To rank Phoenix wrongful death lawyers for 2026, this evidence-based list weighs their practice focus and published results, plus client reviews and professional background.
Because it focuses on medical malpractice and publishes results including a $19.75 million failure-to-diagnose settlement, Hastings Law Firm leads this list. Before calling, find out whether the firm handles deaths involving the kind of care your loved one received. Ask how costs are paid and who would work on your file. To understand the medical malpractice rules that may apply, read the Arizona law guide.
4.851 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 51 reviews
Best for: Deaths involving medical negligence
Among the results Hastings Law Firm publishes are a $19.75 million failure-to-diagnose settlement and a $10.7 million negligent-prescribing jury verdict. That's partly why it appears here. With a focus on medical malpractice, the firm expressly lists wrongful death on its site.
Stood out in our review for how much of its work is medical malpractice and the results it publishes.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
4.8957 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 957 reviews
Best for: Medical and nursing home deaths
With 957 Google reviews, Law Offices of Michael Cordova has a substantial amount of public feedback from clients. Clear answers and a supportive team come up in many reviews. Others describe having to chase updates.
Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
4.77,852 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 7852 reviews
Best for: Birth injury related claims
Among Morgan & Morgan's published results is a notable birth injury verdict: after a delayed C-section left Brendan Dixon with severe brain injury, a Hillsborough County jury awarded $37.8 million in 2007. That published result involved an injury, rather than a wrongful death. With an office in the Phoenix area, the firm also lists wrongful death and medication-error claims on its site.
Stood out in our review for what its clients say and how much of its work is medical malpractice.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
Not sure who to call first?
Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Phoenix can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.
4.9836 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 836 reviews
Best for: Families seeking clear explanations
Reviewers repeatedly describe Lamber Goodnow's staff as compassionate and willing to explain the process. That feedback gives families a reason to consider it when conversations about a loved one's care feel difficult. Founder Marc Lamber's firm has a Phoenix office.
Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
4.81,006 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 1006 reviews
Best for: Spanish-speaking families
If your family wants to discuss a loss in Spanish, Lerner and Rowe's listing of that language gives you a starting point. Within its broad personal injury practice, the firm's Phoenix office lists misdiagnosis and wrongful death claims on its site. Frequent updates and an empathetic team come up often in reviews.
Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and what its clients say.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
When describing the treatment, explain what concerns you about the death. Before proceeding, find out who would review the claim and whether the firm handles that kind of case. Having a free consultation doesn't mean the firm agrees to represent you.
Records and deadline review
As the lawyer reviews the medical records, they'll also check when the claim accrued. Because Arizona generally gives you 2 years from accrual for medical malpractice claims, ask what that means for your loved one's death.
Medical opinion and certification
Under Arizona's rules, the claimant must certify whether expert testimony is needed. To be an expert, someone must be qualified to give an opinion on the medical issues. When discussing the records, ask how this requirement affects the lawyer's review.
Filing and initial disclosures
To start the court case, you file a complaint. When expert testimony is needed, Arizona requires the initial disclosures (the opening exchange of case information) to include a preliminary expert opinion affidavit.
Pursuing a resolution
If the claim goes ahead, ask how the lawyer would seek a settlement or prepare for a court decision. Although firms here publish settlements and jury verdicts, you can't use those results to predict your case's length or outcome.
Malpractice claims in Phoenix: the rules that matter
The filing deadline in Arizona
The clock startsWhen you found out, or should have
Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
Limits on damages in Arizona
Pain and sufferingNo cap
All damages togetherNo overall cap
Expert paperworkThe claimant must certify whether expert testimony is needed and, if so, serve a preliminary expert opinion affidavit with the initial disclosures.
A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
According to Eight listed firms, they work on contingency. If there's a recovery, the lawyer receives a share; if the claim fails, there's no legal fee. Here, Hastings Law Firm's contingency arrangement hasn't been stated. Separate from the lawyer's fee, case expenses may cover medical records and outside medical opinions (court fees can be included, too). Before agreeing, ask if the firm advances those expenses and when it deducts them. If there's no recovery, would you still owe those expenses? Although every listed firm offers a free consultation, ask for written fee terms before deciding to hire one.
According to All nine listed firms, you can get a free consultation. Contingency work is also offered by Eight.
What to bring to your first call
Your written timeline showing when the treatment and death occurred
When you first suspected something had gone wrong, with dates
Who treated your loved one, with clinician and hospital names
Any records already in your hands, including discharge or delivery notes
What you received in bills and insurance statements for that care
What the hospital or insurer sent in letters or messages
What you'd like reviewed, whether photos or other documents
What you want to ask and how you need to communicate
Questions to ask a lawyer
1When someone died after this kind of care, have you handled the claim?
2For our file, who's responsible, and who will read the records?
3When does the filing clock start, and what's the deadline?
4For this claim, is an expert opinion affidavit needed?
5What's the calculation for your contingency fee?
