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Your Murray Personal Injury Attorney
Getting hurt in Murray tends to bring a lot at once: medical appointments, missed work, calls from insurance adjusters, and a deadline you may not know exists. Utah law answers most of those questions in specific, checkable ways. The sections below cover the deadlines that apply, the one-year notice rule for government claims, how shared fault is weighed, and the situations people ask about most. Nothing here is specific to Murray alone, since the same statutes apply across Utah, but where your case is heard depends on the county.
Utah Injury Deadlines at a Glance
- Most injury claims (car crashes, falls, dog bites): 4 years from the date of injury, under Utah’s general limit in Utah Code 78B-2-307.
- Damage to your vehicle: 4 years from the date of the accident (Utah Code 78B-2-307(3)).
- Losing a family member: 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim (Utah Code 78B-2-304).
- Product liability claims run 2 years from discovery of both the harm and its cause, under Utah Code 78B-6-706.
- Public-entity claims: notice within 1 year, lawsuit within 2 years, both measured from when the claim arises (Utah Code 63G-7-402 and 63G-7-403).
When Does the Clock Start on a Utah Injury Claim?
Utah does not have a separate deadline for most personal injury lawsuits. They fall under the general four-year limit in Utah Code 78B-2-307, which runs from the date of injury. A crash in Murray and a fall at a store in Salt Lake County are handled the same way on timing.
Wrongful death claims get two years from the date of death under Utah Code 78B-2-304, and product liability claims get two years from discovery of the harm and its cause under Utah Code 78B-6-706. Both are shorter than the general limit.
When the injured person is under 18, Utah Code 78B-2-108 pauses the limitations clock until they turn 18. Claims against a government entity follow their own rules, including a notice requirement, so it is worth asking early rather than assuming.
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When a Public Entity Is Involved
If a city, county, school district, or state agency (or one of its employees) caused your injury, Utah’s Governmental Immunity Act requires a written notice of claim within one year after the claim arises (Utah Code 63G-7-402). Miss it and the claim is barred, even though the general limit is four years.
After the notice is filed, the entity must acknowledge it in writing within 60 days, and you generally cannot file suit until 60 days have passed. The lawsuit itself must then be filed within two years after the claim arises (Utah Code 63G-7-403), in district court.
A claim generally arises when the ordinary limitations clock would start, and that clock does not start until you knew, or with reasonable diligence should have known, of the claim and which entity was responsible (Utah Code 63G-7-401). The notice must go to the specific office the entity designates, which is one more reason to get help early.
Utah's 50% Fault Rule
Utah’s rule, in Utah Code 78B-5-818, lets you recover as long as the fault of those you are seeking recovery from exceeds your own. A person found 30% at fault recovers 70% of the damages; a person found 50% at fault recovers nothing.
Fault can also be assigned to someone who is immune from suit or who is not a party to the case, which shapes how the percentages are compared (Utah Code 78B-5-818 and 78B-5-819).
Salt Lake County and the Third Judicial District
Utah divides its district courts into eight judicial districts (Utah Code 78A-1-102). Salt Lake County, home to Murray, falls in the Third Judicial District, and its district court is located in Salt Lake City, the county seat.
Your Situation and the Utah Rule That Applies
Below are direct answers for the most common kinds of injury claims, each tied to the Utah law that governs it.
Can I sue after a car accident in Utah?
Yes, once you meet Utah’s no-fault threshold: a fracture, permanent impairment or disfigurement, dismemberment, death, or more than $3,000 in medical expenses opens the door to general damages (Utah Code 31A-22-309). Short of that, your own insurance benefits are the main route. The general filing deadline is four years.
If a city bus, police car, or other government vehicle caused the crash, the written notice of claim is due within one year (Utah Code 63G-7-402), far sooner than the four-year rule for other drivers.
Can I sue if I slipped and fell on someone else’s property in Utah?
Possibly. Slip and fall claims are premises-liability negligence claims: the question is generally whether the owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn about it. The general four-year deadline applies, and your own share of fault can reduce or bar recovery under Utah Code 78B-5-818.
If the property belongs to a city, county, school district, or the state, this becomes a government claim: written notice within one year (Utah Code 63G-7-402), then suit within two years.
Who can be responsible when a product injures me in Utah?
Product cases can involve the manufacturer, distributor, or seller, depending on the facts. What is fixed is the timing: two years from discovery of the harm and its cause (Utah Code 78B-6-706).
Keep the product, its packaging, and any receipts, and document the injury. A product that is discarded or repaired can be hard to replace as evidence.
Is a wrongful death claim in Utah treated differently from a regular injury claim?
In two practical ways: the clock is two years from the date of death rather than four years from injury (Utah Code 78B-2-304), and the claim belongs to the heirs or is brought by a personal representative for them (Utah Code 78B-3-106).
Deaths that happen at work can be handled differently: Utah Code 78B-3-106 applies except as provided in the Workers’ Compensation Act.
What happens if I was bitten by a dog in Murray?
You can pursue the owner or keeper under Utah Code 18-1-1, which makes them liable for injuries their dog causes without proof that the dog was dangerous. Getting medical care, photographing the injury, and identifying the owner are the practical first steps.
Getting medical care promptly matters for your health and your claim, and reporting the bite creates an official record of what happened.
Have questions about your Murray claim? Ask a local attorney.
Murray and Salt Lake County
For residents of Murray, the practical local points are simple: Utah’s deadlines apply as written, and a lawsuit is usually filed in the Salt Lake County district court, whose county seat is Salt Lake City.
For injuries caused by medical care, see medical malpractice help in Murray.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Utah?
Generally 4 years from the date of injury, under Utah’s general limit in Utah Code 78B-2-307. Wrongful death, product, and government claims have shorter clocks.
What is the deadline for a wrongful death claim in Utah?
Two years from the date of death, under Utah Code 78B-2-304.
What is the notice of claim deadline for Utah government claims?
One year after the claim arises. A claim is barred if the notice is not filed in that time (Utah Code 63G-7-402).
Can I recover if I was 40% at fault in Utah?
Yes. At 40% fault your damages are reduced by 40%, because your fault is still below the 50% line (Utah Code 78B-5-818).
What is the medical expense threshold for a Utah car accident lawsuit?
More than $3,000 in medical expenses is one way to meet the threshold for general damages under Utah Code 31A-22-309; other qualifying injuries can meet it without that amount.
Do I need a lawyer for a slip and fall in Utah?
You are not required to have one, but early legal advice helps preserve evidence and clarify deadlines, and a consultation typically costs nothing.
Is Utah a strict liability state for dog bites?
Yes. Utah Code 18-1-1 makes an owner or keeper liable for an injury their dog causes, regardless of whether the dog is vicious or the owner knew it was.
Should I keep the product that hurt me?
Yes, if it is safe to do so. Keep the product, packaging, receipts, and any photos, because they are often central evidence.
Does every Utah county have a district court?
Yes. Utah Code 78A-5-101 places a district court in the county seat of each county.
Does it cost anything to talk to a personal injury attorney in Utah?
A personal injury attorney in Utah typically offers a free initial consultation to discuss your case and the options available.
Time Is Part of This Decision
The insurance company on the other side typically starts building its position right away, while evidence is still fresh, and the same early window benefits your own claim too. None of that means you need to have everything figured out before reaching out. A conversation does not commit you to anything, and a real person will listen to what happened and help you see where things stand.
