Utah a no fault state? Not cruise related

[makaylee]

I know this has nothing to do with cruising I was just wondering if any of you know if your state is the same way. Well here's my story....I got rearended the other day and every since my back and neck have been killing me. I called the guy who hit me's insurance company and they told me Utah is a no fault state, meaning that even though he hit me and it was clearly his fault, my insurance company had to pay for any doctor bills incured from my injury. I don't think that is fare at all. I didnt know such a thing existed. I guess it could have been ALOT worse though, I have a Suburban and 2 weeks ago I just had it lifted about 10 inches. The guy who hit me was driving a little Geo Metro and he slid right under my bumper. All he did was scratch the bottom of my bumper and his car had a big scrape running along his hood and a cracked windshield. I told him he was lucky because 2 weeks ago his hood would have looked like an accordion and he probably would have gotten really hurt. Oh, well I just wanted to share my story and ask if your states had this law? It just doesnt seem fare to me.
edited to add: At least now I am able to justify the $4200 I spent for the bigger tires and lift. hehe I just kept telling myself that money I was spending on the lift would cover every bit of my next cruise down to the konk cooleres.

 

[mrsdon]

Fl is a no fault state also,
Sorry about your back pain.

 

[luvbnmama]

Hi ~ I am a claims adjuster for an insurance company. Utah negligence law is the "less than rule." meaning 50/50 barrs recovery. if you were rear ended the other party is 100% at fault. You can recover fully from the other carrier. in utah there is a maximum bodily injury (BI) threshold which is $3000. this is the most the other company can pay you for any/all injury to you or your passengers.

hope this helps. i'm leaving friday for 4/10/04 Western on the Magic, so i'm sorry if i don't answer any addl questions....

bottom line....the other carrier owes to put your vehicle back into pre-loss condition; pay for rental for the time your vehicle is in the shop; and settle your injury claim/up to $3000.

 

[makaylee]

Thank you so much for your help. I was told (by his insurance company) that they do have to fix my car and give me a rental comparable to mine, but that my insurance was to pay for my personal injury and I could submit a claim for suffering if my medical bills went over $3000. The problem is I have to go to a military hospital, so I don't get billed. Well anyway, Im goining to call MY insurance company and get this straightened out. Thanks again for your help

mrsdon.... Thanks for your sympathies

 

[makaylee]

I just called my insurance company and they said that they are to cover my medical bills, but they then go after the other company for reimbursment. That makes me fill much better. That is not what met life led me to believe though. They told me Utah was a no fault state and my own insurance was supposed to cover my medical, they never said they will reimburse them.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I am glad you got it figured out and it is in your favor - When I lived in Michigan, it was a no-fault state - Don't know if it still is.

 

[moocow35]

Makaylee,

I am so sorry to hear of your accident. Be warned from someone who has been there and done that with neck injuries, do not be quick to sign off on a settlement either from your insurance company or the other drivers insurance company. Neck injuries will show themselves years later (trust me I know) with litterly a constant "pain in the neck" I do hope yours is not that serious, and you feel better soon with a little ice, heat and some muscle relaxers. Just do a little research before signing off on the claim.

Connecticut is a no fault state also! It floored me when I moved here from California. I agree, if someone rearends you, case closed, it is their fault. Ridiculous law!

Robin

 

[mudnuri]

What kind of lift kit does it have? What size tires?

Just curious, most states have laws on bumper or headlight height.....never heard of a kit that offers 10" of lift for a Suburban...

FYI, I have a 86 K5 Blazer (that'd be a full size one) with a 4" suspension lift, and 3" body lift, with 35" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials....and I'm not running 10" higher than stock....then again, that'd be illegal here in Vermont....my bumper has to be a certain height.

Brandy

oh- sorry bout the accident, just be thankfull you were the one in the 'burb not the metro!

 

[makaylee]

Originally posted by mudnuri
What kind of lift kit does it have? What size tires?

Just curious, most states have laws on bumper or headlight height.....never heard of a kit that offers 10" of lift for a Suburban...

FYI, I have a 86 K5 Blazer (that'd be a full size one) with a 4" suspension lift, and 3" body lift, with 35" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials....and I'm not running 10" higher than stock....then again, that'd be illegal here in Vermont....my bumper has to be a certain height.

