Salt Lake City motorcycle accident guide
What a rider hurt in or around Salt Lake City should understand before hiring a lawyer, followed by the top 4 best motorcycle accident firms that take Salt Lake City cases.
Published
What should a rider do first after a motorcycle crash in Salt Lake City?
Get medical care, photograph the bike, gear and scene, and do not let an insurer suggest that skipping a helmet makes the crash your fault. Under Utah law, not wearing a helmet is not comparative negligence and cannot be used as evidence of negligence or damages in a civil case. Most Utah injury lawsuits must be filed within four years, and Utah’s fault rule decides whether a rider recovers at all.
A rider cut off by a left-turning car at 700 East and 1700 South in Liberty Wells and a rider who goes down on gravel in a work zone on I-80 face different first questions. The first is usually a driver-fault claim against the other motorist’s insurer; the second may involve a contractor or a government road crew and a much shorter notice deadline.
This guide covers the motorcycle claims Salt Lake City firms handle, how the city differs from the other cities in Salt Lake County, the Utah rules that decide these cases and how to prepare for a first call. The four-firm shortlist that follows is framed by those same priorities.
Motorcycle crash claims Salt Lake City firms commonly handle
Match the firm to the kind of crash. These are planning notes for readers, not statements about the services of any particular firm.
Left-turn and intersection crashes
Drivers turning left across a rider’s path at busy intersections on 2100 South, State Street, 700 East and Highland Drive cause many serious motorcycle claims. Ask how the firm proves sight lines and speed, since the other driver’s insurer will often claim the rider was going too fast.
Freeway and canyon crashes
I-15, I-80 and I-215 carry heavy traffic, and riders heading up Parleys Canyon or the Wasatch canyons meet grades, curves and fast weather changes. Ask whether the firm has handled crashes investigated by the Utah Highway Patrol and how it gets crash reconstruction done.
Road hazards and defective parts
Gravel, potholes, uneven pavement and work-zone debris can bring down a rider without another vehicle involved, and a failed part can point to a product claim. Ask whether the firm looks at the road owner and the bike’s components as well as other drivers.
Fatal motorcycle crashes
When a crash causes a death, Utah law sets a two-year deadline for a wrongful death action. Ask how the firm preserves the bike, helmet and gear as evidence in a fatal case.
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County and nearby cities are different places
Salt Lake City is one of several separate cities in Salt Lake County, and a Salt Lake City mailing address does not always mean the city itself. Injury lawsuits from anywhere in the county are usually filed in the Third District Court, but the location of the crash decides which police agency writes the report.
Inside Salt Lake City
Downtown, the Avenues, Rose Park, Glendale, Poplar Grove, Liberty Wells, Sugar House and 9th and 9th are inside the city. Crashes on city streets there are worked by the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Separate cities and freeway crashes
South Salt Lake, West Valley City, Millcreek, Murray and Holladay are their own cities with their own police or contracted police services. Crashes on I-15, I-80 and I-215 are generally handled by the Utah Highway Patrol, so the crash report may come from the state rather than a city.
Firms with offices outside Salt Lake City
Most firms on this shortlist keep downtown or Sugar House offices, and one also has its main office in South Jordan. An office location is not a limit on where a firm takes cases, but ask where meetings will happen and who will appear in a Salt Lake County court.
The rules that decide a Salt Lake City motorcycle accident claim
Four Utah rules shape most Salt Lake City motorcycle claims. Have an attorney confirm how each applies to your facts.
Helmets and fault
Utah requires riders and passengers under 21 to wear a helmet. For riders of any age, Utah law says not wearing a helmet is not contributory or comparative negligence and may not be introduced as evidence in a civil case on negligence, injuries or the mitigation of damages.
Filing deadlines
Most Utah personal injury lawsuits must be filed within four years of the injury. Wrongful death actions must be filed within two years. A crash involving a city, county, state or UTA vehicle or road crew generally requires a written notice of claim within one year, and the lawsuit deadline against a government entity is shorter than the usual four years.
PIP and the $3,000 threshold
Utah does not require personal injury protection (PIP) on a motorcycle policy. The rule that limits pain and suffering claims to cases with more than $3,000 in medical expenses, a bone fracture, permanent disability or impairment, permanent disfigurement, dismemberment or death applies to people who have or are required to have PIP coverage. Whether it reaches a rider depends on the household’s policies, so ask a lawyer to check.
