Losing a loved one in Scottsdale because of someone's negligent or wrongful act inflicts a unique and lasting pain. Your family faces the difficult task of grieving while confronting the reality that this loss was preventable.
The Scottsdale wrongful death lawyers at Kurtz Riley Law Group guide families through the legal process with compassion. We focus on securing the justice and financial stability you need to move forward. Our firm represents families throughout Arizona who have lost a family member due to car accidents, medical malpractice, or another party’s misconduct.
We have dedicated our practice to helping families in Scottsdale and throughout Arizona seek justice and financial recovery after losing someone due to another party’s wrongful conduct.
Why Choose Kurtz Riley Law Group’s Scottsdale Wrongful Death Lawyers?
When you’re dealing with the unexpected death of a family member, you need a law firm that combines legal experience with genuine compassion. Kurtz Riley Law Group has built a reputation on providing skilled legal representation and heartfelt support to grieving families throughout Arizona. Here’s why families in Scottsdale trust us with their most difficult legal challenges:
Proven Track Record in Wrongful Death Cases
Our wrongful death lawyers have successfully represented numerous families who have lost loved ones due to car accidents, medical negligence, workplace incidents, and other preventable tragedies.
We understand the unique legal challenges of wrongful death cases, from proving liability to calculating the full extent of damages a family has suffered. Our experience allows us to build compelling cases that demonstrate not only what happened but also how your loved one’s death has impacted your family’s future.
Compassionate Approach to Sensitive Cases
Wrongful death cases require a delicate balance between aggressive legal advocacy and sensitive handling of family emotions. Our attorneys take the time to listen to your story, understand your loved one’s impact on your family, and ensure that their memory is honored throughout the legal process.
We recognize that no amount of money can replace the person you’ve lost, but we also understand that financial recovery can help ease the burden of unexpected expenses and lost income that often follow a wrongful death.
Resources to Take on Any Opponent
Whether your case involves a major corporation, insurance company, or governmental entity, Kurtz Riley Law Group has the resources and determination to pursue justice.
We work with accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, economists, and other professionals to build the strongest possible case for your family. Our firm is prepared to invest the time and resources necessary to thoroughly investigate your loved one’s death and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Accessible Location in Scottsdale
Our Scottsdale office is conveniently located at 10609 N Hayden Rd Suite 106, just south of the Scottsdale Airport and easily accessible from the Loop 101 freeway. This location puts us close to families throughout North Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the surrounding communities.
We understand that traveling to legal meetings can be challenging during a time of grief, so we’ve made our office easily accessible while also offering flexible meeting arrangements when needed. You can reach us at (623) 303-5754 for a free, confidential consultation.
Wrongful Death Compensation
Understanding the types of compensation available in wrongful death cases can help make informed decisions about pursuing legal action. Arizona law recognizes that family members suffer various types of losses when a loved one dies due to another’s negligence, and compensation should address both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages typically include medical expenses incurred before your loved one’s death, funeral and burial costs, and the loss of income and benefits your family would have received if your loved one had lived.
These calculations often require expert testimony from economists and actuaries who can project what your loved one would have earned throughout their expected lifetime, taking into account factors like their age, health, education, and career trajectory.
Non-economic damages address the emotional and relational losses your family has experienced. This includes compensation for the loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support your loved one provided. These damages recognize that family relationships have value beyond their economic contributions.
The amount of compensation your family may receive depends on numerous factors, including your loved one’s age, health, earning capacity, and the circumstances of their death.
Our Scottsdale, wrongful death attorneys will work with experts to thoroughly evaluate all aspects of your loss and ensure that any settlement or verdict adequately reflects the full impact of your loved one’s death on your family’s future.
Where Do Wrongful Deaths Occur in Scottsdale?
Negligent and reckless acts cause preventable deaths throughout Scottsdale every year. Our attorneys handle cases arising from many different circumstances.
- Traffic Collisions: Fatal car and truck accidents frequently occur on major Scottsdale roadways like the Loop 101, Scottsdale Road, and Shea Boulevard, especially at busy intersections.
- Construction Accidents: Construction sites in North Scottsdale and Old Town expose workers to dangers from falls, equipment malfunctions, and other hazards that lead to fatal incidents.
- Medical Malpractice: Errors and negligence in healthcare settings can cause a patient's preventable death.
Understanding Wrongful Death Law in Arizona
Arizona’s wrongful death statute allows certain family members to seek compensation when their loved one dies due to another person’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct.
The law recognizes that family members suffer both economic and emotional losses when a loved one dies prematurely, and it provides a legal framework for recovering compensation for these losses.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Arizona law specifies which family members can bring a wrongful death lawsuit.
One of the following people must file the lawsuit on behalf of all statutory beneficiaries:
- The surviving spouse
- A surviving child
- A surviving parent or guardian
- The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate
Any financial recovery from the lawsuit is then distributed among the surviving spouse, children, and parents in proportion to their damages.
Fighting the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies often become involved in wrongful death cases, either as the liability insurer for the party who caused the death or as your loved one’s life insurance carrier. These companies rarely have your family’s best interests in mind and often employ tactics designed to minimize or deny valid claims.
Liability insurers may attempt to blame your loved one for their own death, argue that the death was due to pre-existing medical conditions, or claim that the damages your family is seeking are excessive. They may also try to pressure you into accepting a quick settlement that doesn’t adequately compensate your family for the full extent of your losses.
