How much time do you have left to file?
Utah gives you a limited time to bring an injury claim. After that, the claim is usually gone for good, however strong it is. Enter your date below to see your estimated deadline and how many days you have left.
Utah statute of limitations at a glance
| Type of claim | General deadline | Clock starts | Utah law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, truck, or motorcycle crash injury | 4 years | Date of injury | § 78B-2-307 |
| Vehicle or property damage only | 3 years | Date of damage | § 78B-2-305 |
| Government vehicle or property involved | 1 year for notice of claim, 2 years to sue | Date the claim arises | § 63G-7-402 |
| Wrongful death of a family member | 2 years | Date of death | § 78B-2-304 |
| Dog bite or animal attack | 4 years | Date of the bite | § 78B-2-307 |
| Defective product injury | 2 years | Discovery of the harm and its cause | § 78B-6-706 |
| Medical malpractice | 2 years (4-year outer limit) | Discovery of the injury | § 78B-3-404 |
Why waiting is risky even with time left
The statute of limitations is the last possible day to file a lawsuit. Waiting that long costs you in other ways:
- Evidence disappears. Traffic camera and business security footage is often erased within days or weeks. Vehicles get repaired or scrapped, and witnesses forget.
- Insurers watch the calendar. Adjusters know your deadline. As it gets closer, they have less reason to make a fair offer because you have less time to push back.
- A lawsuit takes time to prepare. Medical records, bills, and expert opinions have to be gathered before filing, and that can take months.
- Some deadlines are much shorter. If a government vehicle, road defect, or public bus is involved, the one-year notice of claim can pass before you've finished treatment.
Exceptions that can change your deadline
Utah law includes several exceptions that can extend or shorten the general rules above:
- Injured minors. For many claims the clock generally doesn't start until the child turns 18 (§ 78B-2-108). The calculator applies this when you check the box.
- Discovery rule. When an injury or its cause couldn't reasonably be known right away, the deadline may run from discovery instead of from the incident.
- Defendant out of state. Time the at-fault person spends outside Utah can sometimes pause the clock.
- Mental incapacity. Deadlines may be paused while the injured person is legally incapacitated.
- Insurance policy deadlines. Your own policy may set separate deadlines for PIP, uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist claims. Read our guide on Utah PIP benefits.
Whether an exception applies depends on the facts, which is why the calculator's result is an estimate. A short call with Jacob Gunter can confirm your deadline for free.
Already know your deadline? Find out what your claim may be worth
Once you know how much time you have, use our personal injury calculator to see how a Utah claim's value is typically built from medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Call (801) 373-6345