Slip and Fall Statute of Limitations in Utah

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3) ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

4 years

from date of injury, under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3).

Utah law sets a hard deadline of 4 years to file a slip and fall lawsuit. The controlling statute is Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3), and the clock generally starts on date of injury. Below: exactly when that clock starts, the exceptions that can pause it, and the traps that shorten it.

Utah Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Slip and Fall	4 years	Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3)
Car Accident	4 yrs	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
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 slip and fall injury claims generally begins on date of injury. Utah recognizes a discovery rule for this claim type: Utah applies limited discovery rule

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: 1-year notice under Governmental Immunity Act of Utah § 63G-7-402
Damage caps: Approx. $583,900 per occurrence (inflation-adjusted) under § 63G-7-604

4-year SOL for private falls.

Source: Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3), 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 Ann. § 78B-2-307(3)
Idaho	2 yrs	Idaho Code § 5-219(4)
Wyoming	4 yrs	Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)
Colorado	2 yrs	C.R.S. § 13-80-102
New Mexico	3 yrs	NMSA 1978 § 37-1-8
Arizona	2 yrs	A.R.S. § 12-542
Nevada	2 yrs	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Utah?

You have 4 years from date of injury, under Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307(3).

Can I still sue after 4 years in Utah?

Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (the discovery rule, tolling for minors, fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.

Does the discovery rule apply to slip and fall injury claims in Utah?

Yes. Utah applies limited discovery rule

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?

1-year notice under Governmental Immunity Act of Utah § 63G-7-402

Sources

Official Utah Legislature: Utah Code § 78B-2-307
Corroborating Justia: Utah Code § 78B-2-307
Corroborating Nolo: Utah Personal Injury Laws
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.