What is generally required for a damages claim under the collateral source rule in Utah?

The collateral source rule is an important legal principle that allows a plaintiff to recover the full amount of damages incurred as a result of a defendant's wrongful act, without having to deduct any benefits that the plaintiff may have received from other sources. In Utah, as in many jurisdictions, this rule is intended to ensure that a plaintiff is fully compensated for their losses, without diminishing their recovery due to payments they may have received from insurance or other collateral sources.

Selectively, when pursuing a damages claim under this rule, it is essential that the claims reflect the total damages incurred. This means that any amounts received from sources such as health insurance, workers' compensation, or other types of compensation do not reduce the amount that the plaintiff is entitled to recover from the defendant. The rationale is that the plaintiff should not be penalized for having insurance or other benefits that help alleviate their economic losses.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the principles of the collateral source rule. For instance, limiting claims to future income or disregarding evidence of past earnings would undermine the comprehensive assessment of damages that the rule seeks to promote. Furthermore, requiring that claims only proceed if the defendant is insured would place an undue burden on the plaintiff and contradict the objective of providing full compensation