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Utah Car Accidents Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Utah on
Q: I was recently in an car accident and would like a professional opinion on who may be liable for damages.

It was raining heavily and I was heading home for the day. I was about to turn right onto a road to leave my works parking lot. I looked both ways and saw no incoming cars. However due to the rain and tall plants blocking my view of the sidewalk and I didn't see a man on a bike coming towards... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 4, 2023

A Utah attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. Until you are able to consult with a local attorney on state-specific rules, there are elements on both sides that could be argued - bicycle on sidewalk, vehicle leaving parking lot duty to yield, and other possible... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and DUI / DWI for Utah on
Q: cited for DUI in Utah and was in a car accident. They claim personal injury months later. Will the charge be enhanced?

Is this separate from the criminal case and will my car insurance pay for it?

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Sep 1, 2023

In Utah, a DUI charge and a car accident involving personal injury are typically treated as separate legal matters. The DUI charge primarily focuses on factors like blood alcohol content (BAC) and impairment, and the presence of an accident alone may not necessarily enhance the DUI charge itself.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Insurance Bad Faith for Utah on
Q: Car insurance won’t refer me to one of there recommended refer shops and won’t rent me a car.

My vehicle was in an accident, I was issued a rental vehicle while I looked for a repair shop and was dropped of at the shop before insurance adjuster told it need to be dropped off.

My car was in the shop but my rental time had reached the $1500 amount on my policy.

The repair... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Apr 16, 2024

A Utah attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. Unless it's a very generous policy, rental rights tend to be limited in many auto policies. One option could be to review the policy and your rights with a local attorney. Keep in mind that if the claim does not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: Who is more at fault in a collision involving a car turning left vs. a car driving on a bike lane

Long story short, a family member is trying to turn left into an apartment complex on a 2 way street (and a shared divider). He waited in the divider to turn left as safely as possible and found that moment when the oncoming traffic had come to a complete stop and signaled him to go. He started... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 28, 2022

A Utah attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. Until you're able to arrange a consult with a local attorney to analyze the matter under state-specific vehicle and traffic law, this would be a difficult case in most jurisdictions across the nation. Liability... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: Is it wise to allow an opposing ins. co. access to my prior medical files from date of a rear -end car accident?

I was rear-ended in Nov. '21. I had prior back issues, but have had increasing pain since the accident. The opposing ins. co. wants to access my medical files from 2018. Do I need to allow this in order to settle the claim?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 4, 2022

A Utah attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. As a general matter nationwide, insurance carriers typically do make requests for records of previous accidents. This is particularly true where injuries might be similar to those from earlier accidents, or where there... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: I believed my neighbors where telling the truth regarding me hitting a mail box but I’m realizing they lied?

I was unloading a uhaul, I didn’t consider my blood sugar. I went to move the Uhaul in front off townhomes and out of the alley, my neighbors chased me, I freaked out, I saw one of them wave me down. Came to my senses and stoped to talk to him. They told me, didn’t I notice I hit a mail box, I... View More

Mike Branum
Mike Branum
answered on Jun 20, 2022

You have described an incident but you have not asked a question. It appears you have three paths moving forward: 1) pay the fine and take the conviction as is - simplest and quickest resolution which likely has the most significant impact on your insurance (you may want to contact your insurance... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: I was turning and was hit. Think the lady was speeding through light is it possible to get traffic cam footage

I then found out that my I insurance had lapsed. I had no clue my husband first all that. I had insurance the next day. I believe that both parties involved are at fault . I shouldn’t have assumed she was going to be going as fast as she was. It’s kinda a blur but I remember the light was... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 26, 2021

A Utah attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. I'm sorry about your accident. I hope everyone is okay here. You put a number of issues on the table. In terms of fault, a Utah attorney familiar with the state's vehicle and traffic law AND the signage/traffic... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Contracts and Libel & Slander for Utah on
Q: Can a lawyer accept a personal injury settlement w/o their clients approval? If they do is that a breach of contract?

obtained a. Personal injury lawyer after a car crash. After almost a year and a half I directed the lawyer to start working towards a settlement. On 1/28 the Lawyer called and said they had negotiated an offer. I said I wanted to talk to my wife before accepting the offer. The next day( 1/29 )the... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 24, 2021

No, you can tell the attorney that he should tell the company it was a mistake on his part, you never agreed to anytihing. You may want to consult other attorneys, see what they say. Look for attorneys who handle car wrecks and who are memers of the Utah trial lawyers association /Utah... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Divorce for Utah on
Q: I was in a car accident Saturday but I need some answers for questions regarding the car which was in my divorce
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Mar 30, 2020

you didn't state your question. If you caused the wreck and the car is going to your wife, you need to speak with your lawyer if you do not have comprehensive coverage that will pay for the damage to the vehicle.Talk to your divorce lawyer about that end of it.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Traffic Tickets for Utah on
Q: citation after an accident the day before i moved to Canada. I found out that I need to appear in court. options?

the day before I moved to canada I got in a car accident in which resulted in a citation. this week I found out that my appearance was requested in court. currently I am not able to leave Canada until the end of the year. what options do I have to get this matter resolved via long distance? and how... View More

Taylor C. Hartley
Taylor C. Hartley
answered on Sep 3, 2019

You can quickly resolve it by paying the fine (which may include restitution). However, if you would rather contest it, an attorney can go to court for you and resolve it without you having to come back. An attorney would be able to get the police report and figure out different options of how to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Utah on
Q: Is a driver liable for causing an motorcycle accident if they initiate a turn in front of the bike and it goes down?

