--- title: "FAQ | Metler Law — Utah Personal Injury Attorney" description: "Metler Law represents injured Utahns and their families in personal injury, wrongful death, and mass tort cases. Free, no-obligation consultations. Provo, Salt Lake, and statewide. Hablamos Español. Call (801) 377-1900." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": [ "LegalService", "Attorney", "LocalBusiness" ], "name": "Metler Law", "alternateName": "Jeff Metler Law", "description": "Utah personal injury, wrongful death, and mass tort attorney serving Provo, Salt Lake, and the entire state.", "url": "https://metlerlaw.com/", "telephone": "+1-801-377-1900", "image": "https://d2xsxph8kpxj0f.cloudfront.net/310519663356698318/7DumkbkSBgGp4oMjRjjbfr/jeff-metler-portrait-9vTKmzqVxf6uh2VBHPLWNz.png", "priceRange": "Free Consultation · Contingency Fee", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "4844 N 300 W, Suite 300", "addressLocality": "Provo", "addressRegion": "UT", "postalCode": "84604", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "State", "name": "Utah" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Provo" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Orem" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Salt Lake City" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Park City" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Ogden" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "St. George" } ], "founder": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Metler", "jobTitle": "Personal Injury Attorney", "alumniOf": [ "J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University", "University of Idaho Law School", "Brigham Young University" ] }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/MacArthur.Heder.Metler/", "https://mhmlawoffices.com/attorney/jeffery-metler/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does it cost to hire Metler Law?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, meaning you only pay if we recover money for you. Initial consultations are free." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What does a contingency fee mean?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Our fee is a pre-agreed percentage of the final recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney's fee. Costs (filing fees, expert witnesses, etc.) are advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the recovery." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will I be charged for my consultation?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Never. Free consultations are a core part of how we operate. We can meet in person, over the phone, or by video — whichever works for you." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you offer Spanish-speaking consultations?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Sí. Hablamos Español y atendemos a las familias hispanas de Utah con respeto y sensibilidad cultural." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I switch to Metler Law if I already hired another firm?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Often, yes. We've taken over many cases mid-stream. Lawyers are required to cooperate in transferring files. The fee is generally split between firms — you don't pay extra." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I talk to the insurance company?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Talk to us first. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize or deny your claim. Anything you say can be used against you." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is PIP coverage in Utah?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Personal Injury Protection is mandatory no-fault insurance in Utah. It pays your initial medical bills (up to your policy limit) regardless of fault." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What does 'no-fault' insurance mean for my case?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Utah is a no-fault state for medical bills, but you can still pursue the at-fault driver if your injuries meet certain thresholds (significant injury, permanent impairment, etc.). We evaluate this for you." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if the at-fault driver has no insurance?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Your own UM (uninsured motorist) coverage may apply. We routinely pursue UM/UIM claims and have recovered substantial amounts even when the at-fault driver had no policy." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Filing a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance shouldn't raise your rates. Pursuing a UM/UIM claim against your own carrier rarely affects rates because you weren't at fault." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the statute of limitations for a Utah personal injury case?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Generally four years for personal injury, two years for wrongful death, and as little as one year for claims against government entities. Don't wait — call early." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long will my case take?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Simple cases can resolve in a few months once treatment is complete. Complex liability or serious-injury cases can take a year or more — sometimes two — especially if litigation is required." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When should I call a lawyer after an accident?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "As soon as possible. Evidence disappears quickly: surveillance video gets overwritten, witnesses move, and skid marks fade. Early counsel preserves your options." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if I'm still being treated for my injuries?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Don't settle while you're still in treatment. We typically wait until you've reached 'maximum medical improvement' so we can value the full extent of your injuries." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I have to go to court?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most cases settle. But we prepare every case as if it will be tried. That preparation is what produces top-tier settlements." