See average payouts for Utah side-impact accidents with a range of injuries. Find settlements for cases similar to yours.

Side-impact collisions account for more than 23 percent of all traffic accidents each year.¹

The average settlement for a moderate side-impact collision in Utah is $36,220. The payouts in our sample range from $9,397 for soft tissue injuries to over $300,000 for traumatic brain injuries.

Average Payouts for Utah Side-Impact Collisions

Our averages are based on a group of side-impact car accident cases in Utah that either settled with the insurance company or won an award in court. Averages reflect actual payouts, not including claims that were denied by the insurance company or cases lost at trial.

Average Payout by Severity of Injury
Minor Injury	$9,397
Moderate Injury	$36,220
Severe Injury	$196,488
Payout Range by Type of Injury
Neck and Back Injuries	$9,397 - $189,000
Head Injuries	$16,302 - $300,000

Factors Affecting Utah Accident Payouts

The predominant factor in claim value is the severity of the accident victim’s injuries and the resulting medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. T-bone accidents and other violent side-impact collisions can be catastrophic, especially for vehicle occupants on the side that takes the hit.

Because Utah is an “at-fault” state, accident victims have the right to file an injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Injured victims in Utah are not required to use their own insurance for injury claims, as they would in a no-fault state.

Other factors that impact injury payouts in Utah include:

• Injury Severity – Serious and permanent injuries settle for much higher amounts than relatively minor soft-tissue injuries that will eventually heal.
• Shared Fault – Utah is a modified comparative fault state. You can file an injury claim against the other party so long as you are less to blame for the crash than the other party. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 50 percent or more to blame, you can be barred from compensation.
• Auto Policy Limits – Utah mandates all drivers to carry insurance no less than $25,000 per person and $65,000 per accident bodily injury liability, and $15,000 property damage liability, or the driver may carry a single-limit policy for $80,000. The $25,000 minimum limit may not be enough to cover severe injury claims.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage – Utah requires insurance carriers to offer uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) equal to the policy’s liability limits. The policyholder has the right to reject UI and UIM coverage. Drivers who bought UM and UIM insurance will have a source of compensation for serious injuries caused by someone with no insurance or not enough insurance.
• Multiple Claimants – The per-accident liability coverage carried by the at-fault driver may not be enough to go around when multiple victims are seriously injured.
• Venue and Jurisdiction – Some venues have a history of large jury awards issued to injured car accident victims. The insurance company will often offer more to settle your claim to keep it out of courts with sympathetic juries.
• Punitive Damages: Punitive damages can only be awarded by a judge or jury in a court trial when the accident is the result of willful malicious conduct or reckless indifference to the rights of others. Utah’s punitive damage law allows the first $50,000 to go to the plaintiff, any amount over that must be shared equally with the state. The limits do not apply if the person was injured by someone who was driving under the influence.

Minor Injury Case Examples

Minor injuries from a side-impact car accident will include some scrapes, minor cuts, bumps and bruises. There may be muscle sprains or strains with a few days of stiffness. Most minor injury victims are back to normal within a few weeks, and only miss a few days to a few weeks of work.

Arbitration Award for Soft-Tissue Neck and Back Injuries

Type of Injury: Soft tissue neck and back injuries
Award/Settlement Amount: $9,397
Case Summary: The intersection accident occurred when defendant attempted a left turn in front of plaintiff’s oncoming vehicle. Plaintiff suffered soft tissue injuries to his neck and back. Plaintiff contended that he had the right of way and that defendant failed to yield. Defendant admitted liability but disputed the nature and extent of plaintiff’s alleged injuries and damages. This case was resolved in arbitration. Plaintiff was awarded $9,396.81.
Location: Utah County, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Henry v. Simmons, 50403032

Moderate Injury Case Examples

Moderate injuries from a side-impact collision are more painful and may take weeks or months to heal. Moderate injuries may include simple fractures, bulging or herniated discs, brain concussions, and extensive soft-tissue injuries.

