Where to File an Injury Lawsuit in Rural Central and Southeastern Utah (Sixth and Seventh Districts)
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Under Utah Code § 78B-3a-201, an injury lawsuit is generally filed in the county where the cause of action arose or where any defendant resides. Utah Courts lists the Sixth Judicial District as Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne counties and the Seventh Judicial District as Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan counties. Use the Utah Courts directory to find the courthouse for your county.
Who this guide is for
People hurt on rural Utah highways, in national parks, or on public land in central and southeastern Utah — around Richfield, Manti, Price, Moab, Bryce Canyon, or Capitol Reef — who want to know where a lawsuit would be filed.
The venue rule
Under § 78B-3a-201(1), the action is brought in the county where the cause of action arises or where any defendant resides when it begins. If no defendant resides in Utah, the plaintiff may choose any county; if a defendant is about to leave the state, an action may be brought where a party resides or service is had.
Counties by district (per Utah Courts)
| District | Counties |
|---|---|
| Sixth | Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne |
| Seventh | Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan |
Local situations to think about
- Long rural highways and limited emergency access. Serious crashes can involve long ambulance transport times; keep medical records and transport documentation. See What to Do After a Car Accident in Utah.
- National parks, monuments, and BLM land (the Federal Tort Claims Act applies to federal employees and agencies). See Injured by a Federal Employee in Utah?.
- OHV and ATV/UTV accidents on trails and designated routes. See Utah ATV, UTV, and Off-Highway Vehicle Accident Claims.
- Commercial trucks, including oil, gas, and mining traffic. See Utah Commercial Truck Accident Claims.
- Livestock and animals on the road or in activities. See Utah Horse and Livestock Injury Claims.
- Recreation on land open to the public. See Utah's Limited Liability for Recreational Land.
- Out-of-state visitors. If the at-fault driver lives outside Utah, the venue statute lets the plaintiff designate a county; insurance claims follow the usual process. See Utah Third-Party Auto Insurance Claim Process.
Venue is not the deadline
Where you file doesn't change when you must file. See Utah Personal Injury Statute of Limitations for the general four-year period and its exceptions, and How a Utah Personal Injury Lawsuit Works for what happens after filing. Claims against a city, county, school district, or other government entity require a written notice of claim within one year first; see How to File a Notice of Claim Against a Utah Government Entity. For the broader picture of where a case can be filed, see Where to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Utah.
Frequently asked questions
Which counties are in the Sixth and Seventh Districts?
Sixth: Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne. Seventh: Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan.
What if the crash happened in a national park?
Claims involving federal employees follow the FTCA; claims against private drivers follow ordinary rules, with venue under the Utah statute or federal court rules where applicable.
Is a rural deadline different?
No. The statute of limitations is statewide.