Wrongful Death Lawyer Salt Lake City, UT
Losing someone you love because of another person’s carelessness is a pain that doesn’t follow any predictable path. One day you’re planning a future together. The next, you’re picking out a casket and wondering how the bills are going to get paid.
There’s no lawsuit that brings someone back. We know that. But the law does allow families to seek accountability and financial stability when negligence cuts a life short. Someone has to answer for what happened.
Acadia Law Group PC has been representing Utah families in wrongful death cases for more than 25 years. Our Salt Lake City, UT wrongful death lawyer takes on claims involving fatal car wrecks, trucking accidents, workplace deaths, and medical negligence. We handle these cases on contingency, which means you don’t pay us anything unless we recover money for your family. If you’re trying to figure out what comes next, reach out for a free consultation.
Why Choose Acadia Law Group PC for Wrongful Death Cases in Salt Lake City, Utah?
A Lawyer Who’s Been Doing This for Decades
Kenneth Denos started Acadia Law Group PC and has practiced law since 1998. He graduated from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and also holds an MBA along with degrees in finance and political science. He’s been a member of the Utah State Bar for over 25 years now.
Wrongful death cases are different from other personal injury claims. Utah has its own rules about who gets to file, what you can recover, and how to prove negligence actually caused the death. Ken has represented thousands of clients over his career. He built this firm around fighting hard for families going through the worst moments of their lives.
If your family needs a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT to handle a death claim, we give these cases the attention they deserve.
Results That Matter
Over the years, Acadia Law Group PC has helped clients recover millions of dollars in wrongful death and personal injury cases. Every situation is different, and what we’ve done before doesn’t guarantee what happens in your case. But it does show that we know how to build claims that make negligent parties pay for what they’ve done.
No Upfront Costs
We work on contingency. You don’t pay hourly rates. You don’t pay retainers. If we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us anything in attorney fees.
What Our Clients Say
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“I’m so grateful for the support and professionalism from Acadia Law Group PC! The team was always patient, kind, and clear in their communication. They took the time to explain everything and made a stressful process feel much easier. I truly felt cared for and supported from start to finish. Thank you for going above and beyond, I would absolutely recommend them to anyone needing help.” – Julie Serrato
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Salt Lake City
When someone dies because of another person’s negligence or recklessness, the family may have a wrongful death claim. Here’s what we see most often.
- Car accidents. Car accidents remain the number one reason families come to us with wrongful death claims. A drunk driver, someone running a red light, a teenager texting behind the wheel. When a driver’s negligence kills someone, the family left behind has the right to pursue compensation.
- Truck accidents. Collisions with semis and commercial trucks almost always end badly for the people in the smaller vehicle. These cases get complicated fast because multiple parties might share the blame: the driver, the trucking company, whoever loaded the cargo, the company that maintained the truck.
- Workplace accidents. When someone dies on the job, workers’ comp usually handles it. But sometimes there’s a third party who’s also at fault. Maybe a subcontractor created a hazard. Maybe a piece of equipment was defective. Those situations open the door to third-party claims beyond workers’ comp.
- Medical malpractice. Hospitals and doctors make mistakes. When those mistakes kill patients, the families have a right to answers and accountability. Medical malpractice wrongful death cases require proving the provider fell below the standard of care and that failure caused the death.
- Pedestrian accidents. Walkers and bikers have no protection when a car hits them. These accidents are often fatal. If a driver’s negligence caused the collision, the family can pursue a wrongful death claim.
The hardest part of these cases is that the person who knows best what happened isn’t here to tell us. We investigate thoroughly to piece together the evidence and build the strongest case we can.
Utah Legal Requirements for Wrongful Death Claims
Utah has specific rules about wrongful death cases. Here’s what you need to know.
Who Gets to File
Under Utah Code § 78B-3-105, the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate files the wrongful death claim. They file on behalf of the heirs, which usually means the surviving spouse, kids, and parents. You can’t just file as a grieving family member. Someone has to be appointed to represent the estate.
The Clock Is Ticking
Utah Code § 78B-2-304 gives you two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. That’s it. Miss the deadline, and you’re probably out of luck. Two years sounds like a lot of time when you’re grieving, but it goes faster than you’d think.