Some types of moderate injuries may have partial permanent effects. Victims may be out of work for a few months, depending on the physical requirements of their employment.

Jury Award for Head Injury, Neck and Back Pain

Type of Injury: Head injury-laceration near the temple resulting in cognitive and motor deficits; Others-neck pain, back pain, and headaches
Award/Settlement Amount: $16,302
Case Summary: Defendant ran a red light and broadsided Plaintiff’s vehicle, pushing it into a third vehicle. Plaintiff suffered a 4 cm laceration near his temple, and alleged cognitive and motor deficits following the accident. He also suffered neck pain, back pain, and headaches. Defendant admitted liability. The defense however, claimed that Plaintiff’s cognitive/motor deficits were anxiety-related, not due to the motor vehicle accident. The jury returned with its verdict in which Defendant was found at fault. The jury awarded plaintiff $16,302 in damages.
Location: Salt Lake, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Laguna v. Stevens, 980907685

Arbitration Award for Disputed Neck, Back, Head Injuries

Type of Injury: Neck and back pain, headaches, and numbness and tingling in his left arm and left leg/foot.
Award/Settlement Amount: $17,633
Case Summary: Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident with Defendant. The accident occurred at an intersection when defendant failed to obey a red light traffic signal and struck plaintiff’s vehicle on the passenger’s side. Plaintiff said he suffered neck and back pain, headaches, and numbness and tingling in his left arm and left leg/foot. Defendant admitted liability but disputed plaintiff’s claimed injuries and damages. This case was resolved through binding arbitration. Arbitrator awarded Plaintiff medical bills of $7,633, and general damages of $10,000.
Location: Utah County, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Andersen v. Kerr, 30400271

Settlement for Lumbar Injuries Requiring Surgery

Type of Injury: Back injury-L4 and L5 nerve root impingement with Vertebra Injury
Severity Rating: Moderate
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $50,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was a passenger in a southbound minivan. As the minivan proceeded through a green light, it collided with a northbound vehicle turning left at an intersection, driven by defendant. Plaintiff claimed she suffered permanent injury to her lumbar spine including grade 3 spondylolisthesis and L4 and L5 nerve root impingement, requiring future L5-S1 interbody fusion. Plaintiff contended that the defendant’s negligence resulted in her personal injuries, physical pain, future medical expenses and non-economic damages. Defendant denied liability and disputed that the plaintiff suffered an acute injury to her lumbar spine in this accident, noting that the impact was minor and she was involved in a prior motor vehicle accident that resulted in low back pain. Parties settled the case for $50,000 prior to trial.
Location: Davis County, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Earl v. Miller, 80700665

Passenger Settles Shoulder Injury with Negligent Driver

Type of Injury: Shoulder injury-torn rotator cuff
Award/Settlement Amount: $13,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle being operated by defendant. Plaintiff claimed that defendant negligently performed a U-turn while passing another vehicle and caused a broadside collision with a third vehicle. Plaintiff, 86 years, claimed she suffered torn rotator cuff requiring surgery. Defendant admitted to the collision but claimed that plaintiff’s shoulder injury was pre-existing or caused by degenerative changes due to her old age. However, the case settled for $13,000.
Location: Salt Lake, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Turman v. Pedersen, 20901851

Jury Award to Victim for Cervical Injuries with Surgury

Type of Injury: Neck injury-C5-C6 disc extrusion
Severity Rating: Moderate
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $70,386
Case Summary: Plaintiff’s car was struck on the passenger’s side by a vehicle owned by defendant and operated by co-defendant, a police officer. As a result of the motor vehicle accident, plaintiff sustained a disc extrusion at C5-C6 that required treatment with cervical fusion surgery. The defendants denied liability and disputed the nature and extent of the plaintiff’s claimed injuries and damages. The case proceeded to a jury trial. The jury found that the plaintiff was not at fault for the accident. Jurors set the plaintiff’s damages at $48,886 for past medical expenses, $20,000 for noneconomic damages, and $1,500 for property damage.
Location: Washington County, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Vacher-Topper v. St. George City, 2009-05-00631