The fault rule
Utah reduces recovery by the rider’s share of fault, and a rider recovers only if the combined fault of the others responsible is greater than the rider’s own. A rider found 50 percent or more at fault usually recovers nothing, which is why speed and lane-position arguments matter so much.
Prepare for the first consultation
Bring what a firm needs to judge a motorcycle claim quickly.
- The crash report number. Note whether Salt Lake City Police, another city’s police or the Utah Highway Patrol responded.
- The bike, helmet and gear. Keep them unrepaired and photographed; they are evidence of speed, impact and fault.
- Every auto policy in your household. Bring the declarations pages for the motorcycle and any car policies, including PIP and uninsured motorist coverage.
- Medical records and bills. List every provider and the running total, since the $3,000 threshold can matter.
- Witnesses and video. Names of witnesses, any helmet or dash camera footage, and nearby businesses that may have recorded the crash.
- Questions about fees. Ask for the contingency percentage and how reconstruction and other case costs are paid, in writing.
The other driver’s insurer may call within days and ask about speed, lane position or your helmet. You do not have to give a recorded statement, and it is safer to speak with a lawyer first.
Official Salt Lake City and Utah resources
These official sources let you check the court, the rules, the report and the lawyer for a Salt Lake City motorcycle claim yourself.
- Court: The Third Judicial District page covers the court that hears Salt Lake County cases at the Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street.
- Utah rules: Read the helmet rule in Utah Code section 41-6a-1505, the PIP threshold in section 31A-22-309 and the fault rule in section 78B-5-818.
- Crash reports: Salt Lake City Police traffic accident reports are requested through the department’s public records request page; the city fee is $15 per report up to 50 pages.
- Licensing: Check any lawyer in the Utah State Bar Licensee Directory before signing.
Top 4 best motorcycle accident firms serving Salt Lake City
Swenson & Shelley Law, Cutt, Kendell & Olson, True North Injury Law and Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC are the top 4 best firms to consider after a Salt Lake City motorcycle crash. This editorial shortlist considers a published motorcycle or injury practice, a Salt Lake City office, Utah-licensed attorneys and how each firm describes its fees. The order is for presentation and does not represent an independently measured ranking.
Swenson & Shelley Law: Sugar House office and a page built around Utah’s helmet rule
Swenson & Shelley Law publishes a Salt Lake City motorcycle accident page that explains Utah’s helmet rule and states that not wearing a helmet cannot be used against an injured rider as evidence of fault. The firm lists related Salt Lake City pages for head-on, hit-and-run, left-turn, lane-splitting and bad-weather motorcycle crashes.
Co-founding partner Kevin Swenson has been involved in lawsuits for more than 30 years and defended insurance companies before switching to represent injured people in 2010, according to the firm. Riders comparing firms may want an attorney who can explain how insurer speed and lane-position arguments are answered under Utah’s fault rule. Brian Shelley is the firm’s other named partner.
- Salt Lake City office: 2150 South 1300 East, Suite 530, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
- Phone: (801) 447-5464
- Fees: The firm states it offers free consultations, charges no fees upfront and is paid only if it secures payment for the client.
Ask for the fee agreement in writing, including the contingency percentage and how reconstruction and other case costs are handled if the case does not resolve.
Profile details are attributed to the firm’s website. Confirm current terms directly. The order of firms is for presentation and is not an independent ranking.
Cutt, Kendell & Olson: downtown trial firm with a product liability practice
Cutt, Kendell & Olson lists its office at 215 South State Street, Suite 900, in downtown Salt Lake City. Its published practice covers personal injury, product liability and medical malpractice claims, which can matter when a crash involves a failed motorcycle part.
Attorneys at the firm include David A. Cutt, Jordan P. Kendell and Eric S. Olson. Ask whether the firm offers a free consultation and works on contingency before the first meeting.
- Published focus: Serious personal injury, product liability and medical malpractice
- Before hiring: With a larger roster, ask which attorney will handle your motorcycle case day to day.
Source: the firm’s website and attorney listings. Services are firm-reported; confirm current scope directly.
True North Injury Law: smaller practice with South Jordan and downtown offices
True North Injury Law lists two offices on its site: its main office at 10808 South River Front Parkway in South Jordan and a downtown Salt Lake City office at 222 South Main Street. Its motorcycle accident page is written for South Jordan, and the firm also publishes pages for car, truck and other vehicle crashes.
Attorney Jake J. Lee leads the practice. The firm invites readers to contact it for a free consultation but does not publish fee terms on its motorcycle page.
