Every day, tens of thousands of people ride TRAX, FrontRunner, the S-line streetcar, and UTA buses along the Wasatch Front. Most trips are uneventful. When something goes wrong, the injuries can be serious.
A claim against the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) doesn’t work like an ordinary car accident claim. UTA is a government entity, and Utah law gives government entities special protections, including short deadlines and strict procedures that can end a valid claim before it starts.
Common Transit Accidents and Injuries
- Train and vehicle collisions. TRAX shares streets with cars, bikes, and pedestrians, and collisions can injure drivers, riders, and bystanders.
- Pedestrian and cyclist strikes at crossing, station approaches, and bus stops.
- Sudden stops and derailments. Emergency braking can throw standing passengers, and older adults, children, and riders using mobility devices are especially vulnerable.
- Boarding and exiting injuries, such as doors closing on passengers, platform gaps, or a vehicle pulling away too soon.
- Slip and fall on wet or icy platforms, damaged stairs, or poorly lit walkways.
- Bus crashes. Many UTA buses have no passenger seat belts, which raises injury risk in a crash or hard stop.
Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal and back injuries, internal injuries, and even wrongful death.
Who Can Be Found Responsible
UTA isn’t always the only party. Depending on the facts of the accident the responsibility may also fall on:
- Other drivers who caused or contributed to a collision
- Contractors and manufacturers responsible for maintenance, repairs, or defective equipment
- Private property owners who control some stops and station areas
- Other government entities, such as cities, counties, or UDOT, for roadway design or signal problems
Each government defendant has its own notice requirements, so identifying everyone early matters.
Your Rights Against UTA: The Governmental Immunity Act
Utah governmental entities are generally immune from lawsuits. The Utah Governmental Immunity Act (Utah Code 63G, Chapter 7) spells out when that immunity is waived and what you must do to bring a claim.
When You Can Sue
Immunity is waived for many claims, including injuries caused by the negligence of government employees acting within the scope of their jobs, and some injuries caused by dangerous conditions on public property. A bus driver who runs a red light or a train operator who ignores safety procedures can all be the basis of a personal injury claim.
The Act also preserves immunity for certain categories of claims. For example, the discretionary function can protect policy level decisions. Whether your claim fits a waiver or an exception is often the hardest legal question in a transit case.
The One-Year Notice of Claim Deadline
This is the rule that catches the most people. For nearly every claim in Utah you have up to four years to pursue a lawsuit from a personal injury. A claim against a governmental entity is different. If you are suing UTA then your claim is barred unless you or your attorney files a written notice of claim within one year after the claim arises.
The notice of claim must include a brief statement of the facts, the nature of the claim, and the damages you’ve incurred so far as they are known. It must also reach the correct office. UTA publishes its own notice of claim form and directs claims to its Claims Unit in Salt Lake City. UTA also stresses that you must strictly comply with the Act, so a mistake in the paperwork puts the whole claim at risk. Courts treat a missed or defective notice as a serious problem, and it often ends the case.
What Happens After You File
- 60 day review. UTA has 60 days to approve or deny your claim, and you can’t sue during that time.
- Denial or silence. A denial, or no response within 60 days, is treated as a denial.
- A new one-year clock. After denial, you generally have one year to file a lawsuit in district court. Miss it and you lose the right to sue, even if your notice was timely.
You have two deadlines to track, one for the notice and one for the lawsuit.
Damage Caps
Utah also limits what you can recover from a government entity. For incidents on or after July 1, 2026, the Utah Division of Risk Management lists these limits:
- $963,800 for one person in a single occurrence
- $3,879,500 total for two or more people in a single occurrence
- $387,700 for property damage in a single occurrence.
Earlier incidents fall under lower figures, and punitive damages are generally unavailable against government entities. The caps generally don’t apply to private defendants, such as a negligent driver or contractor, which is another reason to identify every responsible party.
What to Do After a Transit Injury
- Get medical care right away. It protects your health and creates a record linking your injuries to the incident.
- Report the incident to the operator, transit police, or station staff, and get a report number.
- Document everything. Photograph the vehicle, platform, conditions, and your injuries, and get witness contact information.
- Preserve evidence. Trains, buses, and stations have cameras, and footage can be overwritten. A prompt preservation request to UTA is important.
- Keep records of medical bills, lost income, and how the injury affects your daily life.
- Be careful with statements. Don’t give recorded statements to UTA or any insurer without legal advice.
- Calendar your deadline. The notice of claim is due within one year, so start well before then.
- Call a Utah trial attorney. Immunity questions, notice rules, and damage caps make these cases different from private-party claims. The assistance of a skilled litigation expert can help your case move forward smoothly and without any errors.
Why Experienced Help Matters
A skilled Utah trial attorney can determine whether immunity will be waived for your claim. Your attorney will file a complaint notice on time, demand preservation of video and records, identify all liable parties, calculate the full value of the damages you have suffered, and negotiate with UTA or take your case to court.
If you or a loved one was hurt on the TRAx, FrontRunner, or a UTA bus, our Utah trial team can review your case and help you understand your situation. We have helped hundreds of clients get the justice they deserve after they have been injured by a negligent party. Give LifeLaw Trial Lawyers a call today. We offer free consultations and you won’t pay a cent unless we win your case. Don’t let your claim fall to the deadline, get your free consultation today!