Wrongful Death

Arizona law provides that certain family members can recover damages for the death of a loved-one that is caused by the wrong of another. The wrongful death statutes permit the spouse, parents and children of the person who died to recover damages for the death.

Survivors can recover the income that the person who died would have earned to support them. Lost income, however, does not include that part of the money the person who dies would have earned to support himself or herself.

Arizona’s wrongful death statutes permit the survivors to recover for their grief, sorrow and suffering resulting from the loss of a loved-one. This type of damage compensates both past and future emotional suffering. The survivors can also recover damages for the loss of the love, care, affection, companionship and other pleasures of the family relationship that are lost because of the death of a loved-one. For example, a surviving spouse suffers a significant loss from the death of a spouse because that person is no longer there to share the joys and burdens of raising a family and living a life together.

Example Wrongful Death Case

Wrongful death of 54 year-old totally disabled woman. Decedent had been on total social security disability for 15 years due to degenerative back condition. She died on the operating table of anesthetic complications. Survived by husband and three adult children.

For more information about wrongful death cases see our FAQ section.