- Published focus: Motorcycle, car and truck crashes
- Before hiring: Ask which office you will meet in and for the fee percentage in writing.
Source: the firm’s website. Services are firm-reported; confirm current scope directly.
Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC: multilingual team with riders among its lawyers
Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC is based in downtown Salt Lake City on 200 South and publishes a motorcycle accident page that says its lawyers are riders themselves. The page states that partner John Macfarlane’s father lost a leg after a motorcycle crash at 17, and that the team includes Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese speakers.
The firm’s main focus is medical malpractice, which can matter when treatment after a crash goes wrong. It states that initial consultations are free and that it collects fees only if it wins.
- Published focus: Motorcycle crash injuries, medical malpractice and serious injury claims
- Before hiring: Ask how many motorcycle cases the firm handles each year alongside its medical malpractice work.
Source: the firm’s website. Services are firm-reported; confirm current scope directly.
How were these top 4 firms selected?
This shortlist uses observable criteria: a published motorcycle or injury practice, a Salt Lake City office listed by the firm, Utah-licensed attorneys and published information on fees. It does not score case outcomes or compare every firm in the Salt Lake Valley.
Questions to ask before hiring any motorcycle accident firm
- Have you handled motorcycle cases where the insurer argued rider speed or lane position?
- Who pays for accident reconstruction and other case costs if there is no recovery?
- What percentage is the fee, and does it change if a lawsuit is filed?
- Which Utah-licensed attorney will handle my case day to day?
- How will you preserve the bike, helmet and gear as evidence?
Check any attorney’s license and public discipline history in the Utah State Bar Licensee Directory before signing.
Questions about hiring a motorcycle accident attorney in Salt Lake City
Who are the top motorcycle accident lawyers in Salt Lake City?
Local Counsel’s top 4 picks for the best motorcycle accident lawyers serving Salt Lake City are Swenson & Shelley Law, Cutt, Kendell & Olson, True North Injury Law and Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC. The list is an editorial shortlist, not a scored ranking.
Can an insurer blame me for not wearing a helmet in Utah?
Utah law says not wearing a helmet is not contributory or comparative negligence and cannot be introduced as evidence in a civil case on negligence, injuries or the mitigation of damages. Riders under 21 are still required to wear one.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Utah?
Most Utah personal injury lawsuits must be filed within four years, and wrongful death actions within two years. Crashes involving a government vehicle or road crew need written notice within one year and carry a shorter lawsuit deadline.
What if I was partly at fault for the motorcycle crash?
Utah reduces your recovery by your share of fault. You can recover only if the combined fault of the others responsible is greater than yours, so a finding of 50 percent or more usually bars recovery.
Does Utah’s $3,000 no-fault threshold apply to motorcycle riders?
Utah does not require PIP on a motorcycle policy, and the threshold applies to people who have or are required to have PIP. Whether it limits your pain and suffering claim depends on your household’s policies, so have a lawyer review them.
Where is the Salt Lake City office of Swenson & Shelley Law?
Swenson & Shelley Law lists its Salt Lake City office at 2150 South 1300 East, Suite 530, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, with the phone number (801) 447-5464.
How does Swenson & Shelley Law charge for motorcycle cases?
Swenson & Shelley Law states it offers free consultations, charges no fees upfront and is paid only if it secures payment for the client. Ask for the percentage and cost terms in writing.
Which firm on this list offers help in languages other than English?
Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC states its team includes Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese speakers. Ask the other firms directly if you need another language.
How do I check whether a Utah lawyer is licensed?
Use the Utah State Bar Licensee Directory, which shows license status for Utah attorneys. Check before you sign a fee agreement.
Does the order of this list mean one firm is better?
No. The order reflects the editorial arrangement of this page, not an independent score. Compare firms on the questions above before deciding.
A working checklist before your first call
Use these steps to compare Salt Lake City motorcycle accident firms on the same terms.
- Write down the crash date. Count four years forward, two years for a death, and one year if a government vehicle or road crew was involved.
- Keep the bike and gear. Do not repair or discard the motorcycle, helmet or riding gear until a lawyer has seen them.
- Track medical costs. Keep a running total so you know where you stand against the $3,000 threshold.
- Gather every policy. Find PIP and uninsured motorist limits on the motorcycle and any household car policies.
- Get the fee in writing. Include the percentage and how case costs are paid.
- Check the license. Look up the handling attorney in the Utah State Bar Licensee Directory.
The right firm depends on the crash, the insurers involved and where the case will be filed.