Arizona Civil Law Lawyers and Personal Injury Attorneys

Civil Rights Litigation in Arizona

Whether your civil rights case involves discrimination, a violation of your constitutional protections, or from someone misusing their authority, you need legal help that understands these unique cases.

For example, these cases often involve law enforcement, government agencies, institutions, school districts, and other public entities. As a result, it’s essential to know how to handle these large organizations to receive a favorable outcome.

Our attorneys are ready to help with these Arizona civil rights violations:

• Unlawful arrest or detention
• Excessive force or police misconduct
• Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, national origin, or disability
• