Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Utah: Who Pays and What to Do
The other driver ran the stop sign, hit you and, when you asked for their insurance, had none. Or worse: they drove off before you could read the plate.
Almost everyone’s first thought is that nobody is going to pay. Often that is not true. In Utah, the policy that can help you most in that moment is your own.
The three coverages in play
| Coverage | What it does | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| PIP | Your first medical bills and part of your lost wages | Always first, no matter who was at fault |
| UM (uninsured motorist) | What the at-fault driver's insurance would have paid for your injuries | The at-fault driver has no insurance, fled, or their insurer does not respond |
| UIM (underinsured motorist) | The difference when the at-fault driver's insurance is not enough | The at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits do not cover your damages |
The minimum Utah has required since 2025 is $30,000 per person, $65,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. With a serious injury, $30,000 goes fast — which is why UIM matters even when the other driver does have insurance.
Your first medical bills come from PIP. We explain it in who pays your medical bills after a car accident in Utah.
When the law treats a vehicle as “uninsured”
It is broader than it sounds. Under the Utah Code, an uninsured vehicle includes:
- One with no liability coverage at the time of the accident.
- One insured below the legal minimum, for the shortfall.
- An unidentified vehicle that caused the accident and left the scene.
- One whose insurer disputes coverage for more than 60 days.
- One whose insurer has gone insolvent, to the extent a guaranty fund does not pay.
Hit-and-run with no contact. If a car ran you off the road and left without touching you, your word alone is not enough: the law requires clear and convincing evidence beyond your own testimony. A witness or a video can decide your case. Get contact details from anyone who saw it, and look for cameras nearby before recordings are erased.
Do I have UM? Check this today
In Utah, every auto policy includes UM and UIM unless you signed a form rejecting them. That rejection stays in effect until you ask for a change in writing.
This takes five minutes: open your policy’s declarations page and look for the lines “Uninsured Motorist” and “Underinsured Motorist.” If they are missing, or your limits are very low, talk to your agent before you need them.
They can also protect you even when you were not the one driving. UM coverage reaches the named insured, their dependent minor children, relatives living in the household and people riding in the covered vehicle.
Call the police
Without a report it is much harder to prove what happened. Photograph the plate, the driver's license if they hand it over, the vehicles and the scene.
Get evaluated and notify your insurer
Many injuries show up late. Report the crash to your own insurer even if you were not at fault, and confirm which coverages you have.
Stay in treatment and keep everything
Bills, receipts, appointments and missed work days. Gaps in treatment hand arguments to the insurer, even when it is your own.
Talk to an attorney
A UM claim has its own process, with arbitration or litigation, and document requirements. Do not sign a release before you know how far your injuries go.
Your insurer is not always on your side here
It sounds strange, but in a UM claim your own company acts the way the other driver’s would: it pays for your injuries, and it benefits from paying less. Treat it with the same care. Read what to say to the insurance adjuster before giving any recorded statement.
Also review Utah car accident claim deadlines. An action on a UM policy generally must be started within four years of the loss, but evidence disappears much sooner.
What to do if the other driver has no insurance
- Call the police and get the report number, even if the other driver begs you not to.
- Photograph the plate, the vehicles and the scene, and note witness details.
- If they fled, write down everything you remember and look for cameras at nearby homes or businesses.
- Do not accept cash or verbal deals at the scene.
- Check your declarations page and confirm whether you have UM and UIM.
- Get evaluated within 24–72 hours, even if you feel fine.
The short version
The other driver having no insurance does not mean nobody will pay. Your medical bills start with PIP, and the UM or UIM coverage on your own policy can respond for the rest, unless you rejected it in writing. Check your policy today and, if you have already been hit, document everything from day one.
Sources
This article is informational and does not replace legal advice or an individual medical evaluation. If you were in a car accident in the Salt Lake City area, Car Injury Clinic (Taylorsville, UT) offers same-day evaluation, free transportation and coordination with your attorney. Call 385-242-8571 or book an appointment.
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