Our Salt Lake City DUI accident lawyers help injured people pursue civil compensation after crashes caused by drunk or drug-impaired drivers. While a criminal DUI case may punish the driver, it does not pay your medical bills, replace your lost income, repair your vehicle, or account for the way the crash has changed your life.
This distinction matters after a serious DUI collision. The driver may be arrested, cited, charged, or even convicted, and you might assume the legal system will now take care of everything.
However, the criminal case belongs to the State of Utah. Your injury claim is separate, and it must be built, documented, negotiated, and, if necessary, litigated to protect your rights.
When a driver makes the decision to get behind the wheel impaired and crashes into you, our attorneys work to hold that driver financially responsible for your losses through the civil justice system.
A DUI Arrest Does Not Resolve Your Injury Claim
Although a DUI arrest can be important evidence, it does not provide compensation for accident victims. The criminal court may impose fines, jail time, and other penalties, but it does not provide the injured person with financial recovery after the crash.
Your civil injury claim focuses on a different set of questions, including:
- How badly were you hurt?
- What medical care will you need?
- How much work have you missed?
- Will your injuries affect your ability to earn income in the future?
- Has the collision changed your daily life, your sleep, your mobility, or your ability to care for your family?
We can handle these issues through an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit. And while a guilty plea may help prove liability in your case, insurance companies can still dispute the extent of your injuries, the amount of your damages, and whether your treatment was related to the DUI collision.
Your civil injury case requires its own strategy. We don’t have to wait for the criminal system to prosecute the driver; we can begin preparing your accident case today.
Why You Should Choose Parker & McConkie for Your Salt Lake City DUI Accident Case
We have been representing injured people in Salt Lake City, throughout the Wasatch Front, and throughout Utah for more than 45 years. Our successful track record includes multi-million-dollar results in several auto accident claims. While past results cannot guarantee future outcomes, they can show our dedication to our clients and our trial and negotiation skills, which we can bring to your case.
DUI crashes can happen along I-15, I-80, State Street, 400 South, the airport corridor, and near downtown nightlife and event traffic. Proving these injury claims requires more than a police report and medical bills. The evidence of impairment must be tied to the crash, and the crash must be tied to the full scope of your injuries and damages.
At Parker & McConkie, we investigate impaired-driving collisions with the understanding that insurance companies often seek ways to reduce their financial exposure. Even in cases involving drunk driving, adjusters may challenge medical treatment, argue over pre-existing conditions, dispute future care, or claim the injured person should have avoided the crash.
Our team can:
- Obtain police reports, toxicology evidence, witness statements, and available video footage
- Review the crash location, vehicle damage, and available insurance coverage
- Document medical treatment, lost income, and future financial losses
- Negotiate with insurance companies and defense counsel from a position supported by evidence
- File a lawsuit and present the case to a judge or jury when settlement offers do not fairly compensate you for the harm caused
Many DUI accident cases settle, but the strength of the settlement often depends on whether the other side believes the injured person is prepared to proceed further. Our attorneys build cases with that reality in mind.
How Do DUI Crashes Happen in Salt Lake City?
In Salt Lake City, downtown restaurants, bars, concerts, sporting events, and late-night rideshare activity can create heavy traffic during hours when impaired driving is more likely. Freeway traffic on I-15 and I-80 can turn a single reckless decision into a high-speed collision involving multiple vehicles.
Impaired driving crashes may involve alcohol, illegal drugs, marijuana, prescription medications, or a combination of substances. The legal issue is not limited to whether a driver was above Utah's blood alcohol limit. A driver may be civilly responsible if impairment affected their ability to operate a vehicle safely and contributed to the crash.
Common DUI accident patterns include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on crashes
- Wrong-way driving
- Intersection impacts
- Pedestrian collisions
- Motorcycle crashes
- High-speed freeway wrecks
These crashes happen because impaired drivers have slower reaction times, poor judgment, reduced coordination, and limited ability to recognize danger. The injuries can be severe because impaired drivers frequently fail to brake, swerve, or react in time to reduce the force of impact.
What Makes a DUI Accident Claim Different From Other Car Accident Claims?
A DUI crash involves a driver who made a dangerous choice before ever entering the roadway. That fact can affect how the civil claim is investigated, valued, and presented.
Evidence from the criminal investigation may become important in the injury claim. For example, chemical test results, officer body camera footage, field sobriety testing, driver admissions, and witness statements may support a civil claim.
We build civil cases that explain both the individual losses and the seriousness of the conduct that caused them to fight for the maximum possible compensation under the circumstances..
Who May Be Liable After a Salt Lake City DUI Accident?
The impaired driver is usually the first party investigated. If that driver caused the crash, their auto insurance may provide coverage for the injuries and property damage they caused.
If the impaired driver was working at the time of the crash, their employer’s commercial insurance policy may be involved. If the driver borrowed someone else's vehicle, additional insurance questions may arise. If the driver was uninsured or underinsured, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may become important.
Utah dram shop laws may also apply to hold a bar, restaurant, or social host liable for providing alcohol under certain circumstances. These claims are fact-specific and require prompt investigation because receipts, surveillance footage, and witness memories can disappear quickly.
