A crash with a commercial vehicle can cause serious injuries, high medical bills, and months of uncertainty. If you were hurt in Salt Lake City, Utah, you may have legal options for seeking compensation from those responsible. Call Feller & Wendt, LLC at 801-421-2445 to schedule a free consultation with a Salt Lake City commercial vehicle accident lawyer.
Evidence can disappear quickly after a commercial vehicle accident. Driver records, electronic data, maintenance documents, and video footage may all become important parts of a claim. Getting legal help early can make it easier to preserve this information.
How Can Feller & Wendt, LLC Help After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Salt Lake City?
Commercial vehicle accident cases in Salt Lake City, UT, can be more complicated than ordinary car accident claims. Feller & Wendt, LLC has over 120 years of combined experience in personal injury law. Our attorneys have recovered over $100 million for our clients.
When you hire our Salt Lake City personal injury lawyers, we can support your case by:
- Investigating your accident and gathering strong evidence
- Calculating the full value of your damages
- Reviewing insurance policies to understand what compensation may be available
- Communicating with insurance companies on your behalf
- Negotiating a settlement agreement to recover the true value of your losses
- Filing a lawsuit and representing you in court if a fair agreement cannot be reached
The legal team can review your losses and build a claim based on the available evidence. Contact our Salt Lake City commercial vehicle accident attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Considered a Commercial Vehicle?
A commercial vehicle is generally a vehicle used for business purposes. While tractor-trailers are common examples, many other vehicles may be commercial vehicles. Delivery vans, construction trucks, buses, work trucks, and company-owned cars may fall into this category, depending on how they are being used.
The type of vehicle matters because it can affect which rules apply and who may be responsible for a crash. For example, federal rules might apply to certain commercial motor vehicles, and liability may depend on what the commercial vehicle driver was doing at the time of the crash. A Salt Lake City personal injury attorney can examine the facts and explain applicable rules.
What Causes Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Salt Lake City?
Commercial drivers may spend long hours behind the wheel and travel through busy streets and highways. A single unsafe decision can lead to a serious collision.
Common causes of commercial vehicle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Improperly secured cargo
- Driving under the influence
- Inadequate driver training
Federal safety rules may be important in some cases. For example, the federal government places limits on driving and on-duty time for many commercial drivers. These rules are intended to reduce risks associated with fatigue.
Who Can Be Liable for a Commercial Vehicle Accident?
More than one party may share responsibility for a commercial vehicle collision. The commercial driver may be liable if careless driving caused the accident. However, the driver’s employer may also face liability depending on the facts.
Other potentially responsible parties may include a trucking or transportation company, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, cargo-loading business, or manufacturer of a defective vehicle or part.
Determining liability often requires reviewing records that are not available to an injured person immediately after a crash. Attorneys may examine employment records, maintenance reports, driver logs, electronic vehicle information, photographs, witness statements, and other evidence.
Utah also uses comparative negligence rules when allocating fault. Under Utah law, multiple parties can be held responsible for their share of the total damages based on the percentage of liability assigned to them for the accident. If the victim is found to be 50% or more at fault, they may lose the right to recover any compensation for their losses.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Commercial Vehicle Accident?
Depending on the case, compensation may cover:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Other accident-related losses
Families may also have legal options when a commercial vehicle accident causes a fatal injury.
Insurance companies may question whether treatment was necessary or whether every claimed loss resulted from the crash. Medical records, employment documents, expert opinions, and other evidence can help establish the extent of damages. An attorney can gather this information and seek compensation that reflects the full impact of the accident.
What Should I Do After a Commercial Vehicle Crash?
Your health and safety should come first after a crash. Seek medical care for injuries and follow the treatment instructions from healthcare professionals. Some injuries may not produce obvious symptoms immediately.
When possible, report the accident to law enforcement and collect basic information from the commercial driver. Take photographs or videos of the vehicles, road, visible injuries, and the surrounding area. You should also save medical bills, estimates, receipts, and other documents connected to the collision.
Avoid giving statements to another party’s insurance company before understanding your rights. Insurers may ask questions designed to limit the value of a claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Salt Lake City Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer
You do not have to handle a commercial vehicle accident claim by yourself. Feller & Wendt, LLC can review your case, explain your legal options, and help determine who may be responsible for your injuries.
Commercial vehicle cases require fast action because important evidence may be controlled by a third party. Getting started early can give your attorney more time to investigate the crash, preserve records, and build your claim.
If you were injured in Salt Lake City, Utah, contact Feller & Wendt, LLC today. Schedule a free consultation with a Salt Lake City commercial vehicle accident attorney to discuss your case and possible path toward compensation.
