Utah County
Provo Wrongful Death Lawyer
When a Provo family loses someone to another person's carelessness, we can explain your options quietly and without pressure, whenever you are ready.
Most families who reach us after a death in Provo are still sorting out a funeral, a household and a hundred phone calls. The legal side can wait a little while, but not forever, and a few early steps protect the claim without adding to what you are carrying.
A wrongful death case is how Utah families hold a careless driver, company or property owner accountable, and how they replace the income and care the person they lost would have provided. Provo cases often grow out of crashes on University Avenue, I-15 or US-189 in Provo Canyon, and out of pedestrian deaths near campus and downtown.
The Claim, in Plain Terms
When someone dies because of another person's wrongful act or neglect, Utah lets the family bring a civil case against the person or company responsible (Utah Code § 78B-3-106).
It runs separately from any criminal charge, it is decided by a lower standard of proof, and it belongs to the family rather than the state. Our wrongful death guide covers the process in more detail.
Who May Bring It
Utah allows the action to be brought by the person's heirs, or by the personal representative of the estate for the benefit of the heirs. In practice that usually means a surviving spouse or children, and sometimes parents. If an estate needs to be opened, that probate filing typically goes through the Fourth District Court at 137 North Freedom Boulevard in Provo.
Two Years, Not Four
A Utah wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the death (§ 78B-2-304(3)), half the time allowed for most injury claims. If Provo City, UTA, UDOT or another government body may share responsibility, a written notice of claim is due within one year. All of these deadlines are on our Utah deadlines page.
What a Family Can Recover
Depending on the facts, a claim may include:
- Lost support: the income, benefits and household help your loved one would have provided.
- Final expenses: medical bills from the final injury, and funeral and burial costs.
- Lost companionship: the love, care and guidance a spouse, parent or child can no longer give.
- The family's grief: the sorrow those left behind carry.
- Punitive damages: only in cases of especially reckless conduct, such as an impaired driver.
None of this replaces the person you lost. It is meant to keep the family financially steady and to put responsibility where it belongs.
How These Cases Arise in Provo
We handle wrongful death claims from car, truck and motorcycle crashes, pedestrians and cyclists struck near BYU, UVU and downtown, canyon crashes on US-189, commercial vehicle collisions on I-15, and deaths caused by unsafe property. When a crash is investigated by Provo Police, BYU Police, the Utah County Sheriff or the Utah Highway Patrol, we request that agency's full report, photographs and any reconstruction.
What We Take Off Your Plate
We gather the reports and records, preserve vehicle data and video before it is overwritten, identify every insurance policy that may apply, and deal with the insurers so the family does not have to. Utah still apportions fault in these cases under § 78B-5-818, so we investigate early before a version of events gets settled on without you.
Why choose West Injury Law
How we help your family
Compassion and diligence
We handle the hard parts, so your family has room to grieve.
Accountability, pursued fully
Through settlement where possible, and trial where necessary.
We carry the legal weight
The investigation, the evidence, the insurers, and the deadlines.
No attorney fees unless we win
A free, confidential conversation, with no pressure and no obligation.
Utah Family Guide
What to Do After Losing a Loved One
Gentle guidance for Utah families, one step at a time.
Take Care of Your Family First
Grief comes first. When you're ready, a free, confidential conversation can answer your questions — with no obligation.
Keep Important Records
Save the police or incident report, medical and funeral bills, and any letters or calls from insurance companies.
Don't Face the Insurer Alone
You don't have to give a statement or sign anything before talking with an attorney.
Know Who Can File
In Utah, a claim is usually brought by the spouse, children, or other heirs, or by the estate's personal representative.
Call West Injury Law
Utah generally allows 2 years from the date of death to file — less if a government entity is involved. We carry the legal weight so your family can grieve. No attorney fees unless we win.
General information for Utah residents, not legal advice; does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and exceptions vary by case. Sources: Utah Code §§ 78B-3-105 to -106, 78B-2-304.
Our Approach
About Results
Every family and every loss is different, and we will not put a number on yours before we understand what happened. You can read about the kinds of cases we have handled on our results page.
See our case results →Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Family Questions
Questions Provo Families Ask
Who has the right to bring the claim?
The heirs, or the personal representative of the estate acting for the heirs. Usually that is a spouse or children, and sometimes parents.
We are still grieving. How long do we have?
Generally two years from the date of death, and only one year to give notice if a government entity is involved. A short early conversation can protect the claim without rushing any decision.
The driver was charged criminally. Do we need a separate case?
Yes. A criminal case punishes; the civil wrongful death claim is what compensates the family, and it can proceed whatever the criminal outcome.
What does it cost?
The first conversation is free. We work on a contingency fee, so there are no attorney fees unless we win, and the fee comes from the recovery.
Will we have to go to court in Provo?
Many claims resolve without trial. If a lawsuit is needed, a case arising in Provo is usually filed in the Fourth District Court, and we prepare every file as if it will be tried.
Can we just talk before deciding anything?
Yes. A first conversation is confidential and carries no obligation.
Here When Your Family Is Ready
A free, confidential conversation, with no pressure and no obligation. Hablamos Español.