Bountiful Wrongful Death Lawyer

A sudden death leaves a family with grief and then, often within days, with calls from insurers and unanswered questions about what happened. For Bountiful families, a wrongful death claim is governed by Utah law and, if a lawsuit becomes necessary, is heard in the Second District Court for Davis County, which sits in Farmington at 800 West State Street and also has a courthouse in Bountiful at 805 South Main Street.

No claim restores what was lost. It can uncover what happened, hold the people responsible to account, and give the household some financial footing while you grieve.

When the Law Holds Someone Responsible

Under Utah Code § 78B-3-106, a family may sue for damages when a death is caused by another's wrongful act or neglect, and may also pursue an employer who is responsible for that person's conduct. Around Bountiful these cases most often begin on I-15 or Legacy Parkway, at a turning intersection on 400 North or 500 South, or on the grades of the east bench, but they also come from falls, unsafe property and commercial vehicles.

The civil claim is separate from any criminal case. Prosecution is about punishment; a wrongful death claim is about compensating the family, and it uses a lower standard of proof.

Who May Bring the Case

The heirs, or the personal representative for their benefit, may file. Section 78B-3-105 lists the spouse, the children, the natural or adoptive parents, and stepchildren under 18 who were supported by or lived with the decedent; other blood relatives qualify only when no spouse, child or parent survives. Our wrongful death guide explains more.

Two Years, and Sometimes One

The deadline for a wrongful death action is generally two years (§ 78B-2-304), half the four years allowed for most injury claims. If Bountiful City, Davis County, UDOT or UTA may share responsibility, a notice of claim is due within one year (§ 63G-7-402). See the statute of limitations page.

What a Family May Recover

The statute allows damages that are just under all the circumstances. Depending on the facts, that may include:

• The income, benefits and household help your loved one would have provided.
• Medical expenses from the final injury, plus funeral and burial costs.
• The loss of companionship, care, counsel and guidance, including what children lose when a parent dies.
• The grief and sorrow the family carries.
• Punitive damages, in rare cases of especially reckless conduct such as impaired driving.

No amount makes a family whole. It can ease the financial pressure so you can focus on each other.

Losses We Help Bountiful Families With

We handle claims from freeway crashes on I-15 and Legacy Parkway, motorcycle and bicycle deaths on Bountiful Boulevard and the bench roads, pedestrians struck on Main Street, 400 North or 500 South, and deaths caused by dangerous property. When a car crash was the cause, our Bountiful car accident page explains how those roads shape the evidence.

How We Support Bountiful Families

We request the report from the agency that responded, usually Bountiful Police on city streets or the Utah Highway Patrol on the freeways, preserve vehicle data and video before it is lost, identify every insurance policy, deal with the insurers, and keep you informed at each step. The steps in a Utah injury case show the process, and our Bountiful personal injury page covers the rest of our work in the city.