Lehi Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a family member to someone else’s careless or wrongful act is a devastating loss. A Lehi wrongful death lawyer at Good Guys Injury Law can help your family hold the responsible party accountable and pursue full financial compensation. We represent grieving families across Lehi and Utah County from our nearby Orem office.
Our team handles the legal process so you can focus on your family and your healing. Utah law gives your family a limited window to act, and evidence can fade quickly after a fatal incident. Call our firm today at (801) 506-0800 for a free case evaluation with an experienced Lehi wrongful death lawyer. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
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Why Choose Good Guys Injury Law for a Wrongful Death Case in Lehi?
After a fatal accident, your family should not have to worry about legal fees while grieving. Good Guys Injury Law handles every Lehi wrongful death case on a contingency fee basis. You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.
Our firm also stands behind a written client guarantee. If we do not meet or exceed every promise we make before a settlement offer arrives, you owe us nothing for the work we have done to that point.
We serve Lehi and the wider Utah County area from our Orem office, a short drive up Interstate 15. Our attorneys know the local courts, insurers, and roads that shape these cases.
Wrongful death claims demand both compassion and strength. We treat your family with respect and dignity while pressing the at-fault party and its insurance company for a full recovery. Insurance companies protect their bottom line after a fatal incident, so you need an advocate who protects yours.
Our team investigates the cause of death, identifies every liable party, and builds a claim around your family’s real losses. Good Guys Injury Law has helped Utah families recover after the most serious losses, and we bring that same focus to every Lehi wrongful death case.
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim Under Utah Law?
A wrongful death claim is a civil action brought when a person dies because of another party’s wrongful act or negligence. Under Utah Code Section 78B-3-106, the heirs of the deceased, or a personal representative acting for them, may seek damages from the party that caused the death.
This claim is separate from any criminal case. A criminal court holds the responsible party accountable through penalties, while a wrongful death claim compensates your family for its losses. Your family can pursue compensation even if no criminal charges are ever filed.
Wrongful death law exists to shift the financial burden of a preventable death away from grieving families. The party responsible for the death, not your family, should bear those costs.
Many fatal incidents in Utah County can support a claim. Common causes include:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes.
- Pedestrian and bicycle collisions.
- Medical malpractice and nursing home neglect.
- Defective products and dangerous property conditions.
- Workplace and construction site accidents.
Not every death caused by another person qualifies. The death must result from a breach of a legal duty owed to your loved one. Our Lehi wrongful death attorneys review the facts, gather evidence, and determine whether your family has a valid claim.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Utah?
Utah law limits who may bring a wrongful death claim. The right generally belongs to the deceased person’s heirs and to the personal representative of the estate acting on the heirs’ behalf.
Heirs usually include the surviving spouse, the children, and the parents of the person who died. When the estate has a personal representative, that person can file the claim so that all eligible heirs share in any recovery.
Utah also sets an order for who serves as the personal representative. The surviving spouse comes first, followed by adult children, and then parents. A person who contributed to the death cannot serve in that role.
Only one wrongful death action may be brought for each person who died. This rule keeps all related claims in a single case and ensures a fair division of any compensation.
Sorting out who has the right to file can be confusing, especially in blended families or when several relatives survive the deceased. Our team helps your family identify every eligible heir and protect each person’s share.
Compensation Available in a Lehi Wrongful Death Case
A wrongful death claim cannot undo your loss, but it can protect your family’s financial future. Utah allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages after a fatal incident.
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses your family suffers, such as:
- Medical expenses from your loved one’s final injury.
- Funeral and burial costs.
- Lost income and financial support the deceased would have provided.
- The value of lost household services and care.
Non-economic damages address the deep personal losses that carry no price tag, such as:
- Loss of the love, companionship, and society of your loved one.
- Loss of care, comfort, and guidance.
- The grief and sorrow your family carries.
Utah protects these recoveries in a powerful way. The Utah Constitution states that damages for injuries resulting in death may not be limited by statute. Because of this protection, Utah places no cap on the amount your family can recover in a wrongful death case, a rule the Utah Supreme Court has upheld.
