What Is the Utah No-Fault Law?
If you are hurt in a Utah car accident, the way your bills get paid may surprise you. Utah is a “no-fault” state, which changes who pays first and when you can hold the other driver responsible. Here is what the no-fault law means for you and your claim.
Utah is a no-fault state. Every driver carries personal injury protection (PIP), a minimum of $3,000 in medical benefits that pays your own medical costs after a crash no matter who was at fault. You can only sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering if your medical expenses top $3,000 or you suffer a permanent or serious injury.
How no-fault works in Utah
After a crash, you turn first to your own PIP coverage to pay medical bills and certain other losses, regardless of who caused the accident. This is meant to get injured people care quickly without waiting for a fault determination. In exchange, Utah limits when you can bring a separate injury lawsuit against the other driver.
What PIP covers
- Medical expenses: a minimum of $3,000, applied regardless of fault.
- A portion of lost wages if your injuries keep you from working.
- Essential services you cannot perform while recovering.
- Survivor and funeral benefits in the event of a death.
When you can step outside no-fault and sue
PIP’s $3,000 medical minimum runs out fast. A single emergency room visit can exceed it. Utah law lets you pursue a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other damages when you meet a threshold, including:
- Medical expenses greater than $3,000.
- Permanent disability or impairment.
- Permanent disfigurement or dismemberment.
- Death resulting from the crash.
Many serious-injury victims meet this threshold, which opens the door to full compensation beyond PIP.