Wrongful Death
Arizona Wrongful Death Lawyers Helping Families After a Preventable Death
Losing a loved one is devastating under any circumstances. When the death was caused by another person’s or organization’s negligence, the family must also face difficult legal, financial, and practical questions while grieving.
Wrongful death cases have their own legal requirements and challenges. They may involve complex questions about who may bring the claim, what caused the death, which individuals or companies are responsible, and how the loss has affected each surviving family member.
Sandweg & Ager represents families throughout Arizona in wrongful death cases involving medical malpractice, serious motor vehicle crashes, construction accidents, and other negligent or wrongful conduct.
Free confidential consultations: call (602) 648-3200 or contact us online.
Watch Us Explain Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death claims may arise from medical negligence, unsafe conduct, serious accidents, and other preventable circumstances. These cases often involve difficult questions about what caused the death, who may be legally responsible, who has the right to bring a claim, and how the loss has affected the surviving family members. These videos explain important legal and practical issues families should understand when considering a wrongful death claim, including how these cases are evaluated, what evidence may be needed, how insurance coverage can affect the claim, and what factors may influence the compensation available.
Insurance Issues in Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death claims often involve complicated insurance questions. There may be disputes about available coverage, policy limits, exclusions, multiple responsible parties, or whether an insurance company is handling the claim fairly.
Sandweg & Ager has experience representing families in wrongful death cases and insureds who have been harmed by the wrongful conduct of their insurance companies, commonly known as bad faith. We can help identify the insurance coverage that may apply and address improper conduct by an insurer.
Here is an article we wrote which was published in the Arizona Attorney magazine of the State Bar of Arizona which discusses the duties insurance companies owe to their insureds.
Arizona Wrongful Death FAQs
What qualifies as wrongful death in Arizona?
A wrongful death may occur when a person dies because of another party’s wrongful act, negligence, or failure to act, and the deceased person would have been entitled to bring a personal injury claim if death had not occurred.
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Arizona?
Depending on the circumstances, an Arizona wrongful death action may be brought by the surviving spouse, child, parent, guardian, or personal representative of the deceased person for the benefit of the eligible survivors.
Can more than one family member recover compensation?
Yes. More than one eligible survivor may have a claim. Any recovery is generally distributed according to the losses suffered by the individual surviving family members rather than divided automatically into equal shares.
What compensation may be available?
Compensation may include the loss of love, companionship, guidance, financial support, household contributions, and other personal or economic losses caused by the death. The available damages depend on the facts and the relationship between the deceased person and each survivor.
Can a wrongful death claim arise from medical malpractice?
Yes. A wrongful death claim may arise when negligent medical care causes or contributes to a patient’s death. These cases may involve failure to diagnose, delayed treatment, emergency room errors, surgical errors, medication mistakes, nursing negligence, hospital negligence, sepsis, or other medical failures.
Is a criminal case required before a wrongful death claim can be filed?
No. A wrongful death action is a civil claim. It may be pursued regardless of whether criminal charges are filed. The legal standards and purposes of criminal and civil cases are different.
How long does a wrongful death case take?
The length of a case depends on the complexity of the evidence, the number of responsible parties, the need for expert witnesses, insurance issues, settlement negotiations, and whether the case proceeds to trial.
How soon should a family contact a wrongful death lawyer?
A family should seek legal advice as soon as reasonably possible. Early investigation can help preserve records, physical evidence, witness information, and other materials that may be important to the claim.
If You or a Loved One Need a Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you believe you or a loved one has been the victim of negligence resulting in personal injury or wrongful death anywhere in Arizona, call our Phoenix, Arizona office at (602) 648-3200 or fill the contact form. Consultations are free and confidential.
