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**Wrongful Death**
# Salt Lake City Wrongful Death Attorney
## The Caring Support Your Family Needs
When you unexpectedly lose a loved one in an accident, your life changes. You may find yourself without the financial support of a breadwinner or the emotional support of a partner, parent, or child. While you will never forget your loved one, you must also think of yourself as you find a way to move forward. An attorney for wrongful death claims can help you with this process.
Our  can help you file a wrongful death claim if you recently lost a loved one to an accident caused by someone else. A successful claim can provide a safety net for you and any dependents. Having financial security is a massive boon in such a difficult time.
If you are considering whether a wrongful death claim is the right next step for you, come speak with our attorneys to learn more. Our personal injury lawyers provide compassionate support and honest guidance to help people like you make informed decisions in challenging situations.
**Our caring team wants to know how we can help you. Call our Salt Lake City office at** **(801) 901-3470** **to** **.**
### Bringing a Wrongful Death Claim
If you lost a loved one in an accident or mishap caused by another party, you might be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Third-party liability is an essential factor in these . An excellent way to determine whether you can start a wrongful death claim is to ask whether your loved one could have filed a  suit had they survived and who they could have filed it against.
**A wrongful death may occur as a result of a:**
* Other fatal accident
If you are not sure who is liable for your loved one’s death, our personal injury lawyers can launch an investigation of their accident.
### Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
In Utah, a wrongful death claim may be brought by the heirs of the deceased or the representative of that person’s estate. Often, these categories overlap; but sometimes, the named representative is not a blood relative. Additionally, family members who are not technically linked by blood (such as adoptive parents or stepchildren) also have the right to bring a wrongful death claim.
### How Soon Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim?
The Utah statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is 2 years from the date of death. Therefore, if you believe the government was liable for your loved one’s death; (i.e., they were killed in a TRAX accident), you will only have 1 year to file your claim.
Especially when bringing a  against a government entity, it’s essential to speak with an experienced Utah personal injury lawyer to learn about the unique procedural requirements of these cases.
### Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim
In Utah, a successful wrongful death suit can compensate you for any economic or non-economic losses related to the death. These are called compensatory damages and may include:
* Premortem medical bills
* Funeral and burial expenses
* Lost wages
* Future wages
* Any potential benefits or inheritance the deceased would have left behind
* Pain and suffering endured by surviving family members
* Loss of care, companionship, and guidance
* And more
If the defendant’s behavior was particularly egregious, intentional, or reckless, you might be able to request punitive damages as well. For example, suppose someone fatally injures your loved one while . In that case, the court may award additional compensation to punish the drunk driver and discourage instances of drinking and driving in the future. Unlike a criminal fine, punitive damages go directly to the plaintiff to provide them with a personal sense of justice, financial comfort, and peace of mind.
### When a Survival Action Is Appropriate
Though often filed with wrongful death claims, survival actions are separate legal actions. While a wrongful death claim addresses the losses of the survivors of the deceased, a survival action requests compensation for the failures of the dead. Therefore, they are only appropriate in wrongful death cases where the deceased did not immediately die following the other party’s negligence.
Any compensation recovered through a survival action will be awarded directly to the estate of the deceased. You may be able to request:
* lost wages,
* medical bills,
* pain and suffering,
* and any other losses the deceased suffered before death.
As with a wrongful death claim, you must prove third-party liability to prevail in a survival action. However, any evidence showing harm will apply to both types of claims.
### How Wrongful Death Cases and Criminal Charges Affect Each Other
When someone’s behavior causes injury to or the death of another party, that person may be held responsible in both criminal and civil courts. However, even if the at-fault individual is facing criminal charges, you must take individual action to receive compensation for your losses.
When the at-fault party is convicted of a crime, the outcome of their criminal suit can serve as evidence in your civil case. However, even if that person is found not guilty, you may be able to win a wrongful death claim against them.
This is because civil cases have a lower  than criminal cases. For example, when someone is charged with murder or negligent homicide, the prosecution has to prove the defendant’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, when someone faces liability for wrongful death, the plaintiff must only show that the defendant is liable by a “.” This means if there is a 51% chance that the plaintiff’s claim is valid, they can recover damages from the defendant.
