Finding your way forward after the unexpected death of a loved one can be overwhelming. While trying to process the intense emotional trauma, the practicalities of life demand attention. You still have to pay bills. You still have to plan for your future. A Saratoga Springs personal injury lawyer from Siegfried & Jensen can help.
Your family may be eligible for compensation for losses incurred by your loved one’s death. Our team has secured over $1.2 billion for deserving clients, and a wrongful death lawyer in Saratoga Springs will fight to get your family financial justice.
Why You Need Help from a Saratoga Springs Wrongful Death Lawyer
You should not file a wrongful death lawsuit alone, and you don’t have to. An experienced attorney from our team can handle all your legal needs and offer you support, guidance, and compassion throughout the process.
When you partner with an attorney soon after your loved one’s death, you get immediate protection. An unexpected death creates tremendous stress for those left behind. In such a heightened emotional state, it’s easy to make decisions or mistakes that could hurt your wrongful death claim and prevent you from getting justice.
Well-meaning family members could offer poor advice. Insurance companies for the at-fault party could reach out and offer a settlement, telling you it’s the most you can expect and will bring you closure. Don’t accept any offers without first talking to a Saratoga Springs wrongful death attorney. We will recognize the true value of your claim and can protect you from settling for less than you deserve.
For a free legal consultation with a wrongful death lawyer serving Saratoga Springs, call (801) 266-0999
How a Wrongful Death Can Happen
A wrongful death is the worst-case result of someone else’s act of negligence or intentional violence. Wrongful deaths are avoidable, leaving surviving loved ones to deal not just with grief but with outrage at the injustice of the situation.
Motor-vehicle accidents are a common cause of wrongful deaths. According to Utah Crash Summary Crash Statistics, the State saw 251 fatal crashes leading to 277 fatalities over a recent year. Other causes include:
- Falls
- Sports injuries
- Intentional acts of harm
- Medical malpractice
No matter what type of preventable incident caused your loved one’s death, Siegfried & Jensen can fight to hold the at-fault party accountable.
Saratoga Springs Wrongful Death Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
Laws Governing Wrongful Death Claims
Utah Code § 78B-3-106 defines a wrongful death as a fatality caused by “the wrongful act or neglect of another.” According to Utah Code § 78B-3-105, the deceased’s heir or personal representative can seek damages from the party whose actions, or lack of action, caused the death. Heirs include:
- The decedent’s spouse
- The decedent’s children
- The decedent’s natural or adoptive parents
- The decedent’s stepchildren
- Another of the decedent’s blood relatives, per the rules of intestate succession, when there is no surviving spouse, child, or parent
In many situations, the wrongful death statute of limitations in Utah is two years. To avoid missing this legal deadline, partner with a wrongful death attorney in Saratoga Springs quickly. If you’re afraid you’ve missed the deadline, still call us for a free case consultation. Some circumstances warrant extensions, so you may still have the opportunity for justice.
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Wrongful Deaths That Have Special Procedures
Not every wrongful death claim proceeds the same way. If your loved one’s death somehow involved a government agent or entity, the process becomes more complicated because of government immunity in wrongful death cases. The deadline for filing your claim also decreases to one year, making a prompt legal partnership even more critical.
A medical professional’s negligence could lead to your loved one’s death. Unnecessary or botched surgeries, failure to diagnose, improper dosing, and other preventable errors are all examples of potentially fatal acts of medical malpractice.
Procedures for filing wrongful death claims in medical malpractice cases have additional steps. Making even small errors in that process can hurt your claim. By putting your claim in the hands of an experienced attorney, you avoid that risk.
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Wrongful Death Settlements and Trial Verdicts
Many wrongful death claims resolve through negotiations that result in a settlement. After calculating the value of your claim, a lawyer sends the at-fault party’s representatives a demand letter for fair compensation. Often, the other side responds with a lower offer, opening negotiations. As discussions continue, each side presents additional evidence and arguments to support their demand or offer.
Unfortunately, the other side doesn’t always cooperate. They could try to wear you down, stalling negotiations so you’ll accept a low offer just to end the ordeal. They may refuse to offer you a just amount. An attorney can discuss the possibility of taking your case to trial with you.
Our team has extensive negotiating and trial experience. We know what it takes to get the highest compensation available in each case. We do not encourage clients to settle for less just to avoid a trial, and we offer honest, reliable counsel to help them decide whether a trial is the better way forward.
Compensation for Wrongful Death
The amount you collect in a settlement or trial verdict depends on case-specific factors. Usually, a favorable claim outcome awards compensation for:
- Related medical costs, if applicable
- Your loved one’s lost potential earnings and job benefits
- Pain and suffering your loved one experienced prior to death, if applicable
- Funeral and burial costs
- Surviving family members’ loss of companionship and affection from the decedent
The State operates under a comparative negligence system as established in Utah Code § 78B-5-818. This system applies to personal injury and wrongful death claims. Heirs can only pursue compensation if the decedent was 49% or less at fault for the fatal incident. If they bear a smaller percentage of blame, compensation is reduced by that percentage.
Siegfried & Jensen Fights to Set Things Right
The team at Siegfried & Jensen is committed to justice. When an act of negligence or violence causes the death of someone you love, we are here to fight to make things as right as possible.
A Saratoga Springs wrongful death lawyer can’t bring your loved one back, but we can demand accountability for their loss of life and all your family has suffered.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form