involved and the available coverage. Utah personal injury protection (PIP), sometimes called no-fault coverage, can provide covered medical and other specified benefits regardless of fault. It has limits and conditions; it is not the same as every optional medical-payments policy.
Health insurance and other payment arrangements may also matter. Deductibles, exclusions and reimbursement obligations can affect what you owe. A pending injury claim does not make treatment free. Ask your provider and an attorney about the available coverage and any proposed lien or payment agreement.
Is PIP the same as compensation for pain and suffering?
No. PIP pays specified benefits under an insurance policy. A claim against a responsible party involves separate questions about fault, injuries, damages and coverage. Utah law also limits general damages in some auto cases unless a qualifying condition or exception applies. An attorney can explain how those rules affect your circumstances.
Who pays for a rental car after an accident?
An insurer may investigate responsibility and coverage before agreeing to pay for a rental. Your own rental-reimbursement coverage, if purchased, may provide another option subject to its terms and limits.
Before renting, ask about the approved daily rate, the number of covered days, deposits and who will pay initially. Keep receipts. Do not assume the other driver’s insurer will reimburse every charge simply because you believe the other driver caused the crash.
Should I give the insurance company a recorded statement?
First identify which insurer is asking and why. Your obligations to your own insurer may differ from your obligations to the other party’s insurer. Do not ignore policy duties, but do not guess about facts or agree to language you do not understand.
You can ask an attorney to review the request before proceeding. Our recorded-statement guide explains common questions to raise.
What if the other driver has no insurance or too little insurance?
Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may be relevant if those coverages are available under an applicable policy. They address different situations and have their own terms, limits and procedures.
Other sources of coverage may also need investigation. Keep the policy documents and any coverage-denial letters. Ask about coverage before signing a release or accepting payment that may affect another claim.
What should I do after a dog bite?
Seek medical care and ask the provider about follow-up treatment and vaccination concerns. If safe, obtain the dog owner’s contact information and report the incident to the animal-control or law-enforcement agency serving the location. Do not approach an unfamiliar dog to collect evidence.
Utah’s dog-injury law does not generally require proof of an earlier bite, but exceptions, fault and insurance questions still matter. Read our dog-bite page or call to discuss the circumstances.
How much is my injury case worth?
A useful evaluation considers the evidence of responsibility, the medical picture, treatment costs, lost income, future needs, other supported losses and available insurance. Uncertainty about recovery or additional treatment can affect a settlement decision.
We do not use a website calculator to promise a value. An attorney needs to understand the facts and the records before discussing what a supported claim may include. Tell us about outstanding bills and any health-insurance reimbursement or lien notices as well.
Does a serious injury or death require a different approach?
A brain injury, spinal cord injury or other lasting harm may require evidence about future care, work limitations and daily needs. A death can raise separate questions about who may bring a claim and which losses and deadlines apply.
Preserve the available records and speak with an attorney promptly. Our catastrophic-injury and wrongful-death pages explain issues to discuss. The right approach depends on the person, the injury and the applicable law.
Why can a truck accident require additional investigation?
A commercial crash may involve a driver, a carrier and other businesses, along with records about the vehicle, trip and operation. Photographs, witness information and timely preservation of relevant records can matter. Our truck-accident page describes evidence worth discussing with an attorney.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
There is no single deadline that safely covers every injury claim. The type of claim, the parties involved and other circumstances can change the answer. Claims involving government entities may have separate notice requirements. Do not wait for a police report or the end of treatment to ask about deadlines.
Our Utah injury-deadlines guide provides general information. An attorney should identify the deadlines that apply to your facts.
What does it cost to talk with the firm?
The case review is free. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Ask how case costs, medical bills and reimbursement obligations are handled under the fee agreement before deciding whether to hire us.
Will an attorney handle my case?
An attorney in our office handles accepted cases from beginning to end. Our call service answers 24/7; office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Calling outside office hours does not mean an attorney is immediately available.
Call (801) 255-2102 or use our contact page to request a free case review. Submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
General information only. The answers on this page are not legal advice for your individual situation.