Our Salt Lake City law firm does not handle criminal cases, but we know how these claims can be used to support a wrongful death lawsuit. For more clarification on the matter, please feel free to contact our law office.
### Caring Representatives, Tough Litigators
Cutt, Kendell & Olson has successfully represented countless families and heirs of fatal accident victims. With a hand-picked group chosen from some of the nation’s leading medical experts, engineers, accident specialists, and other professionals, our wrongful death lawyers work to build the most robust case possible. We have the resources and ability to get results in these personal injury cases.
We will work to obtain  and justice for you. We are prepared to do so if this means taking your case to trial. Our team of proven litigators knows how to present compelling arguments in front of a court.
At the same time, we understand you are grieving and going through a tough adjustment in your life. Therefore, we strive to make the legal process as effortless as possible for you. Whether that means being available to answer your questions or handling endless phone calls with an insurance adjuster, our staff can provide .
 **to our Salt Lake City wrongful death attorney for a free consultation by calling** **(801) 901-3470****. Our caring wrongful death lawyers are here to help you understand your legal rights and options.**
* **$16,400,000**
  *Truck Accident Verdict*
  Jury verdict awarded for an 11-year-old boy whose family was killed in a car accident with an out-of-control semitrailer.
* **$14,500,000**
  *Medical Malpractice Verdict*
  Jury verdict for a premature baby that suffered an anemic shock episode, which resulted in a serious and permanent brain injury.
* **$13,500,000**
  *Spinal Cord Injury Settlement*
  Young woman paralyzed in a rollover accident.
* **$12,500,000**
  *Product Liability Settlement*
  Woman suffered a brain injury in an accident that happened after a tire failed and the vehicle rolled off the freeway.
* **$4,250,000**
  *Workplace Accident Settlement*
  Settlement for premature delivery of a baby boy in result of an accident involving his mother at the warehouse where she worked.
#### Hear From Our Happy Clients
**At Cutt, Kendell & Olson, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our
clients have to say about working with us.**
* > **"Great people, great firm."**
  >
  > Margie Coles was wonderful and hardworking. This firm's performance on my behalf was definitely 5 stars, from the receptionist to the name partner who represented me.
  > **- Paul S.**
* > **"I was seriously injured in a car accident, and from the time he came on my case Christopher Higley was an excellent lawyer."**
  > I hope I don't need to use CKO and Christopher Higley again, but I have already recommended them/him to a close friend and would recommend again to others.
  > **- M.**
* > **"I highly recommend the firm. It is conformed by a team of highly ethical and professional attorneys who resolved my case favorably in a fair and efficient way; with a special mention to Lena Daggs and Eric Olson"**
  > I highly recommend the firm. It is conformed by a team of highly ethical and professional attorneys who resolved my case favorably in a fair and efficient way; with a special mention to Lena Daggs and Eric Olson.
  > **- Victor Lopez**
* > **"We highly recommend this firm!"**
  > Mr. Morris handled our case with extreme professionalism and was very quick to get us updates.
  > **- Clint Wright**
* > **"Jackie was a lifesaver for me and my daughters after our car accident."**
  > She was non-intimidating, explained all of the legal information well and answered all of our questions. She was professional, knowledgeable, patient and pleasant to work with.
  > **- Jill**
* > **"David was excellent to work with."**
  > He took over the legal process for our family, so we could focus on helping our injured child to heal. We will never be able to express our gratitude for how he helped us through a very difficult and overwhelming process with positive results.
  > **- Former Client**
* > **"Nate and Chris have been absolutely amazing to work with. I couldn't have asked for a better pair of attorneys to work on my case."**
  > Nate and Chris have been absolutely amazing to work with. I couldn't have asked for a better pair of attorneys to work on my case.
  > **- Kevin Bell**
* > **"Jordan was very professional in every way."**
  > He always had great advice for our family and we put our trust into him and he got everything we deserved for our case. Our family will definitely refer Jordan and his firm.
  > **- Angie**
#### Contact Cutt, Kendell & Olson Today!
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