According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more people died in motor vehicle crashes last year than in any year since 2005. If you lost a loved one or were seriously injured in a car accident that was the other driver’s fault, you may be entitled to more compensation than their insurance company wants to give you.
Here’s what you need to know about 2021 car crash statistics, who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Arizona, and why you need a lawyer on your side to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries or the death of your loved one.
Do you have questions about whether you have a case? Schedule a free consultation with the experts at Wade & Nysather AZ Accident Attorneys.
2021 US Car Crash Statistics
About 42,915 people died nationwide in auto accidents in 2021, a 10.5% increase in fatalities compared to 2020. Since people drove less in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, a 2021 increase is not unexpected. However, that’s the highest number of fatalities since 2005.
Additionally, in 2020 (the most recent year for which data is available), nearly 3 million people nationwide were injured in car accidents.
2021 Arizona Car Crash Statistics
1,123 people lost their lives on Arizona roads in 2021, compared to 1,054 in 2020 and 981 in 2019. That’s a 14% increase in just 2 years.
41,350 Arizonans were injured in car accidents in 2020.
If you were one of the unlucky people to get injured or lose a loved one in an accident that was the other driver’s fault, contact Wade & Nysather today for a free consultation.
Deadliest Roads in Arizona
Arizona’s 10 deadliest roads are all in the metro-Phoenix area:
- Interstate 10 from Exit 157 to Exit 152
- Thomas Road from 71st Avenue to 37th Avenue
- Bethany Home Road from 35th Avenue to 12th Place
- Bell Road from 26th Street to 23rd Avenue
- Northern Avenue from 19th Avenue to 56th Avenue
- 19th Avenue from Shangri-La Road to Union Hills Drive
- McDowell Road from Scottsdale Road to 36th Street
- Indian School Road from 40th Avenue to Third Street
- Indian School Road from 53rd Avenue to 91st Avenue
- 43rd Avenue from Lamar Road to McDowell Road
Can I Get Compensation if My Loved One Was Killed in a Car Crash in Arizona?
If your spouse, parent, or child was killed in a car accident that wasn’t their fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss. Damages in wrongful death lawsuits include financial support the lost family member provided as well as “loss of love, affection, companionship, consortium, personal anguish, and suffering.”
Every case is different, so if you lost a loved one to a car accident caused by another driver, contact Wade & Nysather today for a free consultation. Don’t delay – you only have 2 years from the date of the person’s death to file a wrongful death claim.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Arizona?
Not everybody who loses a loved one in a car accident can file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Arizona, only the following people may file a wrongful death lawsuit:
- Any surviving child of the deceased
- The deceased person’s surviving spouse
- A surviving parent or guardian of the deceased
- The deceased person’s personal representative on behalf of a surviving parent, child, spouse, or estate
Additionally, a wrongful death lawsuit functions like a personal injury lawsuit and must meet the same criteria for proving that another person’s negligent or wrongful conduct led to the deceased person’s death.
What Is “Wrongful Death” in Arizona?
Arizona law defines a “wrongful death” as a death that is caused “by wrongful act, neglect, or default,” such as a car accident. Unlike in a criminal homicide case, where a conviction may lead to prison time, the defendant’s liability in a wrongful death case is expressed as “damages” – financial compensation the defendant must pay to the deceased person’s survivors or estate.
While money can’t bring your loved one back, it can help cover medical costs incurred due to the injuries that led to their death and the loss of their income, as well as make a tiny dent in the hole in your heart caused by the loss of your loved one.
What Damages Are Available in an Arizona Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Damages in wrongful death lawsuits are divided into 2 categories: economic and non-economic. Generally, economic damages include money paid to the survivors of the deceased person to cover financial losses associated with the death, such as:
- Medical bills
- Funeral, burial, or cremation expenses
- Replacement or repair of property damaged in the accident
- The value of lost wages and benefits the person would have earned if they had lived
Non-economic damages are intended to compensate the surviving family member for the intangible losses they suffered as a result of the death of their loved one and can include:
- Survivors’ emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of household services provided by the deceased
- Loss of the deceased person’s guidance, companionship, comfort, affection, and love
Talking to an experienced wrongful death lawyer can help you determine how much your case may be worth.
Should I Hire a Lawyer if I Lost My Loved One in a Car Crash?
Nothing can replace the loss of your loved one. However, you shouldn’t be burdened with the medical bills and lost income from your deceased spouse, parent, or child after their lives were tragically taken due to a negligent or reckless driver.
An expert Arizona wrongful death lawyer can help you get compensation that may help you begin the process of mourning your loved one and trying to move forward with your life. Contact the professional car crash lawyers at Wade & Nysather and schedule a free consultation today.
Make an Appointment With an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer
Whether you lost your loved one in a car crash or were injured yourself, an Arizona car crash attorney may be able to help you get compensation to pay for medical bills, lost wages, emotional damage, and more. At Wade & Nysather AZ Accident Attorneys, we have 3 offices around the Phoenix area to assist you, so schedule your free consultation now.
