If you have been in an auto accident, you know that it can be a stressful process. In the days and weeks following an auto accident, you may be unsure how to proceed and how to best protect yourself. Complicated issues abound, including issues involving property damage, diminished value, medical treatments, rental cars, out-of-pocket expenses, medical bills, and liability issues, to name a few. As a result, most auto accident victims in Utah have questions about what they can expect after an accident.

Outlined below are some answers. These FAQ’s will give you a good overview of some common issues involved in Utah auto accidents, but it is critical that you hire a highly qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible to assist with your specific Utah auto accident to ensure that your interests are protected. Click here to learn more about the timeline for settling your Utah auto accident claim.

14. Should I take photos and videos at the accident scene?
15. Do I need to take photos and videos right away or can I wait to take them until later?
16. What other types of evidence do I need to keep relating to the accident?
17. Should I call my insurance company after an accident in Utah?
18. Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company after an accident?
19. Does Utah have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance?
20. What if the Utah driver who hit me does not have insurance?
21. What if the Utah driver who hit be does not have enough insurance?
22. What happens if I was hit by a hit and run driver in Utah?
23. What documents should I bring to my accident attorney consult?
24. What types of records should I be keeping after my accident?
25. Can I post to social media about my car accident?
26. When will the at-fault driver’s insurance company start paying my medical bills?

1. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF AUTO ACCIDENTS IN UTAH?

In Utah, the most common types of auto accidents are rear-end collisions, left-hand turn collisions, pedestrian collisions, side-swipe collisions, and t-bone collisions. Learn more about Utah Crash Data and Statistics from the Utah Department of Public Safety here.

2. WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF UTAH AUTO ACCIDENTS?

In Utah, the following attributes are responsible for the auto accidents, starting with highest incidence of accidents involving teen drivers to the lowest incidence of accidents involving scooters/skateboards.

• Teenage drivers
• Older drivers
• Holiday-related
• Speed-related
• Distracted driving
• Wild animals
• Unrestrained-related
• Motorcycle accidents
• Drowsy-related
• Alcohol-related
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle-related
• Domestic animals
• Drug-related
• Scooter/skateboard-related

Learn more about Utah Crash Data and Statistics from the Utah Department of Public Safety here.

3. WHAT SHOULD I DO AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE?

Outlined below are the most important things you should do following an auto accident. For a more detailed description of what steps to take after an accident in Utah, click here.

• Assess everyone in your vehicle for injuries
• Call the police, even if it is a small accident
• Do not make any admissions to the other driver, witnesses and the police
• Get witnesses’ contact information
• Exchange information with the other driver
• Take lots of photos and videos of the accident scene, vehicles, and injuries
• Do not post about the accident on social media
• Seek medical attention right away
• Talk to a lawyer right away

4. WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD I COLLECT AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE?

After requesting medical assistance and calling the police, if you are able, you should obtain as much of the following information as possible at the accident scene.

• The names, addresses, and phone numbers for all drivers involved in the accident
• The driver’s license number for all drivers involved in the accident
• The insurance information for all drivers involved in the accident, including the relevant insurance companies and policy numbers
• The license plate number for all drivers involved in the accident
• The names, addresses, and phone numbers for all passengers in any of the vehicles involved in the accident
• The names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident
• Take photos and videos of the vehicles involved in the collision
• Take photos and videos of the roadway and surrounding conditions

In addition, you should make observations about the following, including through notes, videos, and photos as appropriate:

• Did any of the drivers involved in the accident apologize for the accident or otherwise admit responsibility for the accident? For example, did anyone say, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention;” “I’m sorry, I was in a hurry;” “I don’t see as well as I used to at night;” or any similar admissions of responsibility?
• Did any of the drivers involved in the accident report injuries? In the alternative, did anyone say, “I’m not hurt,” or “I’m fine.”
• In what direction were the vehicles traveling at the time of the accident?
• What were the weather conditions at the time of the accident?
• Were there any vehicles that involved in accident that later fled the scene (phantom vehicles)
• Did any of the vehicles have mechanical problems immediately before the accident (broken headlight, turning signal, brakes not operating correctly)
• What parts of the vehicle were damaged in the accident?
• Did your body collide with the interior of the vehicle?
• Was there anything in the roadway that contributed to the accident?
• Were there any other outside conditions that contributed to the accident?
• Did any of the drivers appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
• Did any of the vehicles need to be towed from the scene of the accident?
• How did the accident occur?
• Did the police arrive at the accident scene? What are their names and badge numbers?
• Were any of the drivers involved in the accident driving a company owned vehicle?