What You Have to Prove
Winning a wrongful death case means showing that the defendant had a duty to act with reasonable care, they failed to meet that duty, and that failure caused your loved one’s death. What counts as a “duty” depends on the situation. Drivers have duties to other people on the road. Property owners have duties to people who visit their land. Doctors have duties to their patients.
Survival Actions
Utah also recognizes survival actions, which are separate from wrongful death claims. A survival action recovers damages the deceased person could have pursued if they’d lived. Things like pain and suffering between the time of injury and death. It’s a different claim with different rules.
What Damages Are Recoverable in Salt Lake City Wrongful Death Cases?
Utah law allows families to recover several types of compensation.
The Financial Losses
These are the dollars-and-cents damages. Lost income is usually the biggest piece. How much would your loved one have earned over the rest of their working life? What benefits did they provide? Health insurance? Retirement contributions? What services did they perform for the family that now have to be paid for, like childcare or home maintenance?
Medical bills from before the death count too. If your loved one spent time in the hospital fighting for their life, those costs are recoverable.
Funeral and burial expenses add up fast. Those are recoverable as well.
The Losses You Can’t Put a Price On
Losing a spouse means losing companionship, love, and partnership. Losing a parent means children grow up without guidance. These things matter, and Utah law recognizes that. Families can recover compensation for the relationship they lost, the emotional support that’s gone, the grief and mental anguish they’re living with.
For kids who lose a parent, the loss of nurturing and guidance is particularly significant. Courts understand that a parent’s presence in a child’s life has value beyond just financial support.
Punitive Damages
Sometimes the person responsible did something so reckless or intentional that the court wants to punish them and send a message to others. Drunk driving deaths are a common example. If the conduct was bad enough, Utah courts can award punitive damages on top of everything else.
What Steps Should I Take After a Wrongful Death in Salt Lake City?
The weeks after losing someone are brutal. You’re grieving, you’re in shock, and you probably don’t want to think about legal matters. But certain steps help protect your family’s rights down the road.
- Get the death certificate. You’ll need this for legal proceedings and insurance claims. It establishes the official cause of death.
- Request the police or incident report. If your loved one died in an accident, the official report documents what investigators found at the scene.
- Hold onto everything. Medical records, accident reports, photos, bills, correspondence with insurance companies. Keep it all in one place.
- Gather financial records. Pay stubs, tax returns, benefits statements. You’ll need to document what your loved one contributed financially to the family.
- Write down how this has affected you. How has the death changed your daily life? Your finances? Your emotional state? Keep notes.
- Don’t talk to the other side’s insurance company. They’ll call. They’ll sound sympathetic. They’re not your friends. Their job is to pay as little as possible. Don’t give recorded statements without talking to a lawyer first.
- Be careful with settlement offers. Insurance companies sometimes offer quick money hoping you’ll take it before you understand what your case is really worth. Once you accept, that’s it. You can’t come back for more.
- Figure out who the personal representative will be. Utah requires wrongful death claims to be filed by the estate’s personal representative. If there’s a will, it might name someone. If not, the court appoints someone.
- Stay off social media. Insurance investigators look at social media accounts. Don’t post about the case, the accident, or even your emotional state.
- Talk to a wrongful death attorney. The two-year deadline is real. Getting legal advice early means we can start investigating while evidence is fresh and witnesses still remember what they saw.
Wrongful Death Statistics in Salt Lake City
Numbers tell part of the story.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motor vehicle crashes kill roughly 40,000 people across the country every year. Utah’s roads aren’t immune.
According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, traffic deaths in Utah have averaged over 300 annually in recent years. Salt Lake County, being the most populated area in the state, sees a substantial share of those fatalities.
Workplace deaths are another source of wrongful death claims. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says approximately 5,000 workers die from on-the-job injuries nationwide each year. Construction, transportation, and industrial jobs are the most dangerous.
Medical errors kill more people than most of us realize. Research from Johns Hopkins, published through the National Institutes of Health, estimated that medical errors might be the third leading cause of death in America, responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually.
