Utah Back Injury Settlement Calculator

Herniated disc, lumbar strain, and spinal fusion settlement values in Utah under the lowest no-fault PIP minimum in the country, the easy $3,000 serious injury threshold, the 50% fault bar, and the 4-year statute of limitations

14 min read
Updated May 12, 2026
Calculate My Settlement Free

Listen to this article

Estimated Loading...

Utah has the lowest mandatory PIP minimum in the United States ($3,000 under Utah Code Section 31A-22-307) and the easiest serious-injury threshold to clear (the same $3,000 in medical bills, OR a bone fracture, dismemberment, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, or death under Utah Code Section 31A-22-309). Most back injury cases requiring an MRI plus more than a few PT visits exit no-fault automatically. Combined with the 4-year statute of limitations under Utah Code Section 78B-2-307 (tied with Nebraska for the longest in the SetCalc series) and no statutory cap on non-economic damages in auto cases, Utah is among the more plaintiff-friendly states for back injury claims. Herniated disc settlements range from $32,000 to $115,000 without surgery and $115,000 to $385,000+ with surgery.

The only meaningful constraint is the 50 percent modified comparative fault bar under Utah Code Section 78B-5-818: plaintiffs at exactly 50 percent or more fault recover nothing, the same strict bar applied in Tennessee, Colorado, and Nebraska. Carriers exploit the bar by pressing pre-existing degenerative disc disease as a contributory factor, so liability documentation and the eggshell-plaintiff doctrine matter.

Get your free Utah back injury estimate →

Utah Back Injury Settlement Values at a Glance (2026)

  • Lumbar strain/sprain: $11,000 - $50,000
  • Bulging disc: $20,000 - $78,000
  • Herniated disc (no surgery): $32,000 - $115,000
  • Herniated disc (with surgery): $115,000 - $385,000+
  • Spinal stenosis: $75,000 - $275,000
  • Compression fracture (automatic threshold via fracture): $55,000 - $235,000
  • Multiple disc herniations: $165,000 - $575,000+

Utah has no statutory cap on non-economic damages in auto cases (the $450K med-mal cap under Section 78B-3-410 does NOT apply). The $3,000 PIP threshold under Section 31A-22-309 is easily cleared. McIntyre-style 50% bar applies under Section 78B-5-818. 4-year SOL under Section 78B-2-307. Sources: SetCalc analysis of Utah verdicts and settlements 2020 through 2025.

Utah Back Injury Types and Settlement Ranges

Utah back injury settlement values reflect a plaintiff-friendly statutory framework combined with a conservative-to-moderate jury culture. The $3,000 PIP threshold under Section 31A-22-309 is the lowest in the country, and the absence of any auto non-economic cap means recovery is bounded only by jury sentiment and the 50 percent fault bar. The ranges below assume the case is below the 50 percent fault bar and has cleared the threshold.

Injury TypeUT Settlement RangeUtah-Specific Notes
Lumbar Strain/Sprain$11,000 - $50,000PIP $3,000 typically covers initial workup; threshold requires medical expenses above $3,000 OR fracture/permanent impairment
Bulging Disc$20,000 - $78,000Carriers label bulges as degenerative; MRI plus EMG within 30 days plus an objective impairment finding is the counter
Herniated Disc (No Surgery)$32,000 - $115,000Cited Utah outcomes: $300K commercial-truck rear-end settlement (initial offer $25K), $235K cervical bulges and tension headaches
Herniated Disc (With Surgery)$115,000 - $385,000+Salt Lake County juries award above range; uncapped P&S means strong post-surgery cases reach high six figures
Spinal Stenosis$75,000 - $275,000Eggshell-plaintiff doctrine well established in Utah; carriers blame age-related findings, MRI comparison pre/post accident is the answer
Compression Fracture$55,000 - $235,000Automatic threshold under the fracture category of 31A-22-309; common from I-15, I-80, I-215 high-velocity crashes; treated at U of U Health or Intermountain
Multiple Disc Herniations$165,000 - $575,000+Two or more herniations across cervical and lumbar levels; cited Utah outcome $150,747 verdict (cervical, thoracic, shoulder, $84K medical specials)

Sources: Utah Code Sections 31A-22-307 (PIP), 31A-22-309 (threshold), 78B-2-307 (SOL), 78B-5-818 (50% bar), SetCalc analysis of Utah verdicts and settlements 2020 through 2025. For national back injury data, see our back injury settlement calculator.

