Although we always recommend hiring an attorney for any legal matters, it’s understandable that you may want to resolve your traffic ticket on your own. Here are a few tips: 1. Pay the ticket. If it’s too bothersome to go to court, you can pay the fine online or contact the court. Keep in mind that paying the traffic ticket is the same as saying “guilty”; this means that you will get points from the DMV, thereby affecting your insurance.  2. Negotiate with the prosecutor. While it’s possible that you can charm the prosecutor and get the case dismissed, the more likely outcome is one of t ..read more

There could be many reasons why you were pulled over in Utah.. What do you do when that happens? Being pulled over doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in serious trouble. Knowing how to respond can help you navigate any situation with more confidence and ease. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide if you’re pulled over in Utah: Stay calm and pull over safely. If you are pulled over by the police, it’s important to stay calm and not panic..  First, look for a well-lit, safe place to pull over, such as the right side of the road or a parking lot. Avoid bridges or overpasses as they may be too n ..read more

In 2021, there were 61, 406 car accidents in Utah. Often, these are life-changing events that leave victims struggling to recover physically, emotionally, and financially. If your accident was caused by another person’s recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation by that person for your damages. You may wonder if hiring an attorney is necessary. However, even if you believe your case is simple or easy, there are several reasons why it is important to have a car accident lawyer represent you in your case: 1. Attorneys have more knowledge and experience In your car accident case, you need ..read more

Touching the nose, counting, or reciting the alphabet backwards. Although you may have seen them performed on TV, these are not valid field sobriety tests in Utah. There are three field sobriety tests a Utah police officer may conduct when suspecting a DUI—three standardized field sobriety tests adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the portable breathalyzer test (PBT). What are the types of field sobriety tests? The three tests adopted by the NHTSA help determine if you have the balance, coordination, and ability to divide attention among several tasks, m ..read more

Not every criminal case goes through the process of a lengthy trial. Defendants often resolve their case through a plea bargaining agreement.  Let’s look into the plea bargain process in Utah, when it is available, and its pros and cons on sentencing. What is a plea bargaining? A plea bargain or “plea offer,” is the negotiation between the prosecution and the defendant in a criminal case. The defendant, through their counsel, offers to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser charge, reduced fine, lighter sentence, or probation and/or dismissal.   Let’s say you’re charged with pos ..read more

Generally, it’s illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs. But do you know that “drugs” under these laws refer to legal drugs as well? Let’s discuss why driving with prescription drugs in your system can be illegal and how you can stay safe and avoid DUI charges. Why is driving with prescription drugs illegal in Utah? If a police officer stops you because you drove too slowly, too quickly, or in an unusual manner, you’re looking at a possible DUI arrest! Can you possibly be charged just by driving slowly or differently? The answer is yes! When an officer asks you to pull over ..read more

If you watched the Heard-Depp defamation trial, you might have found the heated arguments and “hearsays” between the lawyers funny. But have you ever wondered what “hearsay” or “hearsay evidence” means while chuckling at the drama? Why do lawyers raise these objections, and what makes a statement “hearsay evidence”? In this article, we’ll answer all these questions. But first, let’s define what hearsay is. What is hearsay? A statement being hearsay evidence is one of the most common trial objections. Under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 801(c), “hearsay” means a statement that: (1) the declaran ..read more

Last week, we settled a personal injury claim for $25,000.00. This amount was in addition to the money our client had already received from the other (at-fault) driver’s insurance. He had been very injured in the car accident and needed the extra money to pay his medical bills. How did we get him the extra $25,000.00? After a car accident, a driver’s own car insurance must pay for your additional medical bills, after all of the available money in the other, at-fault driver’s policy has been paid.  This means the injured driver first makes a claim against the at-fault ..read more

Every day in Utah, there are 143 crashes, with 61 people injured and 1 person killed, according to the most recent Utah Crash Summary report, issued by the Department of Public Safety. In 2011, there were 52,287 total reported traffic crashes, with 22,325 people injured and 243 people killed. While those numbers are high, in 2011 traffic deaths were actually at their lowest levels in Utah since 1974. Moreover, Utah’s death rate per vehicle miles travelled is still below the overall U.S. rate. So what behaviors lead to traffic accidents? According to the Summary, 22% (11,511 ..read more

Come rain, snow or sandstorm, Utahans have been hitting the roads—and hitting each other—this past week.  It’s no surprise that car crashes increase with bad weather.  If you’ve found yourself driving in these conditions, keep in mind the law may require you to drive under the posted speed limit. Utah law says: “A person may not operate a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions…any speed in excess of the limits…is evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful.” These “existing cond ..read more