Did you lose a family member in a fatal accident in Tempe, AZ?
At Wyatt Injury Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we invite you to contact our office for a free, confidential case review with a Tempe wrongful death lawyer.
If a spouse, parent, or child died in Tempe because someone else acted carelessly, Arizona law gives certain surviving family members the right to seek compensation for that loss. An attorney can gather the evidence, deal with the insurers, and pursue the claim so the family does not have to manage it alone.
Our founding attorney has represented injured people and their families for more than ten years, and our firm does not represent insurance companies. A Tempe, AZ wrongful death lawyer at our firm will speak with your family privately and without charge. Contact us whenever you are ready.
Wrongful Death Lawyer Tempe, AZ
A wrongful death claim allows surviving family members to recover compensation from the person or company whose negligence or wrongful conduct caused a death. Under A.R.S. § 12-612, the action is brought by the surviving spouse, a child, a parent, or the personal representative of the estate on behalf of all eligible survivors. The claim focuses on what the family lost, both financially and personally, and it is separate from any criminal prosecution of the person responsible.
Traffic crashes in Tempe killed 32 people in 2024, according to ADOT's annual crash report. A Tempe wrongful death attorney handles those fatal crash claims along with deaths caused by dangerous property and other preventable incidents.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle in Tempe
- Pedestrian accidents. Tempe's campus area, light rail corridor, and busy arterials bring drivers and people on foot into close contact. We investigate lighting, crosswalk placement, and whether the driver was speeding or distracted.
- Car accidents. Fatal collisions often involve a red-light violation, a high-speed rear-end impact, or a driver who crossed the center line. We gather the police investigation, vehicle data, and scene measurements to establish fault, and reconstruction analysis can clarify the sequence of events when the facts are disputed.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders killed by a driver who turned left in front of them or merged into their lane leave families facing insurers who often try to blame the rider. We respond with physical evidence and witness accounts.
- Bicycle accidents. Cyclists have little protection when a vehicle strikes them. Claims often involve drivers who passed too closely, turned across a bike lane, or opened a door into a rider's path.
- Truck accidents. Commercial trucks on Interstate 10 and the Loop 101 and 202 freeways can cause fatal crashes when a driver is fatigued or a load is unsecured. The trucking company may share liability with its driver, and federal driving logs and inspection records can show whether the carrier cut corners.
- Hit and run accidents. When a driver flees after a fatal crash, the family may still recover through uninsured motorist coverage, and a criminal investigation can later identify the driver. We monitor that investigation so the civil claim can proceed against the driver once identified.
- Uber accidents. Deaths involving rideshare vehicles raise questions about who pays, since the driver's personal policy and the rideshare company's coverage may both apply.
- Drunk driving crashes. Alcohol-related crashes in Tempe killed five people in 2024, according to the same ADOT report. Beyond compensation for the family's losses, a death caused by an impaired driver may support a claim for punitive damages, which punish conduct far worse than ordinary carelessness.
- Construction site accidents. Falls, equipment strikes, and trench collapses on construction sites can support claims against contractors or equipment owners other than the worker's employer.
Why Choose Wyatt Injury Law Personal Injury Lawyers as My Wrongful Death Lawyer in Tempe, AZ?
Founding Attorney Justin L. Wyatt
Justin L. Wyatt founded our firm to represent people who have been harmed, and families work directly with him from the first meeting. He has practiced law in Arizona since 2015 and is admitted in all Arizona courts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. He earned his law degree at Arizona State University and volunteers with nonprofit organizations in the Valley. His memberships include the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, the Maricopa County Bar Association, and the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association. In 2021, he received a Top 10 Jury Verdict recognition from The National Trial Lawyers, an honor based on a result reached at trial. He was also named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2022 through 2025. Families who hire our firm as their personal injury lawyer in Tempe, AZ after a fatal crash receive that same trial preparation.