Lower End Factors (Utah)
  • • Shared fault approaching 50% (50% bar applies)
  • • Pre-existing degenerative findings
  • • Conservative-only treatment
  • • Utah, Davis, or Washington County more conservative venue
  • • Low at-fault driver policy (25/65/15 minimum)
Higher End Factors (Utah)
  • • Salt Lake County or Weber County venue
  • • Surgery at University of Utah Health or Intermountain Medical Center
  • • Uncapped non-economic damages (no auto cap)
  • • 4-year SOL allows full MMI documentation before filing
  • • Bone fracture triggers automatic threshold

Get Your Utah Back Injury Settlement Estimate

Our AI calculator factors in Utah-specific rules including the $3,000 PIP threshold, 50% bar, 4-year SOL, no auto cap, and county-level jury trends to estimate your back injury claim value in minutes.
Calculate My UT Back Injury Value

Utah Laws That Affect Your Back Injury Settlement

Five Utah-specific legal rules govern back injury claims: $3,000 mandatory PIP, the easy serious-injury threshold under Section 31A-22-309, the 50 percent comparative fault bar under Section 78B-5-818, the 4-year statute of limitations under Section 78B-2-307, and the absence of any non-economic cap in auto cases.

$3,000 No-Fault PIP (Utah Code Section 31A-22-307)

Utah requires the lowest mandatory PIP coverage in the country: $3,000 per person, per accident. PIP pays medical expenses, 85 percent of lost wages up to $250 per week, $20 per day in essential services, and $1,500 in survivor benefits, regardless of fault. PIP is paid by the insurer of the vehicle occupied (or by the at-fault vehicle's insurer if the injured person was a pedestrian or cyclist). Optional higher PIP limits (typically $5,000 to $20,000) are commonly purchased; some carriers offer up to $100,000 in extended PIP. Because the $3,000 minimum exhausts quickly on any meaningful back injury workup (a lumbar MRI alone runs $1,500 to $3,500 in Utah), the threshold to exit no-fault is essentially automatic in any case requiring imaging plus specialist consultation.

The $3,000 Threshold to Exit No-Fault (Section 31A-22-309)

To recover non-economic damages (pain and suffering) from the at-fault driver, the injured person must meet one of six categories under Section 31A-22-309: death, dismemberment, permanent disability or permanent impairment based on objective findings, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or medical expenses to a person in excess of $3,000. The threshold is dramatically easier to clear than similar rules in other no-fault states (Michigan's McCormick threshold, Florida's permanent-injury threshold, New York's nine-category framework). Most back injury cases meet the threshold simply because an MRI plus a few PT visits exceed $3,000 in medical expenses. A compression or vertebral body fracture automatically meets the bone-fracture category.

50% Comparative Fault Bar (Utah Code Section 78B-5-818)

Utah follows modified comparative fault with a 50 percent bar. A plaintiff whose fault is less than 50 percent recovers damages reduced proportionally; a plaintiff at exactly 50 percent or more recovers nothing. The bar is stricter than the 51 percent rule used by Texas, Illinois, Florida, Nevada, and Michigan (where exactly 50 percent fault still permits recovery), and matches the strict 50 percent bar of Tennessee, Colorado, and Nebraska. For Utah back injury cases the rule is particularly dangerous when carriers argue pre-existing degenerative disc disease contributed to the injury, pressing the apportionment toward 50/50.

4-Year Statute of Limitations (Utah Code Section 78B-2-307)

Utah's 4-year SOL is tied with Nebraska for the longest deadline in the SetCalc back injury series, and one of the longest in the country. It applies broadly to car accident injuries, slip and fall, premises liability, dog bites, and most other negligence-based personal injury claims. Wrongful death has a separate 2-year SOL under Section 78B-2-304. Product liability has a 2-year deadline from the earlier of injury or discovery under Section 78B-6-706. Medical malpractice has its own framework under Section 78B-3-404 (2 years from discovery plus a 4-year statute of repose). The 4-year window is a significant advantage for back injury plaintiffs because spinal fusion recovery and reaching maximum medical improvement commonly take 12 to 18 months, leaving plenty of time to document permanent impairment.

