What to do after a car accident in Utah
Every rule below is quoted from Utah law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
No fault state
The short answer
Utah is a no-fault state. Every driver's own insurance pays first for their own medical bills through personal injury protection, no matter who caused the crash. You can only sue the other driver for pain and suffering if your injury is serious enough to cross a legal threshold. A driver must immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency if a crash causes property damage of $2,500 or more. A driver involved in a crash that injures someone must stop immediately regardless of the dollar amount. You have 4 years from the crash to sue over your injuries.
Deadlines in Utah
- 4 years
- to sue for injuriesUtah Code 78B-2-307(4)
- 4 years
- to sue for car or property damageUtah Code 78B-2-307(3)
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a deathUtah Code 78B-2-304(3)
- 1 year
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedUtah Code 63G-7-402
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a crash must give their name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information to anyone involved, show their license if asked, and stay at the scene until these steps are done.
“give to the persons involved: the operator's name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle being operated; and the name of the insurance provider covering the vehicle being operated including the phone number of the agent or provider”
When you must call the police
A driver must immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency if a crash causes property damage of $2,500 or more. A driver involved in a crash that injures someone must stop immediately regardless of the dollar amount.
“The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately and by the quickest means of communication available give notice or cause to give notice of the accident to the nearest office of a law enforcement agency if the accident resulted in property damage to an apparent extent of $2,500 or more.”
Moving your car out of traffic
Utah law allows, but does not require, a driver in a property-damage-only crash to move a driveable vehicle out of travel lanes to a shoulder or other safe spot before finishing the other steps. Moving the car does not change who is found at fault.
“may move the vehicle as soon as possible: out of the travel lanes on any roadway to an adjacent shoulder, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location that does not obstruct traffic...Moving a vehicle as required under Subsection (2)(a)(i) does not affect the determination of fault for an accident.”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
Utah does not appear to require the driver to separately file a written crash report with the state. At the scene, a driver must show a responding officer proof of insurance, and the officer forwards that information to the Driver License Division.
“Upon request of a peace officer investigating an accident involving a motor vehicle, the operator of the motor vehicle shall provide evidence of the owner's or operator's security required under Section 41-12a-301.”
Getting a copy of the crash report
You can request a Utah crash report online through the Utah Highway Patrol's GovQA public records portal by giving the date, location, and case number if known. You get an email when the report is ready. The page did not list a fee or a typical wait time.
“To protect your privacy and security, UHP utilizes the GovQA portal for all record requests.”
Who pays for the damage
Utah is a no-fault state. Every driver's own insurance pays first for their own medical bills through personal injury protection, no matter who caused the crash. You can only sue the other driver for pain and suffering if your injury is serious enough to cross a legal threshold.
“Personal injury protection under Subsection 31A-22-302(2) provides the coverages and benefits described under Section 31A-22-307 to persons described under Section 31A-22-308, but is subject to the limitations, exclusions, and conditions set forth in Section 31A-22-309.”
Insurance rules in Utah
What insurance every driver must carry
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, Utah drivers must carry at least $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $65,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage.
“$30,000 because of liability for bodily injury to or death of one person...in the amount of $65,000 because of liability for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons...and in the amount of $25,000 because of liability for injury to, or destruction of, property of others”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Utah requires every auto policy to include personal injury protection with at least $3,000 in medical benefit coverage per person, along with smaller wage loss, household help, funeral, and death benefits.
“up to the minimum amount required coverage of not less than $3,000 per person, the reasonable value of all expenses for necessary medical services”
When you can sue the other driver
You can sue the other driver for pain and suffering only if the crash caused death, dismemberment, permanent disability or impairment shown by objective medical findings, permanent disfigurement, a broken bone, or medical expenses over $3,000. This does not limit a claim against your own insurer for uninsured motorist benefits.
“A person who has or is required to have direct benefit coverage under a policy that 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 sustains one or more of the following: death; dismemberment; permanent disability or permanent impairment based upon objective findings; permanent disfigurement; a bone fracture; or medical expenses to a person in excess of $3,000.”
If the other driver has no insurance
Utah insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage matching your liability limits. You can reject it or choose a lower amount only by signing a specific written waiver form filed with the insurance department.
“the limits of uninsured motorist coverage shall be equal to the lesser of the limits of the named insured's motor vehicle liability coverage or the maximum uninsured motorist coverage limits available by the insurer under the named insured's motor vehicle policy, unless a named insured rejects or purchases coverage in a lesser amount by signing an acknowledgment form”
Medical payments coverage
Utah does not separately require medical payments coverage. Its mandatory personal injury protection already covers medical bills, so medical payments coverage is not a required add on.
“Personal injury protection under Subsection 31A-22-302(2) provides the coverages and benefits described under Section 31A-22-307”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
You can file a complaint against an insurance company with the Utah Insurance Department online, which requires creating an account, or by downloading and mailing, faxing, or emailing a paper form. The department says online is faster, usually 3 to 4 weeks, and mailed forms take longer.
“Your complaint will be forwarded to the party that you are complaining against for a response. We will review the response and provide you with our findings.”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 4 years from the crash to sue over your injuries.
“An action may be brought within four years: ... for relief not otherwise provided for by law.”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have 4 years from the crash to sue over damage to your vehicle or other property.
“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
A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within 2 years of the death.
“An action may be brought within two years: ... for recovery of damages for a death caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a government vehicle or a government road caused the crash, you must file a written notice of claim within 1 year of when the claim arose.
“A claim against a governmental entity...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”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- Utah Code 31A-22-306
- Utah Code 31A-22-307(1)(a)
- Utah Code 31A-22-309(1)(a)
- Utah Code 78B-5-818
- Utah Code 78B-2-307(4)
- Utah Code 78B-2-304(3)
- Utah Code 63G-7-402
- Utah Code 41-6a-401(4), 41-6a-401.3
- Utah Code 41-6a-403
- Utah Code 31A-22-304(2)
- Utah Code 31A-22-305(4)(a)
- Utah Highway Patrol, How to get your crash or police report
- Utah Insurance Department, File a Complaint
- Utah R. Prof'l Conduct 1.5(c) (Utah Sup. Ct. R. Prof'l Practice, Ch. 15)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.