Pedestrian deaths have been climbing. The Governors Highway Safety Association documented a 77% increase in pedestrian fatalities over the past decade. Urban areas have seen the sharpest spikes.
Every one of these statistics represents a family whose world got turned upside down. When that death happened because someone was careless, reckless, or negligent, the family has every right to seek justice.
Salt Lake City Wrongful Death Lawyer FAQs
Who can actually file a wrongful death lawsuit in Utah?
The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate. That person files on behalf of the heirs, which typically means the surviving spouse, children, and parents.
How much time do I have to file?
Two years from the date of death. Utah courts are strict about this deadline. Don’t assume you have plenty of time.
What’s my case worth?
That depends on a lot of factors. How old was your loved one? What did they earn? How much did your family depend on them financially and emotionally? What are the circumstances of the death? We evaluate all of this during a free consultation.
What if my loved one was partly at fault?
Utah uses comparative fault rules. If your loved one was less than 50% responsible for what happened, you can still recover. The compensation gets reduced by their percentage of fault.
The person who caused the death has no insurance. Now what?
If it was a vehicle death, your own uninsured motorist coverage might kick in. There may be other avenues for recovery depending on the circumstances. We look at every possibility.
How long do these cases take?
It varies a lot. Some cases settle in a few months. Others, especially ones with multiple defendants or disputed facts, can take a year or more. Case duration depends on specific circumstances.
What’s the difference between wrongful death and survival actions?
Wrongful death compensates the family for what they lost because of the death. Survival actions recover damages the deceased person could have claimed if they’d survived, like pain and suffering before death.
How much does it cost to hire you?
We handle wrongful death cases on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we recover money for your family.
Can I sue over a workplace death?
Workers’ comp usually bars lawsuits against the employer. But if someone else was responsible, like an equipment manufacturer or a negligent subcontractor, you might have a third-party claim.
The insurance company made an offer. Should I take it?
Be very careful. Early offers are usually lowball offers. Insurance companies want to close files quickly and cheaply. Once you accept, you give up the right to seek more money later.
What evidence matters most?
Accident reports, medical records, autopsy results, financial records showing lost income, photos from the scene, witness statements, and expert opinions on what went wrong and why. Preserving evidence early is critical.
Can my kids file a claim?
Minor children are represented by a guardian or the estate’s personal representative. Adult children may be heirs entitled to recovery depending on the circumstances.
What if the death was a crime?
Criminal prosecution and civil wrongful death claims are separate things. You can pursue a civil case whether or not criminal charges get filed. And the burden of proof in civil court is lower than in criminal court.
Do I really need a lawyer?
You’re not required to have one. But wrongful death cases involve complicated legal issues, multiple potential defendants, and insurance companies with armies of lawyers. Having someone in your corner helps even the odds.
When should I call?
Sooner rather than later. The two-year deadline comes up faster than you’d think, and early investigation means better evidence.
Important Local Resources for Salt Lake City Wrongful Death Cases
These resources may help families dealing with a wrongful death. We’re listing them for your convenience, not as an endorsement.
Salt Lake City Police Department – (801) 799-3000. For accident reports and investigation information.
Utah Highway Patrol – (801) 965-4518. Handles fatal crashes on state highways.
Salt Lake County Medical Examiner – (385) 468-4800. Autopsies and death investigation reports.
Utah Office of Vital Records – (801) 538-6105. Death certificates.
Utah State Courts – Information on probate and appointing personal representatives.
Social Security Administration – (800) 772-1213. Survivor benefits.
Disclaimer: Acadia Law Group PC doesn’t endorse these organizations. We’re providing this information as a convenience only.
Contact Acadia Law Group PC
If someone you love died because of another person’s negligence, we’re here to help. We know this is an awful time. We’ll handle your case with the care your family deserves while fighting hard to get you the compensation you need.
Consultations are free. We work on contingency, so you don’t pay unless we win.
Ken Denos has been representing Utah families for more than 25 years. We’ll investigate what happened, figure out who’s responsible, and pursue justice for your loved one.
Contact us to schedule your free consultation.