Arizona Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing a family member because of another person's negligence can change every part of your life. In addition to the grief of an unexpected death, families may suddenly face funeral expenses, lost income, unanswered questions, and pressure from an insurance company or other responsible party.
The Maerowitz Law Firm, LLC represents families throughout Arizona in wrongful death claims arising from fatal accidents and negligent conduct. We investigate what happened, identify the responsible parties, preserve critical evidence, evaluate available insurance coverage, and pursue compensation for the losses caused by a loved one's death.
If you believe negligence contributed to the death of your spouse, parent, child, or other qualifying family member, you do not have to determine your legal options on your own. We offer a free and confidential consultation to help you understand what may come next.
CALL 480-927-3700 FREE & CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATIONTalk With an Arizona Wrongful Death Lawyer
Speak directly with Matt Maerowitz at The Maerowitz Law Firm about what happened and whether your family may have a wrongful death claim.
480-927-3700What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Arizona?
Under Arizona law, a wrongful death claim may arise when a person's death is caused by a wrongful act, neglect, or default that would have allowed the person to pursue a personal injury claim if the person had survived. Surviving family members may have a legal right to seek compensation for the harm the death has caused them.
A wrongful death case is about more than the financial consequences of a fatal accident. Arizona law recognizes that the death of a spouse, parent, or child can cause profound personal losses that cannot be measured by bills and receipts alone.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Arizona?
Arizona Revised Statute § 12-612 provides that a wrongful death claim shall be brought by the surviving spouse, child, parent or guardian, or personal representative of the deceased person for and on behalf of the surviving husband or wife, children or parents. If none of those individuals survive, a claim may be brought on behalf of the decedent's estate.
Determining who may recover and how compensation is distributed can become very complicated, particularly with multiple surviving family members, probate issues, blended families, or family disputes. An attorney can review and help pursue your legal options during this difficult time.
Every family's circumstances are different. The Maerowitz Law Firm can review your situation and help explain the legal options that may be available.
CALL 480-927-3700Compensation in an Arizona Wrongful Death Case
No amount of money can replace a person who has died. A wrongful death claim instead seeks financial accountability for losses the surviving family has suffered because of the death.
Depending on the facts of the case and the evidence available, recoverable damages may include:
- Loss of love, affection, and companionship
- Grief, sorrow, anguish, and emotional suffering
- Funeral and buriel expenses
- Medical expenses associated with the fatal injury
- Lost income and financial support
- Other losses supported by the circumstances and evidence
Arizona law directs juries in wrongful death cases to award damages that are fair and just in light of the injury resulting from the death to the surviving parties.
Important considerations can include the decedent's age, health, income, earning potential, life expectancy, relationship with surviving family members, services provided to the household, and the emotional impact of the loss. The strength of the liability evidence and the insurance or other financial resources available to satisfy a claim can also be significant.
Wrongful Death Cases We Handle
Fatal injuries can occur in many different circumstances. The Maerowitz Law Firm investigates wrongful death claims involving negligent individuals, businesses, property owners, drivers, and other potentially responsible parties.
Cases may arise from incidents such as:
- Fatal car accidents caused by distracted driving, speeding, impairment, reckless driving, or other negligence
- Commercial truck accidents involving truck drivers, trucking companies, contractors, or other responsible businesses
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents involving negligent motorists
- Dangerous property conditions and other premises liability incidents
- Negligent supervision resulting in a preventable death
- Fatal dog attacks and other serious animal-related incidents
If the incident does not fit into one of these categories, that does not necessarily mean there is no claim. The important question is whether another person or entity's wrongful or negligent conduct contributed to the death.
Fatal Accidents Require a Thorough Investigation
In a serious injury case, the injured person may be able to explain what happened. In a wrongful death case, one of the most important witnesses may no longer be available to tell his or her side of the story.
That makes early investigation especially important.
Physical evidence can disappear. Vehicles may be repaired or destroyed. Surveillance video can be overwritten. Electronic information may be lost. Witness memories can fade. Businesses and insurance companies may begin investigating immediately after a fatal event.
Our goal is to identify and preserve important evidence as early as possible so that the circumstances surrounding the death can be reconstructed from objective facts rather than assumptions.
How The Maerowitz Law Firm Can Help Your Family
A wrongful death case may involve accident reconstruction, insurance coverage questions, medical records, employment and financial information, expert analysis, multiple defendants, and significant damages. Our firm handles the legal and insurance issues so a surviving family member does not have to manage a complex claim alone.
Depending on the circumstances, our work may include:
Insurance Companies Investigate Fatal Accidents Quickly
Insurance companies do not wait until a grieving family feels ready to deal with a legal claim. Insurers may begin gathering statements, reviewing coverage, examining evidence, and evaluating potential defenses almost immediately.
An adjuster's job is to evaluate the insurer's financial exposure. That is different from determining the full impact a death has had on a family.
Before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, or accepting a settlement, it may be wise to have an Arizona wrongful death attorney review the circumstances. Once a claim is fully settled and released, a family ordinarily cannot return later simply because it discovers that its losses were greater than initially understood.
CALL THE MAEROWITZ LAW FIRMWhy Choose The Maerowitz Law Firm?
Wrongful death cases are deeply personal. Families deserve more than being treated as a file number by a high-volume law office.
The Maerowitz Law Firm was founded by father and son attorneys focused on personalized representation, direct communication, careful preparation, and practical legal strategy. Managing Attorney Matt Maerowitz has more than a decade of trial experience and represents clients in personal injury matters throughout Arizona.
We take the time to understand what happened, what the person who died meant to the family, and how the loss will affect surviving family members in the years ahead.
Our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning clients pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for them. We also offer a free, confidential initial consultation with no obligation to hire the firm.
Speak With an Arizona Wrongful Death Attorney Today
If someone else's negligence may have caused the death of a member of your family, contact The Maerowitz Law Firm today. We will listen to what happened, evaluate the circumstances, explain your legal options, and help determine the next steps.
The sooner the circumstances are investigated, the sooner important evidence can be identified and preserved.
480-927-3700 CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION CONTACT THE FIRM