wrongful death

When Negligence Causes Wrongful Death

By Personal Injury Lawyer on November 27, 2009

When death comes as the result of a tragedy whose cause may be a level of carelessness that constitutes negligence on the part of another person the emotional toll can be profound. Many families spend years trying to reconcile the fact that the life of someone they loved might have been saved if a single contributing factor had been prevented. It’s a bewildering experience to pursue legal advice at a time when family adjustments and personal grieving should take precedence. You deserve time to stop and catch your breath.

We recognize that searching for a skilled AZ wrongful death lawyer is the last thing you want to do at such a difficult time. However, needs that can’t be avoided will soon present themselves without regard to the time it takes to grieve. Families must be conscious of the effects an unexpected loss will have on young children, teenagers, or elderly parents. Needs could include time away from school for students or an entirely different living situation for parents and relatives. And there’s the challenge of managing personal grief and helping other family members cope. A changing financial outlook, lost income, and the prospect of relocation are other possible effects. Life is truly turned upside down.

When these concerns threaten to overtake you, we’re here to help.

At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., we take pride in our efforts to relieve the pain of families who have suffered unspeakable tragedies. We not only believe that we are excellent at what we do, but we do the best possible job as wrongful death lawyers in Arizona. We continue to assist families in every part of the legal process to make sure that they get the opportunity for renewal in the wake of loss.

Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Wrongful Death Case

By Personal Injury Lawyer on November 26, 2009

Unfortunately, there’s no formula for legal success if you’re a grieving family. The decision to retain a lawyer often feels like a necessity on one hand, and a chore on the other. The most important consideration is whether or not the one you pick is the right fit for your family.

Find out if the wrongful death attorney in Phoenix you want to hire has handled past wrongful death cases so that legal knowledge and experience will never be in question. We believe it is far too easy to mislead a grieving family into believing they should bring a claim when no claim is warranted, and that’s a mistake. Use your instincts. Is the advice you’re getting honest and straightforward?

Families who have suffered a wrongful death must be able to trust that they’re getting completely honest answers – good or bad – from the attorney they consult. When the answers you’re getting make sense and present a clear view of the legal process to come, you’ve found the right attorney to hire. You need to know that your attorney can ably assist your family to resolve all affairs following an untimely death.

Though we offer exactly that, it’s also important to point out that even the best wrongful death lawyers in the country are specialists; the scope their expertise is mostly limited to personal injury law. Unfortunately, a personal injury lawyer in Arizona cannot handle child custody issues. Nor is your personal injury lawyer the best person for estate planning or the rewriting of a will. But an outstanding wrongful death attorney in Arizona will advise the grieving family to help locate the right people to assist in those essential capacities.

We find helping people very rewarding, and we take great pride in our efforts to ease the pain of families who have suffered unspeakable tragedies. At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., not only do we believe that we are excellent at what we do, but we do the best possible job as Phoenix wrongful death attorneys. We continue to aid families in every part of the legal process to ensure that they get the chance for renewal in the wake of loss. Please feel free to contact us for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your wrongful death case.

A Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help You

By Personal Injury Lawyer on November 25, 2009

In many cases we’ve seen, the potential client is aware they need to hire a lawyer. They’re aware that tragedy was brought on by the reckless behavior of another party or parties. They already have questions that only a lawyer should answer. Finally, many potential clients are all too aware that they’ll need serious compensation to overcome the financial void created in the wake of their unfortunate loss.

The knowledge that money cannot undo a painful tragedy often makes people think finding a lawyer is not vitally important. Money can never change our feelings; that’s a claim no one would support. What’s imperative is that potential defendants in wrongful death lawsuits limit the harm they suffer, whether financial or emotional.

Premature loss of life creates needs that never before existed. When one parent can no longer contribute earnings, a reasonable mortgage payment becomes a monthly challenge. Cost should not prohibit a family’s option to give a child dealing with the loss of a parent the option of professional grief counseling and a healthy recovery. Adults who have lost a spouse or a child deserve the best mental health care available—an option that’s not always provided by employer-based health plans.
There are so many other concerns as well. Will your lawyer give you an honest opinion if the case isn’t strong? Does he have the experience to gain the maximum compensation possible in your case? Will she be sensitive to the family’s wishes? It’s a trying time. Will he know if pursuing a lawsuit is really in our best interests?

