Car accidents in Utah: what to do and who pays

At the scene and reporting a crash in Utah

Always stop and help anyone who is hurt. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime in every state.

When to call the police

Call the nearest law enforcement agency right away if anyone is hurt or killed, or if property damage looks like $2,500 or more. Exchange name, address, plate number and insurance (with the agent's or company's phone number) with the others involved.

Damage amount

$2,500

Report to the state

No automatic driver report. The Department of Public Safety may ask a driver in a crash with injury, death or $2,500+ damage to file a report within 10 days after its request.

Law

Utah Code §§ 41-6a-401(4), 41-6a-401.7, 41-6a-402

Official text

Read the official text

First 24 hours after a crash in Utah

Tick the boxes as you go, or print the list and keep it in your glove box.

Insurance system in Utah

Utah is a no-fault state for injuries: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your first medical bills and lost income, whoever caused the crash. You can sue the other driver for injuries only in some cases, described below.

System

No-fault

PIP, benefits and when you can sue

No-fault for injuries: every policy must include personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $3,000 per person for medical costs, plus partial lost income. You can sue for general damages (like pain and suffering) only for death, dismemberment, permanent disability or impairment, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or medical expenses over $3,000. Damage to your car is still claimed from the driver who caused the crash.

Law

Utah Code §§ 31A-22-307, 31A-22-309

Official text

Read the official text

Compare every state in the no-fault states table.

Who pays: comparative fault in Utah

Rule

Modified (50% bar)

What it means

In Utah, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you can't recover at all if you were 50% or more at fault (as much as or more than the other side).

Law

Utah Code § 78B-5-818(2) (you recover only from defendants whose combined fault exceeds yours; at 50% you recover nothing)

Compare every state's rule in the comparative negligence table.

Who pays in Utah: fault and payout explainer

If both drivers share the blame, your state's comparative-fault rule decides whether you can recover and how much. Enter your share of the fault and your total damages to see what the rule means. This is an illustration, not a prediction: insurers, juries and judges decide the percentages.

Minimum insurance in Utah

Liability minimum

30/65/25 (policies issued or renewed since Jan. 1, 2025; or a $90,000 single limit)

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)

Uninsured motorist coverage is included in every policy, equal to the lower of your liability limits or the highest uninsured motorist limits your insurer offers, unless you sign a form rejecting it or choosing lower limits (Utah Code § 31A-22-305(4)).

Official text

Read the official text

Numbers like 25/50/25 mean $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for all injuries in one crash and $25,000 for property damage. Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

Getting the police report in Utah

Ask the agency that handled the crash (city police, county sheriff or Utah Highway Patrol). For Utah Highway Patrol crashes, the Department of Public Safety takes accident report and records requests through its online portal: https://publicsafetyutah.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/supporthome.aspx.

You can also ask by mail with our free police report request letter.

Filing a claim and insurer deadlines in Utah

How fast insurers must act

PIP: benefits are paid monthly as expenses are incurred and are overdue if not paid within 30 days after the insurer receives reasonable proof; overdue amounts bear interest of 1.5% per month (Utah Code § 31A-22-309(5)). Utah Code § 31A-26-303 lists unfair claim settlement practices (for example, misrepresenting policy terms, or failing to acknowledge and act promptly on claim communications as a general practice).

Put your claim in writing. Our free insurance claim letter lists your damages and asks for a written answer.

If the other driver has no insurance in Utah

Driving without insurance is a crime with a minimum fine of $400 for a first conviction ($300 may be waived if you get insurance before sentencing) and at least $1,000 for a later conviction within 3 years (Utah Code § 41-12a-302). If the other driver has no insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage (included unless you rejected it) can pay; the PIP lawsuit limits do not apply to an uninsured motorist claim.

Read what to do if you are hit by an uninsured driver.

Deadlines to sue in Utah

Property damage (your car)

4 years

Injury

4 years

Notes, including claims against a government

Claims against a government entity or employee are barred unless a notice of claim is filed within 1 year after the claim arises (Utah Code § 63G-7-402). Government entities cannot be sued in small claims court.

Law

Utah Code § 78B-2-307(3), (4)

The deadline is the statute of limitations. Insurance claims and talks with an adjuster don't stop it. Compare every state in the deadlines table.

Deadline to sue in Utah

Every state limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after a car crash. This is the statute of limitations. Choose your state, the type of claim and the date of the crash to see the usual deadline and the last day to file. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Small claims for property damage in Utah

Small claims limit

$20,000 (since Jan. 1, 2025; set to rise to $25,000 on Jan. 1, 2030).

Utah small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Small claims court can be a way to recover the cost of repairs from the driver who caused the crash. Read how to use small claims for car damage.

Insurance complaints in Utah

If an insurer delays, underpays or denies a claim without a good reason, you can file a complaint with the state insurance regulator:

• Utah Insurance Department, Consumer Services · 1-800-439-3805

Free help in Utah

• Utah Insurance Department · 801-957-9200 (toll-free in Utah 1-800-439-3805)
• Utah Department of Public Safety: accident reports and records requests

Good to know in Utah

• Utah gives 4 years to sue for damage to your car from a crash, longer than the general 3-year limit for property (Utah Code § 78B-2-307(3)).
• If you were 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing from the other driver (Utah Code § 78B-5-818).
• Minimum liability limits rose to 30/65/25 for policies issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2025 (Utah Code § 31A-22-304).

Changes in 2024–2026

Minimum liability limits rose from 25/65/15 to 30/65/25 for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 (Utah Code § 31A-22-304). Crash-duty sections 41-6a-401, 41-6a-401.3 and 41-6a-401.7 have new versions effective July 1, 2026; the $2,500 police-notice threshold in § 41-6a-401(4) remains. Sections 31A-22-305 (UM), 31A-22-309 (PIP limits) and 41-12a-302 (no-insurance penalty) have versions effective May 6, 2026; the current text still has the $3,000 tort threshold and the $400/$1,000 fines described here.

Free letters

Questions about car accidents in Utah

Other states