No Cap on Non-Economic Damages in Auto Cases

Utah imposes no statutory cap on economic or non-economic damages in auto accident cases. The only Utah damages cap is the $450,000 non-economic cap on medical malpractice cases under Utah Code Section 78B-3-410, which does NOT apply to auto, premises, or product liability. Pain and suffering, future medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earning capacity are all uncapped. Utah is materially more plaintiff-favorable than Tennessee on this dimension (Tennessee imposes a $750K/$1M cap in standard auto cases).

Utah Minimum Auto Insurance: 25/65/15

Utah requires minimum bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $65,000 per accident, plus $15,000 property damage liability, plus $3,000 PIP. The 25/65 BI minimum is slightly unusual (the per-accident minimum is $65,000 rather than the more common $50,000). The 65/15 split provides a small additional buffer for multi-injury accidents. UM/UIM coverage must be offered but may be rejected in writing. As with most states, the minimum policy is routinely insufficient for surgical back injury cases, making UM/UIM the standard gap-filler.

Utah vs Other No-Fault States

Utah, Michigan, Florida, and New York are the four primary no-fault threshold states in this SetCalc series. Utah's $3,000 threshold is by far the easiest to clear. Michigan uses the McCormick v. Carrier serious-impairment-of-body-function test. Florida uses the permanent-injury threshold under Fla. Stat. Section 627.737 plus a 14-day PIP treatment rule. New York uses the nine-category framework under Insurance Law Section 5102(d). Utah is the most plaintiff-friendly of the four on threshold mechanics. For Michigan comparison see our Michigan back injury settlement calculator; for New York see our New York back injury settlement calculator; for Florida see our Florida back injury settlement calculator.

The Surgery Threshold in Utah Back Injury Cases

Spinal surgery is the single largest value driver in any Utah back injury case. Because Utah has no statutory cap on non-economic damages in auto cases and the 4-year SOL provides time to document permanent impairment, well-prepared surgical cases routinely reach mid-six-figure values in Salt Lake County and Weber County venues.

Non-Surgical Cases in Utah

Conservative treatment (physical therapy at a Utah PT clinic, chiropractic care, epidural steroid injections, and pain management) typically produces settlements of:

$32,000 - $115,000

Utah PIP funds the initial $3,000 of workup, which simultaneously clears the threshold to exit no-fault. The cited $235K Utah non-surgical settlement (cervical bulges plus tension headaches) shows the upper edge of what is possible.

Surgical Cases in Utah

When microdiscectomy, laminectomy, or fusion is medically necessary, Utah values rise substantially because there is no cap on the pain and suffering multiplier:

$115,000 - $385,000+

Cited Utah outcomes: $300K commercial-truck rear-end herniated disc settlement (initial offer $25K), substantial verdicts in multi-region cervical and lumbar surgical cases at University of Utah Health and Intermountain Medical Center.

Back Surgery Types and Utah Settlement Impact

Microdiscectomy

Minimally invasive removal of the herniated portion of a disc, performed for confirmed radiculopathy that has failed conservative care. Recovery 4 to 6 weeks. In Utah, microdiscectomy adds approximately $55,000 to $115,000 to settlement value. Medical cost in UT: $18,000 to $42,000.

Laminectomy

Removal of part of the vertebral lamina to decompress the spinal cord or nerve roots, used for stenosis or central canal herniation. Recovery 6 to 12 weeks. In Utah, laminectomy adds approximately $80,000 to $170,000 to settlement value. Medical cost in UT: $24,000 to $58,000.

Spinal Fusion

Permanent joining of two or more vertebrae using bone graft, rods, and pedicle screws. The largest single value driver in Utah back injury cases. Recovery 3 to 6 months with permanent hardware and lifelong impairment. In Utah, fusion adds approximately $115,000 to $260,000 to settlement value on top of the underlying claim. Medical cost in UT: $50,000 to $155,000. Salt Lake County values reach the upper end and beyond when permanent restrictions are documented.

Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)

Replacement of the damaged disc with a motion-preserving prosthetic. Performed at University of Utah Health and Intermountain Medical Center. Newer and more expensive than fusion. In Utah, ADR adds approximately $115,000 to $235,000 to settlement value. Medical cost in UT: $60,000 to $175,000.

Surgery Must Be Treating-Physician Driven

Utah carriers (State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, Progressive, Farmers, Bear River, Auto-Owners) use IMEs aggressively to argue against surgical necessity. The plaintiff's defense is a clean treatment trajectory: documented failure of conservative care, an MRI showing structural pathology, a referral from primary care to a Utah spine specialist, and a surgical recommendation made before any settlement demand. Never pursue surgery for case value; pursue it only when your spine specialist recommends it.

Why Insurance Companies Fight Utah Back Injury Claims

Utah's combination of easy threshold, no cap, and 4-year SOL is plaintiff-favorable, which means carriers focus their leverage on the 50 percent bar and the degenerative-disc defense. The Utah carrier playbook is mature and disciplined.

The Degenerative Disc Disease Argument (Amplified by the 50% Bar)

Utah carriers argue that disc bulges and herniations are normal age-related findings rather than acute trauma. Because the 50 percent bar eliminates recovery entirely at 50 percent or more fault, every percentage point of fault matters. Carriers press the apportionment by framing pre-existing degeneration as a contributory cause. The eggshell-plaintiff doctrine is the legal answer; a contemporaneous MRI plus a sworn treating-physician opinion connecting the accident to the symptoms is the practical answer.

PIP Termination Before MMI

Utah PIP carriers terminate the $3,000 in benefits quickly because the floor is so low. Once the $3,000 is exhausted, the injured person typically relies on health insurance, MedPay, or out-of-pocket payment for continued care. Some Utah plaintiffs end up delaying or skipping treatment because of cost, which damages the claim. Extended PIP limits (often $5,000 to $20,000) are available; confirm coverage promptly.

Low-Policy Pressure Tactics

Utah's 25/65/15 minimum is low compared to surgical back injury costs. Carriers structure first offers around the per-person BI limit, hoping the plaintiff accepts. UM/UIM coverage is the standard gap-filler, but many Utah drivers reject UM/UIM in writing and do not realize it until after an accident. Demand a CPLR-style insurance disclosure early and pursue all available coverage layers including the at-fault driver's personal assets if appropriate.

Conservative-Venue Settlement Discount

Utah jury values vary materially by county. Salt Lake County and Weber County (Ogden) produce the highest verdicts; Utah County (Provo), Davis County, and Washington County (St. George) trend conservative; rural Utah counties (Iron, Cache, Box Elder, Sevier) are the most defense-friendly. Venue selection can shift settlement value by 20 to 35 percent on identical facts.

First Offer Is Almost Never Close to Fair

Utah carrier first offers on back injury claims typically run 40 to 65 percent below documented fair value. The cited $300,000 commercial-truck herniated-disc settlement had an initial insurance offer of $25,000, a 12x increase from opening to resolution. Not sure whether to hire an attorney? See our guide on when hiring a car accident lawyer is worth it.

How to Document and Prove Your Utah Back Injury

Utah's plaintiff-friendly statutory framework (easy threshold, no cap, 4-year SOL) means documentation focuses on building the impairment narrative, preserving recovery below the 50 percent fault bar, and identifying the full insurance stack.

1

File the PIP Claim Within Days, Confirm Extended PIP

Notify the no-fault carrier immediately and open the $3,000 PIP claim. Confirm whether the policy includes optional extended PIP (commonly $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, or higher). The $3,000 minimum exhausts on a single MRI plus initial specialist consultation, but extended PIP can fund weeks of conservative treatment without out-of-pocket cost.

Tip: If you cannot find a signed PIP rejection on your policy, the carrier may be required to extend benefits. Ask in writing.

