Wrongful Death
Wrongful Death Lawyer Near Surprise and Glendale, AZ
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?
How Can an Attorney Help During a Wrongful Death Incident?
Our team at Garrison Law Firm understands how difficult life can be after losing a loved one, which is why we do our best to offer experienced and compassionate legal representation to help you get fair compensation for your loss. We know that no amount of money can ever make up for the pain and loss that you are experiencing, but by turning to our team, you will have the help you need to get the financial support you deserve.
“Excellent service, great communication. Always informed on what was happening.”
Robert A.
If neither a spouse, child, nor parent survives the decedent then a claim can be made by the Estate of the decedent. If a claim is made on behalf of the Estate, any recovery would be distributed according to the will of the decedent, or if no will exist, pursuant to the laws of intestate succession. Notice that the law in Arizona does not allow siblings to assert a claim for wrongful death even though the impact of the death may be just as significant.
Why Choose Garrison Law Firm During a Wrongful Death Experience?
If you have lost a loved one due to another’s negligence, we are truly sorry for your loss. At Garrison Law Firm, we take our clients’ rights very seriously. With over 60 years of combined experience in wrongful death law and personal injury practice areas, we are truly a team you can trust to get the results you need. We offer legal representation throughout the greater Phoenix area. Call 623-915-1100 to speak with one of our legal experts today.
Wrongful Death Laws in Arizona
A wrongful death claim is an action or demand by relatives or the estate of a person killed by negligence or a wrongful act of another person, business or public entity. The purpose of the claim is compensation for economic losses, out-of-pocket expenses, personal suffering and the emotional grief of survivors.
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 12-612, Section 12-613 control wrongful death claims in Arizona. Court decisions have interpreted and given meaning to the statutes over the years as the loss a wrongful death has evolved. A wrongful death claim is an action brought by the relatives of the estate of a person who has been killed by the negligence, or wrongful act of another person, business or public entity. The statute provides:
-When death of a person is caused by wrongful act, negligence or default, and the act, neglect or default is such as would, if death had not been ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action to recover damages in respect thereof, then, and in every such case, the person who or the corporation which would have been liable if death had not ensued shall be liable to an action for damages, not with standing the death of the person injured, and although the death was caused under such circumstances as amount in law to murder in the first or second degree or manslaughter.
-Many times the issues surrounding a wrongful death claim can be complex. It is important to consult a lawyer experienced in wrongful death matters before making a claim or giving any statements or information to anyone. The Garrison Law Firm offers free consultation. Use the consultation as a starting point and take advantage of the experience Garrison Law Firm can provide.
-In Summerfield v. Superior Court, the court faced the question of whether a claim for wrongful death could be asserted for a stillborn viable fetus. The court held that the word “person” in the wrongful death statute did encompass a stillborn viable fetus. Indeed, Kevin Garrison has successfully asserted a claim for the father of an eight month old fetus who was killed along with her mother in a car accident.
Who is Entitled to Make a Claim
The Spouse of the deceased
The Children of the deceased
The Parents of the Deceased
If neither a spouse, child, or parent survives the decedent then a claim can be made by the Estate of the decedent. If a claim is made on behalf of the Estate, any recovery would be distributed according to the will of the decedent, or if no will exists, pursuant to the laws of intestate succession. Notice that the law does not allow brothers or sisters to assert a loss for a sibling even though the impact of the death may be just as significant.
What Damages can be Recovered in a Wrongful Death Claim?
Once again, this is controlled by statute Arizona Revised Statutes Section 12-613 provides:
In an action for wrongful death, the jury shall give such damages as it deems fair and just with reference to the injury resulting from the death to the surviving parties who may be entitled to recover, and also having regard to the mitigating or aggravating circumstances attending the wrongful act, neglect or default. The amount recovered in such action shall not be subject to the debts or liabilities of the deceased unless the action is brought on behalf of the decedent’s estate.
What Does a Jury Consider When Determining the Proper Amount to Award in a Wrongful Death Claim?
If a wrongful death claim goes to trial the jury is instructed to consider the following elements in determining damages.
- The loss of love, affection, companionship, care, protection, and guidance since the death of the decedent and in the future
- The pain, grief, sorrow, anguish, stress, shock, and mental suffering already experienced and reasonably probable to be experienced in the future.
- The income and services that have already been lost as a result of the death, and that are reasonably probable to be lost in the future.
- The reasonable expenses of funeral and burial.
- The reasonable expenses of necessary medical care and services for the injuries that resulted in death
- An important element in determining the damages suffered by the survivors is the relationship that was lost. Evidence of a decedent’s behavior or a survivor’s behavior can be admitted to disprove loss of consortium damages. Thus, for example, a husband’s abuse of his wife was shown to rebut his claim that he had suffered a loss of consortium as a result of her wrongful death. The husband was awarded nothing when the evidence determined that he was abusive to his wife.
- The survivors may not recover for the deceased’s pain and suffering prior to his/her death. ARS Section 14-3110; Harrington v. Flanders 2 Ariz. App. 265, 407 P.2d 946 (1965). The only exception to this is found in claims for abuse of a vulnerable adult. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 46-451 et. seq. The survivors of the decedent, however, are entitled to damages for personal anguish, sorrow, mental suffering, pain, and shock that they experience as a result of the death of the decedent. Southern Pacific Transportation Company v. Lueck 111 Ariz. 560 535 P2d 599.
- It is important to understand, however, that the grief that is compensable is that attached to no longer having the decedent. For example, in Mollen v. Posada Del Sol Health Care Center 169 Ariz. 399, 819 P.2d 985 (App. 1991). The court held that the decedent’s mother could not recover damages for her feelings of guilt over not having transferred her son from a nursing home after she learned that her son was receiving unsafe, improper, and negligent care at the home prior to his death. The reason for this decision is that her emotional trauma was not from the loss of her son but rather from her own guilt in not transferring him from the nursing home prior to his death.
- It is interesting to note that Arizona Law does not allow evidence of the remarriage of a surviving spouse. Taylor v. Southern Pacific Transportation Company130 Ariz. 516, 637 P.2d 726 (1981). The justification for this is that the law does not wish to penalize a spouse whose partner has died by prohibiting that spouse from recovery if they later remarried
What Happens to the Money?
What If a Person is Killed While Working?
Arizona law provides benefits for survivors of persons who are killed in an accident arising out of and in the course of their employment unless the injury was purposely self-inflicted. Arizona Revised Statute Section 23-1021. Under the workers compensation statutes, however, death benefits are paid regardless of who was at fault for the accident. The survivors do not need to prove a claim for negligence. Rather, the survivors need to merely prove that the decedent employee was killed while in the course and scope of his employment.
Are there any Caps or Limits on the Amount of Damages that may be Recovered in a Wrongful Death Case?
No. There is no dollar limit on the amount that can be recovered. Arizona Constitution, article 18, section 6 provides as follows:
The right of action to recover damages for injuries shall never be abrogated and the amount recovered shall not be subject to any statutory limitation.