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Idaho car accident laws
Is Idaho a no-fault state? No. Idaho is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Idaho gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Idaho Code § 5-219(4)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Idaho is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $15,000 for property (25/50/15).
If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing unless your negligence was less than the other party's, so a 50% share bars recovery.
Quoted from Idaho statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Idaho | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Two years (from accrual of the cause of action) | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Three years (action for injuring goods or chattels, which includes damage to a vehicle) | Idaho Code § 5-218(3) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years (from accrual of the cause of action; for a death, the date of death) | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) |
| Claims against a government body | Claims against the state (or a state employee) must be filed with the Secretary of State within 180 days from the date the claim arose or reasonably should have been discovered, whichever is later. | Idaho Code § 6-905 |
| Insurance system | at-fault | Triple-I, Background on: No-fault auto insurance |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (50% bar). If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing unless your negligence was less than the other party's, so a 50% share bars recovery. | Idaho Code § 6-801 |
| Minimum liability coverage | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash / $15,000 property | Idaho Code § 49-117(20) (limits required by § 49-1212) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. The owner or keeper of a dog that attacks or bites someone who is not trespassing, without physical provocation, is civilly liable for the injuries, and the dog does not first have to be declared dangerous. | Idaho Code § 25-2810(11) |
| Cap on pain-and-suffering damages | $250,000 in noneconomic damages, adjusted every July 1 for changes in Idaho's average annual wage (so the current figure is higher than $250,000); does not apply to willful or reckless misconduct or felony-level conduct (6-1603(4)) | Idaho Code § 6-1603 |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Idaho can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after an Idaho crash
How to get an Idaho crash report ($7.00 per report plus an Idaho.gov transaction fee).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Idaho. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Idaho?
Two years for an injury claim (Idaho Code § 5-219(4)) and three years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Idaho a no-fault state?
No. Idaho is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Idaho?
Idaho follows modified comparative (50% bar). If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing unless your negligence was less than the other party's, so a 50% share bars recovery.
What is the minimum car insurance in Idaho?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Idaho is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $15,000 for property (25/50/15).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (Idaho Code § 5-219(4)): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title5/T5CH2/SECT5-219/
5-219. Actions against officers, for penalties, on bonds, and for professional malpractice or for personal injuries. Within two (2) years: [...] 4. An action to recover damages for professional malpractice, or for an injury to the person, or for the death of one caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another,
- Deadline for vehicle damage (Idaho Code § 5-218(3)): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title5/T5CH2/SECT5-218/
5-218. Statutory liabilities, trespass, trover, replevin, and fraud. Within three (3) years: [...] 3. An action for taking, detaining or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property.
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (Idaho Code § 5-219(4)): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title5/T5CH2/SECT5-219/
5-219. Actions against officers, for penalties, on bonds, and for professional malpractice or for personal injuries. Within two (2) years: [...] 4. An action to recover damages for professional malpractice, or for an injury to the person, or for the death of one caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another,
- Claims against a government body (Idaho Code § 6-905): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title6/T6CH9/SECT6-905/
6-905. Filing claims against state or employee — Time. All claims against the state arising under the provisions of this act and all claims against an employee of the state for any act or omission of the employee within the course or scope of his employment shall be presented to and filed with the secretary of state within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date the claim arose or reasonably should have been discovered, whichever is later.
- Insurance system (Triple-I, Background on: No-fault auto insurance): www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance
Twelve states and Puerto Rico have no-fault auto insurance laws. Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania have verbal thresholds. The other seven states—Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota and Utah—use a monetary threshold. Three states have a "choice" no-fault law. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, motorists may reject the lawsuit threshold and retain the right to sue for any auto-related injury.
- If you were partly at fault (Idaho Code § 6-801): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title6/T6CH8/SECT6-801/
6-801. Comparative negligence or comparative responsibility — Effect of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence or comparative responsibility shall not bar recovery in an action by any person or his legal representative to recover damages for negligence, gross negligence or comparative responsibility resulting in death or in injury to person or property, if such negligence or comparative responsibility was not as great as the negligence, gross negligence or comparative responsibility of the person against whom recovery is sought, but any damages allowed shall be diminished in the prop…
- Minimum liability coverage (Idaho Code § 49-117(20) (limits required by § 49-1212)): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title49/T49CH1/SECT49-117/
(20) "Proof of financial responsibility" means proof of ability to respond in damages for liability, on account of accidents occurring subsequent to the effective date of the proof, arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle, in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of one (1) person in any one (1) accident and, subject to the limit for one (1) person, in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) because of bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (1) accident, and in the amount of fifteen …
- Dog bites (Idaho Code § 25-2810(11)): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title25/T25CH28/SECT25-2810/
(11) Any dog that physically attacks, wounds, bites or otherwise injures any person who is not trespassing, when such dog is not physically provoked or otherwise justified pursuant to subsection (5) of this section or as set forth in section 25-2808 , Idaho Code, subjects either its owner or any person who has accepted responsibility as the possessor, harborer, or custodian of the dog, or both, to civil liability for the injuries caused by the dog. A prior determination that a dog is dangerous or at risk, or subject to any court order imposing restrictions or requirements pursuant to the provi…
- Cap on pain-and-suffering damages (Idaho Code § 6-1603): legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title6/T6CH16/SECT6-1603/
6-1603. Limitation on noneconomic damages. (1) In no action seeking damages for personal injury, including death, shall a judgment for noneconomic damages be entered for a claimant exceeding the maximum amount of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000); provided, however, that beginning on July 1, 2004, and each July 1 thereafter, the cap on noneconomic damages established in this section shall increase or decrease in accordance with the percentage amount of increase or decrease by which the Idaho industrial commission adjusts the average annual wage as computed pursuant to section 72-40…
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.