Brandy

oh- sorry bout the accident, just be thankfull you were the one in the 'burb not the metro!

I had a 6 in. Fabtech(suspension)lift kit put on my 2001, but I also got 18 in (instead of the 16in suburbans come stock with) centerlines and 35in Nitto tires put on. It lifted it a TOTAL of 10 in. Sorry I didnt clarify that earlier I think the truck stands a little over 7'3" now.

The cop didnt say anything about my height when he was doing the report just that I needed mud flaps. There are a LOT of lifted trucks here in Utah, Ive seen quite a few even higher than mine.

Believe me I was very happy I was in my burban, you couldnt pay me enough to drive a tiny car like a Geo. Thats just my preference, I dont feel comfortable in a small car.

 

[makaylee]

Originally posted by moocow35
Makaylee,

I am so sorry to hear of your accident. Be warned from someone who has been there and done that with neck injuries, do not be quick to sign off on a settlement either from your insurance company or the other drivers insurance company. Neck injuries will show themselves years later (trust me I know) with litterly a constant "pain in the neck" I do hope yours is not that serious, and you feel better soon with a little ice, heat and some muscle relaxers. Just do a little research before signing off on the claim.

Connecticut is a no fault state also! It floored me when I moved here from California. I agree, if someone rearends you, case closed, it is their fault. Ridiculous law!

Robin

Thank you very much for the warning, Ill be careful. I'm sorry to hear about your bad back also.

 

[mudnuri]

had a 6 in. Fabtech(suspension)lift kit put on my 2001, but I also got 18 in (instead of the 16in suburbans come stock with) centerlines and 35in Nitto tires put on. It lifted it a TOTAL of 10 in. Sorry I didnt clarify that earlier I think the truck stands a little over 7'3" now.

COOL! My DBIL has a 96 burb with a 6" skyjacker...he is running 17's on his with his...he put wider rims/tires on the front- I think 12's than the back- (stock 10's) so the tires stick out the same amount....he also put a chip in to give it a bit of a boost...the 350 with 140K on is just had a hard time turning those tires.

I'm sure Utah is more lax than we are here in Vermont...I can't tell you how often I get pulled over in my K5 for height...but I have a copy of the law in my glove box, with a tape measure...I'm under the height by 1/4 of an inch!...I have to be carful I never over-inflate my tires! LOL

Anyway, I hope it all works out for you!....and I'm like you with the smaller cars....just can't do it! Smallest we've had is a Grand AM, and that only lasted a year!

Brandy

 

[makaylee]

Originally posted by mudnuri

I'm sure Utah is more lax than we are here in Vermont...I can't tell you how often I get pulled over in my K5 for height...but I have a copy of the law in my glove box, with a tape measure...I'm under the height by 1/4 of an inch!...I have to be carful I never over-inflate my tires! LOL

Anyway, I hope it all works out for you!....and I'm like you with the smaller cars....just can't do it! Smallest we've had is a Grand AM, and that only lasted a year!

Brandy

Cute idea with the tape measurer and copy of the law. I hope you never run into a trooper like the one that handled our accident though, jeesh....was he your stereotypical smart @ss know it all cop. I have never had a problem with law enforcement before because I never break the law in anyway, I just see them as people who are our there to help protect us. Well he sure made me see how some people can hate cops. I got rearended because a ladder flew out of someones truck so traffic slowed down, well I was able to miss it, but the guy behind me was following to close so he hit me......The cop said the guy who dropped the ladder was going to have to pay for my damages. I told him I thought it would be the guy who hit me's responsability because he was following to close. The cop then said, " That's why I'm the Trooper mam." Meaning he knew everything and i knew nothing. It' a good thing I was wearing sunglasses because I just rolled my eyes. What a creep. I think he might have had a complex because he was all of about 5'6"? I know I'm 5'9" and I was quite a bit taller than him. My insurance adjuster thought it was hysterical that he could put me down about not knowing anything and be so wrong all in the same breath. It was just as I thought, the guy who hit me is paying. Sorry I rambled on, I just had to share my story.

Oh what is the height limit in Vermont?