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Wrongful Death Lawyer

The death of a family member due to the negligence of another party is devastating.

When a wrongful death occurs, you should seek counsel from a law firm that is capable of achieving the justice your family deserves.

Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, of Salt Lake City, UT, is that law firm. Our Utah wrongful death attorneys are ready to fight for you.

We Focus on Your Wrongful Death Case While You Focus on Healing

Younker Hyde Macfarlane's wrongful death lawyers have been handling wrongful death cases for decades, and our legal assistance begins with a free, no-pressure consultation at our Salt Lake City office. You can set up a case review with one of our wrongful death attorneys by filling out our simple request form or by calling us. The sooner you contact Younker Hyde Macfarlane about filing a wrongful death lawsuit, the faster we can start helping you through this difficult time in your life.

Call Us: (801) 335-6467

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Attorneys Ashton Hyde, Norman Younker, and John Macfarlane

We Are the Firm  That Other Attorneys Refer Wrongful Death Cases To

Our law firm has a reputation for taking cases that other firms won't touch, including wrongful death lawsuits. In fact, nearly 75 percent of our clients are referred by other Utah law firms.

Our internal system ensures each wrongful death claim is given focused attention by our attorneys. Our lawyers are not intimidated by any opposition and know when a settlement is good enough for our clients. Our extensive team includes nurses alongside attorneys and paralegals, giving us an advantage when it comes to research and applying medical knowledge to your case.

If you lost a loved one and someone else was at fault for their death, our wrongful death attorneys in Utah will fight for full and fair compensation on your behalf. Depending on the circumstances of your wrongful death lawsuit, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more. We don't get paid unless you win, so you can expect that we will pursue maximum restitution on your behalf.

Why Choose Younker Hyde Macfarlane?

If a child, spouse, or other family member has been killed due to the negligence of another party, please accept our deepest condolences. We know that there is no greater loss. Please know that the wrongful death attorneys at our Salt Lake City law firm will do everything they can to guide you through this trying time. As your legal counsel, we can help you make informed decisions regarding your legal options.

Here are some reasons why we should be the law firm that handles your wrongful death claim, whether the wrongful death occurred in Salt Lake City or another Utah community:

High Number of Wrongful Death Claims

We've taken on more medical malpractice cases than any other firm in Utah, and many of these cases involve wrongful death. We have the resources to determine if medical malpractice was the cause of your loss.

Relationships Throughout Utah

Our dedication to fairness and ethics has fostered relationships with insurance agencies, defense counsels, and local hospitals. 

Pre-Litigation Settlements

We are never afraid to take a wrongful death lawsuit to trial, but we can also determine when a settlement offer truly represents the restitution you and your family deserve. We often settle pre-litigation, getting our clients a substantial settlement quickly, sometimes without filing a single document. 

Other Firms Refer Clients to Us

We are proud that most of our wrongful death cases are referrals from other personal injury lawyers. Other members of the Salt Lake City legal community know that we are capable of handling the wrongful death claims of grieving families.
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Free Consultations & Representation on Contingency

If we don't achieve a settlement or jury award on your behalf, we don't collect payment. That's why it's in our best interest to be your devoted ally when you file a wrongful death lawsuit. Contact us for a free consultation to get started.

Clients Recommend Our Firm "We Found Great Emotional Support and Even Hope."

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Ingrid Pimentel

2020

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We were referred to Yonker|Hyde|Macfarlane because of medical malpractice that ended up taking the life of our child. Although there is nothing that can bring our son back, we found great emotional support and even hope at such a fragile time while working with them. We met with Mckay Corbett at first and he attentively listened for hours then John Macfarlane took over the case. He is a compassionate lawyer, who genuinely wanted to help bring justice and peace to us. He has good communication skills, with the ability to listen and respect our desires while still giving us the needed advice. He's also full of good judgment and managed to, with his many skills and perseverance, get us a fair and good settlement that gave us the sense of closure we were looking for... 

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Chantel Beck-Bryson

2019

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Younker Hyde Macfarlane worked with me on an auto settlement after my husband was killed in an accident. I was left as a single mother with four year old twin girls and a baby boy. I cannot say enough about the work my attorney, John Macfarlane, and the other staff at Younker Hyde Macfarlane did on my behalf to achieve an incredible result for me and my kids. John Macfarlane proved to be a skilled negotiator and was adept at resolving all of the issues involved with my case. Furthermore, it made all the difference that I was treated with total kindness, compassion and generosity by everyone I dealt with at Younker Hyde Macfarlane. Highly recommended.

