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Personal injury attorney Robert DeBry dies at age 85

DeBry’s firm is known for its “Buy a Helmet, Save a Life” campaign that distributes bike helmets to people.

Utah personal injury attorney Robert DeBry died Tuesday of natural causes at age 85.

DeBry founded legal firm Robert J. DeBry & Associates, which has locations in Salt Lake City, South Valley and St. George. The firm advertises itself as a company that stands up to insurance companies to help compensate injured victims. DeBry went into the office to work until last year, according to his obituary.

He was passionate about advocating for victims of drunk driving and about bike helmets, according to the obituary. DeBry’s firm distributes low-cost bike helmets and brochures about safe cycling through its “Buy a Helmet, Save a Life” campaign. His obituary says he was a donor to Mothers Against Drunk Driving and would pay for taxis for people to keep them safe on the road.

He was known for his generosity in his personal life too, according to his obituary.

“Neighbors and strangers came to know him as the man who, at Halloween, handed out not just one full-size candy bar to each trick-or-treater but a whole bag of candy bars to every child who came to his door,” reads the obituary.

DeBry was a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served his mission in the Netherlands in the 1950s.

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