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We understand that losing someone you love is devastating, especially when it could have been prevented. If you are in this unfortunate situation, we extend our deepest condolences. One of our wrongful death lawyers in Glendale, AZ, could help you seek justice and financial compensation during this difficult time.
At Zanes Law, we understand no amount of money will bring back your loved one, but monetary damages could help you and your family get back on your feet after a tragic loss. Consider talking to one of our seasoned Glendale personal injury attorneys about pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.
We offer free consultations, and you don’t pay for our legal representation until we win your case.
Addressing the Complexities of a Wrongful Death Case
Several situations involving negligent or intentional acts can lead to the wrongful death of a loved one. Even if your case can clearly be classified as a wrongful death, obtaining professional legal representation can improve your chances of recovering a fair settlement or jury verdict.
Unfortunately, as Glendale personal injury attorneys, we see wrongful death cases involving the following:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- Product liability incidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Boat accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
Should you have questions about liability or losses in the wake of a fatal accident, our attorneys can identify your best course of action moving forward. We have a proven track record of successful case results in wrongful death and personal injury claims; therefore, we want to use this experience to fight for compensation on behalf of your departed loved one.
For a free legal consultation with a wrongful death lawyer serving Glendale, call 866-499-8989
When to File a Wrongful Death Claim After an Accident
After losing someone in a fatal accident, knowing whether to file an insurance claim or a wrongful death lawsuit can be challenging.
When faced with this choice, consult with a wrongful death attorney to understand the best action for you. In some cases, an attorney from our team will evaluate your case and start by negotiating with insurers on your behalf.
If the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement, we will file the necessary legal paperwork and fight for justice in court.
Glendale Wrongful Death Lawyer Near Me 866-499-8989
You Can Hold Different Parties Accountable for a Loved One’s Untimely Passing
Many accident types can result in the wrongful death of a loved one, and multiple parties could be liable for your losses.
While you may instinctively want to hold someone at the accident scene responsible, corporations, mechanics, and manufacturers may share equal blame.
Proving Liability in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
To prove wrongful death liability, you must provide evidence of the negligence that harmed your loved one. You can work with our wrongful death attorneys in Glendale to determine the evidence needed to support your case.
Evidence of Wrongful Death Negligence Can Include the Following:
- Photos of your accident
- Videos of the accident
- A police report detailing your losses
- Black box records, if applicable
- Physical evidence from the scene of the accident
- Bystander testimonies
- Expert witness statements
You need solid evidence to establish liability for the accident and your resulting losses. You should also bring evidence indicating you can stand in for your loved one in court. Our team can help you gather this information before submitting your complaint to the county clerk.
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Wrongful Death Beneficiaries in Glendale
State law does not allow everyone to sue for wrongful death. The right to file a wrongful death lawsuit is limited to specific parties defined under Arizona Revised Statutes § 14-3203. In many cases, only spouses, children, parents, and guardians may file a fatal accident claim.
Understanding the priorities of these parties is crucial in determining who can seek to be appointed as the personal representative. If an individual is not one of those permitted family members, they should contact a wrongful death attorney in Glendale to discuss whether an exception may allow them to sue.
Standard exceptions include domestic partners, grandchildren, and estate representatives.
The parties with the ability to file a wrongful death claim in Arizona are as follows:
- Nominated executors: Executors nominated in a valid will are given priority to act as the personal representative. An executor manages the deceased’s estate as outlined in the will.
- Surviving spouses: Surviving spouses who are devisees (beneficiaries of the deceased’s will) hold the next priority to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Those who are not devisees have the fourth priority, following other surviving devisees.
- Other surviving devisees: Individuals entitled to inherit property left by the deceased have the third priority in filing a wrongful death claim.
- Other surviving heirs: After surviving spouses and devisees, any other surviving heirs of the deceased can act as the personal representative.
- Veterans’ agencies: In cases involving veterans or their immediate family members, the Department of Veterans’ Services may step in as the personal representative.
- Creditors of the deceased person: If no other party with higher priority seeks to be a personal representative within 45 days of the wrongful death, creditors (excluding funeral directors or funeral homes) have priority.
- Public fiduciaries: If no other party steps in as the personal representative, a state-appointed public fiduciary may act in that capacity in the wrongful death case.
It is important to recognize that individuals not included on this list may not have the legal standing to file a wrongful death claim in Arizona. If you believe you are eligible to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, an experienced attorney can help you understand your rights, responsibilities, and options within the legal process.
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Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Action
If you are eligible to receive damages in a wrongful death claim, you may pursue compensation for any or all of the following types of damages, depending on the specifics of your case:
- Funeral costs
- Burial expenses
- Other costs related to the accident victim’s death
- Medical bills related to treatment after the accident
- Loss of the deceased person’s financial contribution to the family
- Loss of rights to an inheritance
- Pain and suffering the deceased may have suffered in the accident
- Property damage
- Other financial losses
- Emotional trauma and grief for the family members
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
You can work with a Glendale wrongful death attorney to calculate the economic value of these losses when you’re building your complaint. Our team can find the sum of your funeral and medical expenses and other economic losses and the multipliers needed to quantify your non-economic damages.
Services a Wrongful Death Lawyer Provides
When you hire our law firm to represent your family in your loved one’s wrongful death claim, our team of lawyers will help you by taking care of the following:
Paperwork and Communications
You must file your legal claim with a county clerk in Glendale before your statute of limitations expires. Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 limits your actionable time to two years. However, certain exceptions may apply. When you contact us, we can tell you exactly how much time you have to file your paperwork within Arizona’s deadlines.
We will also handle all communications with the responsible party’s insurance company and others involved in your case.
Research
Insurance companies can be reluctant to give you the financial help you need to recover from an accident, even when the incident resulted in the loss of life. You shouldn’t have to elaborate on the validity of your damages while grieving the loss of a loved one. That’s why we can negotiate with the applicable insurance companies for you.
We can represent your claim as efficiently as possible while protecting you from invasive questions that might exacerbate your grief. You can work with our attorneys ahead of time, too, to discuss your goals for justice and compensation.
Witness Interviews
It’s our job to assess all evidence relevant to the case before presenting it to an Arizona civil court. Our team can assess police reports, gather witness statements, and contact professionals who can better value your losses.
We want to help you get the monetary compensation you deserve after a loved one’s wrongful death. When we put our analytical resources to work for you, you can trust our team to establish a comprehensive understanding of the negligence involved in your accident.
Ensuring Fair Treatment
There’s a chance that negligent parties may try to intimidate you out of taking legal action. Similarly, insurance companies may try to bully you into accepting an insufficient settlement. Our team takes a proactive approach to your case.
To start, we calculate our own estimate of your accident compensation. When we can back this amount with solid evidence, we can easily argue that you deserve the maximum compensation available in your case.
Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney Today
Losing a loved one leaves you in a difficult position, both emotionally and financially. Knowing someone else’s negligence contributed to your emotional distress can make it hard to face them in court. Fortunately, our team is here to stand by you and hold the negligent party accountable for their actions.
As wrongful death accident lawyers in Glendale, AZ, we know how to negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of our clients. We will fight for your right to compensation for the death of your loved one. Contact us today to schedule your case evaluation.
Call or text 866-499-8989 or complete a
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