6If there's no recovery, who pays the case expenses?
7When we need updates, how will you send them, and how do we reach our lawyer?
8Before you decide whether to take the case, what other records will you need?
Choosing a Phoenix lawyer after a medical death
Begin by describing the care that worries you. Because firms handle many kinds of fatal injuries, they may list wrongful death without showing how much of their work involves medical treatment. When you explain what happened at the hospital, ask if the lawyer has handled that kind of alleged error. Before calling, you don't need to have a legal theory.
Ask about the work behind the claim
When you ask who'll read the medical chart, find out who decides whether an outside medical opinion is needed. Get the responsible lawyer's name before leaving the discussion about your file.
Which similar claims have they handled? When a firm cites a result, ask whether the patient survived or died; even a large verdict in another case can't predict yours.
When agreeing on updates, find out whom you should contact if you don't get an answer to a message. If reviews mention inconsistent communication, that question matters even more.
If you need another language, find out who can discuss your medical records in it. Along with Hastings Law Firm, Lerner and Rowe and Shapiro Law Team list Spanish.
Use reviews to decide what to ask, not to judge how much medical case experience a lawyer has. Although Law Offices of Michael Cordova publishes medical malpractice results, several firms here have no published results to discuss. Whether your loved one's care supports a claim isn't something a positive review can tell you. An unpublished outcome can't, either.
Read the fee agreement before signing
According to every firm here, the initial consultation is free. Although you can ask about an initial discussion without paying a consultation charge, that conversation doesn't mean the firm has accepted your case. With most listed firms saying they work on contingency, the lawyer gets paid only if there's a recovery. When asking about costs, separately check the charges for records and medical opinions.
If someone promises an outcome or won't say who handles your file, be wary of hiring them. Ask for written fee terms. When a firm declines, find out if it read the records and based its decision on the medical facts or its own criteria for accepting cases. Don't treat this general information as legal advice. To understand your options, talk with an Arizona lawyer.
Questions people ask
Which Phoenix firm leads this wrongful death lawyer list?
Wrongful death work appears on its site, too. Even with that ranking, it won't be the right fit for every family. When discussing the treatment involved in your loved one's death, ask who would review the medical records.
What is the filing deadline for a death involving medical malpractice in Arizona?
Once a medical malpractice claim accrues, Arizona generally requires filing within 2 years of that date. Accrual occurs when the patient knew or reasonably should have known about the injury and that it was caused by someone's negligence. Just because someone died, don't assume that's when the clock starts. To identify the deadline for the death-related claim, have an Arizona lawyer review it.
Can we speak with a Phoenix lawyer without paying for the consultation?
According to All nine firms on this list, the consultation is available without a charge. During the conversation, find out which records they need and whether they handle the kind of medical death that concerns you. Having that talk doesn't mean they've accepted. Before hiring a firm, check its fee agreement; confirm the terms for case expenses separately.
What does a medical malpractice claim need in Arizona?
Under Arizona's rules, the claimant must certify whether expert testimony is needed. When testimony is needed, the claimant must serve the initial disclosures with a preliminary expert opinion affidavit. Used at the case's opening stage, that affidavit gives a medical opinion in writing. When discussing what the records show, ask your lawyer who can provide the required opinion.
How long will a wrongful death claim take?
For these firms, there's no supported estimate of how long cases take. Although they publish settlements and jury verdicts, those results can't tell you how long your own claim would take. Once the lawyer has reviewed the records, find out what steps they expect and what might slow progress. Don't confuse the deadline for filing with the time needed to resolve your case.
Does Arizona have a limit on medical malpractice damages?
In medical malpractice cases, Arizona doesn't cap damages of any kind. Its constitution won't allow caps. Even without caps, you can't infer what a particular claim is worth or whether it'll succeed. If your loved one died, talk with an Arizona lawyer about how the medical malpractice rules affect the claim your family may be able to file.
How do Arizona's rules treat a child's medical malpractice claim?
Until a minor patient turns 18, the clock doesn't run on that patient's medical malpractice claim. Once the minor turns 18, the same 2 years allowed for an adult's claim are available. If the child died, don't assume this rule determines the deadline for your family. For the death-related claim, ask an Arizona lawyer for a separate assessment.
What should we do first if we think medical care caused a loved one's death?
When writing down the treatment dates, note what you want a lawyer to examine. Along with the hospital correspondence, gather whatever medical records you already have. Once you've gathered those, request a consultation with a firm handling medical negligence and wrongful death. Ask what deadline applies and who is allowed to bring the claim. Before the firm decides, find out whether it needs more records.
Will we owe money if a contingency case fails?
If a contingency claim fails, you don't owe a fee to the lawyer. Expenses are charged separately. Although Eight firms here say they work on contingency, we don't have their terms for expenses. If there's no recovery, ask whether you'd still owe for medical records or opinions, along with court fees. Before signing, have the firm include its answer in the agreement.
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