What must be proven for a wrongful death claim to succeed in Utah?

For a wrongful death claim to be successful in Utah, it must be established that the defendant's actions—whether through negligence or intentional wrongdoing—directly resulted in the death of the plaintiff's loved one. This means that the claimant must demonstrate that the defendant either failed to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would in similar circumstances, or engaged in deliberate actions that caused harm leading to death.

This aspect of the law emphasizes accountability, requiring a direct link between the defendant's behavior and the resulting death. It ensures that victims' families have a measure of recourse when a party's failure to uphold a standard of care or their intentional misconduct leads to a tragic outcome.

Considering the other options, intentional wrongdoing alone would not encompass cases of negligent actions that also result in death, and emotional damages or pending criminal charges are not sufficient on their own to substantiate a wrongful death claim without proving the wrongdoing that caused the death. Thus, the requirement to show either negligence or intentional wrongdoing is the critical basis for pursuing a wrongful death claim in this jurisdiction.