The driver of the car initiated a left turn into a school and stopped a foot in the lane of traffic of the motorcycle who was traveling in the opposite direction. The car didn’t hit the motorcyclist. The driver of the motorcycle assuming they would be hit braked hard locking the front wheel while... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 29, 2019

I do not practice in Utah, but your question remains open for four weeks. A local attorney could best advise on the operation of Utah's vehicle and traffic laws. However, as general legal doctrine, one can be liable for an accident even if they do not actually physically impact the other... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Traffic Tickets for Utah on
Q: What is the utah traffic code for parking lot accidents?
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Apr 19, 2019

No but it is used as a guide in most states. Consult a Utah attorney on this is it's a big deal.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: How do I find out if I was fired for the wrong reason

My boss told me he likes Brown nosers asked me what I thought of it I told him I don't do that kind of stuff I don't believe in it I'm very strong and independent next day I was fired

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Sep 12, 2018

Generally, you are an at will employee which means barring a union or an employment contract you can be let go for no reason at all--reasons just go to whether there is an EEO complaint, whether you can collect unemployment insurance.

Suggest you contact a member of the Utah Assn for...
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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: am i in the wrong?

3 weeks ago, i was in a car accident. i was heading north (straight) through an intersection in which i had no stop signs. as i was going through, someone turned left and i hit them. would i be in the wrong? also is there anyway their insurance would have to cover a rental for me? i dont have the... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Sep 11, 2018

The person turning left has to yield to you. Sounds like they didn't (I'm assuming no green turn arrow).If you were hurt contact a member of the Utah Assn for Justice--they give free consults.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: I dinged another car with my door in a parking lot. I left a note with my contact, insurance and vehicle info. What now

At work l opened my door too fast without looking and bumped the car next to me, leaving a dime sized dent on their door. I don’t know who owns the car and no one was around, so I left a note with my contact info, my car info and my insurance info. Do I contact the police or my insurance now?

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Aug 21, 2018

Bless you for being honest. At this point I would wait and see. You can pay it off or run it through your insurance.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Contracts, DUI / DWI and Employment Law for Utah on
Q: I crashed a company vehicle (into dirt) and ended up getting a dui. My employer took damage costs out of my last check?

Is that legal? I never signed a contractual agreement to pay for any damage to company property.

Michael S. Edwards
Michael S. Edwards
answered on Jul 10, 2018

Well, if you owe them the money for the damage you caused, it seems that they simply applied "self-help," and got the money back from you quickly through your check. I don't know that there is any legal action you can bring to recover the money, unless you truly don't owe the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: Someone is still threatening a lawsuit against me from an accident he caused 2.5 year ago, can i counter sue?

I was involved in a car accident in 2015 where the responding officer unfairly ticketed me as the cause of the accident when the person I hit made a blind turn. I fought the ticket and won and both insurance companies accepted he was 100% at fault. Now, 2.5 yrs later, hes still threatening suit for... View More

Wesley Winsor
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Wesley Winsor
answered on Jun 8, 2018

From what you have stated, I don't think so. A claim for Intentional/Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress requires a showing of something truly horrific. Making threats against your insurance company would not qualify. If they were constantly in contact with you and threatening you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: Am I legally liable for an accident caused by someone stopping for me abruptly in a crosswalk.

I was running back to work for an emergency and stopped for an oncoming car at the beginning of a crosswalk, with one foot on the street. She very suddenly stopped also, and I attempted to waved her on, but before she moved, she was hit by a car turning left (from a stop sign). They started to... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jan 15, 2018

No and No. Other driver had stopped.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law, Car Accidents, Libel & Slander and Wrongful Death for Utah on
Q: Do you have to stop if you hit a dog or cat?
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Apr 21, 2017

Not by law.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Utah on
Q: 2 cars at a stop sign, 1 no blinker on, 1 turning R.

I was in an accident where a car had no blinker on and I pulled to the right of him to turn right. He then turned right into me. Who is at fault for this accident? I had plenty of room to turn right and did not squeeze into turn right. There was no right turn painted on the road, just enough... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Mar 11, 2017

Assuming you pull up and are visible to him. You stop. He then moves into you, he should be as he is moving and should look before moving.

If damage is to his passenger side middle, then you were behind him. If he hits you with his passenger side front corner, then you were at least up to...
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