For a more detailed description of what steps to take after an accident in Utah, click here.

5. SHOULD I ALWAYS CALL THE POLICE?

Yes, it is critical to call the police immediately after an accident, even it is a relatively small collision. Having the police come will establish proof that the accident occurred and will ensure that there is at least a minimal investigation at the scene of the accident. As part of their investigation, the police will interview the drivers and passengers, along with any witnesses. They will check for drug and alcohol use and will gather insurance information from the parties. They will also make determinations regarding property damages and will sometimes take photos and videos of the accident scene.

Even if you are involved in a “minor” accident, make sure to have the police come out. You may feel tempted to “settle up” with the other driver with the involvement of the police, but that is a mistake. Sometimes symptoms from the accident take several hours or even days to fully manifest. As a result, play it safe and get a police report so your attorney has all of the information he or she needs to pursue a claim, if it becomes necessary to do so.

6. WHAT SHOULD I SAY TO POLICE OFFICERS AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

When the police arrive, they will likely interview you regarding how the accident happened. Take care to tell them everything you can about how the accident occurred, including how the impact felt within your vehicle and if there were any unusual contributing circumstances such as high speed, distracted driving, or other erratic behaviors.

The police will also likely ask you if you were injured in the accident. You may be tempted to tell them that, “I’m fine,” or “I’m ok,” or “I’m not really injured.” Do not tell the police you were not injured. It is usually too soon for you to even know if you have been injured. After an accident, adrenaline usually masks pain and injury symptoms for a period. In fact, many accident victims report not starting to feel pain from the accident until later that evening or even in the days after the accident. Yet, the police report might include an admission that they were “fine” or “not injured,” which can be a complicating factor later in the claims process.

As a result, take care to be as specific as possible when reporting injuries to the police, even if it is as simple as reporting a sore back, sore neck, sore shoulder, or starting to feel a headache. If you have multiple injuries, report all of them to the police officer so he or she can make note of the injuries in the police report.

If, because of adrenaline, you are unable to identify specific physical injuries, you are usually better off to tell police officers that, “I’m not sure, I need to get checked out,” “I’m not sure, I am shaken up,” “I’m not sure, I’m a little dazed and confused,” “I’m not sure, I have a headache.”

7. WHAT SHOULD I SAY TO THE OTHER DRIVER AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

You might want to check on the other driver to see if they are injured or need assistance. If you do, take care not to discuss the accident with the other driver or make any admissions regarding liability for the accident. That means, you should not say things like, “I’m sorry” or make any other statements that could be understood by the other driver as an admission of liability for the accident. You can bet that the other driver will be sure to tell his or her insurance company and the officers about any statements you make admitting liability for the accident.

You should likewise be careful when reporting injuries to the other driver. If you tell the other driver that, “I’m fine,” or “I’m ok,” or “I’m not injured,” he or she will most certainly convey that information to their insurance company. Sometimes years after an accident, attorneys are arguing with insurance companies and insurance defense attorneys about what their clients did or did not say in the moments after an accident regarding their injuries.

8. WHEN SHOULD I CONTACT AN ATTORNEY?

You should contact the best Utah personal injury attorney you can find as soon as possible after the accident. If you are able to safely do so, immediately contact an experienced car accident attorney from the scene of the accident. If not, after leaving the scene of the accident, contact your attorney as soon as is practicable. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to obtain advice on gathering evidence and seeking medical treatment. It is also important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident so he or she can communicate with the various insurance companies. Otherwise, the insurance companies will hound you with calls and pressure you to give a recorded statement that is against your interest.

Call Gosdis Law immediately after an accident. We will provide you with a free consult over the phone to help you the critical moments and days after your accident and will immediately take action on your case. If your case calls for it, we will deploy an investigator to the accident scene to conduct a thorough analysis while the evidence is still fresh. You can call or text us anytime at 385-429-9960.

9. SHOULD I GO TO DOCTOR AFTER MY ACCIDENT?

You should always seek medical attention after an accident, even if you don’t feel significant amounts of pain. In many cases, the onset of physical symptoms does not occur for twelve to twenty-four hours after an accident, or even longer in some cases. That means that even if you only feel a little dazed or shaken up after the accident, you might to feel significant more pain in the hours and days following an accident. Get checked out by a medical professional immediately after an accident or soon as you can after the accident.

