Utah
Utah Workers' Compensation Laws: Benefits, Deadlines, and Your Rights
Utah requires nearly every employer to carry workers' compensation insurance. If you are hurt on the job, you receive medical care and partial wage replacement regardless of who was at fault, and in exchange you generally give up the right to sue your employer in court.
Is workers' comp required in Utah?
Yes. Workers' compensation coverage is mandatory in Utah for virtually every employer with one or more employees. The Utah Labor Commission, Division of Industrial Accidents (DIA) administers the program, enforces employer coverage requirements, and adjudicates disputed claims. Employers must obtain coverage from a licensed private insurer or through approved self-insurance. Utah does not run a monopolistic state fund, so coverage is available through the private market. Employers who fail to carry required coverage face civil penalties and lose the exclusive-remedy protection, meaning an uninsured employer can be sued directly in court by an injured worker.
Benefits you can receive
Workers' compensation in Utah provides two main categories of benefits: medical and wage replacement.
Medical benefits cover all reasonable and necessary treatment for a work-related injury or illness with no copay or deductible. This includes emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription drugs, and durable medical equipment.
Wage-replacement benefits follow Utah's standard framework. Temporary total disability (TTD) pays 66 2/3% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum the state sets each year. There is a 3-day waiting period before TTD begins, but those first three days are paid retroactively if your disability lasts 14 or more days. Once your condition stabilizes (reaches maximum medical improvement), a doctor assesses any permanent impairment and you may receive permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits based on a percentage rating. If you are permanently and totally disabled, permanent total disability (PTD) benefits continue for life. Death benefits are available to surviving dependents if a work injury proves fatal.
Deadlines: reporting your injury and filing a claim
Two separate clocks run on every Utah workers' compensation claim, and missing either one can end your rights.
The first clock is notice, and it is the shorter of the two. Under Utah Code 34A-2-407(3), you are barred from any claim of benefits arising from an injury unless you notify your employer, or the Labor Commission's division, within 180 days after the day on which the injury occurs. Report the injury in writing as soon as you can rather than running down that window.
Several filings count as notice on your behalf, including an employer's report filed with the division or its carrier, a physician's injury report, a carrier's report to the division, or the payment of any medical or disability benefit. Once notified, your employer files its report of injury with its insurer and the Labor Commission within the time limits the Commission establishes by rule, so the exact employer deadline comes from Commission rule rather than from the statute itself.
The second clock is the statute of limitations on disability benefits. For temporary total, temporary partial, permanent partial, and permanent total disability, Utah Code 34A-2-417(2) bars the claim unless you file an application for hearing with the Division of Adjudication no later than six years from the date of the accident, and are able to meet your burden of proving that you are due the compensation claimed no later than 12 years from the date of the accident.
The 12-year mark is not an absolute cutoff. The Commission may enter an order awarding or denying compensation within a reasonable period beyond 12 years if you complied with the six-year filing rule and, at the 12-year mark, you are either fully cooperating in a Commission-approved reemployment plan whose results are not yet known, or you are actively adjudicating issues of compensability before the Commission.
Two narrower one-year deadlines are easy to miss. A medical expense must be submitted to your employer or its insurance carrier within one year of the later of the day the expense is incurred or the day you knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, that the expense is related to the industrial accident. Separately, a claim for death benefits is barred unless an application for hearing is filed within one year of the date of death.
Occupational disease runs on its own track under the Utah Occupational Disease Act. Utah Code 34A-3-108(2) bars a claim if you fail to notify your employer or the division within 180 days after the cause of action arises, and the cause of action is considered to arise on the date you first suffer disability from the disease and know, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, that the disease is caused by your employment. That discovery rule is what protects a condition that took years to surface, so if you were exposed to hazardous conditions over a long period, document those dates carefully.
Choosing your doctor
Utah's doctor-choice rules depend on whether your employer's insurer operates a preferred-provider program.
If the insurer has an established preferred-provider arrangement, you must choose your treating physician from within that network. The preferred-provider rules do, however, allow you to select a specialist of your choice within the network, which gives you meaningful input over your care.
If the insurer does not have a preferred-provider program, you have free choice of any licensed physician for your initial treating doctor.
Either way, your treating physician directs your medical care and provides the impairment rating if your condition becomes permanent. If you are unhappy with your assigned provider or want a second opinion, you may petition the Labor Commission for a change of physician, and the Commission has authority to order one when circumstances warrant.
Can you sue your employer? The exclusive-remedy rule
Workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your employer for work-related injuries in Utah. This is the core of the no-fault bargain: you receive guaranteed benefits without proving fault, and your employer receives immunity from civil lawsuits in tort. You cannot sue your employer for negligence, even if the employer's carelessness caused your injury.
There are three standard exceptions worth knowing.
First, if your employer intentionally injured you (actual deliberate intent to harm, not mere negligence or recklessness), you may be able to bring a civil action.
