Utah Fault Rule
Modified Comparative Negligence (50% Bar) + Mandatory PIP ($3,000): Utah enforces a 50% modified comparative fault bar alongside mandatory No-Fault PIP ($3,000). Claimants must exceed $3,000 in medical bills or suffer permanent impairment to pursue third-party claims.
Statute of Limitations
4 Years (Utah Code § 78B-5-818, § 78B-2-307 & § 31A-22-307): Claimants must finalize settlement agreements or initiate formal civil actions within 4 years of the collision date.
Statutory Insurance Minimums
25/65/15 ($25k bodily injury / $65k per accident / $15k property damage): These mandatory insurance minimums represent the maximum available coverage under standard policies unless the driver purchased higher optional coverage.
How Fault Apportionment Affects Claims in Utah
When negotiating auto accident claims in Utah, insurance adjusters calculate damages using an itemized formula that adds economic losses (medical bills, future treatment, lost earnings, property repair) to non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life).
Under Utah Code § 78B-5-818, a claimant cannot recover damages if their fault is 50% or greater. If fault is 49% or less, damages are reduced proportionally. Furthermore, under Utah Code § 31A-22-309, injured motorists must first exhaust their $3,000 statutory PIP coverage, and meet tort threshold requirements before seeking damages for pain and suffering. Utah offers a 4-year statute of limitations under U.C.A. § 78B-2-307. Understanding this threshold prevents accident victims from being pressured into unfair initial liability splits during adjusters' telephone recorded statements.