Salt Lake City Wrongful Death Lawyer

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. A wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City, UT trusts from Rasmussen & Miner handles these types of claims on a regular basis and knows how to navigate them with precision, skill, and determination. Our lawyers will do our very best to get you fair and just compensation for your unfortunate loss of a loved one to negligence, reckless or willful behavior, or a wrongful act. If you have questions and would like answers now, please call a Salt Lake City, UT wrongful death lawyer for a consultation.

What is a Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death claims, or in certain cases lawsuits, are meant to compensate family members who have lost someone to a fatal accident involving negligence. Our firm has won cases that have involved a wrongful death from a vehicular accident, medical malpractice, defective product, slip and fall, nursing home abuse, act of violence, and many more. We help families in [location] and have built an extensive network of lawyers and experts throughout the state and country. If need be, we can call upon these resources at a moment’s notice.

What are common wrongful death lawsuits? 

A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed if you have a loved one that has died because of a party’s negligent actions. There are particular circumstances and scenarios where a family has the standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit. State laws regarding wrongful death lawsuits differ, so it is important to talk to a lawyer about your situation. Some of the most common accidents that result in wrongful deaths include:

• Auto accidents. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are some of the most common types of accidents that result in wrongful deaths. With the large number of drivers on the road, there are always drivers who engage in reckless driving. Innocent drivers, passengers and pedestrians die as a result of negligent drivers each day.

• Workplace accidents. Occupational accidents lead to the deaths of many workers in the country each year. Unfortunately, many cases involve preventable accidents. This includes ladder accidents, electrocutions, chemical exposure, explosions and more. Employer’s are responsible for ensuring that their work environment is safe. When a worker dies as a result of their employer’s negligence, the worker’s family may be able to sue the company and file a wrongful death suit.

• Medical malpractice. If you have lost a loved one because a doctor, nurse or other medical professional had made a critical error or acted negligently, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim.

As a lawyer can tell you, there are certain requirements you must follow in order to file a wrongful death claim. To assist you with this, set up a consultation with a wrongful death lawyer that Salt Lake City, UT residents rely on who can assess your situation and provide a detailed explanation of your next steps. For personalized legal assistance for your wrongful death lawsuit, schedule a consultation with a trusted wrongful death lawyer now like one from Rasmussen & Miner to receive urgent help.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim/Lawsuit?

Every state has its own laws that stipulate who can and cannot file a wrongful death claim. Generally the surviving spouse or legal partner, parents of a minor, or dependent children can take legal action. A probate estate may need to be set up in order for the family to pursue a claim. A wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT can let you know if this is necessary, and if so, should be able to help you with the estate and claims process.

Recoverable Damages

Economic and non economic damages may be included in the claim. Economic Damages

• Medical bills accumulated prior to the death
• Funeral costs
• Burial costs
• Loss of income/ earning capacity
• Lost benefits (i.e. retirement)

Non Economic Damages

• Loss of support
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Inability to enjoy life

The loss of a loved one after a terrible accident is one of the most difficult things any family can go through, so it is highly recommended that you talk to a wrongful death lawyer who can assist you with filing a lawsuit. Wrongful death claims are especially difficult types of personal injury cases, so having a lawyer by your side can make the process a lot less stressful. In addition to helping you with your claim, they can lend you emotional support. Taking care of legal matters shortly after the death of a loved one is not easy, but you can depend on a trusted legal team to support you. A wrongful death lawyer has the skills and experience to provide legal assistance so that you and your family can obtain justice for your loved one.

Am I eligible to file for a wrongful death lawsuit?

Only certain family members may file a wrongful death claim, such as the spouse or children of the deceased. There are exceptions to this rule, so if you are not sure whether you are eligible you should go to a lawyer for guidance.

After a loved one’s passing, you probably want to know what can be done to get compensation for their loss. Although no amount of money could ever bring your loved one back, if you believe their cause of death was from someone else’s negligence, you may decide that pursuing legal action is the best way to help with costs like the funeral, medical bills, and even loss of companionship. If this is the case, consider contacting Rasmussen & Miner, Attorneys at Law. We believe that you should not be forced to go through the grieving process as well as cover monetary losses after their death. Call our office to schedule a consultation with us today.