2

Obtain an MRI Within 30 Days at a Utah Spine Center

Bulges, herniations, nerve impingement, and stenosis do not appear on X-rays. An MRI within 30 days establishes contemporaneous imaging. Recognized Utah spine centers include University of Utah Health (Salt Lake City), Intermountain Medical Center (Murray), St. Mark's Hospital (Salt Lake City), and Utah Valley Hospital (Provo). A treating-physician report from these institutions carries significant weight at settlement.

  • Orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons (structural and surgical assessment)
  • Pain management specialists (injection therapy and chronic pain documentation)
  • Physical therapists with quantitative ROM tracking
  • EMG/NCS testing if radicular symptoms exist
3

Document Bone Fracture for Automatic Threshold (When Applicable)

If the injury includes any bone fracture (compression fracture, vertebral body fracture, pars fracture, transverse process fracture), the threshold under Section 31A-22-309 is automatically met under the bone-fracture category. CT scans, X-rays, and MRI findings showing any fracture eliminate the threshold dispute entirely.

4

Use the 4-Year SOL to Document Maximum Medical Improvement

Utah Code Section 78B-2-307 gives 4 years from the date of injury, one of the longest deadlines in the country. Use the time to reach MMI after any surgery (12 to 18 months for spinal fusion), obtain a final AMA Guides impairment rating, document permanent work restrictions, and gather a vocational expert's opinion on lost earning capacity. The longer documentation period substantially strengthens the case.

5

Build the Liability Record to Stay Below the 50% Bar

The 50 percent bar under Utah Code Section 78B-5-818 eliminates recovery at 50 percent or more fault. Aggressively document liability evidence: police report findings, traffic camera and dashcam footage, witness statements, accident reconstruction, scene photographs, and electronic data (EDR/black box). When liability is close to 50/50, every piece of evidence matters.

Treatment Gaps Hurt Even in 4-Year SOL States

Utah's 4-year SOL gives time, but treatment gaps still damage the claim. Utah carriers and Utah juries interpret any meaningful gap as evidence the injury was not severe. The $3,000 PIP minimum runs out quickly, but health insurance, MedPay, or out-of-pocket payment should continue to fund consistent care. Document every missed appointment and the reason.

Utah Back Injury Settlement Values by City and County

Utah back injury values vary materially by venue. Salt Lake County is the highest-value venue; Weber County (Ogden) is moderate; Utah County (Provo) is more conservative; Washington County (St. George) and rural Utah counties are the most defense-friendly.

City / CountyHerniated Disc (No Surgery)Spinal FusionJury Tendencies
Salt Lake City (Salt Lake County)$40,000 - $125,000$130,000 - $425,000+Highest-value Utah venue; diverse SLC jury pool; I-15, I-80, I-215 corridors; University of Utah Health and Intermountain concentration
West Valley City / West Jordan / Sandy (Salt Lake County)$38,000 - $115,000$125,000 - $385,000SL County suburban venues; tracks Salt Lake City values slightly lower; Bangerter Highway and I-15 high accident volume
Ogden (Weber County)$32,000 - $100,000$115,000 - $340,000Moderate Northern Utah venue; I-15, I-84 corridors; McKay-Dee Hospital and Ogden Regional
Provo (Utah County)$28,000 - $90,000$105,000 - $300,000More conservative venue; I-15 corridor; BYU and Utah Valley demographics; Utah Valley Hospital
St. George (Washington County) / Cedar City and rural UT$22,000 - $75,000$85,000 - $250,000Most conservative Utah venues; smaller jury pools; values run 25-35% below Salt Lake County on identical facts; I-15 southern Utah corridor

Sources: SetCalc analysis of Utah verdict reporters and settlement databases, Utah Code Sections 31A-22-307, 31A-22-309, 78B-2-307, 78B-5-818. For general Utah car accident data, see our Utah car accident settlement calculator.

Venue Selection in Utah

Utah venue is generally proper in the county where the cause of action arose or where the defendant resides. For I-15 crashes in particular, the plaintiff may have a choice between Salt Lake County and Utah, Davis, Weber, or Washington County. Filing in Salt Lake County rather than a more conservative county can add 20 to 35 percent to settlement value on identical facts.

Factors That Increase or Decrease Back Injury Value in Utah

Beyond the diagnosis, several Utah-specific factors shift settlement value. The most important are venue selection, the 50 percent fault bar risk, and the fracture-category automatic threshold trigger.

