At Parker & McConkie, our Midvale drunk driving accident lawyers represent people who have been seriously injured because someone else chose to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our attorneys investigate impaired driving crashes, preserve critical evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the compensation our clients need to recover from devastating collisions.
Being struck by an impaired driver can be both physically and emotionally devastating. Serious injuries often require extensive medical treatment, weeks or months away from work, and ongoing rehabilitation while medical bills continue to grow.
Although you might think the driver's decision to get behind the wheel while impaired was clearly negligent, obtaining fair compensation still requires a carefully prepared legal claim supported by strong evidence.
When you choose Parker & McConkie, you gain a legal team that understands both the medical and legal complexities of serious motor vehicle collisions. We work to identify every available source of compensation, document the full extent of your losses, and build a case designed to achieve the best possible outcome while you focus on your recovery.
To learn more about your legal rights after a Midvale crash with a drunk driver, call us at 801-845-0440 for a free consultation.
Our Team Offers Proven Experience Representing Victims of Serious Motor Vehicle Collisions
Serious injury cases require experienced attorneys who understand how to investigate complex crashes, work with medical experts, and build compelling claims supported by credible evidence. At Parker & McConkie, we have helped thousands of injured clients throughout Utah and Wyoming pursue compensation after life-changing motor vehicle accidents, including drunk driving crashes.
Our firm has recovered significant results in serious automobile collision cases involving catastrophic injuries, including a $7.1 million traumatic brain injury recovery and several multi-million dollar vehicle accident settlements and verdicts.
While past case results cannot guarantee future outcomes, they show how we bring the same careful preparation, strategic investigation, and commitment to every client we represent—including those injured by impaired drivers.
A successful outcome depends on demonstrating the full extent of your injuries, the financial consequences you have experienced, and the long-term impact the collision will have on your future. That’s our mission.
Why Drunk Driving Crashes Often Cause Catastrophic Injuries
Alcohol and drugs impair nearly every ability a driver relies on to operate a vehicle safely. Reduced judgment, delayed reaction times, blurred vision, poor coordination, and impaired decision-making significantly increase the likelihood of a serious collision. Many impaired drivers also engage in other dangerous behaviors, including excessive speeding, aggressive driving, drifting across lanes, ignoring traffic signals, and driving the wrong direction on roadways.
These reckless actions frequently result in high-impact crashes that produce severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, internal organ damage, severe burns, or permanent disabilities.
Unlike some traffic accidents, drunk driving crashes are entirely preventable. Every impaired driver makes the conscious decision to drive despite knowing the risks to everyone sharing the road. We help the innocent motorists, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists who suffer the consequences.
A DUI Arrest Does Not Resolve Your Injury Claim
Some people assume that if the driver who caused the crash is arrested or convicted of driving under the influence, obtaining compensation will be straightforward. In reality, the criminal case and your personal injury claim are two entirely separate legal matters.
A criminal DUI prosecution focuses on whether the driver violated Utah's criminal DUI laws and what penalties may apply. A civil personal injury claim focuses on recovering compensation for the injuries, financial losses, and personal hardships caused by the crash.
Even when a driver pleads guilty to DUI or is convicted at trial, insurance companies still evaluate the value of your claim independently. They may dispute the severity of your injuries, question whether certain medical treatment was necessary, challenge future damages, or argue that some of your injuries were unrelated to the collision.
Our attorneys prepare every case with these challenges in mind. We gather medical records, consult appropriate experts, document your financial losses, and develop evidence demonstrating how the crash has affected your life. This comprehensive approach often places our clients in a much stronger position during settlement negotiations and, when necessary, litigation.
Attorney Insight: Evidence of Impairment Is Only One Part of Building a Strong Case
Evidence that a driver was impaired is certainly important, but we still need to show how the collision occurred or how significantly it has affected the injured person.
Our attorneys investigate every aspect of a drunk driving accident, including reviewing:
- Police reports
- Crash scene photographs
- Witness statements
- Surveillance video
- Vehicle damage
- Event data recorder information
- Toxicology reports
- Body camera footage
- Other evidence that helps establish liability and explain the mechanics of the collision
We also gather evidence to build a strong claim that documents the full extent of our client's damages. Medical records, physician opinions, rehabilitation documentation, employment records, and testimony from family members may all help explain how the injuries have affected daily life, future employment, and long-term health.
Looking beyond the driver's intoxication often results in a stronger, more complete claim that reflects the true impact of the crash rather than focusing solely on the criminal conduct that caused it.
Drunk Driving Accidents Can Happen Anywhere in Midvale
Unfortunately, impaired drivers can be found almost anywhere, placing responsible motorists at risk whether they are commuting to work, running errands, or returning home after spending time with family and friends.
Our attorneys represent clients injured in drunk driving crashes occurring throughout the Midvale area, including:
- Along State Street
- Fort Union Boulevard
- 7200 South
- 900 East
- Interstate 15
- Interstate 215
- Neighborhood streets
- Shopping districts
- Other local roadways
Regardless of where the collision occurred, our focus remains the same: identifying what happened, preserving the available evidence, and pursuing the compensation our clients deserve.
How We Use Evidence to Build a Strong Drunk Driving Accident Claim
Every impaired driving collision leaves behind evidence that can help explain how the crash occurred. Preserving and organizing that evidence is one of the most important steps in building a successful personal injury claim.
By conducting a thorough investigation rather than relying solely on the criminal case, we develop a comprehensive understanding of both how the collision occurred and how it has affected our client's life. When appropriate, we work with accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, life planning professionals, and other professionals whose opinions strengthen our clients' claims.