If you do feel pain or discomfort after an accident, you must seek medical attention right away. You need to get treatment right away to make sure you do not have serious injuries and to treat your pain. Waiting to get treatment is bad for your health and for your case because you need to document your injuries as soon as possible after an accident.

Getting medical treatment after an accident will result in a preliminary diagnosis regarding your injuries and should also hopefully minimize any discomfort you are feeling as a result of your injuries. Your doctor will likely recommend follow treatments and refer you out to other medical providers for additional treatment. Make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter, including any prescribed home or other therapies. If you do not precisely follow your doctor’s advice, the defense will use it against you in your case and at trial, laying blame at your feet for failing to follow doctor’s orders.

10. DOES IT MATTER IF I WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS OR WEEKS TO GO TO A DOCTOR AFTER MY ACCIDENT?

Yes, it matters. You need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you wait, you are depriving yourself of medical treatments that should help reduce your pain and other symptoms. Moreover, if you wait, the defense will use that fact against you in your case and at trial, arguing that you weren’t really injured in the accident because you did not seek prompt medical attention. The longer you wait, the larger your “gap in treatment” will be and the more and more difficult your case will become to successfully resolve.

11. WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE OR ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR URGENT CARE VISIT AFTER MY ACCIDENT?

You should seek immediate medical attention after an auto accident in Utah, even if you do not have medical insurance or the money to pay for an emergency room visit. Getting immediate medical attention after an accident is important to make sure you do not have any serious injuries; to get pain relief; and to document your injuries. If you do not have health insurance or the money to pay for the medical bills, you still should go to the emergency room or urgent care to get checked out. In Utah, you are covered with at least three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) of personal injury protection (“PIP”) insurance on your automobile policy. Some policies provide ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or more in PIP coverage.

Your PIP insurance will pay for the first $3,000.00 of medical bills associated you’re your accident, irrespective of who was at fault for the collision. If you have a $10,000.00 PIP policy, it will pay for the first $10,000.00 in medical bills associated with your collision.

After PIP coverage has been exhausted, your personal injury attorney will recoup any remaining money due for medical bills from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy up to the policy limits. In limited situations, your personal injury attorney may even be able to recover more than the policy limits from the at-fault insurance company. In addition, your personal injury attorney may be able to collect money from your underinsured insurance policy (“UIM”) to cover emergency room and urgent care medical bills.

Each case is different, but it is almost always the best approach to seek immediate medical attention after an accident, even if you do not have health insurance to cover the associated costs.

12. SHOULD I TAKE AN AMBULANCE AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN UTAH?

Yes, if emergency responders suggest that you should be transported from the accident scene, you should follow their advice. It is important that you obtain immediate medical attention, including from emergency responders. If your condition is such that they believe it is in your best interest to be transported in an ambulance, follow their instructions.

In Utah, you have at least three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) of personal injury protection (“PIP”) insurance from your auto policy. Some auto policies provide ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or more in PIP coverage. Your PIP insurance can be used to cover the costs associated with your ambulance.

If you do not have PIP coverage, or if your PIP coverage becomes exhausted, your personal injury attorney will recoup any remaining money due for your ambulance bills from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy up to the policy limits. In some situations, your attorney may even be able to recover above the policy limits. In addition, your personal injury attorney may be able to collect additional money from your underinsured insurance policy to cover your ambulance bills.

13. IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR I NEED TO TELL MY DOCTORS AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

It is critical that you tell first responders, police, nurses, physicians, and hospital staff about your symptoms in as much detail as possible. You have to be as specific and comprehensive as possible, telling them about each separate part of your body that was injured in the collision and the ways in which you are experiencing pain or other symptoms in those areas. You need to tell them about each of these injuries even if they feel relatively minor to you at the time. That means you need to tell your medical providers about each and every bump, bruise, and scratch. Make sure there is a record of everything.

For instance, imagine you hit your head in connection with an auto accident resulting in a small goose egg on the top of your head. The goose egg is relatively small, and you do not believe it requires medical treatment. Whether or not your doctor does anything to treat the goose egg, you need to tell him or her about it so there is a record of that injury. Imagine if you start to develop post-concussion symptoms in the days that follow, but failed to tell the emergency room doctor about the small bump on your head and, as a result, there is no record of you having suffered a head injury in the accident. Insurance company lawyers will argue that there is no record of a head injury in the emergency room records and that you must have injured your head doing something else in the days that followed the accident.