Painful Knee Injury Case Settles Before Trial

Type of Injury: Knee injury
Severity Rating: Moderate
Type of Accident: Side-Impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $50,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff claimed defendant failed to yield the right of way to his vehicle at an intersection, causing a collision between the two vehicles. Plaintiff claimed he suffered persistent knee injury with constant pain aggravated with activity. Defendant initially denied liability. The case subsequently settled for $50,000.
Location: Weber County, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Cope v. Weeks, 10901307

Severe Injury Case Examples

Severe car accidents often result in multiple injuries resulting in residual impairment, or permanent scarring or disfigurement. Some severe injury victims are totally and permanently disabled. These injury victims may be out of work for months, and some are never able to return to regular employment.

Trucker Admits Fault, Victim Accepts Settlement for Multiple Injuries

Type of Injury: Head injury-traumatic brain injury with post traumatic concussion syndrome; a fractured knee with lacerations, and cervical and lumbar spine disc herniations
Award/Settlement Amount: $300,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff, traveling southbound, entered a controlled intersection on a green light and was struck by a vehicle driven by defendant. Defendant was operating a truck as an agent of co-defendant, had made a left hand turn directly in front of plaintiff. Plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury with post traumatic concussion syndrome, a fractured knee with lacerations, and cervical and lumbar spine disc herniations. The plaintiff contended defendant made an improper turn, failed to yield the right of way, failed to keep a proper lookout, and failed to obey traffic rules. The defendants admitted liability for the accident. Plaintiff agreed to $300,000 settlement.
Location: Utah County, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Dawson v. National Wood Products, 70901549

Disputed Fault Sideswipe Case Settled Out of Court

Type of Injury: Neck injury; hand/arm injuries-multiple finger fractures, right radius and ulna fractures, a pulmonary embolism, and multiple lacerations on her fingers and knee
Award/Settlement Amount: $189,464
Case Summary: Plaintiff said that defendant’s vehicle swerved out of lane around a curve & sideswiped her vehicle on the driver’s side. Plaintiff suffered neck injury requiring cervical fusion surgery, multiple finger fractures, right radius and ulna fractures, a pulmonary embolism, and multiple lacerations on her fingers, hand, arm and knee. The defendant denied liability and contended that the plaintiff was comparatively negligent, but the parties entered into a settlement agreement for $189,464.
Location: Salt Lake, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Krystal v. Edward, 40900514

Jury Award to Victim with Brain Injury, Neck and Back Injuries

Type of Injury: Head injury-brain injury, tinnitus, hearing loss & vertigo; soft tissue neck and back injuries
Award/Settlement Amount: $100,000
Case Summary: Defendant pulled away from a stop sign and made a left turn in front of plaintiff, who had the right-of-way, causing a collision between the two vehicles. Co-defendant owned the vehicle operated by defendant. Plaintiff claimed she suffered brain injury, tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo and soft tissue neck and back injuries as a direct result of the accident. Defendants admitted liability but contended that plaintiff’s injuries were proximately related to a prior motor vehicle accident. Jury returned a plaintiff verdict in the amount of $100,000.
Location: Salt Lake, Utah
Case Name and Docket Number: Wallace v. Roth Landscaping , 970905766

Methodology

The averages and ranges used here are from actual Utah side-impact cases we compiled and analyzed. Averages are calculated by adding all the settlements and court awards in a group, then dividing the total by the number of cases in the group. Unusually large payouts in a group may skew the average higher.

When a case has more than one injured plaintiff, we used the highest award to a single injury victim to avoid overstating the payout one person might expect in similar circumstances. In cases with multiple accidents, we use the highest payout from one defendant paid to the accident victim.