Damages for Wrongful Death – Salt Lake City, Utah

When you have lost someone to another person’s negligent actions, you might feel devastated, angry, confused, and numb. Perhaps you are being told to contact a wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City, UT has to offer, but the very task of doing so feels difficult. This is normal for a person grieving.

At Rasmussen & Miner, we understand how difficult this time might be for you. We would like you to know that we offer our condolences. If another person may have been responsible for the death of a loved one, damages may be available. To learn more about damages for wrongful death lawyers in Salt Lake City, Utah, call Rasmussen & Miner today.

One of the primary reasons to consult our firm about damages for a wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah is because of the potential financial outcome. Your emotional, physical, and financial losses following a loved one’s sudden death may entitle you to recover compensation. A claim cannot bring your loved one back; however, it may help you to manage your current and prospective finances. It may help you to avoid distress, and it may help you to heal from your loss without having to worry about money. To learn more about how a wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City, Utah has to offer, call Rasmussen & Miner.

Wrongful Death in Salt Lake City

According to the laws of Utah, you may be able to recover damages if you lost a loved one in an accident that was caused by another person or party who was negligent, reckless, careless, or malicious. Whether you are the parent, spouse, or child of someone who died, the personal representative of the estate can file a claim on behalf of all those who have been financially affected. When it comes to knowing more about damages for wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City, Utah offers, waiting is not advisable. Building a case takes time. The longer you wait, the more like for evidence to be destroyed.

It is important to remember that a wrongful death lawsuit is a civil claim and is entirely separate from any criminal charges that the at-fault driver may be facing. Many families think they have to wait until the criminal process is completed, but this can be a huge mistake. There is a statute of limitations for how long a family has to file a lawsuit and if you wait until the criminal case has resolved, that time may expire, and you will not be able to file. The outcome of the criminal case is also separate from the civil case. Even if the at-fault driver is found not guilty in a criminal case, he or she can still be found liable in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Damages Available

Damages refer to a specific loss or injury that you can be compensated for. Generally, these damages refer to financial, physical, and psychological injuries. When it comes to a wrongful death, there are a number of damages usually available.

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical treatment related to the accident and prior to the death
• Loss of income
• Loss of future income
• Loss of benefits
• Loss of a prospective inheritance

Non-economic damages for the following may also be available:

• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of a loved one’s services

Punitive Damages

When it comes to learning about damages for wrongful death lawyers in Salt Lake City, Utah, you should understand that punitive damages are available in between 5 and 8 percent of cases. They are not common, but applicable when it can be proven the defendant acted particularly egregious, malicious, or in a way that they blatantly disregard human life. Punitive damages are meant to punish the individual for their actions. When available, they can be considerably significant. A lawyer can help you to know whether punitive damages are applicable for your case.

Losing a Spouse in a Vehicle Accident

When a victim dies in a vehicle accident, the loss is often devastating for their spouse. Not only is there the profound grief and sorrow over the emotional and physical loss, but there is often overwhelming financial loss to deal with, especially if the spouse was the primary breadwinner for the family.

If you have lost a spouse in a car, truck, pedestrian, or other type of motor vehicle accident, you may be facing high medical bills, funeral costs, and other debts caused by your spouse’s death. You may be feeling extreme stress worrying about how you will pay the mortgage or rent, utility bills, and all the other expenses you have to run your household and take care of your children. A wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for your spouse’s death can help you recover financial compensation for all of these expenses.

The law allows surviving spouses to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the party or party’s responsible for their loved one death’s if that party acted in a negligent, reckless, or intentional way and that action caused the victim’s death and had the victim survived, they would have been legally entitled to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against that party for damages.

Some of the more common acts of negligence that we see in the wrongful death lawsuits we handle at our firm include:

• The at-fault driver was engaged in distracted driving behavior, such as texting while driving.
• The at-fault driver was speeding or other reckless driving behavior.
• The at-fault driver failed to follow traffic laws, such as failing to stop at a red light or stop sign.
• The at-fault driver committed an act of road rage, causing the crash.
• The at-fault driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• The at-fault driver was suffering from fatigue.
• One of the vehicles in the crash had a defect.

To find out more about damages for wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah, please schedule a consultation with Rasmussen & Miner.