At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., we take pride in our efforts to relieve the pain of families who have suffered unspeakable tragedies. We not only believe that we are excellent at what we do, but we do the best possible job as wrongful death lawyers in Arizona. We continue to assist families in every part of the legal process to make sure that they get the opportunity for renewal in the wake of loss. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

Taking a Team Approach to Personal Injury Lawsuits

By Personal Injury Lawyer on October 30, 2009

Personal injury claims involving car accidents in Glendale, Arizona can be costly and time consuming. But the attorneys are Breyer Law Offices know how to skillfully handle your personal injury case through years of experience, legal expertise, and a team approach to dealing with each case.

Some attorneys in Glendale take a different approach to personal injury cases. For instance, they might manage all aspects of your case from start to finish. To you, this probably sounds like a like a convenient and efficient approach to your claim, but in actuality, this approach can hurt your case.

Most top attorneys in Glendale only handle the aspects of the case that they are most qualified for. This includes things like forming a strong argument, conducting legal research and a complicated analysis of the case, and coordinating the team as a whole. These are tasks that a skilled lawyer can and should handle. However, there are many other tasks and duties that are important to a personal injury case that the actual lawyer should delegate to someone on his or her staff. Otherwise, the lawyer will get stuck taking care of the minor details of the case and be unable to see the big picture. They will be unable to do it all – and do it well, which will, in turn, hurt your case.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are some personal injury attorneys here in Glendale who don’t like to get involved with any aspects of a case. In these kinds of law firms, paralegals and other support staff members may be assigned tasks that they are not trained to perform. In fact, we’ve even talked to people who have said they’ve never even spoken to or met with the personal injury attorney they hired, only paralegals or support staff. They don’t even know whether or not an actual lawyer even looked at their case. In these kinds of law firms, attorneys just pass off cases to people who are not trained to handle them – another approach that could hurt your chances of winning your case.

At Breyer Law Offices, we take what we like to call a “team approach” to personal injury cases. Each person is assigned tasks that they are best qualified to handle. So, in other words, our lawyers actually do all the legal work and you can rest assured that a skilled Glendale personal injury lawyer is in fact involved with your case. Our paralegals and support staff will manage other critical details in the case that they have been trained to handle. As a result, our clients get the absolute best representation possible to help ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve. In fact, we’ve handled thousands of personal injury cases over the years.

Our law offices are headed up by the husband-wife team of Mark and Alexis Breyer, both of whom have years of experience in personal injury law. Mark is even a certified specialist in Arizona wrongful death and personal injury cases. Only about 2% of the personal injury attorneys in the state receive this special certification. In addition to the Breyers, our office also includes a team of expert paralegals and support staff who work together seamlessly to ensure each case is handled most efficiently.

If you’d like to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your case, please contact Breyer Law Offices at 480-753-4534.

Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer Rated Superb - Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer

By Personal Injury Lawyer on October 29, 2009

Phoenix Personal Injury lawyer Mark Breyer has been rated by AVVO as a perfect 10 out of 10. AVVO has rated a very small percentage of personal injury attorneys throughout the United States as a perfect 10 rating. AVVO is one of the nation’s top lawyer rating service. Lawyers are rated throughout the United States based on several important factors. Such factors include professional endorsements, client review and feedback, professional conduct, industry recognition and a lawyer’s experience. Being rated 10 out of 10 with such a small percentage of attorneys receiving this superb ranking is a great honor.

Read here for more details about Phoenix Personal Injury lawyer rated superb - Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer.

What Can I Do if I Suspect Elder Abuse?

By Personal Injury Lawyer on October 28, 2009

Clearly, not every single red flag or sign of nursing home abuse listed above is going to necessarily mean that there is neglect and abuse going on. That’s why it’s so important to try and do some investigative work to try and uncover the causes of the signs. This is a vital step in not only protecting your loved one, but also in ensuring that no other individual is abused or neglected in the nursing home.

