Fort Union Boulevard experiences heavy traffic and frequent access points, creating elevated collision risks. This busy commercial corridor sees frequent accidents from rear-end collisions at congested stoplights and complex multi-vehicle crashes near shopping centers. If you’ve been injured in an accident on Fort Union Boulevard, understanding why this road is so dangerous and who may be liable for your injuries helps you protect your legal rights.
Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers represents car accident victims injured on Fort Union Boulevard and throughout the Midvale area. We know this corridor’s dangerous intersections, complicated traffic patterns, and the unique liability issues that arise when accidents occur near commercial properties. Call (801) 418-9797 or schedule a free consultation.
Key Takeaways for Fort Union Boulevard Car Accidents
- Fort Union Boulevard’s design creates multiple accident risks, including five to seven lanes in sections, numerous commercial driveways creating constant turning traffic, and limited visibility for drivers making left turns across multiple lanes.
- Parking lot accidents near Fort Union Boulevard may involve premises liability claims against property owners when dangerous conditions like poor lighting, inadequate signage, or obstructed sight lines contribute to collisions.
- Under Utah Code § 78B-5-818, if you are 50% or more at fault, recovery is barred; otherwise any award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Why Fort Union Boulevard Is So Dangerous
Fort Union Boulevard runs east-west through Midvale, Cottonwood Heights, and nearby unincorporated Salt Lake County. The Midvale section from the Interstate 15 interchange eastward to State Street experiences particularly heavy traffic and frequent accidents.
Road Design and Traffic Volume
Fort Union Boulevard spans five to seven lanes in sections, including multiple through lanes and dedicated turning lanes. Portions of Fort Union Boulevard are state-maintained; route designations vary by segment. The road carries heavy daily traffic, with volumes spiking during rush hours and weekend shopping periods.
The corridor’s design creates inherent dangers. Multiple lanes allow speeds of 40 to 45 mph while constant commercial access requires frequent stopping. Drivers traveling at speed approach vehicles slowing or stopped to turn into businesses, creating rear-end collision risks. Dozens of business entrances and exits create unpredictable traffic patterns as drivers slow suddenly to turn, change lanes without signaling, or misjudge gaps in traffic.
Major Intersections and Interchanges
Several major intersections along Fort Union Boulevard generate high accident frequencies. The I-15/Fort Union interchange handles heavy traffic merging between the freeway and the commercial corridor. The Fort Union Boulevard and State Street intersection experiences high volumes, red-light running, and frequent conflicts. Fort Union Boulevard and Highland Drive represents another busy intersection serving both through traffic and commercial access.
Common Accident Types on Fort Union Boulevard
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end accidents dominate Fort Union Boulevard crash statistics. These collisions occur when drivers fail to maintain safe following distances, become distracted by commercial signage or navigation systems, or can’t stop when traffic suddenly slows. Rear-end collisions commonly cause whiplash, neck injuries, back injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
Left-Turn Accidents
Drivers turning left from Fort Union Boulevard into shopping centers or from driveways onto Fort Union Boulevard face significant visibility challenges. Turning across multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic requires judging the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles. Larger vehicles in inside lanes may block sight lines. Left-turn accidents typically result in T-bone collisions that cause serious injuries due to limited side-impact protection.
Lane-Change Accidents
Multiple lanes and heavy traffic create frequent lane-change conflicts. Drivers merge without checking blind spots, cut across multiple lanes to access businesses at the last moment, or change lanes when adjacent vehicles occupy their intended space. Lane-change accidents cause side-swipe collisions and may trigger chain reactions.
Parking Lot Accidents
Large shopping centers along Fort Union Boulevard generate numerous parking lot collisions involving backing vehicles, through-lane conflicts, and pedestrian accidents. While parking lot accidents often occur at lower speeds, they create complex liability questions and may involve premises liability claims against property owners.
Parking Lot vs. Road Accidents: Understanding the Difference
Traffic rules generally apply to parking areas that are open to public use. However, enforcement and fault determination prove more complex on private property. Police may not respond to minor parking lot accidents. Right-of-way expectations are less defined in private lots, which complicates fault allocation.
Insurance companies frequently argue that both drivers share fault in parking lot accidents. Under Utah’s comparative fault system, if you are 50% or more at fault, recovery is barred; otherwise any award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Premises Liability: When Property Owners Share Fault
Accidents on or near Fort Union Boulevard may involve premises liability claims when dangerous property conditions contribute to collisions. Property owners owe a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises.
Dangerous parking lot conditions that may create liability under Utah premises liability law include:
- Poor design: Confusing layouts, blind spots at intersections, inadequate throat distances at exits onto Fort Union Boulevard, or parking spaces too close to through lanes.
- Inadequate lighting: Insufficient illumination makes it difficult to see pedestrians, backing vehicles, or approaching traffic during evening shopping hours.
- Maintenance failures: Potholes, uneven pavement, or standing water from poor drainage may cause vehicles to swerve unpredictably.
- Obstructed sight lines: Overgrown landscaping, improperly placed signs, or accumulated snow blocking visibility.
- Missing or inadequate signage: Parking lots need clear stop signs, directional signs, and lane markings to guide traffic safely.
Proving Notice and Causation
To hold a property owner liable, you must prove the owner owed a duty to maintain safe premises, a dangerous condition existed, the owner knew or should have known about the condition, the owner failed to remedy the condition, and the condition caused your accident. Fort Union Boulevard accidents may involve multiple liable parties: the at-fault driver, the property owner if dangerous conditions contributed, and the at-fault driver’s employer if the driver was working at the time.