14. SHOULD I TAKE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE?

Yes. After attending to emergency medical needs and calling police, make sure you take plenty of photos and videos. Take photos and videos of the vehicles, accident scene, signage, property damage, debris, road conditions, marks on the road, and traffic signs and signals. You cannot assume that the police will take the photos or videos you may need for your claim. They usually do not take any photos or videos at the scene. Even if the police do take photos, you need to take as many of your own photos and videos as possible, including photos and videos of various approaches to the accident scene and of all of the people involved in the accident.

By gathering as many photos and videos as possible from different vantage points, you will allow the accident reconstructionist to construct the most accurate diagram possible of your accident.

After you take photos and videos at the accident scene, contact Gosdis Law immediately at 385-429-9960. It is imperative that you send the photos and videos to your Utah personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident. Your attorney will need them to start the claims process and they need to be safeguarded. Otherwise, you risk losing critical evidence in your case if your phone is lost or destroyed in the days following your accident.

15. DO I NEED TO TAKE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS RIGHT AWAY OR CAN I WAIT UNTIL LATER TO TAKE THEM?

You need to take photos and videos right away. It is really important to take them immediately at the scene. If that is not possible, it is important to take photos and videos as soon as you can after the accident. By doing so, you can gather information critical to your case for an accident reconstructionist and/or other expert witnesses, including vehicle positions, roadway conditions, obstructions, traffic signals, accident debris, and skis marks, among many others.

For instance, your photos and videos might pick up “impending” skid marks. Impending skid marks are marks left on the roadway by your tires before they actually start skidding. They are faint tire marks in the roadway that normally can only be seen for about twenty-four to forty-eight hours before disappearing. An accident reconstructionist will use impending skid marks, coupled with skid marks, to arrive at more accurate conclusions regarding vehicle speed. 

If you are unable to take photos and videos immediately after an accident in Utah, call or text Gosdis Law at 385-429-9960. At Gosdis Law, we work closely with accident investigators and reconstructionists who we can often deploy immediately to an accident scene of any serious accident to preserve and document evidence critical to your case before it is lost.

16. WHAT OTHER TYPES OF EVIDENCE DO I NEED TO KEEP RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT?

In addition to photos and videos, you need to keep notes of any of your conversations with witnesses at the accident scene. You should also keep your discharge paperwork from the emergency room or urgent care and you Exchange of Information form from the police department. You should also keep any property damaged in the collision, including cell phones, computers, glasses, or anything else damaged in the auto accident. You should also keep dash cam footage of your accident, if you have any.

It is also really important to maintain access to the vehicles damaged in the accident. It may be necessary for experts to examine seat belts, air bags, or tires or other components of the vehicles. If those components malfunctioned it may be possible to bring claims against the manufacturers. If the vehicle is sold or destroyed, however, it might be impossible to bring those types of claims against the manufacturers. You generally have to have the actual vehicle and/or the vehicle’s defective component parts to maintain a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

You also need to keep the vehicles so experts can examine the vehicles as part of their attempt to reconstruct the accident, including by pulling information from the vehicles’ event data recorders.

It is important to put everyone on notice via certified mail not to move or destroy your vehicle, including wrecking yards, impound lots, tow yards, and tow truck drivers. You must advise them in writing that they must take all steps necessary to preserve evidence in your case, including your vehicle, and that their failure to do so will expose them to legal liability and a possible lawsuit for the destruction of evidence. If you need help communicating this information to the wrecking yard, impound lot, or tow yard holding your vehicle in Utah, call or text Gosdis Law immediately at 385-429-9960. We can make sure critical evidence your case is appropriately maintained and preserved as necessary.

17. SHOULD I CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN UTAH?

Ideally, you should call the best personal injury attorney in Utah before talking to any insurance company adjusters. It is important to call your attorney first so he or she can open the claim on your behalf and control what information the insurance companies receive and when they receive it.

It is also important to let your attorney communicate with the insurance companies (even your insurance company) because the insurance company will ask if they can record the call and make get you to make admissions or statements against your interest. Insurance company adjusters are highly skilled at getting you to say things that hurt your case. You cannot beat these people at their own game. It is much safer to let your attorney deal with insurance company communications.

