Utah · Deadline to sue · Updated Oct 2026
Deadline to sue after a car accident in Utah
Time limits, government claims and a calculator.
Short answer
In Utah, you generally have 4 years from the crash to sue, for car damage and for an injury. 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).
- Property damage (your car)
- 4 years
- Injury
- 4 years
- Law
- Utah Code § 78B-2-307(3), (4)
- Small claims limit
- $20,000
Claims against a government in Utah
- 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.
More facts for 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)).
Deadline to sue in Utah
Protecting your deadline in Utah
- Deadline for both kinds of claim in Utah: 4 years.
- If a government was involved, act fast. 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).
- Small claims, for car damage up to $20,000: Utah small claims guide on Small Claims Map
- Don't wait for the insurer: talks with an adjuster don't stop the clock.
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
Questions about deadlines to sue in Utah
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Utah?
4 years from the crash, for car damage and for an injury (Utah Code § 78B-2-307(3), (4)).
How do claims against a government work in Utah?
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.
What is the small claims limit in Utah?
$20,000 (since Jan. 1, 2025; set to rise to $25,000 on Jan. 1, 2030).
More for Utah drivers
- All car accident rules in Utah
- Comparative fault
- Reporting a crash
- Uninsured driver
- Deadlines to sue in every state
- Small claims court for car damage
- Fault and payout explainer
- Insurance claim letter
- Police report request letter
Nearby states
Sources
- Utah Code § 41-6a-401 (property damage crash duties)
- Utah Code § 41-6a-401.7 (injury crash duties, notify police)
- Utah Code § 41-6a-402 (accident reports)
- Utah Code § 31A-22-304 (minimum limits)
- Utah Code § 31A-22-305 (uninsured motorist coverage)
- Utah Code § 31A-22-307 (PIP benefits)
- Utah Code § 31A-22-309 (tort threshold)
- Utah Code § 78B-5-818 (comparative negligence)
- Utah Code § 78B-2-307 (four years)
- Utah Code § 63G-7-402 (notice of claim deadline)
- Utah Code § 41-12a-302 (penalty for no insurance)
- Utah Code § 31A-26-303 (unfair claim settlement practices)
- Utah Insurance Department: Complaints
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.