Not every injury leads to a courtroom, and not every lawyer will take your case. If you’ve been hurt in Salt Lake City and are seeking legal help, it’s essential to understand why personal injury lawyers might say no. Knowing the reasons behind a rejection can save you time, clarify your options, and help you find the right advocate for your situation.
- Your Personal Injury Case Lacks Strong Evidence
Personal injury lawyers need solid evidence to build a winning case, and without it, they’re unlikely to take you on as a client. This means having clear documentation of the accident, medical records that directly link your injuries to the incident, and witness statements that support your version of events.
If you waited too long to seek medical attention, didn’t call the police at the scene, or lack photographic evidence of the accident, your case becomes much harder to prove. Lawyers know that insurance companies will challenge weak cases aggressively, making them poor investments of time and resources. Given that accidents occur every nine minutes across Utah, attorneys see plenty of well-documented cases and can afford to be selective about taking on clients with insufficient evidence.
- The Potential Personal Injury Settlement Is Too Small
Most personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning lawyers only get paid if they win your case. When the potential settlement or award is relatively small, the attorney’s fee might not justify the time and effort required to pursue the case.
This is particularly true for minor injuries that heal quickly or cases where medical bills are minimal. A personal injury attorney needs to consider whether the expected compensation will cover their costs and provide reasonable payment for their work. Although preventable injury is the fourth leading cause of death, many cases involve minor damages that simply don’t warrant the extensive legal work required to pursue them successfully. If your total damages are only a few thousand dollars, many lawyers will politely decline.
Statute of Limitations Has Expired For Your Personal Injury Claim
Utah has specific time limits for filing personal injury claims, and once these deadlines pass, your case becomes nearly impossible to pursue. Generally, you have four years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, but some exceptions can shorten this timeframe.
Lawyers won’t take cases where the statute of limitations has expired because courts will almost certainly dismiss them. Even if you have a strong case with clear liability and significant damages, missing the deadline effectively kills your claim. This becomes especially problematic in Salt Lake City, which reports more accidents than any other area in Utah, creating a high volume of time-sensitive cases that attorneys must manage carefully.
You Share Significant Fault for the Personal Injury
Utah follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault in the accident. If you’re found to be 50% or more at fault, you can’t recover any damages at all under Utah law.
Lawyers will carefully evaluate your role in the accident before agreeing to represent you. If evidence suggests you were texting while driving, violated traffic laws, or otherwise contributed significantly to the accident, many attorneys will decline your case.
While these factors might seem discouraging, don’t give up if you believe you have a legitimate claim. Different lawyers have different criteria and specialties. Some attorneys focus on smaller cases, while others might see potential where another lawyer doesn’t. The key is being honest about your situation and seeking multiple consultations to find the right fit for your specific circumstances.