We work to identify every available source of insurance after a serious DUI collision because severe injuries can easily exceed the limits of a single auto policy.
We help everyday people stand up for What's Right.
Injuries Commonly Caused by Impaired Driving Crashes
DUI crashes frequently cause serious injuries because impaired drivers often fail to respond before impact. Injuries may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, burns, soft tissue injuries, paralysis, and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
Some victims require surgery, lengthy rehabilitation, or ongoing treatment long after the criminal case against the driver has ended.
Many people also experience anxiety, sleep disruption, anger, and depression. These effects are not secondary details. They are part of how the collision changed the injured person's life.
Our attorneys work with medical providers and other professionals to understand the full extent of your injuries before settlement discussions are finalized.
What Compensation May Be Available in an SLC DUI Accident Injury Claim?
The value of your claim depends on the specific facts, including the severity of your injuries, available insurance coverage, your medical prognosis, and the impact on your work and daily life.
Compensation may cover medical expenses, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning ability, property damage, physical pain, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In fatal DUI crashes, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim under Utah law.
Punitive damages may also be available in some cases involving particularly reckless conduct. Because impaired driving is such a dangerous choice, this issue should be evaluated carefully in these cases.
Insurance companies may try to settle claims quickly before your full medical picture is clear. When you accept a settlement, it usually ends your right to receive any additional payment. Before signing anything, speak with our team to understand whether the offer accounts for your future medical care, work limitations, and long-term consequences.
What If the Insurance Company Blames You?
Many people assume fault is obvious if the other driver was impaired. That assumption can be dangerous.
Insurance companies may argue that you were speeding, distracted, or contributed to the crash in some other way. These arguments are often used to reduce the value of the claim.
Utah's comparative fault rules may reduce or bar your compensation if you are found 50% or more responsible. If you are less than 50% at fault, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.
Our attorneys challenge unfair blame-shifting by examining crash evidence, witness accounts, vehicle damage, police findings, and any available video or reconstruction evidence. The fact that the other driver was impaired is important, but the details still must be proven.
How Long Do You Have to File a DUI Accident Lawsuit in Utah?
Under the statute of limitations, most Utah personal injury claims arising from motor vehicle crashes must be filed within 4 years. Wrongful death claims generally have a shorter deadline, and claims involving government entities may require earlier official notice.
Even when the statute of limitations allows several years, waiting can weaken a claim. Video footage may be erased, witnesses may become harder to locate, damaged vehicles may be repaired, and criminal case evidence may become more difficult to obtain.
In DUI accident cases, when you partner with our team, we can help preserve police records, toxicology evidence, surveillance footage, and witness information before it disappears.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Salt Lake City DUI Accident Attorney?
At Parker & McConkie, DUI accident injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. That means you will not pay anything up front to begin your case.
We only receive a fee if we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is also free. During that conversation, our team can discuss the facts of the crash, possible insurance coverage, and the steps needed to protect your interests.
How the Parker & McConkie Team Pursues DUI Accident Claims
Our strong DUI accident claims do more than show that the other driver was impaired. We must prove liability, document damages, address insurance defenses, and create leverage for settlement or trial.
We investigate the crash and gather key evidence, including police reports, witness statements, chemical test results, body camera footage, crash scene evidence, vehicle damage photographs, medical records, and available surveillance video.
We then use that evidence to develop a settlement demand supported by documentation. The demand explains how the crash occurred, why the impaired driver is responsible, and how the injuries have affected your health, income, and daily life.
If the insurance company or defense counsel refuses to offer a fair resolution, our attorneys can file suit. Litigation allows us to conduct discovery, subpoena records, take depositions, question witnesses, challenge defense arguments, and prepare the case for trial.
We can present your case to a jury and request a verdict that reflects the full extent of the harm you’ve suffered. Throughout the process, we will guide you and answer any questions.
FAQs About SLC DUI Accident Claims
Can I bring a civil claim if the driver is not convicted?
Yes. A civil claim can still move forward even if the driver is not convicted of DUI. The burden of proof is different in civil court, and evidence of impairment may still support your injury case.
What if the drunk driver had very little insurance?
Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may become important if the at-fault driver lacks enough insurance. We can investigate other possible sources of recovery, including commercial policies or dram shop liability in appropriate cases.
Should I wait until the criminal case ends before calling a lawyer?
No. Waiting can jeopardize your rights. Evidence may disappear, and your filing deadline may pass while the criminal case is pending. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can help protect your civil rights without interfering with the criminal prosecution.
Can passengers injured in a DUI crash file a claim?
Yes. Passengers injured in a crash caused by an impaired driver may have a claim, even if they were riding in the impaired driver's vehicle. Insurance coverage, driver conduct, and the passenger's knowledge of the situation may impact the claim.
Speak With the Salt Lake City DUI Accident Lawyers at Parker & McConkie Today
At Parker & McConkie, our DUI accident injury attorneys can protect your civil rights by proving what happened, documenting the full impact of your injuries, negotiating with insurers and defense counsel, and filing litigation if the other side refuses to offer a fair resolution.
Don’t assume the criminal case will address your financial losses; speak with our team to pursue your separate injury claim. Call us at (801) 845-0440 to discuss your Salt Lake City DUI accident case today.