Utah-Specific Factors That Increase Value

  • Uncapped non-economic damages: No statutory cap on auto pain and suffering; Utah is more plaintiff-favorable than Tennessee ($750K/$1M cap).
  • 4-year SOL allows full MMI documentation: Tied with Nebraska for the longest in the SetCalc series; permits full surgical recovery and impairment documentation before filing.
  • Easy $3,000 threshold: Most back injury cases automatically meet the threshold under Section 31A-22-309 through medical expenses alone.
  • Automatic threshold for any bone fracture: Compression fractures or vertebral body fractures eliminate the threshold dispute entirely under the bone-fracture category.
  • Salt Lake County or Weber County venue: Highest-value Utah venues; SLC adds 20-35% to settlement value vs Washington County or rural UT.
  • Surgery at U of U Health or Intermountain: Top Utah spine centers carry significant weight at settlement.

Utah-Specific Factors That Decrease Value

  • 50% fault bar: Recovery is zero at 50% or more fault; the bar is stricter than the 51% rule used by Texas, Illinois, Florida, Nevada, and Michigan.
  • Low $3,000 PIP minimum: The lowest mandatory PIP in the country exhausts on a single MRI; without optional extended PIP or health insurance, the plaintiff faces out-of-pocket cost.
  • Pre-existing degenerative findings: Prior MRIs or chiropractic records give carriers strong defense; the eggshell-plaintiff doctrine is the legal answer.
  • Conservative Utah County, Davis County, Washington County venue: Settles for 20-35% less than Salt Lake County on identical facts.
  • Low-policy at-fault driver: 25/65/15 minimum routinely insufficient for surgical cases; UM/UIM is the gap-filler but many Utah drivers reject it in writing.
  • Treatment gaps: Even with the 4-year SOL, treatment interruptions damage the case; Utah carriers track PT and specialist attendance closely.

The Pre-Existing Condition Defense in Utah

Utah follows the eggshell-plaintiff doctrine: the wrongdoer takes the plaintiff as found. Pre-existing degeneration does not bar recovery for aggravation. The plaintiff need only prove the accident caused the symptoms or worsened the prior condition. Medical records showing the plaintiff was active and not under back treatment before the accident are the strongest counter to the carrier's degenerative-disc argument.

Utah Back Injury Settlement Examples

The following four examples reflect realistic Utah back injury outcomes under the $3,000 PIP threshold, the 50 percent fault bar, the 4-year SOL, and the county-by-county jury landscape.

Example 1: Lumbar Strain in Salt Lake City (No Surgery, Easy Threshold)

Case Details:

  • Rear-end collision on I-15 in Salt Lake City
  • L4-L5 disc bulge on MRI within 20 days
  • 10 weeks of PT; $3,000 PIP exhausted at week 3
  • Continued treatment under health insurance
  • Total medical bills: $14,200; Lost wages: $5,400
  • Clear liability (defendant rear-ended)

Settlement Breakdown:

  • Economic damages: $19,600
  • Pain & suffering (2.5x): $49,000

Settlement Range:

$40,000 - $65,000

Salt Lake County plaintiff-friendly venue, clean liability, threshold easily met through MRI plus PT exceeding $3,000, uncapped P&S

Example 2: Cervical Herniated Disc with Microdiscectomy in Ogden

Case Details:

  • T-bone collision on I-84 in Ogden, Weber County
  • C5-C6 herniated disc with right arm radiculopathy
  • Failed 4 months of conservative treatment
  • Microdiscectomy at McKay-Dee Hospital
  • Medical bills: $72,500; Lost wages: $34,000
  • Positive EMG for C6 radiculopathy

Settlement Breakdown:

  • Economic damages: $106,500
  • Pain & suffering (3.5x): $372,750
  • Future medical: $27,000

Settlement Range:

$265,000 - $385,000

Weber County moderate venue, surgical case with objective nerve findings, uncapped P&S, threshold easily met

Example 3: Two-Level Lumbar Fusion in Salt Lake County (Commercial Truck Rear-End)

Case Details:

