Utah law requires vehicle owners to maintain certain minimum levels of car insurance coverage on vehicles registered in the state, and it's important to understand how the state's no-fault car insurance system works after a car accident:
Utah is one of a dozen or so states that follow some form of a "no-fault" car insurance system. Under no-fault, after a car accident, your own car insurance coverage (in Utah, that means your "personal injury protection" coverage) pays for medical treatment and other out-of-pocket losses incurred by anyone covered under the policy, regardless of who caused the accident. (We'll detail what's covered a little later on.)
But with a no-fault claim, you can't get compensation for your "pain and suffering" and other non-monetary damages stemming from the accident.
In order to step outside of the no-fault system and file a third-party insurance claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver (so that "pain and suffering" and other non-economic losses are on the table) your injuries must meet certain thresholds set by state law (we'll look at Utah's statutory thresholds in the next section).
Utah requires at least $3,000 in no-fault (known as "personal injury protection" or "PIP") coverage. According to the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles, no-fault insurance must be continuously maintained on all passenger vehicles (cars and trucks) throughout the vehicle's registration period if:
It's important to note that Utah's no-fault car insurance system applies to injuries caused by car accidents, but not to vehicle damage claims. A claim for damage to (or total loss of) a vehicle can be made against the at-fault driver in Utah, with no limitations.
The no-fault/personal injury protection provisions of a Utah car insurance policy will typically cover:
There are lots of exceptions and restrictions in the relevant statute (Utah Code section 31A-22-307), but personal injury protection coverage benefits usually include:
As we mentioned above, in order to step outside of Utah's no-fault car insurance claim system and pursue a claim against the driver who caused your car accident, your case must meet certain threshold requirements.
Specifically, in order to pursue a liability claim after a car accident in Utah, the injured driver or passenger must first have incurred at least $3,000 in medical bills as a result of the accident, or he or she must have suffered certain serious injuries. In Utah, the kinds of injuries that qualify under this "injury threshold" are:
If your injuries qualify under one or both of these thresholds, you're not limited to a no-fault claim under your own policy. You can hold the at-fault driver responsible for the accident via a third-party car insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, and you can pursue compensation for all categories of losses, including pain and suffering and all other available non-economic damages (which, again, aren't available in a no-fault claim).
Now that you understand how no-fault car insurance works in Utah, let's look at the state's requirements for different kinds of car insurance coverage.
Besides the $3,000 in personal injury protection coverage mentioned above, if you're a vehicle owner in Utah, you must purchase and carry:
Keep in mind that, if you are found responsible for causing a car accident, and the injured drivers' and/or passengers' losses exceed the limits of your car insurance policy (which is not all that far-fetched a possibility if you've only met Utah's minimum coverage requirements), you may find yourself personally responsible for making up the difference out of your own assets.
It's always a good idea to have an understanding of the car insurance rules in your state, but if you've been involved in a car accident, you might need more than just basic information. Especially if your injuries turn out to be serious, and you might have the option of pursuing a claim against the driver who caused your crash, it may make sense to discuss your situation with an experienced legal professional.
Learn more about how an attorney can make a difference in your car accident case. You can also use the tools on this page to connect with an injury lawyer in your area.