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Your Draper Personal Injury Attorney
It is normal to feel unsure what to do first after an injury in Draper. Utah law gives you fixed deadlines and a defined way of weighing fault, so you can start from facts instead of guesses. Below you will find the key Utah deadlines at a glance, how claims against a city, county, or the state are handled differently, and what happens when fault is shared. Nothing here is specific to Draper alone, since the same statutes apply across Utah, but where your case is heard depends on the county.
Your Utah Deadlines in One Place
- Car accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, and similar claims: generally 4 years from the injury, under Utah Code 78B-2-307.
- Vehicle damage claims: 4 years from the accident, under Utah Code 78B-2-307(3).
- Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of death, under Utah Code 78B-2-304.
- Injured by a faulty product: 2 years from when you knew or should have known about both the injury and its cause (Utah Code 78B-6-706).
- If a public entity is involved: 1 year to file a written notice of claim, then 2 years to file suit, both counted from when the claim arises (Utah Code 63G-7-402 and 63G-7-403).
When Does the Clock Start on a Utah Injury Claim?
The general limit for an injury lawsuit in Utah is four years from the injury, found in Utah Code 78B-2-307. That is longer than many states allow, but it applies to claims against private parties, and a few claim types run on shorter clocks.
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.
Injuries to children are treated differently. Utah Code 78B-2-108 keeps the clock from running during minority, though a claim involving a government entity follows its own rules and is worth raising with an attorney right away.
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The Government-Claim Deadline That Is Easy to Miss
Claims involving public entities are the big exception to Utah’s four-year rule. A written notice of claim must be filed within one year after the claim arises, or the claim is barred (Utah Code 63G-7-402).
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.
Notices go to a specific office, such as the city or county clerk for local claims or the attorney general for the state, and must contain a short statement of the facts, the claim, and the damages known so far (Utah Code 63G-7-401).
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.
When more than one party caused your injury, the fact finder assigns each a percentage, and no defendant pays more than its own percentage (Utah Code 78B-5-818(3) and 78B-5-819).
The Court Behind Your Draper Claim
Personal injury cases in Utah are heard in district court. Draper sits in Salt Lake County, in the Third Judicial District (Utah Code 78A-1-102), and the county’s district court is located in the county seat, Salt Lake City (Utah Code 78A-5-101).
Draper lies in both Salt Lake and Utah counties, so the county where the injury happened, or where the defendant lives, decides which district court hears the case (Utah Code 78B-3a-201).
Questions People Ask After an Injury in Utah
Each situation below has its own Utah answer, and a few carry rules of their own on top of the general deadlines above.
How does Utah’s no-fault system affect my car accident claim?
In Utah, PIP coverage pays certain benefits regardless of fault, and it limits when you can sue for general damages: only for death, dismemberment, permanent impairment or disfigurement, a bone fracture, or medical expenses above $3,000 (Utah Code 31A-22-309). The threshold does not apply to uninsured motorist claims.
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.
What do I have to show after a slip and fall in Utah?
The core questions are what caused the fall, whether the owner knew or should have known about it, and whether they took reasonable steps. Photos of the spot, incident reports, and witness names all help, and the general four-year deadline applies unless a public entity owns the property.
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.
How long do I have to sue over a dangerous product in Utah?
Two years, counted from discovery of the harm and its cause under Utah Code 78B-6-706. That is shorter than the four-year general limit, so a product injury deserves prompt attention.
Product claims can involve more than one party in the chain from manufacturer to seller, and Utah’s fault rules divide responsibility among them (Utah Code 78B-5-818(3)).
My family member died because of someone’s negligence in Utah, what are our options?
Utah allows a wrongful death action by the heirs or a personal representative for the heirs’ benefit (Utah Code 78B-3-106), and it must be filed within two years of the date of death (Utah Code 78B-2-304). Talking with an attorney early helps protect that window.
Deaths that happen at work can be handled differently: Utah Code 78B-3-106 applies except as provided in the Workers’ Compensation Act.
Do I have to prove the dog had bitten before to have a dog bite case in Utah?
No. Under Utah Code 18-1-1, the owner or keeper is liable regardless of whether the dog is vicious or mischievous or the owner knew it. There is a narrow exception for a trespasser injured on fenced private property, and shared fault can still reduce damages under Utah Code 78B-5-818.
Certified police dog teams working under a written agency policy are treated separately: the state, counties, cities, and their peace officers are not liable in damages when the conditions in Utah Code 18-1-1(2) are met.
Ready to talk it through? Get matched with an attorney in Draper.
Draper, Salt Lake County, and the Courts
For residents of Draper, 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 Draper.
Other Utah cities nearby: our coverage in Riverton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Utah injury claim really last four years?
For most claims against private parties, yes: Utah Code 78B-2-307 allows four years from the date of injury. Claims involving a government entity or a death do not get that full window.
What is the deadline for a wrongful death claim in Utah?
Two years from the date of death, under Utah Code 78B-2-304.
Is there a shorter deadline if a city, county, or the state caused my injury?
Yes. A written notice of claim is due within 1 year after the claim arises (Utah Code 63G-7-402), and the lawsuit within 2 years (Utah Code 63G-7-403).
Is Utah a pure comparative fault state?
No. Utah uses a modified rule: recovery is reduced by your share of fault but barred entirely at 50% or more (Utah Code 78B-5-818).
Does the no-fault threshold apply to uninsured motorist claims?
No. Utah Code 31A-22-309(1)(b) says the general-damages threshold does not apply to a person making an uninsured motorist claim.
What if I fell on city or county property in Utah?
Different rules apply: a written notice of claim within one year (Utah Code 63G-7-402) and a lawsuit within two years (Utah Code 63G-7-403).
Do I have to prove a dog had bitten before in Utah?
No. Utah Code 18-1-1 applies regardless of the dog’s history or the owner’s knowledge.
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.
How many judicial districts does Utah have?
Eight, each covering several counties (Utah Code 78A-1-102).
What should I bring to a first conversation about my injury?
Anything you have: photos, medical records or bills, insurance letters, and notes on what happened and when. It is fine to come with only a few of these.
Start the Process Now
Waiting rarely helps an injury claim: the other side is already working, and the deadlines above do not pause while you recover. 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.