  • Commercial tractor-trailer rear-end on I-15 in Salt Lake City
  • L4-L5 and L5-S1 herniations with central stenosis
  • Two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion at University of Utah Health
  • Permanent 20-pound lifting restriction
  • Career change required (was construction supervisor)
  • Medical bills: $165,000; Lost wages and earning capacity: $342,000

Settlement Breakdown:

  • Economic damages: $507,000
  • Pain & suffering (4x): $2,028,000
  • Future lost earning capacity: $385,000
  • Future medical: $145,000

Settlement Range:

$1,650,000 - $2,750,000

Salt Lake County plaintiff-friendly venue, federal trucking minimums plus umbrella, two-level fusion with permanent restrictions, uncapped P&S (vs TN cap), 4-year SOL allowed full MMI documentation

Example 4: Herniated Disc Without Surgery in St. George with 40% Shared Fault

Case Details:

  • Side-impact collision in St. George (Washington County)
  • L5-S1 herniated disc with intermittent left-leg sciatica
  • 5 months PT, 2 epidural injections
  • Medical bills: $24,800; Lost wages: $12,500
  • 40% comparative fault (failure to yield from minor street)

Settlement Breakdown:

  • Economic damages: $37,300
  • Pain & suffering (2.5x): $93,250
  • Subtotal: $130,550
  • Less 40% comparative reduction: -$52,220

Settlement Range:

$55,000 - $85,000

Washington County conservative venue, documented herniation meets threshold, 40% fault reduction under Utah Section 78B-5-818 (still recoverable; barred at 50%+ under UT 50% bar)

For more settlement examples across all injury types, see our 25+ settlement examples guide. For the national back injury guide, see our back injury settlement calculator.

Calculate Your Utah Back Injury Settlement Value

Every Utah back injury case is shaped by a different combination of diagnosis, treatment, county venue, comparative-fault apportionment, threshold status, and applicable insurance. The ranges above give the starting point; the AI calculator runs your specific facts against Utah-specific rules.

Utah Law Analysis
  • • $3,000 PIP threshold (Section 31A-22-309) and 6-category exit
  • • 50% comparative fault bar (Section 78B-5-818) apportionment
  • • No statutory non-economic cap modeling
  • • 4-year SOL (Section 78B-2-307) for full MMI documentation
  • • 25/65/15 minimum insurance plus UM/UIM gap analysis
Injury-Specific Analysis
  • • Lumbar vs cervical vs thoracic level involvement
  • • Single-level vs multi-level findings
  • • Conservative vs surgical treatment trajectory
  • • Salt Lake / Weber / Utah / Davis / Washington County venue tendencies
  • • Permanent-impairment rating and earning-capacity impact

What Is Your Utah Back Injury Really Worth?

Utah has no cap on auto pain and suffering, the easiest no-fault threshold in the country, and a 4-year statute of limitations. Get a Utah-specific, injury-specific estimate based on real settlement and verdict data, reviewed by a licensed personal injury attorney.

Calculate My Utah Back Injury Settlement Free

100% free • Attorney-reviewed • No obligation • Results in 5 minutes

Are You An Attorney?

Use AI to estimate settlements for your clients with a SetCalc Professional account.

Learn More
lawyer

More Back Injury Guides

DISCLAIMER: SetCalc is for informational purposes only. We do not provide legal advice, medical advice, or legal representation. We recommend consulting an attorney regarding your case.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING: setcalc.com is not a law firm or an attorney referral service. The information provided on this site, or any affiliated postings such as videos, blogs, social media, or elsewhere, is not legal advice. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is, or will be, formed by usage of the site. This site is a pooled attorney advertisement. Participating attorneys and law firms who contact Requestors based on form submissions have paid an advertising fee. Do not rely on our service or statements from our service when deciding which attorney to hire. All settlement calculations are estimates only and should not be the basis of important legal decisions. Attorney review of estimate is subject to availability and may not be available for some case types, locations, or for those already represented by counsel. If unavailable, we will send estimate by email without attorney review. By submitting your contact info you agree an advertising attorney may contact you using any form of communication, including calls, emails, auto-dial, pre-recorded messages, and text messages. You understand consent is not a condition of purchase. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.