Life insurance companies sometimes deny claims by alleging that the death was due to suicide, that the policy had lapsed, or that the deceased made misrepresentations on their application. These denials can be particularly devastating to families who were counting on life insurance proceeds to help them through their financial difficulties.
Our wrongful death attorneys understand these tactics and know how to counter them effectively. We conduct thorough investigations, work with expert witnesses, and build strong cases that demonstrate the true cause of your loved one’s death and the full extent of your family’s losses. When insurance companies see that we’re prepared to take a case to trial, they often become more willing to negotiate fair settlements.
What to Do After a Wrongful Death
The period immediately following a wrongful death is overwhelming, but there are important steps you can take to protect your family’s legal rights while you’re grieving. Understanding what to do can help ensure that evidence is preserved and that your family doesn’t miss important deadlines.
Preserve Important Documents
Gather and safely store all documents related to your loved one’s death, including death certificates, medical records, police reports, and any correspondence with insurance companies. These documents will be key for building your wrongful death case. Also, collect financial records that show your loved one’s income, benefits, and contributions to the household.
Avoid Giving Statements to Insurance Companies
Insurance representatives may contact you shortly after your loved one’s death, requesting statements or asking you to sign documents. While they may present themselves as trying to help, these conversations are often recorded and can be used against your family later. It’s generally best to refer all insurance communications to your attorney.
Document the Impact on Your Family
Keep detailed records of how your loved one’s death has affected your family, both financially and emotionally. It includes tracking lost income, changes in household responsibilities, and the emotional impact on family members. This documentation can be valuable evidence when seeking compensation for your losses.
Maintain Medical Records
If your loved one received medical treatment before their death, ensure that all medical records are preserved. These records may be vital for proving the cause of death and demonstrating that proper medical care might have prevented the death.
Since Arizona law imposes a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, you must file your lawsuit within two years of your loved one’s death. Contact our firm much sooner than this deadline to ensure evidence is preserved and your case is properly investigated.
How Our Scottsdale Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help
Navigating a wrongful death case requires legal experience, investigative resources, and the emotional strength to pursue justice during a time of grief. Our Scottsdale wrongful death attorneys provide comprehensive legal services to ease your burden while maximizing your family’s recovery.
Thorough Case Investigation
We begin every wrongful death case with a comprehensive investigation designed to uncover all facts surrounding your loved one’s death. This investigation often involves reviewing police reports, medical records, witness statements, and physical evidence from the scene. We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and other specialists to build a complete picture of what happened and who bears responsibility.
Expert Witness Coordination
Wrongful death cases often require testimony from various experts who can explain complex technical or medical issues to a jury. Our firm has established relationships with qualified experts in fields such as accident reconstruction, medicine, economics, and vocational rehabilitation. These experts help us demonstrate both how the death occurred and the full extent of your family’s losses.
Comprehensive Damage Calculation
Determining the full value of a wrongful death case requires careful analysis of both economic and non-economic losses.
Our personal injury attorneys work with economists and other professionals to calculate the present value of your loved one’s expected lifetime earnings, benefits, and household contributions. We also work to quantify the less tangible losses, such as the value of lost companionship, guidance, and emotional support.
Skilled Negotiation
Many wrongful death cases are resolved through negotiation rather than trial. Our attorneys have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and defense attorneys to secure fair settlements for our clients. We understand the tactics that opposing parties use to minimize settlements, and we’re prepared to counter these strategies effectively.
Trial Representation
Our firm is prepared to take your case to trial when fair settlements cannot be reached through negotiation. Our trial attorneys have the skills and experience to present complex wrongful death cases to juries effectively.
We understand how to tell your loved one’s story in a way that honors their memory while demonstrating the full impact of their loss on your family.
Ongoing Support and Communication
Throughout the legal process, we provide regular updates on your case’s progress and remain available to answer your questions and address your concerns. We understand that this is likely your first experience with a wrongful death case, and we’re committed to helping you understand each step of the process.
Scottsdale Wrongful Death Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action in Arizona?
- A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, such as lost financial support, companionship, and grief.
- A survival action, filed by the deceased's estate, seeks to recover damages the deceased person could have claimed had they survived, such as their medical bills and lost wages before their death.
We can help you determine how to pursue both types of claims.
What if the person at fault for my loved one's death also died in the accident?
You may still pursue a wrongful death claim, typically by filing the claim against the deceased person's estate. Recovery often comes from the at-fault person's automobile or liability insurance policy.
Do we have to go to court to resolve a wrongful death case?
Not always. We resolve many wrongful death claims through direct negotiations with insurance companies, which results in a wrongful death settlement.
However, if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation that accounts for your family's total losses, we prepare your case for trial to let a jury decide the outcome.
Can I file a wrongful death claim for an unmarried partner?
Arizona's wrongful death statute generally limits claims to a surviving spouse, child, or parent.
Unmarried partners typically cannot file a wrongful death claim unless they are also the legal parent or guardian of the deceased's child or the personal representative of the estate.
Discuss your specific situation with an attorney.
Call Our Scottsdale Wrongful Death Lawyers
The death of a loved one due to another’s negligence is one of life’s most devastating experiences. While no legal action can bring your loved one back, holding the responsible parties accountable can provide a sense of justice and help secure your family’s financial future.
We’re committed to helping families throughout Scottsdale navigate this difficult time while pursuing the compensation they deserve.
Contact Kurtz Riley Law Group today at (623) 303-5754 or online for your free, confidential consultation about your wrongful death case. We’ll review the circumstances of your loved one’s death, explain your legal options, and help you understand the next steps in pursuing justice.
Our team is ready to fight for your family’s rights and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.