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Helping Bereaved Clients Collect Fair Compensation

At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, one out of every four personal injury claims we handle involves a wrongful death. The highly educated members of our personal injury group (which includes wrongful death lawyers as well as nurses and paralegals) have successfully handled many kinds of complex wrongful death cases with dedicated focus, personalized client care, and aggressive representation in and out of court. We invite you to find out for yourself why so many bereaved families have put their trust in the wrongful death lawyers of Younker Hyde Macfarlane. 
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Time Is of the Essence Let Us Help You Avoid Financial Hardship

The wrongful death lawyers at Younker Hyde Macfarlane encourage you not to hesitate if you have questions or concerns regarding your legal rights after a wrongful death has occurred. Utah gives families four years from the time of death to file a wrongful death suit, and that time can pass quickly. Reach out to our Salt Lake City law firm as soon as you are able so that we can begin building your case.

It is true that no amount of compensation can replace your loved one or heal the pain in your heart, but financial hardship as a result of another party's negligence should not be your burden to bear. Everything from medical bills to funeral expenses and lost financial support should be paid for by the negligent party. Making sure the responsible party is held accountable is what we do.

Call Us

(801) 335-6467

Common Accidents Resulting in Wrongful Death 

Nearly any accident, whether it's a car accident, truck accident, or workplace accident, can result in death. Our Utah attorneys have helped families recover compensation after innocent victims have died due to:

We are serious about meeting the needs of our clients, and you can trust us to work diligently on your behalf. If a loved one has passed due to any of these circumstances, we highly encourage you to act quickly. We will be your advocates when it comes to navigating this hardship, and we will not let an insurance company shortchange you and the ones you love.

What We Can Do For Your Case

Wrongful death claims cover a wide variety of cases in the realm of personal injury. Clients who have lost a family member due to the negligence of someone else deserve compensation. Norman Younker works with these families to help them find help and receive due compensation.

"Respectful and empathetic." We're Proud to Help the People of Utah

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Teresa Jordan

2021

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I am so grateful for this law firm! They worked hard and got justice for my son’s wrongful death! They were quick and swift in bringing closure to me and my family.

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Shawn Troumbley

2019

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These men were very respectful and empathetic to my family after the loss of my 15 year old daughter.  Younker, Hyde and Macfarlane helped bring closure for my family.  Thank you for their dedication and tenacity.

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Who Can File a Wrongful Death Suit In Utah?

Utah law states that only the victim's spouse, children, parents, and stepchildren under the age of 18 who are financially dependent on the victim may file a wrongful death claim. If the victim adopted a child or was adopted, this right is extended to the adopted and adoptive family members.

Should the victim have no surviving parents, children, or spouse, other blood relatives of the deceased (such as a brother or sister) are allowed to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

If the victim was an adult and was under someone's guardianship, the legal guardian is allowed to bring the wrongful death claim to court. Any damages recovered from a claim filed by a legal guardian, however, will be awarded to the victim's family members, not the guardian.

A personal representative (also known as the executor) of the victim's estate may also file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased. Damages in lawsuits filed by a personal representative are awarded to the family of the deceased. 

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Our Team Speaks Several Languages

We have attorneys that are fluent in Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese. We also have attorneys who are communicative in Portuguese. Call (801) 335-6467 or write to us to talk to wrongful death and personal injury lawyers who speak your language. 

"No amount of compensation can replace your loved one, but it can relieve financial burdens and help you afford the resources needed to cope with your loss." Younker Hyde Macfarlane

We Achieve Major Verdicts and Settlements

Our personal injury and wrongful death lawyers have repeatedly proven their ability to obtain significant compensation for our clients. These are two examples from our extensive history of success:

$5 Million Jury Award

A 67-year-old woman underwent a hernia repair surgery at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center. During the procedure, one of the surgeons caused an incision on the woman’s bowels. This led to worsening pain and mental state over the next few days. After a repair surgery, she struggled to wean off her ventilator, causing her family to believe she was on the verge of death. The doctors failed to explain that her condition was improving, and instead ceased life-sustaining care. 

The deceased’s family came to our wrongful death team to seek justice. We took their case to court. During a nine-day trial, we successfully persuaded the jury that had the doctors properly advocated for continued care, the woman likely would have recovered fully instead of passing away. We collected $2 million for each of the decedent’s children and $1 million for her estate.