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What can I recover in a Utah personal injury case?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Past and future medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, property damage, and (in egregious cases) punitive damages." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is pain and suffering calculated?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There is no fixed formula. We look at the severity and duration of injury, the impact on daily life, treatment intensity, jury verdicts in comparable Utah cases, and the strength of the liability evidence." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if I was partly at fault?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Utah uses modified comparative fault. As long as you were less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages, reduced by your share of fault." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are personal injury settlements taxable?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Generally, compensation for personal physical injuries is not taxable under federal law. There are exceptions (interest, certain punitive damages). We coordinate with tax professionals when needed." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will my case affect public benefits like Medicaid or SSDI?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It can. We work with structured-settlement specialists and special-needs trust attorneys to protect benefits when appropriate." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if the driver who hit me was working at the time?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Their employer may also be liable under respondeat superior, opening up commercial insurance limits that are typically much larger than personal policies." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if a drunk driver hit me?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We pursue all available remedies — the driver, their insurer, and (where applicable) the bar or restaurant that over-served them under Utah's dram-shop statute." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "I was hit by an out-of-state driver. Can you still help?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. We routinely handle cases involving drivers from neighboring states. Utah courts have jurisdiction when the crash happens here." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if I was hurt as a passenger?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Passengers can usually recover from any negligent driver — including, in some cases, the driver of the car they were in. We sort through which policies apply." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if I was injured on the job?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Workers' comp may apply, but if a third party (not your employer) caused the injury, you can pursue them in addition to comp. We handle the third-party claim and coordinate with your comp counsel." } } ] } ] --- Provo HQ · Serving All of Utah · No Fee Unless We Recover English & Español [(801) 377-1900 ](tel:+18013771900) ![Metler — Attorney at Law (a Division of MHM)](/manus-storage/metler-logo_346f19d8.png)Metler Law — Utah Car Accident Attorneys [Home](/)Crash TypesLocations[The Team](/about)[Results](/results)[FAQ](/faq) [(801) 377-1900](tel:+18013771900)[Free Case Review](/contact) FAQ · Utah Car Accidents # Plain-English answers to Utah's most-asked injury questions. These are the questions injured Utahns and their families ask us every day — the kind of conversational answers AI search engines like Google's AI Overview and ChatGPT prioritize. Don't see your question? Call us. 01 · Hiring & Fees ## Hiring & Fees ### How much does it cost to hire Metler Law? Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, meaning you only pay if we recover money for you. Initial consultations are free. ### What does a contingency fee mean? Our fee is a pre-agreed percentage of the final recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney's fee. Costs (filing fees, expert witnesses, etc.) are advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the recovery. ### Will I be charged for my consultation? Never. Free consultations are a core part of how we operate. We can meet in person, over the phone, or by video — whichever works for you. ### Do you offer Spanish-speaking consultations? Sí. Hablamos Español y atendemos a las familias hispanas de Utah con respeto y sensibilidad cultural. ### Can I switch to Metler Law if I already hired another firm? Often, yes. We've taken over many cases mid-stream. Lawyers are required to cooperate in transferring files. The fee is generally split between firms — you don't pay extra. 02 · Insurance & Claims ## Insurance & Claims ### Should I talk to the insurance company? Talk to us first. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize or deny your claim. Anything you say can be used against you. ### What is PIP coverage in Utah? Personal Injury Protection is mandatory no-fault insurance in Utah. It pays your initial medical bills (up to your policy limit) regardless of fault. ### What does 'no-fault' insurance mean for my case? Utah is a no-fault state for medical bills, but you can still pursue the at-fault driver if your injuries meet certain thresholds (significant injury, permanent impairment, etc.). We evaluate this for you. ### What if the at-fault driver has no insurance? Your own UM (uninsured motorist) coverage may apply. We routinely pursue UM/UIM claims and have recovered substantial amounts even when the at-fault driver had no policy. ### Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim? Filing a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance shouldn't raise your rates. Pursuing a UM/UIM claim against your own carrier rarely affects rates because you weren't at fault. 