When someone you love is taken from you unexpectedly in a fatal accident in Glendale, Arizona, it’s important to know that you have rights. Call AJ Law, PLC at (602) 237-5277 for a free consultation.. Our experienced Glendale wrongful death lawyers can help you fight to recover financial compensation from those responsible for your devastating loss.
Our firm brings powerful legal representation to injury victims and families in Arizona. We’re award-winning trial lawyers with 20+ years of combined experience and a multi-million dollar track record of successful financial recoveries.
Why Choose AJ Law, PLC After a Fatal Accident in Glendale, AZ?
At AJ Law, PLC, our Glendale personal injury lawyers have been trusted by accident victims and families for years because we’re compassionate, honest, trustworthy legal advocates focused on providing individualized legal representation when it matters most.
Our diverse legal team includes former insurance defense attorneys and litigators who’ve dedicated their careers to fighting back against powerful corporations. Drawing on our intimate knowledge of how insurance companies operate, we do more than level the playing field for our clients.
Choosing our law firm means giving yourself an incredible advantage as you fight for financial justice in the wake of your loved one’s death. It’s why we’re recognized as Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Top 100 litigators, and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Take the time you need to grieve your loss and leave the rest to our personal injury law firm. Contact our Glendale wrongful death attorneys today for a free case review.
Understanding Wrongful Death in Arizona
When someone is injured because of another person’s harmful actions, the victim reserves the right to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. The right to sue doesn’t disappear if the victim dies from their injuries. Instead, under Arizona’s Wrongful Death Act, it can be transferred to another party.
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-611, a wrongful death lawsuit can be pursued if:
- A person’s death is “caused by wrongful act, neglect or default” of another, and
- That person would have been able to pursue damages if they’d survived.
Wrongful death claims help to ensure that a bad actor or negligent party is held accountable for harm caused.
Advocates for Families in All Types of Wrongful Death Cases in Arizona
Whenever a criminal act or accident is fatal, the possibility of a wrongful death action exists.
At AJ Law, PLC, our Arizona wrongful death lawyers have decades of experience fighting for families in cases involving:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- E-scooter accidents
- Moped accidents
- RV accidents
- Boating accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Birth injuries
- Product liability
- Premises liability
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Assault
- Sexual assault
No matter how your loved one’s death occurred, we are prepared to help your family pursue justice and the full compensation you deserve.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Arizona?
Not everyone has standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Arizona, the right to pursue damages with a wrongful death claim is reserved for the victim’s closest surviving family members and/or their estate.
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-612, the following parties have the right to file for wrongful death:
- Surviving husband or wife
- Child, or
- Parent or guardian.
If none of these family members survive the victim, the personal representative of the decedent’s estate reserves the right to pursue damages for wrongful death. Any damages awarded in a claim brought by the personal representative are awarded to the decedent’s estate and distributed in accordance with their will or, if they died intestate, pursuant to Arizona intestacy law.
What Damages Can Be Awarded in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Wrongful death lawsuits are designed to help surviving family members cope with the hardships and trauma they experience in the wake of a tragic loss. As a result, the types of damages that can potentially be awarded in wrongful death cases aren’t identical to those that can be awarded in other types of personal injury cases.
In Arizona, surviving family members can request two different compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are designed to alleviate the financial burdens survivors face because of their family member’s death, such as:
- The value of financial support the victim would have provided through wages, business interests, retirement benefits, and other income if they’d survived
- The value of the household services the victim would have provided
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills
- Loss of inheritance
Non-economic damages are intended to help families cope with personal trauma and life changes they have to deal with in the wake of a tragedy, including:
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of protection, society, companionship, and affection
- Loss of guidance and training
- Emotional distress
Damages for the decedent’s pain and suffering can also potentially be awarded if the estate files a related survival action. A survival action can only be successful if the victim survives their fatal injuries before ultimately passing away. This claim is designed to compensate the decedent for the costs and suffering they experienced because of their injuries before their death.
Can Shared Fault Affect An Arizona Wrongful Death Settlement?
Yes, if your family member was partly responsible for an accident that caused their death, it can affect your ability to recover compensation with a wrongful death lawsuit.
Arizona’s pure comparative negligence statute applies to wrongful death cases. Under the law, damages in a wrongful death case are reduced proportionately to the decedent’s shared responsibility.
The insurance company will try to take advantage of this and limit how much, if any, compensation you can recover with a lawsuit. Our Glendale wrongful death lawyers won’t let these victim-blaming tactics work.
We’ll investigate your loved one’s accident, gather critical evidence to establish liability and discredit claims of shared fault, and work tirelessly to help you win your case for maximum damages.
How Much Does it Cost to Pursue a Wrongful Death Claim?
Don’t stress about attorney fees in the wake of a loved one’s death. Choosing AJ Law, PLC means never paying up front or out of pocket for top-tier legal representation. We work on a contingency fee basis. If we don’t win compensation for your wrongful death case, you owe us nothing.
When we recover damages for your family, our attorney fees are deducted from that monetary award. It depends on the case, but standard fees generally range between 30 and 40 percent.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Arizona?
Arizona maintains a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death cases. This gives plaintiffs two years from the date of a person’s death to seek damages from a liable third party.
You can’t miss the filing deadline. Once time runs out, you lose the ability to demand financial justice for your loss.
Schedule a Free Case Review With a Trusted Glendale Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a loved one is never easy. An unexpected loss can be much more difficult. Damages recovered through a wrongful death lawsuit won’t bring your family member back, but they can ease your financial burdens and help you gain a sense of justice for your senseless loss. AJ Law, PLC’s Glendale wrongful death lawyers can help you every step of the way.
We’re trusted by Arizona injury victims and families because we genuinely care about our clients and their stories. When you ask for our help, you’ll benefit from a team that includes a former insurance defense lawyer and litigators with decades of experience. We stand up to powerful corporations in the wake of injustices and demand accountability. The result: tens of millions of dollars in damages recovered.
Contact our Glendale wrongful death attorneys today for a free consultation.
