Utah uses both no-fault and at-fault insurance rules after car accidents. Personal injury protection (PIP) generally pays certain injury-related expenses without first deciding who caused the crash. However, the driver who caused the accident may still be responsible for property damage and losses that fall outside the no-fault system.
Understanding how these rules work can help injured people know where to file a claim and what coverage may be available.
What Does No-Fault Insurance Mean in Utah?
“No-fault” does not mean that no one is responsible for a car accident. It means that people covered by PIP usually turn first to the applicable no-fault insurer for certain benefits, regardless of who caused the collision.
Utah law generally requires motor vehicle insurance policies to include PIP coverage. However, motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, street-legal all-terrain vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers are generally exempt from the PIP requirement.
What Does Utah PIP Insurance Cover?
Utah’s required PIP coverage includes at least $3,000 per person for reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Covered care may include hospital treatment, ambulance services, surgery, X-rays, dental care, rehabilitation, nursing services, and prosthetic devices.
PIP may also provide:
- Up to 85% of lost gross income or earning capacity
- A maximum income benefit of $250 per week
- Income benefits for up to 52 consecutive weeks
- Benefits for certain household services
- Funeral benefits when an accident is fatal
Income benefits generally do not apply during the first three days of disability unless the disability continues for more than two consecutive weeks. The exact benefits available depend on the policy and the facts of the accident.
Because PIP benefits are limited, they may not cover all medical bills or financial losses resulting from a serious collision.
What Does At-Fault Insurance Mean?
Under an at-fault system, the person or business that caused an accident may be financially responsible for the resulting losses. Liability insurance can pay other people for injuries or property damage caused by the insured driver.
Utah requires vehicles to carry bodily injury and property damage liability insurance—policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2025, must generally provide at least:
- $30,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $65,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident
- $25,000 for property damage in one accident
Drivers may purchase higher limits. Minimum coverage may not be enough to pay all losses after a crash that causes severe injuries or major property damage.
When Can an Injured Person File an At-Fault Claim?
PIP does not always prevent an injured person from bringing a claim against the driver who caused the accident. Utah law allows certain claims for general damages when an injury meets a statutory threshold.
A person may qualify when the accident causes:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Permanent disability or impairment supported by objective findings
- Permanent disfigurement
- A bone fracture
- More than $3,000 in medical expenses
General damages may include losses such as pain, suffering, and reduced enjoyment of life. The statutory threshold does not apply in the same way to uninsured motorist claims.
Meeting a threshold does not guarantee compensation. The injured person must still show that another party was at fault and prove the resulting damages.
Does No-Fault Insurance Pay for Vehicle Damage?
PIP focuses on injury-related benefits. It generally does not pay to repair or replace a damaged vehicle.
A person seeking payment for vehicle damage may file a property damage claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurer. Depending on the policy, the person may instead use collision coverage through their own insurer.
Collision coverage is optional unless required by a lender or lease agreement. A deductible may apply when a policyholder uses this coverage.
What Happens When More Than One Driver Is at Fault?
Utah uses a modified comparative negligence system. A person’s own fault does not automatically prevent recovery. However, that person may recover only from a defendant or group of defendants whose combined fault exceeds the injured person’s fault.
For example, a person found 20% responsible for a crash may have an award reduced by 20%. If that person’s losses total $100,000, the reduced recovery would be $80,000.
The greater an injured person’s share of responsibility, the more significantly comparative fault can affect the amount they recover. Insurers may dispute fault to reduce what they must pay, making evidence such as photographs, witness statements, video footage, and crash reports important.
What if the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the responsible driver has no liability insurance. It may also cover some hit-and-run accidents or situations in which an insurer disputes coverage for more than the period allowed by Utah law.
Underinsured motorist coverage may help when the at-fault driver has insurance, but the policy limits are too low to cover the injured person’s losses. Utah policies generally include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage unless the named insured properly waives it.
Policy language, coverage limits, and valid waivers can affect whether these benefits are available.
Contact the Salt Lake City Car Accident Attorneys at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Utah’s insurance system can involve several claims, coverage limits, and disputes over fault. A Salt Lake City car accident lawyer can review the available policies, explain how PIP applies, and determine whether you may pursue additional compensation from the responsible party.
If you need legal help after a crash in Salt Lake City, contact McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers at (385) 462-7630 to schedule a free consultation.
