Marana Wrongful Death Lawyer

Marana Wrongful Death Attorney

Personal injury claims can be filed when a person is injured because another party acted negligently. Unfortunately, people injured in accidents like these don’t always survive their injuries. When a devastating situation like that happens, their family members could file a wrongful death claim in place of a personal injury claim. A Marana wrongful death lawyer can help families navigate this difficult time and hold the party at fault liable.

A wrongful death claim will never recover a family’s loss. What a claim can do is ensure the party to blame is held accountable and that the financial strain on a family is lessened.

Experienced and Compassionate Legal Support in a Wrongful Death Claim

At the Bleaman Law Firm, P.C., our team aims to bring you compassionate and respectful legal guidance. We are dedicated to holding the party at fault accountable, whether that is a driver, employer, product manufacturer, property owner, or business. When someone else is responsible for your loved one’s death, we can help you recover compensation for losses like funeral costs, lost income, and the immense pain and suffering that comes with the loss of a loved one.

The team at the Bleaman Law Firm, P.C., has worked for over 20 years to support those in our community in personal injury and wrongful death claims. We can handle your claim, protect your family’s interests, and do what we can to correct the wrongs you’ve faced.

What Are the Common Causes of Wrongful Death Claims in Marana?

Wrongful death claims in Marana, Arizona, are a form of personal injury claim and can happen for many of the same causes as personal injury claims. When a person should have been eligible to file a personal injury claim but died during the accident or later from their injuries, then family members can file a wrongful death claim.

Most wrongful death claims are filed based on negligence, although some may be filed for criminal acts or misconduct. The benefits of these claims go to the surviving closest family members of the deceased, proportional to their losses. Some of the most common causes of wrongful death claims include:

• Motor vehicle accidents. Collisions between motor vehicles are often the result of a driver’s negligence and can frequently result in serious and even fatal injuries. Certain types of vehicle collisions are more likely to result in deaths, including commercial truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians or bicyclists. Damages could be secured through an insurance claim or a civil claim.
• Workplace accidents. While accidents can happen in any workplace, fatal accidents are much more common in dangerous worksites, including construction sites, ships, shipyards, rail yards, offshore oil rigs, and manufacturing factories. Death benefits could be secured through workers’ compensation insurance or through a civil claim in specific cases.
• Slip-and-fall accidents and premises liability. Premises hazards can include electrical dangers, broken railings, and improper lighting. A fall from a significant height or certain injuries to vulnerable individuals can result in death. Property owners are liable for hazards that they fail to address when these hazards cause an injury or death.
• Defective products. Defective products can cause serious injury and even death, and a manufacturer or other commercial entity could be liable.
• Nursing home abuse and neglect. When staff members entrusted with the care of an elderly loved one fail to care for their health or engage in despicable behavior, it can cause injury, worsening health, and even death. These individuals or the nursing home should be held accountable.
• Violent crime. When your loved one was killed during intentional violence or during the commission of another crime, the at-fault parties can face both criminal charges and a civil case.

The process of investigating and filing a claim to recover damages can vary based on the insurance the case is handled through or the type of accident that occurred. An experienced wrongful death attorney is important to navigate these complex issues and get as much compensation as is available.

FAQs

Q: Who Are the Heirs of Wrongful Death in Arizona?

A: The heirs for wrongful death in Arizona are the deceased’s surviving family members. This includes a surviving spouse, child, parent, or guardian. A representative of the person appointed to the estate can also file a claim on behalf of these family members or for the benefit of the deceased’s estate if none of these family members survive.

When the benefits of the wrongful death claim go to the deceased’s estate, then it is distributed based on their will or according to state laws.

Q: Are Wrongful Death Settlements Taxable in Arizona?

A: Wrongful death settlements are usually not taxable in Arizona because they recover the loss of a family member, intending to make them whole. However, specific parts of a wrongful death settlement may be subject to taxation.

A settlement can recover the lost income of the deceased and the income they would have earned during their lifetime. This income may be taxed just the same as it would if it were earned income. An attorney can help you determine how taxes will affect certain parts of your settlement.

Q: What Is the Difference Between Survival Action and Wrongful Death in Arizona?

A: The primary difference between survival action and wrongful death claims in Arizona is that a survival action recovers losses of the deceased, and wrongful death claims recover losses of the surviving family. A survival action is filed by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate, recovering losses like the deceased’s pain and suffering and the financial losses of their estate.

A wrongful death claim is filed by surviving family members or by a representative of the person for the benefit of family members. This claim recovers funeral costs, lost financial support, and lost companionship.

Q: Is Wrongful Death the Same as Negligence?

A: No, wrongful death is not the same as negligence, although negligence is often part of proving wrongful death claims. Wrongful death claims are a sort of personal injury claim that holds individuals or entities accountable if their negligence, misconduct, illegal actions, or malice caused someone’s death.

Negligence is one common cause, meaning that the party at fault had a duty to behave with reasonable care for the deceased’s well-being and failed to do so, either through negligent action or inaction.

Compassionate Legal Counsel in Wrongful Death Claims

The team at the Bleaman Law Firm, P.C., can help you and your family during this impossible time. Contact us today.