When investigating, be sure to visit your family member or friend on a regular basis to ensure they are receiving proper medical care. Ask them questions about their care and treatment at the nursing home. If you do suspect abuse, whether at a nursing home in Mesa, a private facility, from an at-home nurse, or in a hospital, you have the right to take legal action to protect your loved one and to help them win compensation for medical bills, therapy, and any pain and suffering they endured.

As nursing home abuse attorneys in Phoenix experienced with the Arizona Adult Protective Services Act, we can help you and your loved one with any legal and related issues involving elder abuse. While not every injury needs to result in a lawsuit, we are happy to provide you with the information and answers you require to make the best decision for you and your loved one. Please contact our offices at 480-753-4534 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.

How Can I Tell if My Loved One is Being Abused in a Mesa Nursing Home?

By Personal Injury Lawyer on October 26, 2009

Instances of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes in Mesa and throughout the United States continue to be a problem. People who have been productive members of society for many decades – who deserve to be treated with care and respect – are treated horribly and made to suffer untold abuses at the hands of their caregivers, the very people who are paid to protect them.

If you suspect elder abuse at a nursing home facility or assisted living facility, it’s critically important that you investigate further and possibly even take legal action. The very first priority of any nursing home abuse lawsuit in Mesa is to make sure that the person being abused is properly cared for, protected, and they are compensated for their physical injuries and pain and suffering. However, once that goal is achieved, another important aspect of these kinds of abuse lawsuits is that they hold the responsible parties accountable, oftentimes forcing negligent nursing homes to either shut down or change their ways. Therefore, besides protecting the abused individual, elder abuse lawsuits also help to protect others who live in these nursing home facilities.

What is Nursing Home Abuse in Arizona?
There are many different kinds of nursing home abuse or neglect. Sometimes, it comes down to not ensuring the safety of someone who isn’t very steady on their feet and has an increased likelihood of falling. When measures are not taking to protect a patient or a resident, then this is considered nursing home neglect.

Sometimes, though, neglect goes beyond just making simple mistakes and is taken to the next level of actual abuse. This kind of abuse includes actions such as hitting, slapping, restraining, shoving, and intentionally under-medicating or over-medicating. As a result of this abuse, elderly people might suffer from broken bones, cuts, swelling of the extremities, bruises, and other physical injuries at the very hands of the people who are supposed to be taking care of them.

If you believe that a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, please contact the skilled personal injury attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. We can help.

Should I Settle My Case or Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

By Personal Injury Lawyer on October 8, 2009

The thought of dealing with lawyers, expert witnesses, judges, and juries is enough to make anyone’s head spin. To avoid such a scenario, many people who have been injured due to negligence want to settle their personal injury claim as quickly as possible, without hiring a personal injury attorney in Mesa.

But is Settling Your Case Really the Best Route to Take?
Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. Numerous questions must be asked and factors evaluated when deciding whether or not to settle.

For instance, one critical question that must be asked is: what is the claim “worth”? Here, we’re not talking about what is fair in terms of compensation. In fact, fairness shouldn’t really be a factor at all when considering whether or not to settle. Instead, we’re trying to determine whether or not it is more beneficial to the injured person to continue forward with a case.

At this point, you might be thinking: “Why isn’t fairness a factor in deciding whether to settle? If someone is severely injured due to the gross negligence of another person, isn’t it only fair to bring that case to trial?”

Not always. The fact of the matter is that if a case isn’t settled, a jury will most likely decide what that case is worth – and they may come back with a surprising verdict.

Consider This Example
A man is severely injured in a Mesa auto accident that was caused by a negligent driver. Everyone agrees that fair compensation for this man’s injuries is about $1 million. But if the jury comes back and only awards the man $100,000, then the man will only receive $100,000. That’s it. It’s not fair, but it’s what the jury decided. So, if we, as personal injury attorneys, had a crystal ball and knew the jury would only award $100,000 and yet, the defendant was offering $200,000 to settle the case quickly, then we’d settle.