Why Insurance Companies Still Challenge Drunk Driving Injury Claims
Many people believe that if the at-fault driver was arrested for DUI, the insurance company will simply accept responsibility and offer a fair settlement. Unfortunately, that is rarely how these claims unfold.
Insurance companies are businesses focused on limiting claims payouts whenever possible. Even when liability appears clear, adjusters may question whether your injuries are as serious as you claim, argue that certain medical treatments were unnecessary, dispute the cost of future care, or contend that some of your symptoms were caused by a pre-existing condition rather than the collision.
Insurers may also attempt to quickly resolve claims before the full extent of an injury is known. This is particularly common when someone has suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, or other condition that may require months of treatment before doctors can accurately assess the long-term prognosis.
Our attorneys anticipate these tactics from the beginning of every case. We work with your medical providers, gather documentation supporting your treatment, and develop evidence that explains both your current losses and the future consequences of your injuries.
Rather than allowing the insurance company to define the value of your claim, we build a case supported by objective evidence that reflects the true impact of the collision on your life.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Drunk Driving Accident?
A serious drunk driving accident can affect every part of your life. In addition to recovering from painful injuries, you may face months of medical treatment, time away from work, financial uncertainty, and permanent changes to your health or independence.
A complete personal injury claim must request compensation that reflects both the immediate and long-term consequences of the crash. Our attorneys evaluate every category of damages before entering settlement negotiations or advising clients whether to accept an insurance company's offer.
| The Lasting Consequences of a Drunk Driving Crash | Financial Recovery May Help Cover |
| Your medical recovery | Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, specialist care, and anticipated future medical needs |
| Your financial stability | Lost wages, diminished earning capacity, interrupted career opportunities, and other documented economic losses resulting from your injuries |
| Your future independence | Home modifications, mobility equipment, in-home assistance, and other reasonable expenses associated with permanent impairments |
| Your physical and emotional well-being | Compensation for pain, emotional distress, permanent disability, scarring, reduced quality of life, and the loss of activities and relationships affected by the collision |
Since every case is different, the compensation you may receive depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, the available insurance coverage, and how the accident has affected your future. We fight for the maximum amount of compensation possible under your unique circumstances.
We help everyday people stand up for What's Right.
What If the Insurance Company Claims I Was Partly at Fault?
Although drunk driving is a serious act of negligence, insurance companies sometimes argue that the injured driver also contributed to the collision to reduce the amount they must pay. Depending on the circumstances, they may claim you were speeding, following too closely, failed to maintain your lane, or could have taken action to avoid the crash.
Because Utah follows a modified comparative negligence rule, you may still recover compensation if you are less than 50% responsible for the accident. However, any recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be 50% or more at fault, you generally cannot recover damages under Utah law.
Our attorneys carefully evaluate these blame-shifting allegations by reviewing the crash scene, vehicle damage, witness statements, electronic data, surveillance footage, and other available evidence. We work to ensure fault is determined by the facts—not assumptions or unsupported arguments made by the insurance company.
How Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit in Utah?
In most situations, Utah’s statute of limitations provides four years from the date of a motor vehicle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. While that may sound like plenty of time, waiting even a few months can make it more difficult to preserve important evidence and locate witnesses whose memories may fade.
Beginning the legal process sooner also enables our attorneys to obtain records, communicate with insurance companies on your behalf, and build your claim while evidence remains available, so you can focus on your medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Midvale Drunk Driving Accident Claims
Does a DUI conviction automatically mean I'll win my injury case?
No. A criminal conviction can be important evidence, but it does not automatically establish the success of your personal injury claim. You must still demonstrate the extent of your injuries, your financial losses, and how the collision has affected your life.
Can I file a claim if the driver who hit me was never convicted of DUI?
Yes. A civil personal injury claim is separate from a criminal prosecution. Even if criminal charges are reduced, dismissed, or never filed, you may still have the right to pursue compensation if the evidence shows the driver's negligence caused your injuries.
What happens if the driver refused a breath or blood test?
A test refusal does not automatically prevent you from pursuing a claim. Police investigations often include other evidence of impairment, such as officer observations, witness statements, field sobriety testing, video footage, and additional forensic evidence. Our attorneys evaluate all available information when building your case.
Can a bar or restaurant ever be responsible for a drunk driving accident?
In some situations, additional parties beyond the impaired driver may share legal responsibility for a collision. Whether another business or individual may be liable depends on the specific facts of the case and applicable Utah dram shop laws. Our attorneys investigate every potential source of recovery rather than assuming the impaired driver is the only responsible party.
Should I speak with the drunk driver's insurance company?
Before providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement offer, it is best to speak with an attorney. Insurance adjusters often begin evaluating claims immediately after an accident, and statements made early in the process may later be used to dispute liability or minimize the value of your claim.
Contact Our Midvale Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today
A drunk driving collision can leave you facing painful injuries, expensive medical care, and an uncertain future through no fault of your own. You deserve experienced attorneys who will thoroughly investigate your case, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Contact Parker & McConkie today by calling (801) 845-0440 for a free consultation with one of our Midvale drunk driving accident lawyers. We will explain your legal options, answer your questions honestly, and begin building a strategy tailored to your circumstances.
Since our Midvale car accident attorneys also handle DUI-related crash claims, you can be confident that your case will be backed by a team with extensive experience representing victims of serious motor vehicle collisions. Reach out today for a no-obligation case review.