Phoenix Wrongful Death Lawyer

Phoenix Wrongful Death Attorney

What a Phoenix Wrongful Death Claim Can Do for Your Family

Losing someone you love because of another person’s carelessness changes everything. It happens at the worst possible moment. You have the least energy for paperwork, deadlines, and insurance companies. You need to know what happened, who caused it, and what your family can recover. Not vague promises.

At Arizona Injury Law Group, every attorney holds board certification in workers’ compensation law. Each one deals with insurance companies and state agencies every day for Arizona families. That background makes each one a Phoenix wrongful death lawyer. That experience helps us spot compensation sources a case can sometimes miss.

Tell us how your family member died, and we’ll help you understand the sources of recovery that may apply, not just the obvious one.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Maricopa County

We build wrongful death claims for Arizona families after a preventable death. It does not matter where it happened. That includes:

• Car, truck, and rideshare crashes on Phoenix and Maricopa County roads
• On-the-job deaths caused by a subcontractor, driver, or company outside the employer
• Defective machinery, vehicles, or equipment that failed when it should not have
• Medical negligence, including a missed diagnosis or a surgical error
• Unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, including falls and poor security

Each of these starts the same way. Someone else’s carelessness took a life that should still be here. If your family member died on a job site, a separate claim may also apply. That claim runs through the workers’ compensation system, which we explain below.

What Arizona Law Says Your Family Can Recover

Arizona law lets your family recover money after a preventable death. The death must have been caused by someone else’s carelessness or intentional conduct, not just accidents (A.R.S. § 12-611). That covers lost income your family member would have earned, plus funeral costs and the loss of their guidance and companionship. Medical bills before death are usually a separate claim, filed by the estate. If the case goes to trial, a jury decides the final number, and Arizona places no cap on it.

Your family also has a deadline. Arizona gives you two years from the date of death to file suit (A.R.S. § 12-542). That clock starts at death, not at the original accident. In most cases, miss that window and the claim ends for good, regardless of how strong it is. This reflects Arizona law as of September 2026.

If a government vehicle or employee played any role, the timeline changes in a specific way: your family must first submit a written Notice of Claim within 180 days of the death under A.R.S. Section 12-821.01, separate from and well before the two-year suit deadline. Missing that 180-day notice can end the claim even though the two-year window has not yet closed.

Get legal advice immediately if a government vehicle or employee was involved.

When a Workplace Death Means Two Separate Claims

When someone dies on the job in Arizona, workers’ compensation death benefits usually come first.

Families file those benefits through the Industrial Commission of Arizona. Those benefits cover part of the lost income and funeral costs. They come from the employer’s insurance carrier, not from whoever was careless. They also stop well short of the full value of your family’s loss.

A separate wrongful death claim can fill that gap. A subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, driver, or outside property owner may share the blame. If so, your family may be able to pursue that party directly. That claim can add to what your family already gets from workers’ compensation, but the insurer usually gets paid back first out of that new recovery. Your family also has only one year to pursue that outside party directly, so don’t wait.

Every attorney on our team holds board certification in workers’ compensation law. That focus means we specifically look for this second claim, which can be easy to overlook.

FAQ’s About Phoenix Wrongful Death Laws

What should our family do first after a preventable death?

Get a copy of the police report or incident report if one exists. Keep any medical or funeral bills. Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance company before you speak with a lawyer. Early evidence disappears fast. The sooner you get legal guidance, the more options stay open for your family.

How long do we have to file a wrongful death claim in Arizona?

In most cases, Arizona gives your family two years from the date of death to file suit. That clock starts at death, not at the original accident. If a government agency or employee was involved, a separate 180-day Notice of Claim deadline applies under A.R.S. Section 12-821.01, on top of the two-year suit deadline. Do not wait to get advice.

Who is allowed to file a wrongful death claim in Arizona?

Arizona law puts the surviving spouse first in line. Surviving children come next, then surviving parents if there is no spouse or child. If none of those relatives exist, the estate’s personal representative can bring the claim instead. Only one lawsuit gets filed on behalf of the whole family.

Can our family file both a workers’ compensation claim and a wrongful death claim?

Often, yes. Workers’ compensation benefits and a wrongful death claim are separate systems with separate rules. Pursuing one does not rule out the other. We walk through both options with every family whose loved one died on the job.

Where would a wrongful death lawsuit be filed in Phoenix?

Most wrongful death lawsuits here are filed in the Maricopa County Superior Court’s Civil Department. Where the case lands afterward depends on which judge or commissioner it gets assigned to.

What if a government vehicle or agency was involved in the death?

Claims against a city, county, or state agency come with a much shorter notice deadline: 180 days under A.R.S. Section 12-821.01, not years. Missing that early deadline can end the claim before it starts. Reach out right away if a government vehicle or employee was involved.

What does it cost to hire a wrongful death lawyer?

We handle wrongful death cases without requiring a retainer, and every case review is free. You do not pay out of pocket to find out. This is true whether your family has a claim worth pursuing.

What can our family recover in a wrongful death case?

Arizona law allows recovery for lost income and funeral costs. Medical bills before death are usually a separate claim, filed by the estate. It also covers the loss of a loved one’s guidance, companionship, and care. If the case goes to trial, a jury decides the final amount. Arizona places no cap on what a family can recover.

If none of these match your situation, reach out. Tell us what happened. We will tell you where your family’s claim stands.

Talk to a Phoenix Wrongful Death Lawyer Today

You do not have to sort out every claim on your own. You also do not pay anything upfront to find out what those claims are worth.

Contact Arizona Injury Law Group for a free case review. A Phoenix wrongful death lawyer will walk your family through every path to recovery. That includes claims against the person responsible and any benefits already available through workers’ compensation.