On the other hand, if someone was in a minor accident and sustained a slight injury, many people might think the case does not have merit and the jury should award nothing. And yet, if we had our crystal ball and saw that a jury would award $1 million in this case, even if the defendant were offering $900,000 to settle, we wouldn’t settle.

This can be a very difficult concept to follow and understand – especially because it goes against out notion of fairness and justice in the legal system. But the fact is that juries consist of a randomly assembled group of people (eight in the case of personal injury claims in Mesa and throughout Arizona). These people come from different backgrounds with different opinions and experiences. As a result, no one is ever 100% certain about what a jury will decide – and any Mesa personal injury lawyer who tells you with certainty that they can guarantee a trial’s outcome is not being honest with you.

That being said, an experienced personal injury attorney in Mesa can typically gauge the expected verdict. How? Because they know to consider what a jury is likely to do – not the fairness surrounding a case – when trying to decide whether or not to settle. An experienced attorney in Mesa, Arizona will also consider factors, such as what verdicts have been for other similar cases. He or she will then be able to weigh all of the aspects surrounding a case to help the injured victim reach the most favorable conclusion – whether it’s a settlement or compensation awarded through a jury trial.

If you have a personal injury case, and you’re not sure whether to settle or not, please contact the Mesa, Arizona personal injury attorneys at Breyer Law Offices. As experienced personal injury lawyers, we can provide you with a free, confidential assessment of your case.

The Aftermath of a Truck Accident

By Personal Injury Lawyer on October 5, 2009

It may sound a little bit self-serving for a law firm that specializes in personal injury law to say that the first thing to do after any serious Arizona trucking accident is to find the best truck accident attorney you can find in the state. We do understand as veteran Arizona injury trial lawyers that far too many lawyers try to pressure potential clients into hiring an attorney immediately. Though it is not true that someone who has been in a serious truck accident does not have to hire a lawyer immediately, the reality of the situation is that over-the-road trucking companies are extremely organized and tend to put together their defense team from the moment the accident has been reported. Typically, a car accident will not have a lawyer involved until many months after the accident occurred. As experienced AZ truck accident lawyers, we have seen situations in which our clients suffered serious injuries or in which a family member was killed, and the trucking company’s lawyers were at the accident scene before the police had even finished taking photographs. We have even seen situations in which the trucking company took more photos than the police!

Since the trucking companies are so efficient and organized, hiring an experienced specialist in personal injury law can be vital. In order to ensure that your rights are protected in any truck accident case, however, it is important to at least speak to an experienced and knowledgeable accident injury attorney. It is important to make sure that the trucking company does not destroy any documents that could prove that they were at fault or, even worse, that their driver had violated federal law by driving more than the number of hours a trucker is allowed to drive.

If you have any questions regarding a top Arizona truck accident lawyer, we invite you to contact us today. We will give you an honest evaluation of your case and answer your questions candidly so that you can make the best possible decision for you and your family about how to proceed with your claim.

Hiring an Expert Witness for Your Case

By Personal Injury Lawyer on September 29, 2009

One often critical component in any Arizona injury case is hiring the correct expert witness. Trying to find an expert witness in a Tempe accident will be difficult without the assistance of a top Arizona injury attorney. It is often very vital to find a Tempe personal injury lawyer that can locate the best experts, interview these experts, and has the ability to make the most of these experts in order to help an injured person or a family in a personal injury or wrongful death case.

In some personal injury cases, a case may become simply a battle of experts in which the best experts sway the jury and thus win the case. While we certainly hope that juries will consider other evidence, as veteran Arizona injury attorneys we know how vital it is to find expert witnesses that are truthful and believable. Above all, we want expert witnesses that can explain convincingly to a jury why our clients are correct and why the defendants’ claims are inaccurate.

Should you have any questions at all about expert witnesses, hiring expert witnesses, or the vital role that expert witnesses play in Arizona personal injury trials, we invite you to call us. Mark Breyer is a specialist in wrongful death and personal injury litigation in Arizona, and he has substantial trial experience with expert witnesses. He and the rest of the legal team at Breyer Law are happy to guide you in how to move forward in your potential personal injury or wrongful death claim.