Waddoups Law Personal Injury Attorneys is highlighting recently released state data showing that Utah traffic fatalities fell to 264 in 2025, according to preliminary figures published jointly by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) on January 6, 2026.
The total marks a decline from 277 deaths recorded in 2024 and is the lowest annual figure in the state since 2019, when 248 people died in traffic crashes, according to the same report. UDOT and DPS noted that the numbers are preliminary and may change as official crash reports continue to be received.
Despite the overall decline, the report identified two groups where fatalities moved in the opposite direction. Motorcyclist deaths rose by 32 percent compared to 2024, and teen driver fatalities nearly doubled, climbing from 18 in 2024 to 31 in 2025.
"Behind every number is a person, and a family forever changed," said Shaunna Burbidge, Zero Fatalities program manager, in a statement accompanying the report. Officials attributed the rise in teen fatalities in part to inexperience, distraction, and risk-taking behavior behind the wheel.
Earlier in the year, UDOT and DPS had reported a nearly 10 percent year-to-date decrease in traffic fatalities heading into the summer travel season, with an 18 percent drop recorded during the "100 Deadliest Days" between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That stretch saw the lowest number of summer crashes in a decade, according to the agencies, even as motorcyclist fatalities continued to climb.
State transportation officials have also pointed to a broader shift in how these events are discussed, moving away from describing them as accidents. According to UDOT Region 3, which covers Utah County, roughly 96 percent of fatalities on state roads are tied to driver behavior, such as speeding, impaired driving, or distraction, rather than unavoidable circumstances.
Motorcyclist fatalities have drawn particular attention from state officials. UDOT and DPS have linked the increase in part to a longer riding season driven by warmer weather, along with crashes at intersections where other drivers misjudge a motorcycle's speed or distance. Officials have urged both riders and drivers to remain alert and share the road carefully.
Utah follows a modified comparative fault rule for personal injury claims arising from car accidents and other incidents. Under this system, a person found to be 50 percent or more at fault for a crash cannot recover compensation, and any recovery for someone found partially at fault is reduced in proportion to their assigned share of responsibility.
Utah is also a no-fault auto insurance state. Personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage generally pays for a portion of a driver's own medical bills and lost wages after a crash regardless of who caused it, though drivers whose injuries meet the state's injury threshold may still pursue a claim directly against an at-fault driver.
Utah law generally allows four years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim. Different deadlines can apply depending on the type of claim, including a shorter period that applies to wrongful death claims following a fatal crash.
The 2025 traffic fatality data referenced in this release was compiled by UDOT and DPS, not by Waddoups Law Personal Injury Attorneys. The figures are presented for general public awareness and remain subject to revision as final crash reports are processed in the months ahead.
Waddoups Law Personal Injury Attorneys is a Midvale, Utah-based personal injury law firm that represents car accident victims in Salt Lake City and throughout the surrounding region, helping clients understand their options after a serious crash.
###
For more information about Waddoups Law Personal Injury Attorneys, contact the company here:
Waddoups Law Personal Injury Attorneys
Waddoups Law Personal Injury Attorneys
+1 801-212-9992
travis@waddoupslaw.com
623 Fort Union Blvd Ste 108, Midvale, UT 84047, United States