Car Accident Statute of Limitations in Utah
Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4) ✓ verified · 3 sources
The deadline
4 years
from The four-year limitations period generally begins to run on the date of the accident, when the bodily injury occurs., under Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4).
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The deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Utah is 4 years, set by Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4). It starts running on The four-year limitations period generally begins to run on the date of the accident, when the bodily injury occurs.. This page covers the exceptions, the government-claim trap, and the steps to take before time runs out.
Utah Deadlines for Related Claims
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Car Accident | 4 years | Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4) |
| Credit Card Debt | 4 yrs | Utah Code § 78B-2-307(1) |
| Medical Malpractice | 2 yrs | Utah Code § 78B-3-404 |
| Wrongful Death | 2 yrs | Utah Code § 78B-2-304 |
| Personal Injury | 4 yrs | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307 |
| Dog Bite | 4 yrs | Utah Code Ann. § 18-1-1; SOL: § 78B-2-307 |
| Slip and Fall | 4 yrs | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3) |
| Defamation | 1 yr | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-302 |
| Breach of Contract | 6 yrs | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-309 |
| Medical Debt | 6 yrs | Utah Code § 78B-2-309 |
When the Clock Starts
In Utah, the limitations period for car accident lawsuits generally begins on The four-year limitations period generally begins to run on the date of the accident, when the bodily injury occurs.. Utah does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.
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Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline
- Minors: the clock is generally paused while the injured person is under 18.
- Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
- Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.
- Government-claim trap: Utah Governmental Immunity Act: a written notice of claim must be filed within one year after the claim arises (Utah Code § 63G-7-402), and any lawsuit against a governmental entity is subject to a separate two-year limitations period (Utah Code § 63G-7-403).
Utah has no personal-injury-specific statute of limitations; car-accident bodily-injury claims fall under the four-year catch-all residual clause of Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4) ('an action for relief not otherwise provided for by law'). Subsection (3) of the same statute is a separate four-year period that covers only personal-property damage to the aggrieved party's motor vehicle, not bodily injury.
Source: Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4), official Utah statute · verified 2026-07
What to Do Before the Deadline Runs
- Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
- Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
- Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Utah government defendants).
- If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.
How Utah Compares to Nearby States
| State | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | 4 years | Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4) |
| Idaho | 2 yrs | Idaho Code § 5-219(4) |
| Wyoming | 4 yrs | Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C) |
| Colorado | 3 yrs | C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n) |
| New Mexico | 3 yrs | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8 (NMSA 1978) |
| Arizona | 2 yrs | A.R.S. § 12-542(1) |
| Nevada | 2 yrs | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Utah?
You have 4 years from The four-year limitations period generally begins to run on the date of the accident, when the bodily injury occurs., under Utah Code § 78B-2-307(4).
Can I still sue after 4 years in Utah?
Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (tolling for minors, fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.
What if the victim was a minor?
Utah generally pauses ("tolls") the deadline while the injured person is under 18, giving them time to file after reaching adulthood. Special limits can still apply, so check the statute.
Is the deadline different for claims against the government?
Utah Governmental Immunity Act: a written notice of claim must be filed within one year after the claim arises (Utah Code § 63G-7-402), and any lawsuit against a governmental entity is subject to a separate two-year limitations period (Utah Code § 63G-7-403).
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Sources
- Official Utah Code § 78B-2-307 (Within four years) — Utah State Legislature
- Corroborating Utah Code Title 78B, Judicial Code § 78B-2-307 — FindLaw
- Corroborating Utah Personal Injury Laws and Statutes of Limitations — Nolo
- Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Utah attorney.