18. SHOULD I TALK TO THE OTHER DRIVER’S INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

No, you should never talk to the other driver’s insurance company after an auto accident, let alone give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement. You should never give a recorded statement after an auto accident without first consulting with a personal injury attorney. If you do, you will likely damage your case.

Remember, insurance company claims adjusters are professionally trained to get you to say things or make admissions that will hurt your case. Insurance company adjusters sound good on the telephone, and often say they “just need a little information,” but are really focused on minimizing or destroying your claim. Do not let them do it. You cannot beat them at their own game. You are not in a position to know which statements may hurt your claim.

If the other driver’s insurance company contacts you, simply decline to talk to them about the accident. Be polite, but tell them you are not in a position to speak with them about the accident. Nothing else. Always get advice from an experienced Utah personal injury attorney on dealing with the other driver’s insurance company.

If the other driver’s insurance company is contacting you, text or call Gosdis Law immediately at 385-429-9960. We can handle all communications with the insurance companies, ensuring that your interests are fully protected.

19. DOES UTAH HAVE PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION (PIP) INSURANCE?

Under Utah law, all drivers are required to carry personal injury protection insurance (“PIP”). It pays for lost income, medical costs, and other related expenses if you are injured in an accident. It is also called “no-fault” insurance because it pays for your medical and other expenses irrespective of who was at-fault for the collision. PIP also covers any passengers in your vehicle, pedestrians, and bicyclists injured in the collision. PIP is not available for motorcycles, trailers, or semi-trailers in Utah.

Utah requires drivers to carry at least $3,000.00 of PIP. Drivers can purchase additional PIP insurance with up to $100,000.00 of coverage. The minimum PIP insurance in Utah provides the following coverages:

• $3,000.00 in death benefits to the decedent’s heirs (if the driver was killed in the collision)
• $3,000.00 in medical expenses per person
• $1,500.00 in burial costs
• 85% of lost income related to the collision
• Up to $20 per day for essential services (these are services provided by a family member or a third-party for you if you are injured in a collision)

PIP covers most reasonable medical procedures and services, including x-rays, emergency room, urgent care, MRI’s, chiropractors, physical therapists, hospital costs, and rehabilitation costs, among others.

If you have questions about PIP coverage for your Utah accident, call or text Gosdis Law at 385-429-9960 for a free consultation regarding your case.

20. WHAT IF THE UTAH DRIVER WHO HIT ME DOES NOT HAVE INSURANCE?

If you are unlucky enough to be hit by an uninsured driver, your insurance may be able to help out. Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance coverage is designed to protect you if you are injured in an accident involving an uninsured driver. In that situation, your UM insurance (if you have it) will pay for your medical bills up to your UM policy limits.

For example, imagine you are involved in a collision with an uninsured driver and are taken the hospital with injuries. Imagine your hospital bills total $75,000.00. Working with your personal injury attorney, you can submit a claim to your UM carrier to cover the medical bills. If you had $100,000.00 in UM coverage, your insurance carrier would likely pay for all $75,000 of your medical bills. If, on the other hand, you had a $25,000.00 UM policy, your UM carrier would only pay $25,000.00 of the $75,000.00 in medical bills. You would still be responsible for personally paying the remaining $50,000.00 in medical bills.

As you can see, it is not only important to have UM insurance to protect yourself against uninsured drivers, but it is important that you purchase enough UM insurance. In Utah, you can purchase as little as $25,000.00 in UM coverage, but it is rarely enough. We recommend that you purchase at least $250,000.00 in UM coverage to protect yourself against uninsured drivers.

If you have questions about your uninsured auto accident in Utah, call or text Gosdis Law at 385-429-9960. We are best law firm in Utah in handing uninsured motorist claims.

21. WHAT IF THE UTAH DRIVER WHO HIT ME DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH INSURANCE?

If you are unlucky enough to be hit by a driver who does not have enough insurance, your insurance may be able to help out. Underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance coverage is designed to protect you if you are injured in an accident involving an underinsured driver. In that situation, your UIM insurance (if you have it) will pay for your medical bills up to your UIM policy limits.

