I-15 through Salt Lake City and I-80 across the salt flats carry most of Utah's freight. If you were hit here, you may have been in heavy Wasatch Front traffic or out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but desert around you.
The truck accident statute of limitations in Utah appears to be 4 years from the date of the crash (Utah Code § 78B-2-307). Wrongful death generally runs 2 years from the date of death. If a government vehicle or entity was involved, formal written notice is generally required first, on its own clock: 1 year. The evidence clock is shorter than all of them.
How current these numbers are
A licensed attorney checked these Utah figures against the cited statutes on 2026-09-20. Statutes still change (Florida cut its injury period in half in 2023; Louisiana doubled its own in 2024), so confirm with an Utah lawyer before you rely on them.
An Utah what-if on US-6
Say you're driving home to Price on US-6 when a loaded truck tries to pass on a curve and hits you head-on. You're airlifted to a Salt Lake hospital. The trucking company's based in another state, and the truck's already been towed away. The details of that pass, how fast he was going and whether he'd been driving too long, all sit in data that belongs to the carrier. Waiting gives them time to decide what happens to it.
What makes Utah different
Utah's four-year personal injury deadline is one of the longest in the country, but wrongful death is only two — a two-year gap that catches families out. The Governmental Immunity Act adds a one-year notice and then a further one-year deadline after the claim is denied, so a government-involved Utah crash can run on a quarter of the ordinary timeline.
Life next to big rigs on I-15
The Wasatch Front, from Ogden through Salt Lake to Provo, is crowded, and I-15 carries a mix of commuters and trucks all day. Parley's Canyon on I-80 east of Salt Lake is steep, and winter storms make it treacherous. West of Salt Lake, I-80 crosses the salt flats in a long, straight run where boredom and fatigue set in, and dust storms can cut visibility to zero. I-70 through the San Rafael Swell is remote and has no services for long stretches. US-6 through Spanish Fork Canyon to Price is a two-lane road with a bad crash history and lots of trucks.
The Salt Lake Valley is the primary inland distribution point for the Intermountain West, and I-15 carries the region's entire north-south freight load. US-6 through Price Canyon is a notoriously difficult truck route with sustained grades and limited passing. Crashes pile up on I-15 (St. George–Provo–Salt Lake City–Idaho), I-80 across the salt flats, I-70 through the San Rafael Swell, I-84 toward Ogden and US-6 between Spanish Fork and Price.
Every Utah clock in one table
| Deadline | Period | Runs from | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury lawsuit | 4 years | the date of the crash | Utah Code § 78B-2-307 |
| Wrongful death claim | 2 years | the date of death | Utah Code § 78B-2-304 |
| Notice — state entity | 1 year | the date of the crash | Utah Code § 63G-7-402 |
| Notice — city, county or district | 1 year | the date of the crash | Utah Code § 63G-7-401 |
On the wrongful death period: Half the personal injury period.
If a government vehicle was involved in Utah
Shortest government notice window found for Utah: 1 year (Utah Code § 63G-7-402). It comes due long before the ordinary deadline, it's a precondition to suing, and missing it usually bars the claim entirely. Governmental Immunity Act notice of claim within one year, then suit within one year after denial under § 63G-7-403. Same one-year notice for a county, city, UTA or a school district.
Public fleets you could realistically be hit by here: UDOT plow and maintenance trucks, UTA buses and light rail vehicles, county road department equipment, municipal fleets, and school district buses. Not sure the vehicle was one of these? Work to the shorter deadline until someone confirms otherwise.
If the injured person was a minor
Tolled to age 18 in Utah under Utah Code § 78B-2-108. The clock generally doesn't start until the injured person turns 18. That pause covers the court deadline, not the evidence: a carrier may destroy a driver's logs six months after the crash no matter the injured person's age, and in many states a government notice deadline isn't tolled for a child either.
When the Utah clock starts
Limited. Utah applies discovery accrual in defined statutory categories.
Your Utah dates, calculated
Enter your crash date. Utah is preselected, and nothing you type is sent anywhere.
The evidence clock runs faster than 4 years
- Dashcam and telematics video: often 30 days or less (No federal retention requirement — vendor and carrier policy only).
- ECM / black box data: overwritten as the tractor runs; often lost on repair or resale.
- Driver logs: six months (49 CFR § 395.8(k)(1)).
- Maintenance records: one year while the vehicle is in the carrier's control (49 CFR § 396.3(c)).
- Annual inspection report: 14 months (49 CFR § 396.21(b)(1)).
Until a written preservation letter reaches the carrier, destroying records at the end of a retention period is routine and lawful. The FMCSA regulations and evidence guide explains each record.
Utah-specific steps worth taking this week
- The Utah Highway Patrol handles most interstate and highway crashes. Ask for the report number and the trooper's name.
- UDOT runs traffic cameras along I-15 and in the canyons. Ask about preserving footage quickly.
- If dust or snow played a part, save the UDOT road condition alerts or weather warnings from that day.
Crashed near the Utah line?
A crash a few miles over a border can fall under a different deadline. If you're not sure which state you were in, check both.
| State | Injury deadline | Wrongful death |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 2 years | 2 years |
| Wyoming | 4 years | 2 years |
| Colorado | 3 years (motor vehicle) | 2 years |
| Arizona | 2 years | 2 years |
| Nevada | 2 years | 2 years |
Compare any state with the filing deadline calculator, or see the full state index.
Next steps
- Get a preservation letter to the carrier. It's the most time-critical step.
- Confirm whether a government entity was involved. If so, your 4 years deadline may give way to 1 year.
- Don't give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer.
- Get the Utah crash report; it names the carrier, DOT number and insurer.
- Have a lawyer licensed in Utah confirm these dates against the current statute.
Sources
- Hours of Service — records of duty status retention — 49 CFR § 395.8 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
- Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance — record retention — 49 CFR Part 396 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
- Accident register requirements — 49 CFR § 390.15 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
- Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Federal regulations and crash statistics are updated periodically. Figures cited on this page reflect the referenced publications at the time of writing; check the source for the current edition.