Utah car accident laws
Is Utah a no-fault state? Yes. Utah is a no-fault state: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays first, with at least $3,000 required, and you can sue the other driver only past the state's threshold.
Utah gives you four years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(4)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Utah is $30,000 per injured person, $65,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (30/65/25).
You can recover only if your fault is less than the fault of the defendant or group of defendants; if you are 50% or more at fault you recover nothing, and otherwise your damages are reduced by your share.
Quoted from Utah statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Utah | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Four years under the catch-all for relief not otherwise provided by law (Utah has no section naming personal injury) | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(4) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Four years for personal property damage to the aggrieved party's motor vehicle (or personal property) from an accident involving a motor vehicle (other personal-property damage is three years) | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years (the statute says 'for recovery of damages for a death caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another' and does not state the starting event; amended by 2026 General Session ch. 130) | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-304(3) |
| Claims against a government body | A claim against a governmental entity or employee is barred unless a notice of claim is filed within one year after the claim arises. | Utah Code Ann. § 63G-7-402 |
| Insurance system | no-fault; PIP required ($3,000). To sue: You cannot sue for general (pain and suffering) damages after an auto accident unless you have: death; dismemberment; permanent disability or permanent impairment based on objective findings; permanent disfigurement; a bone fracture; or medical expenses over $3,000. This limit does not apply to an uninsured motorist claim. | Utah Code Ann. § 31A-22-309(1)(a) (threshold); § 31A-22-307(1)(a) ($3,000 PIP) |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (50% bar). You can recover only if your fault is less than the fault of the defendant or group of defendants; if you are 50% or more at fault you recover nothing, and otherwise your damages are reduced by your share. | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-5-818(1)-(2) |
| Minimum liability coverage | $30,000 per person / $65,000 per crash / $25,000 property | Utah Code Ann. § 31A-22-304(2)(a) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. A person who owns or keeps a dog is liable for an injury it causes, whether or not the dog was vicious or the owner knew it was (some exceptions, such as police dogs and trespassers). | Utah Code Ann. § 18-1-1(1)(a) |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Utah can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a Utah crash
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
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Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Utah?
Four years for an injury claim (Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(4)) and four years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Utah a no-fault state?
Yes. Utah is a no-fault state: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays first, with at least $3,000 required, and you can sue the other driver only past the state's threshold.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Utah?
Utah follows modified comparative (50% bar). You can recover only if your fault is less than the fault of the defendant or group of defendants; if you are 50% or more at fault you recover nothing, and otherwise your damages are reduced by your share.
What is the minimum car insurance in Utah?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Utah is $30,000 per injured person, $65,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (30/65/25).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(4)): le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78B/Chapter2/C78B-2_1800010118000101.pdf
78B-2-307 Within four years. An action may be brought within four years: [...] (4) for relief not otherwise provided for by law.
- Deadline for vehicle damage (Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3)): le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78B/Chapter2/C78B-2_1800010118000101.pdf
78B-2-307 Within four years. An action may be brought within four years: [...] (3) for a claim involving personal property damage to the aggrieved party's motor vehicle, as defined in Section 41-6a-102, or personal property from an accident involving a motor vehicle;
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-304(3)): le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78B/Chapter2/C78B-2_1800010118000101.pdf
78B-2-304 Within two years. An action may be brought within two years: [...] (3) for recovery of damages for a death caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another;
- Claims against a government body (Utah Code Ann. § 63G-7-402): law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-63g/chapter-7/part-4/section-402/
A claim against a governmental entity, or against an employee for an act or omission occurring during the performance of the employee's duties, within the scope of employment, or under color of authority, is barred unless notice of claim is filed with the person and according to the requirements of Section 63G-7-401 within one year after the claim arises
- Insurance system (Utah Code Ann. § 31A-22-309(1)(a) (threshold); § 31A-22-307(1)(a) ($3,000 PIP)): law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-31a/chapter-22/part-3/section-309/
(1) (a) A person who has or is required to have direct benefit coverage under a policy which includes personal injury protection may not maintain a cause of action for general damages arising out of personal injuries alleged to have been caused by an automobile accident, except where the person has sustained one or more of the following: (i) death; (ii) dismemberment; (iii) permanent disability or permanent impairment based upon objective findings; (iv) permanent disfigurement; (v) a bone fracture; or (vi) medical expenses to a person in excess of $3,000.
- If you were partly at fault (Utah Code Ann. § 78B-5-818(1)-(2)): law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-78b/chapter-5/part-8/section-818/
(1) The fault of a person seeking recovery may not alone bar recovery by that person. (2) A person seeking recovery may recover from any defendant or group of defendants whose fault, combined with the fault of persons immune from suit and nonparties to whom fault is allocated, exceeds the fault of the person seeking recovery
- Minimum liability coverage (Utah Code Ann. § 31A-22-304(2)(a)): law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-31a/chapter-22/part-3/section-304/
(2) Subject to Subsection (3), a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, containing motor vehicle liability coverage may not limit the insurer's liability under that coverage below the following: (a) (i) $30,000 because of liability for bodily injury to or death of one person, arising out of the use of a motor vehicle in any one accident; (ii) subject to the limit for one person in Subsection (2)(a)(i), in the amount of $65,000 because of liability for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons arising out of the use of a motor vehicle in any one accident; and (iii) in the …
- Dog bites (Utah Code Ann. § 18-1-1(1)(a)): law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-18/chapter-1/section-1/
(1) (a)Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), an individual who owns or keeps a dog is liable for an injury caused by the dog, regardless of whether: (i)the dog is vicious or mischievous; or (ii)the owner knows the dog is vicious or mischievous.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.