For example, imagine you are involved in a collision with an underinsured driver and are taken the hospital with injuries. Imagine your hospital bills total $75,000.00, but the driver who hit you only has a $25,000.00 bodily injury insurance policy. Working with your personal injury attorney, you can submit a claim to your UIM carrier to cover the remainder of the medical bills up to your UIM limits. If you had $100,000.00 in UM coverage, your insurance carrier would likely pay for all $50,000 of your remaining medical bills. If, on the other hand, you had a $25,000.00 UIM policy, your UIM carrier would only pay $25,000.00 of the remaining $50,000.00 in medical bills. You would still be responsible for personally paying the remaining $25,000.00 in medical bills.

As you can see, it is not only important to have UIM insurance to protect yourself against underinsured drivers, but it is important that you purchase enough UIM insurance. In Utah, you can purchase as little as $25,000.00 in UIM coverage, but it is rarely enough. We recommend that you purchase at least $250,000.00 in UIM coverage to protect yourself against uninsured drivers.

If you have questions about your uninsured auto accident in Utah, call or text Gosdis Law at 385-429-9960. We are best law firm in Utah in handing UIM claims.

22. WHAT HAPPENS IF I WAS HIT BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER IN UTAH?

If you are in a hit-and-run accident in Utah with an unidentified driver, you usually can submit a claim for your injuries to your own insurance company under you underinsured motorist policy (UIM), if you have UIM coverage on your policy. You also should be able to make a claim for property damage under your insurance policy, along with a claim under your insurance policy for personal injury protection (PIP). PIP will cover at least the first three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) of medical bills associated with

23. WHAT DOCUMENTS SHOULD I BRING TO MY ACCIDENT ATTORNEY CONSULT?

After a Utah auto accident, you will need to bring a number of records with you to your initial attorney consult, including, among many others, your driver’s license, insurance information, health insurance information, and the Driver Exchange of Information form provided to you by the police at the accident scene. Click here for a complete list of documents you should bring with you to your attorney consult for a Utah auto accident

24. WHAT TYPES OF RECORDS SHOULD I BE KEEPING AFTER MY ACCIDENT?

After an auto accident in Utah, you should keep meticulous records. You should consult with a top Utah accident attorney for your specific case, but outlined below are some of the records you should generally be keeping after an auto accident.

You should track of each of your medical appointments, including which providers you have met with and on what dates. Click here to download the Utah Post-Accident Journal.

You should also keep track of all of your prescriptions. Click here to download the Utah Prescriptions Worksheet.

You should also keep track of any lost wages you have incurred as a result of the accident. Click here to download the Utah Lost Wages Worksheet.

You should also keep track of all of the essential services that your friends or family members have performed on your behalf on account of your injuries from the accident. Click here to download the Utah Household Services Worksheet.

You should also keep track of all of your out-of-pocket medical expenses associated with the auto accident. Click here to download the Utah Medical Expenses Worksheet.

You should also keep track of your property damages associated with the auto accident, including, among others, the items of personal property damaged in the accident and the dates that you had them replaced, repaired, or received repair or repair estimates. Click here to download the Utah Property Damage Worksheet.

25. CAN I POST TO SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT BY CAR ACCIDENT?

If you have been involved in a Utah auto accident, you need to careful about your social media habits. If you belong to any social media sites, including, among others, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, or LinkedIn, remember that whatever you post is not private and can be used by the defendants to fight your claim. They will use your social media posts to unfairly attack the validity of your claim. Indeed, it is now standard practice for defendants, insurance companies and their attorneys to obtain information from social media sites. Generally, they obtain this information without your knowledge or permission.

As such, you should take the following steps, among others, to protect against insurance company surveillance of your social media following an accident: (1) apply the highest privacy settings on your social media accounts; (2) be selective about who you “friend” following your accident; (3) refrain from using social media as much as possible following an accident; (4) do not post about your accident, your treatments, or how you are feeling; and (5) do not post anything about meetings or communications with your lawyer (or his or her staff).

Click here to learn more about Social Media Guidelines Following a Utah Accident.

26. WHEN WILL THE AT-FAULT DRIVER’S INSURANCE COMPANY START PAYING MY MEDICAL BILLS?

Most people believe that the at-fault insurance company will immediate start paying your medical bills after an auto accident in Utah. They won’t. The at-fault insurance company will not pay any of your medical bills directly. Instead, the insurance company will only provide you with one settlement check at the conclusion of your case, which you will use to pay off all of your medical bills. That means you will have pending medical bills until the conclusion of your case. You need to retain a qualified injury attorney to help you make arrangements with your medical providers, whenever possible, to refrain from sending your medical accounts to collections pending the resolution of your personal injury claim.