Surveillance Camera Evidence Along Fort Union Boulevard
Shopping centers, retail stores, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses along Fort Union Boulevard maintain security cameras monitoring parking lots, building entrances, and surrounding areas. Footage can show positions, relative speeds, and driver actions before impact.
Many business surveillance systems retain footage only briefly—often between several days and a few months—so acting quickly preserves vital evidence. Contact Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers immediately after a Fort Union Boulevard accident so we can identify relevant cameras and send timely preservation notices.
What to Do After a Fort Union Boulevard Accident
Seek medical evaluation even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Adrenaline and shock mask pain immediately after accidents. Many injuries including whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and internal damage don’t manifest symptoms for hours or days. Delayed treatment allows insurance companies to argue that injuries aren’t accident-related.
Keep detailed records including:
- Medical bills and provider visit dates
- Mileage to appointments
- Wage-loss documentation from your employer
- Repair estimates and rental car receipts
- Receipts for prescriptions and medical equipment
Contact Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your Fort Union Boulevard accident. When you meet with our team, be sure to bring all detailed records, including medical bills, wage-loss documentation, repair estimates, and receipts for prescriptions and medical equipment. This comprehensive information will help us accurately assess your case and build a strong claim for full compensation.
Fort Union Boulevard Accident Liability and Compensation
Most Fort Union Boulevard accidents result from driver negligence: following too closely, unsafe lane changes, running red lights, failure to yield when turning left, speeding, and distracted driving. Utah follows a modified comparative-fault standard under Utah Code § 78B-5-818: if you are 50% or more at fault, recovery is barred; otherwise any award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Insurance companies might claim traffic was congested and the insured couldn’t stop in time, visibility was obstructed when making left turns, or parking lot exits created unavoidable conflicts. Strong evidence counters these arguments by showing excessive speed, inadequate following distance, or clear right-of-way violations.
Successful claims recover economic damages, including medical expenses, hospital bills, surgery costs, rehabilitation, prescriptions, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality of life, and permanent scarring.
The at-fault driver’s liability insurance establishes the primary compensation source. Utah’s minimum auto liability limits are $25,000 per person and $65,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 per accident for property damage. Many drivers carry only these minimums. Your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage provides additional compensation when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. Under Utah Code § 31A-22-305.3, many insurers require written consent before a settlement to preserve UIM rights.
FAQ for Fort Union Boulevard Car Accidents
Can I Sue UDOT or the City If Poor Road Design Caused My Fort Union Boulevard Accident?
Portions of Fort Union Boulevard are maintained by the Utah Department of Transportation. Suing government entities faces significant obstacles under Utah’s Governmental Immunity Act. Government agencies enjoy broad immunity for discretionary functions, including most design decisions. You might pursue claims if UDOT failed to maintain the road and knew about the dangerous condition but failed to remedy it. However, a notice of claim must be filed within one year of the incident, served on the governmental entity’s clerk, and suit must follow within one year after claim denial. Most successful Fort Union Boulevard claims focus on driver negligence and property owner premises liability.
How Does Jurisdiction Work When Fort Union Boulevard Runs Through Multiple Cities?
Fort Union Boulevard crosses Midvale, Cottonwood Heights, and unincorporated Salt Lake County. The responding agency depends on the exact location—Midvale Police handle accidents in Midvale, and so forth. For legal purposes, these areas fall within Salt Lake County, so injury lawsuits are filed in Utah’s Third District Court regardless of which specific location the accident occurred in. The substantive law (Utah traffic laws, comparative negligence, premises liability) remains the same throughout the corridor.
What If I Was Hit by a Delivery Truck Making a Commercial Delivery on Fort Union Boulevard?
If a commercial vehicle hit you, additional liability sources may exist beyond the driver. Under respondeat superior principles, employers are liable for employee negligence committed within the scope of employment. If the delivery driver was making deliveries when the accident occurred, you might pursue claims against both the driver and the company. Commercial vehicle policies typically carry higher insurance limits—often $1 million or more—providing greater compensation for serious injuries.
Does It Matter Whether My Accident Happened During Rush Hour or Off-Peak Times?
The time your accident occurred may affect liability arguments, though it doesn’t change your legal rights. Insurance companies defend rush-hour accidents by claiming congestion made collisions unavoidable. However, drivers remain responsible for maintaining safe following distances and adjusting speed for traffic conditions. Night accidents raise visibility issues and may involve inadequate parking lot lighting (premises liability).
What Happens If the Other Driver Claims I Cut Them Off While Changing Lanes on Fort Union Boulevard?
Lane-change disputes are common on Fort Union Boulevard given its multiple lanes and constant merging. Insurance companies frequently argue that both drivers share fault. Under Utah Code § 78B-5-818, if you are 50% or more at fault, recovery is barred; otherwise any award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Witness testimony establishes whether you signaled and merged safely. Surveillance footage from businesses proves vehicle positions before impact. We reconstruct the accident through evidence and expert analysis to establish the other driver’s primary fault.
Get Help After Your Fort Union Boulevard Accident
We represent Fort Union Boulevard accident victims throughout the Midvale area. Our team knows this corridor’s dangerous characteristics, common accident patterns, and unique liability issues. We understand when premises liability claims against property owners may apply alongside driver negligence claims, how to preserve surveillance footage before it’s erased, and how to counter insurance company arguments about comparative fault.
Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis—you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Case costs might apply. We offer free consultations to evaluate your Fort Union Boulevard accident, explain your legal options, and develop a strategy for pursuing full compensation.
Don’t face insurance companies alone after a Fort Union Boulevard accident. Call (801) 418-9797 or contact Parker & McConkie Injury Lawyers today for your free consultation. We advocate for injured victims to pursue the full and fair compensation available under Utah law.