Getting Help for Your Claim

Are you wondering who can hire a wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT? The answer is usually going to be the deceased’s personal representative. This could be:

• Their spouse
• Their child
• Their parents

In the event that none of the above parties are alive, it is possible for other specific relatives to bring forward a wrongful death claim. This can be a great help to those who were financially dependent on the deceased and it can even help the remaining relatives through the grieving process.

Are there specific damages we could win with a wrongful death claim? 

Yes. It is possible to win both economic and non-economic losses after your loved one’s death. Some of these losses are:

• Lost past and future wages
• Pain and suffering that the surviving members of the family have endured
• Loss of companionship
• Burial expenses
• Loss of guidance

In some instances, you could receive punitive damages and it is important to speak with a trusted attorney to learn what else there may be. If, for example, the defendant was acting especially reckless or their actions were intentional at the time of your loved one’s death, your lawyer may suggest filing for punitive damages. These types of damages are not necessarily there to help you win a type of economic damage, but they are there to punish the person who caused your loved one’s death in particularly bad situations.

Bystanders Filing for Wrongful Death Claims

Under very specific circumstances, some people, including family members, may be able to file a claim after witnessing the death of a loved one. This claim would likely be for bystander emotional anguish and distress which resulted in shock, psychological harm, and other mental and emotional health problems. An example of this might be when a family member arrived at the scene of an accident and witnessed their loved one dying. The pursuit of this type of wrongful death claim certainly requires a skilled wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT and expert testimony who can differentiate between a standard wrongful death claim and a wrongful death claim involving bystander distress. It is possible to recover double or triple damages depending on the many factors involved in your case. Anyone searching for a top wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT has to offer will likely know that these cases may be very complicated. It can be incredibly hard for surviving relatives to focus on financial and legal matters during their period of grief. When a family does choose to take legal action to pursue compensation after the death of a loved one, it may be essential to find an experienced wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT residents know to be both compassionate and effective. At Rasmussen & Miner, we have helped many clients in the past obtain financial compensation after a traumatic injury. We are also capable of helping families pursue compensation after a relative has suffered a fatal injury due to the actions of another party. We know how emotionally taxing a wrongful death case can be, and we believe — as any respectable Salt Lake City UT wrongful death lawyer would — that the surviving relatives of a deceased loved one deserve exemplary legal counsel in their time of need. While every case is unique, and every family may have its own reasons for filing a wrongful death claim, there are some common reasons why this legal action might be beneficial.

1. Covering Medical Bills and Funeral Costs

This is one of the most basic and essential reasons why families may seek legal counsel from a skilled wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT can provide. Families might not have enough money saved up to pay for unexpected medical or funeral costs when a loved one is injured in an accident.

2. Compensation for Future Financial Losses

It may come as a surprise that wrongful death settlements might also include estimated financial losses in the future. If a surviving individual was financially dependent on the deceased, it may be possible to include lost wages in the settlement. Other financial costs might include a loss of work-related benefits, insurance policies, or even an inheritance fund.

3. Payments for Pain and Suffering

Finally, a major part of the typical wrongful death settlement accounts for something that is intangible — but still very real for the surviving individuals. The pain of losing a companion, a parent, or even a child can be excruciating. This part of a wrongful death settlement is not intended to put a price tag on someone’s life; rather, it should be seen as a way of legitimizing the pain of losing a loved one.

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.

Proving a Wrongful Death Malpractice Case

In order to be successful in obtaining the financial justice a victim’s family deserves in a wrongful death malpractice case, it is important to remember that there is a legal difference between medical malpractice and medical negligence. Medical negligence is only one factor of a medical malpractice case. A medical malpractice attorney must prove the following four factors, or elements, in order to be legally deemed medical malpractice:

1. The victim and the medical professional had a confidential patient-doctor relationship, which means the medical professional had a duty to provide capable medical care.
2. A medical professional breached their duty to the victim by failing to meet the medical standard of care when treating the victim. A medical standard of care is what other medical professionals with similar education, training, and experience would have provided.
3. The medical professional’s breach of duty caused the victim injury which resulted in the victim’s death.
4. The victim’s death resulted in losses to their family. These losses can include funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, loss of financial support, loss of emotional support, and more.