Second, you can always sue a third party who contributed to your injury. If a defective machine, a negligent driver, a subcontractor, or anyone other than your employer caused or contributed to your injury, a third-party personal-injury claim exists alongside your workers' comp claim. Workers' comp has a lien on any third-party recovery.
Third, if your employer failed to carry required workers' compensation insurance, that employer loses the exclusive-remedy protection and can be sued directly in court.
If you were hurt at work in Utah
Taking the right steps promptly protects your claim.
Report your injury to your employer in writing the same day if possible, and in no event later than 180 days after the injury. Get the name of your employer's insurer from your supervisor or HR department so you know where to direct your claim.
Seek medical care immediately through your employer's preferred-provider program if one exists, or through a physician of your choice if not. Make clear at every visit that the injury is work-related, and keep copies of all medical records, bills, and correspondence.
If your claim is denied or benefits stop, file an application for hearing with the Utah Labor Commission's Division of Adjudication well before the six-year deadline. Do not wait. The Division's forms are available on the Labor Commission website. If your claim is disputed or a settlement is offered, have a Utah workers' comp attorney go over the terms with you in a free case evaluation (attorney advertising). Before signing, run your numbers through our Utah workers' comp settlement calculator for a rough range of your own. Settlements are generally final and you cannot reopen a settled claim later.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Workers' compensation rules vary by state and change, and benefit amounts and deadlines depend on the specific facts. For advice about a specific claim, consult a licensed workers' compensation attorney in Utah.
Related
More Utah Laws
- Utah At-Will Employment Laws
- Utah Car Accident Laws
- Utah Final Paycheck Laws
- Utah Slip and Fall Laws
- Utah Statute of Limitations
Frequently Asked Questions
Is workers' comp required in Utah?
Yes. Utah law requires all employers with one or more employees to carry workers' compensation coverage. Employers who fail to do so lose the exclusive-remedy protection and can be sued directly in court.
How long do I have to file a workers' comp claim in Utah?
Two clocks apply. You must notify your employer or the Labor Commission's division within 180 days after the injury occurs, or your claim for benefits is barred. To claim disability benefits you must then file an application for hearing with the Division of Adjudication no later than six years from the date of the accident, and be able to prove your entitlement to the compensation claimed no later than 12 years from the accident. The Commission may act beyond 12 years in limited circumstances, such as an active Commission-approved reemployment plan or compensability still being adjudicated. Occupational disease claims run on their own 180-day notice clock that starts when you first suffer disability and know the disease is work-related.
How much does workers' comp pay in Utah?
Temporary total disability pays 66 2/3% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum the Utah Labor Commission sets each year. There is a 3-day waiting period, but those days are paid retroactively if your disability lasts 14 or more days.
How long does workers' comp last in Utah?
Temporary total disability benefits continue while you are unable to work and your condition is still improving. Once you reach maximum medical improvement, benefits transition to permanent partial or permanent total disability ratings. Permanent total disability benefits can continue for life if you are found to be permanently and totally disabled.
Can I choose my own doctor in Utah?
It depends on your employer's insurer. If the insurer has a preferred-provider program, you select from within that network (including your choice of specialist). If no such program exists, you have free choice of any licensed physician.
Can I be fired while on workers' comp in Utah?
Utah law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for filing a workers' compensation claim. Terminating or otherwise penalizing an employee for seeking workers' comp benefits is unlawful. If you believe you were fired in retaliation for a workers' comp claim, consult an employment attorney.
Can I sue my employer for a workplace injury in Utah?
Generally no. Workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your employer for work-related injuries. Exceptions include employer intentional harm, claims against third parties (not your employer), and situations where your employer failed to carry required workers' comp insurance.
Updates
Corrected Utah's workers' compensation deadlines: the claim-barring notice period is 180 days after the injury and the deadline to file an application for hearing for disability benefits is six years from the accident, replacing an incorrect one-year filing deadline and an overstated 12-year absolute bar.
