Personal injury law in Utah
How long you have to file, how shared fault is treated, whether Utah is a no-fault auto state, and what damages caps can limit a jury award. Every figure sourced.
Key rules at a glance
| Statute of limitations | 4 years Medical malpractice: 2 years with discovery. |
|---|---|
| Negligence rule | Modified comparative — 50% bar Recovery barred at 50% or more fault under Utah Code § 78B-5-818. |
| Auto no-fault | Yes No-fault state with $3,000 PIP and tort threshold (Utah Code § 31A-22-309). |
| Damages caps | Medical malpractice non-economic cap under Utah Code § 78B-3-410 (adjusted annually). Medical malpractice non-economic cap under Utah Code § 78B-3-410 (adjusted annually). |
What the filing deadline means in Utah
Personal injury claims in Utah must generally be filed within 4 years of the date of injury. Medical malpractice: 2 years with discovery. If you miss the statute, the claim is time-barred regardless of how strong it is. Discovery rules can shift the start date for latent injuries, and government claims often carry much shorter notice deadlines (sometimes 60 to 180 days).
How shared fault works under modified comparative — 50% bar
You can recover only if you are less than 50% at fault. At 50% or more, recovery is barred. Recovery barred at 50% or more fault under Utah Code § 78B-5-818.
Practical effect: if a jury values your case at $200,000 and assigns you 30% of the fault, you recover $140,000 — but if your fault crosses the bar, you recover $0.
No-fault auto insurance in Utah
Utah is a no-fault auto state. No-fault state with $3,000 PIP and tort threshold (Utah Code § 31A-22-309). That means after a crash, your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays first, regardless of who was at fault. You can step outside the no-fault system and sue the at-fault driver only when your injury meets the state's tort threshold.
Damages caps in Utah
Medical malpractice non-economic cap under Utah Code § 78B-3-410 (adjusted annually).
A cap does not change the value of your injuries; it changes what a jury is allowed to award. Caps most often apply to non-economic damages (pain and suffering) and to medical malpractice cases. Economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, are generally not capped.
Case types in Utah
These case-type hubs explain how settlement value is built and how each type interacts with Utah's rules above.
Related reads
How Utah's no-fault and modified comparative — 50% bar rule shapes auto settlement value.
Multi-party liability, FMCSA regulations, and the 30-day evidence window.
Helmet laws, anti-rider bias, and how comparative fault hits riders.
Premises liability and the negligence elements you must prove.
Standard of care, statute of repose, and Utah's med-mal caps.
Workers' comp vs third-party liability claims.
Strict liability vs one-bite rule by state.
Who can file and what damages are recoverable.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Want a different state? See all 50 state hubs.