What to Expect After You Hire West Injury Law
Short answer: After you sign, we take over every conversation with the insurance companies, and you hear from us at least once a month until the case ends. The work runs in stages: setup in the first week, building the file in the first month, a long treatment phase, then the demand, negotiation, and either a settlement or a lawsuit. An attorney has already reviewed your case at intake, and an attorney approves every demand and every settlement. Whether to accept an offer is always your decision.
Hiring a lawyer after an injury can feel like handing your case into a black box. It should not. Here is what happens at each stage, who is doing the work, and what you will hear from us along the way.
Before day one: the consultation and attorney review
The consultation is free and can happen by phone, by video, or in person. An attorney reviews every case at intake, so the decision to take a case is made by a lawyer, not screened out by a script. If we take it, you can sign the agreement electronically or in person.
The fee is explained before you sign: one-third of the recovery. The firm advances the case costs, which are repaid from the recovery. You pay nothing up front, and no attorney fees unless we win. Utah's rules require a contingency agreement to be in a writing signed by the client (Rule 1.5(c)), so the terms are on paper from the start. More detail is in how much a personal injury lawyer costs in Utah.
The first week
The first days are about taking pressure off you and keeping evidence from disappearing.
- The insurers hear from us. Once you sign, the firm handles all communication with the insurance companies. If an adjuster calls, give them our number.
- Your no-fault claim gets opened or confirmed. In a Utah car crash, your own Personal Injury Protection pays early medical bills regardless of fault, with at least $3,000 in medical benefits (Utah Code 31A-22-307). See is Utah a no-fault state.
- Evidence is requested. The crash report, photos, and any video that may be overwritten if nobody asks for it.
- You get the ways to reach us. Our main number, our general text line, and individual text lines.
What we need from you this week: every provider you have seen, your insurance cards, photos you took, and any letter an insurer has already sent you.
The first month
This is when the file takes shape. Requests for medical records and itemized bills start going out. We look for every source of coverage, including the at-fault driver's limits and your own underinsured motorist coverage. We begin tracking who has paid for your care, because health insurers and government programs may later claim part of the recovery; medical liens are easier to manage when they are identified early.
You also get your first monthly update, which tells you where the case stands, what we are waiting on, and what we need from you.
The treatment phase
This is usually the longest stage, and the quietest. A claim cannot be honestly valued until you have healed or your doctors can describe what care you will need going forward. So while you treat, the case is mostly collecting: records, bills, and the story of how the injury has affected your work and daily life.
Your part: keep your appointments, tell your providers every symptom, and tell us about any new doctor, new test, or change at work. A text is enough.
Our part: keep the file current, keep the insurers away from you, and update you at least monthly. If you want to understand why this stretch feels slow, see why your injury case goes quiet.
The demand
When treatment is complete, we assemble the demand: what happened, why the other side is responsible, what the injuries are, what they cost, and what they changed. An attorney approves every demand before it is sent.
For a policy-limit demand in a Utah auto claim, the law now sets minimum contents, including copies of the medical records and bills supporting the medical damages, and requires giving the insurer at least 30 days to accept or reject (Utah Code 31A-22-323, effective May 6, 2026). You will know when the demand goes out and when the response window closes.
Negotiation
Every offer is brought to you. Utah's rules require a lawyer to promptly tell a client about a settlement offer (Rule 1.4, comment 2), and they make the decision to settle the client's to make (Rule 1.2(a)). We will tell you what we think of an offer and why. You decide. Before you do, it helps to read should you accept the first settlement offer.
Settlement, or a lawsuit
If the case settles: an attorney approves the settlement, you sign a release, and the funds go into the firm's trust account. Liens and reimbursement claims are resolved before your share is paid. At the end, Utah's rules require a written statement showing the outcome and how your share was calculated (Rule 1.5(c)).
If it does not: the case is filed in court, within the deadline. Most Utah injury claims must be filed within four years, and some deadlines are much shorter; see the Utah statute of limitations guide. A lawsuit adds its own milestones, like written discovery, your deposition, and mediation. You get the same monthly updates, plus notice and preparation before anything that involves you. The full sequence is in the steps in a Utah personal injury case.
Who does what
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Reviewing the case at intake | An attorney |
| Talking to the insurance companies after you sign | Our firm |
| Keeping appointments and reporting new treatment | You |
| Collecting records, bills, and coverage information | Our legal team |
| Approving the demand | An attorney |
| Deciding whether to accept an offer | You |
| Approving a settlement before it is final | An attorney |
| Monthly updates and 24-hour callbacks | Our legal team |
How you will hear from us at every stage
At least one update a month, from the first week to the last check. Calls returned within 24 hours, usually the same day. Texting on our general line or an individual line. Someone who speaks Spanish for every client. We record our calls so nothing gets lost and we can act on what you tell us quickly. The full list is in how we keep you informed.
We are a small Utah injury firm that prepares every claim to be taken seriously. Boutique firm. Battle-ready.
Common questions
How long will my case take?
It depends mostly on how long you treat and whether the insurer pays a fair number without a lawsuit. We cover the timing in how long a personal injury settlement takes in Utah.
Should I talk to the insurance adjuster after I hire you?
No need. After you sign, we handle all communication with the insurance companies. Refer any call to us.
Who decides whether to settle?
You do. An attorney approves every settlement and gives you a recommendation, but the decision to accept belongs to you.
Do I have to come into the office?
No. Meetings can be by phone, video, or in person, and documents can be e-signed or signed at our Draper office.
What should I do if something changes with my injury?
Tell us right away, by call or text. New symptoms, new providers, and time off work all change the claim.
Want to know how your case would move through these stages? Call (801) 921-5134 or reach our legal team through the contact page.
Free consultation. No attorney fees unless we win. Hablamos Español.