The state of Utah increased its state minimum insurance coverage to the 30/65/25 rule on January 1, 2025. This is defined as $30,000 per person, $65,000 per incident for all persons, and $25,000 for property damage. While an improvement, for many, those digits still quickly diminish to zero while their medical liabilities continue to grow. Any personal injury attorney in Murray, Utah, will tell you that the minimum insurance requirements are a floor, not a safety net.

What Is Actually Required for Utah’s Minimum Coverage

According to Utah Code, section 31A-22-304, drivers are required to maintain the following:

• $30,000 per person of insurance for bodily injury liability
• $65,000 per accident of insurance for bodily injury liability
• $25,000 per accident of insurance for property damage
• $3,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection, also known as PIP, is your first line of protection. Utah is a no-fault state, which means that as a result of a crash, your PIP insurance will pay for your initial medical costs, but not more than $3,000. Following the depletion of this amount, you are liable to pursue a claim against the at-fault party’s liability coverage.

Why These Limits Are So Quickly Exhausted

PIP coverage in Utah is only $3,000. Let us consider what happens after a moderately serious accident. After an accident and a hospital visit, you may accumulate $3,000 in hospital costs for X-rays, scans, and diagnostics before you are sent on your way. Beyond this, you can expect the burden to shift to you, the at-fault party. On the other hand, if another party is at fault, you can expect their liability insurance to cover the costs if and when they respond to your claim.

That $30,000 bodily injury limit runs out quickly. A fractured spine, torn ligaments, or a traumatic brain injury can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation bills. A personal injury lawyer in Murray will tell you that the at-fault driver’s policy limit is often the first hurdle to receiving fair compensation, not the last.

Another problem with the per-accident limit is that if, for example, numerous individuals sustain injuries in the same incident, each claim must be compensated from the $65,000 limit, regardless of how serious each individual’s injury is. In multi-passenger crashes, that amount is quickly depleted.

The Underinsured Motorist Problem

Utah does not require uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Many drivers choose to go without it to save money on their premiums. This means if the at-fault driver carries only the minimum policy and your damages are greater than that, you may have no way to recover at all. However, if you have UM/UIM coverage, a Murray personal injury lawyer can help recover your damages, as long as there is coverage.

What This Means If You’ve Been Injured

The minimum insurance requirement meets the legal requirement in Utah. It usually fails to provide an injured person with a reasonable recovery. You should consider a Murray personal injury attorney after you suffer an injury from an automobile accident, especially if the at-fault driver does not have sufficient insurance to cover your injury recovery. It is to your advantage to understand the insurance coverage available as soon as possible so you are prepared for negotiations.