Putting a fair value on these losses takes careful work. Our attorneys consult financial and medical experts, review your loved one’s earnings and life expectancy, and account for the full impact on your family. We fight to include every loss the law allows, not just the obvious bills.
If someone else’s negligence took your loved one’s life, call Good Guys Injury Law at (801) 506-0800 to discuss what your Lehi wrongful death claim may be worth.
Proving a Wrongful Death Claim and the Deadline to File
To recover compensation, your family must prove that another party’s negligence caused your loved one’s death. Every Utah wrongful death case rests on four basic elements.
We must show that the at-fault party owed your loved one a duty of care. Next, we prove that the party breached that duty through a careless or wrongful act. Then we connect that breach directly to the death. Finally, we document the losses your family has suffered as a result.
Utah also follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under Utah Code Section 78B-5-818, your family can still recover even if your loved one was partly at fault, as long as their share of fault stays below 50 percent. Any award is reduced by that percentage, so insurers often try to shift blame onto the person who died. We push back hard against those tactics.
Evidence fades fast after a fatal incident. Vehicles get repaired, surveillance video gets erased, and witnesses forget key details. Our attorneys move quickly to preserve police reports, medical records, physical evidence, and witness statements while they are still available.
The deadline to file matters depends on the evidence. In most cases, Utah Code Section 78B-2-304 gives your family two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Claims against a government entity carry a much shorter notice deadline, often about one year. Missing either deadline can end your claim before it begins, so contact our team as soon as you can.
Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Lehi
Fatal accidents in Lehi take many forms. Our attorneys handle a wide range of wrongful death cases across Utah County, including the following.
Car and Truck Accidents
Interstate 15 runs directly through Lehi, and traffic has grown quickly as the city has expanded. High-speed crashes involving cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles are among the most common causes of fatal injuries our attorneys handle for local families.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Collisions
People walking and cycling have little protection when a driver fails to yield or drives distracted. These collisions often prove fatal. We investigate the driver’s conduct and pursue full compensation for families who lose a loved one on Lehi streets.
Medical Malpractice and Nursing Home Neglect
When a doctor, hospital, or care facility falls below the accepted standard of care, patients can die from preventable errors. Our team works with medical experts to prove negligence and hold Utah health care providers accountable for a fatal mistake.
Defective Products and Dangerous Property
A faulty vehicle part, unsafe machinery, or hazardous property condition can cause a sudden death. We identify the manufacturers, property owners, or businesses responsible and build a claim to recover your family’s losses in full. These cases often involve several liable parties.
Workplace and Construction Accidents
Construction and industrial sites carry serious risks, and a workplace death may support a claim beyond workers’ compensation. Our attorneys examine whether a third party, such as an equipment maker or subcontractor, shares responsibility for the fatal accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a Lehi wrongful death lawyer?
Nothing upfront. Good Guys Injury Law handles wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay only if we recover compensation for your family.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Utah?
You usually have two years from the date of death. Claims against government entities have a shorter deadline, often about one year, so act quickly.
Who can file a wrongful death claim in Utah?
Typically, the deceased person’s spouse, children, or parents, or the personal representative of the estate, files on behalf of all eligible heirs.
What compensation can my family recover?
Families may recover medical and funeral costs, lost income and support, and non-economic losses like lost companionship and guidance. Utah places no cap on wrongful death damages.
Do I have a wrongful death case?
If a loved one died because of another party’s negligence or wrongful act, you may have a claim. Call us for a free case evaluation.
Will my wrongful death case go to trial?
Many cases settle out of court. We prepare every claim for trial, which strengthens our negotiating position and protects your family if a fair settlement is not offered.
Contact a Lehi Wrongful Death Lawyer at Good Guys Injury Law
No amount of money can replace the person your family lost. What a wrongful death claim can do is provide financial security and a measure of justice while you grieve.
The team at Good Guys Injury Law is ready to stand with your family. Founding attorney Kenneth L. Christensen and our attorneys have spent decades protecting injured Utahns and grieving families, and we bring that experience to every Lehi wrongful death case.
Do not wait until the deadline is near or evidence disappears. Call Good Guys Injury Law today at (801) 506-0800 or contact our team to schedule a free case evaluation with a Lehi wrongful death lawyer. You pay nothing unless we win compensation for your family.
