Have you recently lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence or malevolence? You may be able to sue that person or business in a wrongful death lawsuit and receive compensation for the loss of your loved one.
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Arizona? How much money could you get in a wrongful death case? Is a Phoenix wrongful death lawyer worth the money?
Here’s what you should know about wrongful death lawsuits in Arizona. If you still have questions or want to schedule a free consultation, contact Wade & Nysather AZ Accident Attorneys today.
What Is “Wrongful Death” in Arizona?
Arizona law defines a “wrongful death” as one caused by “wrongful act, neglect, or default,” where the deceased would have been able to recover damages in a personal injury lawsuit if they had not died. Examples of when a person’s decedents may file a wrongful death lawsuit include things like:
- Car accidents or other negligence-based incidents
- Intentional acts (including crimes)
- Medical malpractice
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Arizona?
Just because somebody you love was killed doesn’t automatically mean you can file a wrongful death lawsuit. For starters, it must be a case where the deceased would have been able to file a personal injury lawsuit if they had survived, meaning there must be evidence that their death was due to the negligence or malevolence of another person.
Additionally, only people with these specific relationships to the deceased party may file wrongful death lawsuits in Arizona:
- Spouse
- Child
- Parent or guardian
- Estate
Unfortunately, in Arizona, people with these types of relationships with the deceased person are unable to file wrongful death lawsuits:
- Siblings
- Cousins
- Grandparents
- Common law spouses
- Same-sex partners
How Much Money Could I Get in a Phoenix Wrongful Death Case?
The money you could get in a wrongful death lawsuit is broken down into economic and noneconomic “damages.” Economic damages are intended to cover financial losses resulting from the death, including:
- Medical bills incurred after the incident and before the person’s death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Replacement or repair of property damaged in the event (such as a vehicle)
- Value of benefits and lost wages the deceased person would have earned if they had lived
Harder to quantify than economic damages, noneconomic damages are intended to help compensate for intangible losses the deceased’s family experiences due to the death. Examples of noneconomic damages are:
- Survivors’ emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of household services the deceased provided
- Loss of the deceased person’s guidance, companionship, comfort, affection, and love
Unlike some other states, Arizona does not cap the amount of damage a plaintiff may be awarded in wrongful death lawuits.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Arizona?
The statute of limitations for wrongful death in Arizona is 2 years, meaning you have 2 years from the date the person passed away to file a lawsuit. Cases filed more than 2 years after the death occurred are typically dismissed.
How Much Does a Wrongful Death Lawyer Cost?
The good news is you don’t pay a wrongful death lawyer any money up front. In fact, since you pay the lawyer out of your settlement money, you don’t pay them anything unless they get you money.
At Wade & Nysather, once we get you the money you deserve for the death of your loved one, we take about 33-40% of the total amount.
Is a Wrongful Death Lawyer Worth the Money?
Generally speaking, a wrongful death lawyer is always worth the money. If they don’t think they can get you money, they won’t take your case, so there’s no risk in scheduling a free consultation with the expert wrongful death lawyers at Wade & Nysather.
Read on for some of the best benefits of hiring an Arizona wrongful death lawyer.
Wrongful Death Lawyers Save You Time and Money
Wouldn’t you rather spend your time grieving your loved one than collecting evidence, filing insurance claims, and gathering documents? Wrongful death cases can stretch over several years and can be extremely labor-intensive. Since you don’t pay anything upfront, hiring a wrongful death lawyer saves you money and precious time.
Better yet, experienced wrongful death attorneys like the ones at Wade & Nysather will ensure the other party doesn’t take advantage of you and will get you the highest possible payout, which more than makes up for their fees. In fact, people who hire personal injury lawyers get an average of 3.5 times more money than those who don’t – and that’s even after the lawyer’s fees are paid.
Wrongful Death Lawyers Build the Best Case
Don’t guess how much money you think your case is worth and try to get that money yourself. Experienced wrongful death lawyers how exactly how much money you are entitled to as well as how to prove it.
Wrongful death payouts require a high burden of proof, and professional lawyers know how to build the best case to show how your family was impacted by the loss of your loved one and how their death was caused by the defendant.
Wrongful Death Lawyers Have Priceless Experience
While you’re grieving, confused, and wondering what to do, where to get evidence, and how much your case is worth, you could instead turn to an expert wrongful death attorney who has the experience to handle your case and get you the best results.
You should be able to focus on healing and let the experienced wrongful death lawyers at Wade & Nysather put together a strong case, pursue the full settlement you deserve, or take the case all the way to trial if necessary to get you the compensation you need to start putting your life back together after the death of your loved one.
Put our experience to work for you and schedule a free consultation today.
Make an Appointment With a Phoenix Wrongful Death Attorney Today
At Wade & Nysather, we have offices around the Phoenix metro area, including Scottsdale, Glendale, and Mesa. Schedule a free consultation today to find out whether you have a wrongful death case and how much it may be worth. Spend your time healing rather than fighting with insurance companies. Contact us today or Call or Text 602-547-2222 Now for your