Skilled Legal Representation When Government Contractors are Fatally Injured in Arizona
Knowledgeable Phoenix attorneys helping you understand the challenges of a state lawsuit
Arizona relies on contract workers to carry out many of the state's responsibilities. From construction projects to banking services, these contractors help the state meet the daily needs of its residents. When contractors are fatally injured in the course of their duties with the state, their families may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim against Arizona. These matters are not easy to pursue, especially with the added filing restrictions put in place by state legislators.
The experienced Phoenix wrongful death attorneys of Plattner Verderame P.C. know how to navigate these waters to secure the compensation your family deserves. If your loved one was killed while performing his or her duties as a state contractor, we can help you through the complex legal process.
Trustworthy legal guidance through the state's filing requirements
Filing a wrongful death claim is always complicated, but even more so when a government entity is involved.
Generally, the statute of limitations allows two years for the filing of a wrongful death claim. However, when bringing suit against the state of Arizona, the statute of limitations is one year. Arizona's Notice of Claim Statute requires notification of an intended lawsuit against the state within 180 days of the injury. For wrongful death claims, this means that the notice of claim must be filed within 180 days of the victim's death. This is extremely important when seeking to file a claim because the allotted time period is much shorter than the general statute of limitations, and failure to follow it can keep you from ever bringing your rightful claim against the state.
Proper filing of the notification requires that you serve notice on an authorized representative of the state. In addition, the notice must include:
- Facts to sufficiently support your claim against the state
- The specific amount that would be accepted for settlement and how that amount is supported by the claims
Our Phoenix wrongful death attorneys understand the process for bringing a lawsuit against the state of Arizona. We know the requirements and how to successfully meet them, so your right to seek compensation is not compromised.
Compensation in Arizona wrongful death claims
The state of Arizona limits which individuals can bring a wrongful death claim. Only the surviving spouse, surviving children, parents, guardians or personal representatives can properly institute a wrongful death claim. Our lawyers help these parties by seeking compensation for:
- Economic loss. This includes the amount of income your loved one would have contributed to the family had he or she not been killed by the government's negligence.
- Pain and suffering. In a wrongful death suit, pain and suffering refers to the challenges faced by the surviving family members. It is not in relation to the pain and suffering experienced by the victim before death.
- Medical expenses. If your loved one ultimately died after extensive medical treatment, your family may be left to handle the medical bills. This damage amount is meant to cover those expenses that remain after the victim's death.
- Funeral and burial expenses. Your family may also recover compensation to cover the costs of the funeral and burial proceedings for your loved one.
- Punitive damages. These damages are sometimes awarded at the discretion of the court to punish the defendant for wrongdoings. Punitive damages are awarded in addition to the amount determined for adequate compensation.
Our knowledgeable Phoenix wrongful death attorneys have helped numerous families secure the compensation they deserve. We understand the challenges faced by wrongful death survivors, so we diligently put our knowledge and skill to work on your behalf.
Our team includes attorneys Richard Plattner, Frank Verderame and Randy Hinsch, who have all earned distinguished Certification by the Arizona State Bar as Specialists in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation.
Types of Cases We Handle
Our attorneys handle a variety of cases, including:
Contact us today to discuss your legal options in your Arizona fatal government contractor accident case
Plattner Verderame P.C. works with the families of government contractors who were killed in a workplace accident. We handle these cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means that you won’t owe us anything unless we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf. Call us today at 602-266-2002, or complete our contact form. Don’t hesitate to reach out today.