03 · Timing & Process ## Timing & Process ### What is the statute of limitations for a Utah personal injury case? Generally four years for personal injury, two years for wrongful death, and as little as one year for claims against government entities. Don't wait — call early. ### How long will my case take? Simple cases can resolve in a few months once treatment is complete. Complex liability or serious-injury cases can take a year or more — sometimes two — especially if litigation is required. ### When should I call a lawyer after an accident? As soon as possible. Evidence disappears quickly: surveillance video gets overwritten, witnesses move, and skid marks fade. Early counsel preserves your options. ### What if I'm still being treated for my injuries? Don't settle while you're still in treatment. We typically wait until you've reached 'maximum medical improvement' so we can value the full extent of your injuries. ### Do I have to go to court? Most cases settle. But we prepare every case as if it will be tried. That preparation is what produces top-tier settlements. 04 · Damages & Compensation ## Damages & Compensation ### What can I recover in a Utah personal injury case? Past and future medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, property damage, and (in egregious cases) punitive damages. ### How is pain and suffering calculated? There is no fixed formula. We look at the severity and duration of injury, the impact on daily life, treatment intensity, jury verdicts in comparable Utah cases, and the strength of the liability evidence. ### What if I was partly at fault? Utah uses modified comparative fault. As long as you were less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages, reduced by your share of fault. ### Are personal injury settlements taxable? Generally, compensation for personal physical injuries is not taxable under federal law. There are exceptions (interest, certain punitive damages). We coordinate with tax professionals when needed. ### Will my case affect public benefits like Medicaid or SSDI? It can. We work with structured-settlement specialists and special-needs trust attorneys to protect benefits when appropriate. 05 · Specific Scenarios ## Specific Scenarios ### What if the driver who hit me was working at the time? Their employer may also be liable under respondeat superior, opening up commercial insurance limits that are typically much larger than personal policies. ### What if a drunk driver hit me? We pursue all available remedies — the driver, their insurer, and (where applicable) the bar or restaurant that over-served them under Utah's dram-shop statute. ### I was hit by an out-of-state driver. Can you still help? Yes. We routinely handle cases involving drivers from neighboring states. Utah courts have jurisdiction when the crash happens here. ### What if I was hurt as a passenger? Passengers can usually recover from any negligent driver — including, in some cases, the driver of the car they were in. We sort through which policies apply. ### What if I was injured on the job? Workers' comp may apply, but if a third party (not your employer) caused the injury, you can pursue them in addition to comp. We handle the third-party claim and coordinate with your comp counsel. Free, no-pressure case review ### Have a question we didn't cover? Send it. A Metler Law team member will reply with a clear, no-pressure answer. First name \* Last name \* Phone \* Email Type of injury Select an option… Rear-end collision T-bone / intersection crash Rollover Hit-and-run Uninsured / underinsured driver Distracted driver Drunk-driver crash Uber / Lyft rideshare crash Commercial truck / 18-wheeler Motorcycle crash Pedestrian struck by vehicle Bicycle struck by vehicle Other car accident Briefly describe what happened Request My Free Case Review 100% confidential. Submitting this form does not create an attorney–client relationship. Hablamos Español. Prefer to talk now? Call [(801) 377-1900](tel:+18013771900). ![Metler — Attorney at Law](/manus-storage/metler-logo_346f19d8.png) Utah car accident attorneys. Personal injury is the entire focus of our practice. English & Español. No attorney fee unless we recover for you. [Call (801) 377-1900](tel:+18013771900)[Free Case Review](/contact) Office - 4844 N 300 W, Suite 300 Provo, UT 84604 - [(801) 377-1900](tel:+18013771900) - [intake@metlerlaw.com](mailto:intake@metlerlaw.com) - Monday – Friday · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday & Sunday · Closed Crash Types We Handle - [Car Accident Lawyer](/car-accident-lawyer) - [Rear-End Collision Lawyer](/rear-end-collision-lawyer) - [T-Bone / Intersection Lawyer](/t-bone-accident-lawyer) - [Rollover Accident Lawyer](/rollover-accident-lawyer) - [Hit-and-Run Lawyer](/hit-and-run-lawyer) - [Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist](/uninsured-motorist-lawyer) - [Distracted Driver Crashes](/distracted-driver-lawyer) - [Drunk-Driver Crashes](/drunk-driver-lawyer) - [Uber & Lyft Crashes](/rideshare-accident-lawyer) - [Commercial Truck Crashes](/truck-accident-lawyer) - [Motorcycle Crashes](/motorcycle-accident-lawyer) - [Pedestrian vs. Vehicle](/pedestrian-accident-lawyer) - [Bicycle vs. Vehicle](/bicycle-accident-lawyer) - [The Metler Team](/about) - [Case Results](/results) - [FAQ](/faq) - [Contact](/contact) Utah Locations - [Provo](/locations/provo) - [Orem](/locations/orem) - [Lehi](/locations/lehi) - [American Fork](/locations/american-fork) - [Pleasant Grove](/locations/pleasant-grove) - [Spanish Fork](/locations/spanish-fork) - [Saratoga Springs](/locations/saratoga-springs) - [Salt Lake City](/locations/salt-lake-city) - [West Jordan](/locations/west-jordan) - [Sandy](/locations/sandy) - [Draper](/locations/draper) - [South Jordan](/locations/south-jordan) - [West Valley City](/locations/west-valley-city) - [Murray](/locations/murray) Show all Utah cities we serve We serve every Utah city below — tap to see the full list. Serving Utah County, Salt Lake County, and the entire Wasatch Front — cases accepted statewide. © 2026 Metler Law — a practice of MHM MacArthur Heder Metler Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. This website is attorney advertising. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case turns on its own facts, evidence, insurance coverage, and applicable law. [Call (801) 377-1900](tel:+18013771900)[Free Review](/contact)