$2.9 Million Verdict

A middle-aged employee of the Utah Transit Authority developed chest pains that spread to his abdomen. He had telltale symptoms of the serious cardiac condition known as aortic dissection. On two occasions, he sought care at a medical clinic, but was misdiagnosed and not referred to the emergency room. Four days after the second misdiagnosis, he passed away. 

His widow spoke to our law firm because of our proven wrongful death litigation abilities. The clinic declined a settlement offer of $1 million, so we took the case to trial. Despite the jury finding the deceased to be 30% at-fault for his passing, our team received a jury award of $2,940,250.21 for the deceased’s family. 

Trial Is Not Always Necessary

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Our pre-litigation abilities often allow us to collect significant compensation for clients without the need for trial. We have had several cases that we settled for robust six-figure totals without ever having to file a single document. 

There Is No Cap on Noneconomic Damages In a Utah Wrongful Death Case

There are various types of lawsuits that have a maximum limit of compensation that can be obtained. Some families decide not to pursue a wrongful death case because they feel the possible compensation is not worth the potential pain of litigation. 

You should know that the Utah supreme court decided that there is no cap on non-economic damages in a wrongful death case. This means the amount of compensation you and your family could make a tremendous difference in your quality of life. Call or write to our attorneys so we can assess your case. 

801-335-6467

Consistently Great Reviews For Our Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Lawyers

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Shelly Christenson

2022

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Younker Hyde Macfarlane, I can't say enough good things about this firm. Me and my 2 brothers lost our mother, due to the negligence of other people and would give anything to have her back... This law firm was not about the money they were going to make off of us, but the concern they had for the death of our mother. Younker Hyde Macfarlane, they got justice for my mom, some healing for us knowing that the negligence was not going to go unnoticed, monetary or otherwise. Thanks again for all you did for us. The Christenson Family

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1

Matt Cook

2022

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My family had the pleasure of working with this firm following a tragic event. The firm was very good about answering our questions and explaining the process. Attorneys John Macfarlane and Mckay Corbett were empathetic and fought hard for our case. The paralegal Jill Bedford was also a true joy to work with. I recommend this firm to anyone who needs attorneys who will fight for your case like it’s their own family.

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How We Pursue Restitution

The Legal Process

Establishing Liability

To establish liability, we must show that a party failed to uphold a duty owed and, as a result, caused bodily injury (in this case, death) to the victim. Whenever a person is operating a motor vehicle, a doctor is performing surgery, or a business is designing and manufacturing a product for public sale, a duty is owed.

Identifying Duty Owed

The duty varies, however, based on the situation, and it must first be established what duty was owed before we can show that the defendant failed to uphold this duty. We accomplish this through intimate familiarity with the law and counsel from experts in the fields of medicine, accident reconstruction, forensics, and various other fields.

Settlement Negotiations / Court

Once we have built a case against the responsible party, we will meet with that party and their representatives to try and negotiate a settlement. If we are unable to reach a settlement that truly covers the full extent of your losses, we will take your case to trial. Again, we only get paid if we achieve justice on your behalf, so you can expect us to present a compelling, fact-based case in pursuit of restitution for your family.

We Thank Our Clients for Their Kind Words "Younker, Hyde and Macfarlane helped bring closure for my family."

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Teresa Jordan

2021

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I am so grateful for this law firm! They worked hard and got justice for my son’s wrongful death! They were quick and swift in bringing closure to me and my family.

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1

Shawn Troumbley

2019

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These men were very respectful and empathetic to my family after the loss of my 15 year old daughter.  Younker, Hyde and Macfarlane helped bring closure for my family.  Thank you for their dedication and tenacity.

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Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC

Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC

At Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, our attorneys have decades of combined experience in complex cases. We represent clients in all types of personal injury cases, with a special focus on medical malpractice claims. Our firm is associated with the following professional organizations:

  • Utah Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Salt Lake County Bar Association
  • American Trial Lawyers Association

To schedule an appointment, please contact us online or call (801) 335-6467.

Free Consultation Today

"They were extremely knowledgeable, extremely helpful experts. The team helped me with all aspects of my case, including medical and financial, and understood that it affected more than me but also my family."

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Salt Lake City Office

257 E 200 S
Ste 1080
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Open Today 8:00am - 5:00pm

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