What Type of Medical Negligence Can Result in a Patient’s Death?

Wrongful death as a result of medical malpractice can occur in a doctor’s office, hospital, walk-in clinic, nursing home, or other medical facility. A medical malpractice attorney may present evidence such as medical records and testimony from expert witnesses to prove that a wrongful death has occurred. There are a number of ways that negligence on the part of a medical professional can result in a patient’s death. Two of the most common medical errors we see at our medical malpractice firm is delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Other types of negligence include:

• Infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospital-acquired infections kill 100,000 victims each year.
• Labor and/or delivery mistakes. These errors put both mother and infant at risk of serious injury and death.
• Missed warning signs. When a patient’s condition is declining, there are usually warning signs that medical professionals should recognize.
• Prescription drug error. It is estimated that there are 1.5 million people injured each year because of medication errors, many of them fatally.
• Early release. Sending patient home from hospital too soon
• Surgical errors. These include operating on the wrong body part and leaving surgical instruments in the patient
• Uncoordinated care. When a patient has multiple medical professionals providing medical treatments, it is critical these professionals communicate with each other.
• Unnecessary tests. Multiple studies show that there is more than $70 billion charged each year for medical tests that aren’t needed
• Unnecessary treatments. Giving a patient treatment they do not need can be very dangerous, leading to their death.

Wrongful Death Claims To Compensate Accident Victims’ Families

Losing a loved one is the most difficult thing any of us will experience. We all know it will happen some day, but for your family that tragic loss came far too soon because of the negligent or reckless actions of another person or a company.

When negligence leads to a wrongful death, surviving family members can seek financial compensation for immediate and long-term losses. A wrongful death lawsuit allows you and your family to regain financial stability after your loss.

We understand that no amount of financial compensation can replace the loss of a loved one, however, seeking financial compensation through a civil claim can help you begin to put your life back in order.  You may be entitled to lost income, medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship. and in some cases, other damages for your loss.

If you have lost a loved one, contact the law offices of Rasmussen & Miner by calling toll-free: 1-800-585-6726. For more than 20 years our wrongful death lawyers have been helping families receive the financial compensation they deserve in wrongful death and serious injury cases. We are dedicated to protecting your rights in negotiations and in court.

Why You Need an Experienced Legal Advocate

Unless you have worked in the insurance industry and have a good understanding of how insurance companies operate, you are at a great disadvantage in bringing any kind of injury claim. The insurance company may offer you only a token amount of money as a death benefit and pay only a portion of your bills. Unless you work within this system regularly, you won’t know that you are being treated unfairly.

One of the most important things your Rasmussen & Miner attorney will do for you is guide you through the process of dealing with insurance companies.

• We will educate you about the value of your claim.
• We will identify every party who could be held liable for the fatal accident so that you can make a full financial recovery.
• We can help you identify and make your claim for all available life insurance carriers (for example, your loved one may have had life insurance through work).
• Because of our firm’s knowledge of the criminal justice system we can also help you with your victim impact statement if, for example, your wrongful death claim occurred because of a drunk driving accident.

Trust Us to Handle Wrongful Death Trials in Salt Lake City UT

At Rasmussen & Miner we understand that this is not just a court case, this is your family’s future! We are here to protect your rights. Call (801) 363-8500 or contact our Salt Lake City law office to schedule a free consultation.

When you need a lawyer your family can trust, Rasmussen & Miner is here to help. Our legal team understands just how devastating the death of a loved one can be. If your family has recently suffered the loss of a loved one, you might find that it’s both helpful and comforting to have a settlement to cover past, present, and future finances. Wrongful death claims certainly aren’t easy, as any experienced wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City UT would likely agree. A capable and compassionate lawyer may be able to help your family through this difficult time. For more information about scheduling a case evaluation with a wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City UT trusts, contact Rasmussen & Miner today at (801) 363-8500. Choose Rasmussen & Miner because we are smart, strategic, supportive, honest, and one of the leading law firms in Salt Lake City, UT. Don’t settle for anything less than our wrongful death legal services. Call us now to talk with a wrongful death lawyer Salt Lake City, UT trusts who is on your side.