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Utah Code, Title 34A: Utah Labor Code
§ 34A-2-401Compensation for industrial accidents to be paid.In force
(1) An employee described in Section 34A-2-104 who is injured and the dependents of each such employee who is killed, by accident arising out of and in the course of the employee's employment, wherever such injury occurred, if the accident was not purposely self-inflicted, shall be paid: (a) compensation for loss sustained on account of the injury or death; (b) the amount provided in this chapter for: (i) medical, nurse, and hospital services; (ii) medicines; and (iii) in case of death, the amount of funeral expenses. (2) The responsibility for compensation and payment of medical, nursing, and hospital services and medicines, and funeral expenses provided under this chapter shall be: (a) on the employer and the employer's insurance carrier; and (b) not on the employee. (3) Payment of benefits provided by this chapter or Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, shall commence within 30 calendar days after any final award by the commission.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-07 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at le.utah.gov
§ 34A-2-417Claims and benefits -- Time limits for filing -- Burden of proof.In force
(1) (a) Except with respect to prosthetic devices or in a permanent total disability case, an employee is entitled to be compensated for a medical expense if: (i) the medical expense is: (A) reasonable in amount; and (B) necessary to treat the industrial accident; and (ii) the employee submits or makes a reasonable attempt to submit the medical expense: (A) to the employee's employer or insurance carrier for payment; and (B) within one year from the later of: (I) the day on which the medical expense is incurred; or (II) the day on which the employee knows or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known that the medical expense is related to the industrial accident. (b) For an industrial accident that occurs on or after July 1, 1988, and is the basis of a claim for a medical expense, an employee is entitled to be compensated for the medical expense if the employee meets the requirements of Subsection (1)(a).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at le.utah.gov
Cited in 10 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Vigos v. Mountainland Builders, Inc. (Utah Supreme Court 2000, 386 Utah Adv. Rep. 8)“…rs. Utah Code Ann. § 35-1-98 (1994) (currently found at Utah Code Ann. § 34A-2-417(1) with changes in syntax but not subst…”
- Waite v. Utah Labor Comm'n (Utah Supreme Court 2017, 416 P.3d 635)“…troduction ¶ 1 Here we address the constitutionality of Utah Code section 34A-2-417(2)(a)(ii), a provision of the Workers’…”
- Barnard & Burk Group, Inc. v. Labor Commission (Court of Appeals of Utah 2005, 535 Utah Adv. Rep. 3)“…ailing to apply the statute of limitations defense found in Utah Code section 34A-2-417. See Utah Code Ann. § 34A-2-417(l), (…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 34A-2-407Reporting of industrial injuries -- Regulation of health care providers.In force
(1) As used in this section: (a) "Balance billing" means charging an individual, on whose behalf a workers' compensation insurance carrier or self-insured employer is obligated to pay covered medical services under this chapter or Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, the amount calculated by subtracting the amount the workers' compensation insurance carrier or self-insured employer reimburses the health care provider for covered medical services from the amount the health care provider charges for the covered medical services. (b) "Covered medical services" means medical services provided by a health care provider that are covered by workers' compensation medical benefits under this chapter or Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act. (c) "Health care provider" means the same as that term is defined in Section 34A-2-111. (d) "Hospital" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26B-2-219. (e) "Physician" means the same as that term is defined in Section 34A-2-111. (f) "Self-insured employer" means the same as that term is defined in Section 34A-2-201.5.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at le.utah.gov
Cited in 5 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Darden Restaurant v. Labor Commission (Court of Appeals of Utah 2024, 2024 UT App 153)“…eporting requirements of the Workers’ Compensation Act, see Utah Code § 34A-2-407 (the Reporting Statute), and dismissed…”
- Adoption B.B. v. R.K.B. (Utah Supreme Court 2017, 417 P.3d 1)“…(footnote omitted) (citation omitted)). 26 See, e.g., UTAH CODE § 34A-2-407(12)(a)–(b) (identifying claims within t…”
- C.E.L. v. T.L. (In Re Adoption of B.N.A.) (Court of Appeals of Utah 2018, 438 P.3d 10)“…trative agency or of a particular type of court, see, e.g., Utah Code Ann. § 34A-2-407(12)(a)–(b) (LexisNexis Supp. 2018) (ide…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 34A-3-108Reporting of occupational diseases -- Regulation of health care providers.In force
(1) An employee sustaining an occupational disease, as defined in this chapter, arising out of and in the course of employment shall provide notification to the employee's employer promptly of the occupational disease. If the employee is unable to provide notification, the employee's next of kin or attorney may provide notification of the occupational disease to the employee's employer. (2) (a) An employee who fails to notify the employee's employer or the division within 180 days after the cause of action arises is barred from a claim of benefits arising from the occupational disease. (b) The cause of action is considered to arise on the date the employee first: (i) suffers disability from the occupational disease; and (ii) knows, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, that the occupational disease is caused by employment.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at le.utah.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2021
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Stevenson v. Labor Commission (Court of Appeals of Utah 2021, 499 P.3d 911)“…cals he was exposed to while working for your company.” See Utah Code Ann. § 34A-3-108(2)(a) (LexisNexis 2019) (stating that a…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Explore the law
This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): Utah Code, Title 34A: Utah Labor Code § 34A-2-101 (Title.)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
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Sources and References
- Utah Labor Commission, Division of Industrial Accidents(laborcommission.utah.gov).gov
- Utah Workers' Compensation Act, Utah Code Title 34A, Chapter 2(le.utah.gov).gov
- Utah Code § 34A-2-417, Limitations (six-year application for hearing; 12-year burden of proof; medical-expense and death-benefit windows)(le.utah.gov)
- Utah Code § 34A-2-407, Notification of injury (180-day claim bar; employer report filed within time limits the commission establishes)(le.utah.gov)
- Utah Code § 34A-3-108, Notification of occupational disease (180 days after the cause of action arises; discovery rule)(le.utah.gov)
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