Personal Injury Advocate
← All states

Utah injury rights, deadlines, and help

If you were hurt in Utah, you probably want to know two things. How long do you have to act, and what should you do right now?

This page answers both. The deadlines below come straight from Utah law, with links to the official statutes so you can check them yourself.

The deadlines that matter in Utah

Personal injury lawsuit: 4 years. Utah gives you four years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits. This is called the statute of limitations (the legal deadline to file a lawsuit). Four years sounds generous, but shorter clocks hide inside it, especially for work injuries and government claims. The rule is Utah Code 78B-2-307. Read the statute.

Work injury, telling your employer: 180 days. Your workers' compensation claim is barred unless your employer or the state Division is notified within 180 days after the injury. Do not wait anywhere near that long. Report the same day, in writing, so there is no argument later. The rule is Utah Code 34A-2-407. Read the statute.

Work injury, filing the formal application: 6 years. If a dispute arises, you can file an application for hearing with the Division of Adjudication up to six years from the date of the accident. Death benefit claims are much shorter, generally one year from the death. The 180-day notice above is still the first hard deadline. The rule is Utah Code 34A-2-417. Read the statute.

Injured by a government entity: 1 year. Under Utah's Governmental Immunity Act, you must file a written notice of claim within one year after the claim arises. This applies to the state and to local entities like cities, counties, and school districts. You can sue only after the claim is denied. This one-year notice is far shorter than the four-year lawsuit deadline, and missing it usually ends the claim. The rule is Utah Code 63G-7-402. Read the statute.

One more caution. Medical claims can have different, often shorter deadlines and extra requirements. If a doctor or hospital hurt you, treat the clock as shorter until a licensed lawyer tells you otherwise.

What to do first

  1. Get medical care now. Your health comes first, and the records also prove when and how you were hurt.
  2. Report the injury the same day. At work, tell your supervisor and follow up in writing.
  3. Write down what happened. Date, time, place, names of witnesses, and photos if you can take them.
  4. If any government property, vehicle, or employee was involved, mark the one-year notice deadline now. It arrives long before the lawsuit deadline.
  5. Keep everything. Bills, pay stubs, denial letters, and every message about the injury.
  6. Do not sign anything from an insurance company before you get advice. A quick release can end your claim forever, even if your injury turns out worse than anyone thought.

If this feels like a lot, you are not alone. Tell us what happened at /start/ and we will help you sort out what applies to you. Our help is always free to you.

Common situations in Utah

Hurt at work

Utah separates two steps. Step one is the 180-day notice to your employer or the Division. Step two is the formal application for hearing, with its six-year outer limit. The long second clock lulls people. If the insurer stops paying, disputes your treatment, or pressures you back to work too soon, do not wait years to act. Evidence fades, witnesses move, and doctors' memories blur. Report on day one, and get help at the first sign of a dispute.

Hurt on the road

Car crash claims follow the four-year lawsuit deadline. Utah uses a modified comparative fault rule: you recover only if your own fault is less than 50 percent, and your recovery shrinks by your share. At exactly 50 percent, you recover nothing. The rule is Utah Code 78B-5-818. Read the statute. Because your recovery turns on fault percentages, be careful what you tell adjusters, and get advice before any recorded statement.

Hurt on someone's property, including dog bites

Utah has one of the clearer dog bite laws in the country. The owner or keeper is liable for injuries their dog causes, regardless of whether the dog was ever vicious before or whether the owner knew of any danger. There are exceptions, including police dogs doing their work and trespassers entering a secured enclosure. The rule is Utah Code 18-1-1. Read the statute. For falls and other property injuries, the four-year deadline and the fault rule above apply.

A story worth knowing

Speed helps insurers, not you. On June 8, 1988, Phyllis Gossinger slipped on soapy water flooding the bathroom of her Honolulu apartment. The ER doctor said her back strain "would take a long time to heal." The very next day, with no lawyer, she and her husband wrote their own demand letter for $2,507. Three days later an adjuster met them, and they settled for $1,100 and signed a release covering all injuries, known and unknown, forever. About a year later, doctors found a herniated disc that needed surgery. The bills passed $20,000. The courts held them to the release they had signed, and Hawaii's highest court affirmed in 1992. They kept the $1,100 and ate the rest. Read the decision.

The lesson is simple. Never sign a release days after an injury, because your body has not finished telling you how badly you are hurt. An advocate on your side early helps you slow down at the moments that matter.

What we can help with

We are on your side, and only your side. We help injured people in Utah:

We do not charge injured people anything. Ever. We explain your rights and options in general terms and connect you with licensed professionals for legal or medical advice.

Tell us what happened. Share your story in a few sentences and we will help you understand your next step. It is free, private, and there is no pressure. Start here.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

This is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines can change or vary with the facts. A licensed attorney can confirm the rule for your situation.