Results for Families After a Death
We have helped clients recover millions of dollars, including these wrongful death outcomes:
- $500,000 in a wrongful death case
- $375,000 recovered for a family after a fatal incident
- $150,000 in a wrongful death claim that reached the at-fault party's policy limits
Wrongful death cases are handled on contingency, and the family pays no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.
What Is Important to Understand About a Wrongful Death Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases
Under A.R.S. § 12-611, a wrongful death claim exists when the person who died could have brought an injury claim had they lived. The family must prove the defendant was negligent or acted wrongfully and that this conduct caused the death. A.R.S. § 12-613 allows the jury to award damages it considers fair and just for the loss to the survivors. Those damages commonly cover:
- Financial loss: the income, benefits, and household services the person would have contributed
- Final expenses: medical bills from the fatal injury and funeral and burial costs
- Relationship loss: the love, companionship, guidance, and support the family no longer has
- Grief: the sorrow and emotional suffering of the survivors
The jury may also consider aggravating or mitigating circumstances surrounding the death.
Arizona's constitution bars laws that limit these damages, which is why Arizona never caps the value a jury may place on a life. If the person who died was partly at fault, the award is reduced by that percentage.
What Are Important Aspects of a Wrongful Death Case?
Tempe wrongful death claims involve considerations that families rarely expect.
- A two-year deadline from the date of death. A.R.S. § 12-542 sets the limit, and investigations take time, so early action protects the claim.
- Records from any criminal case. When a driver is charged, as in a Tempe hit-and-run death that led to a felony charge, the criminal file can support the civil claim.
- Evidence of the relationship. Photographs, letters, and testimony from friends help a jury understand who the family lost.
- Family agreement. A single claim is brought for all eligible survivors, so clear communication among family members helps avoid disputes over how the case is handled.
- More than one policy. The at-fault party's coverage, the deceased person's own underinsured motorist coverage, and employer policies may all be available.
What Is the Wrongful Death Case Timeline?
Every family's case moves at its own pace, but most follow a similar sequence.
- A private consultation to review what happened, who may bring the claim, and how to file a claim
- Investigation, including reports from police and the medical examiner
- Calculation of financial losses, sometimes with an economist
- A demand to each responsible insurer
- Negotiation, mediation, or a lawsuit if the insurers refuse a fair resolution
Cases with a single insurer and clear liability often resolve sooner than those involving several defendants or disputed liability.
What Should You Bring to Your Wrongful Death Consultation?
Our Tempe wrongful death lawyers can obtain most official records, but these documents help at the first meeting:
- The death certificate
- The police report or report number
- Recent pay stubs, tax returns, or benefits statements
- Funeral and medical bills
- Names of witnesses and any photos or video from the scene
The consultation is free and confidential. We answer your questions about eligibility, compensation, and timing without any obligation, and we can meet at a time that accommodates funeral arrangements and family schedules.
Most Dangerous Locations for Wrongful Death in Tempe
The Maricopa Association of Governments ranks the region's intersections by crash frequency, severity, and type, and two Tempe intersections appear on its Top 100 list.
Dangerous streets:
- Elliot Road and Kyrene Road. Ranked 58th in the region, with 98 crashes during the study period.
- Broadway Road and Hardy Drive. Ranked 62nd, with a high severity score despite fewer total crashes.
Dangerous highways:
- Interstate 10. The Broadway Curve section of the freeway runs through Tempe and connects the East Valley with central Phoenix.
- US 60 (Superstition Freeway). A major east-west commuter route through southern Tempe, where speed and congestion combine at interchanges. Traffic crashes across Maricopa County killed 594 people in 2024, according to ADOT figures.
Reach Out to Wyatt Injury Law Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
No legal claim can undo a family's loss, but it can hold the responsible party accountable and provide financial stability. We handle Tempe wrongful death claims on contingency, with no fee unless we recover compensation. Our office answers calls 24/7. Contact us to arrange a confidential consultation.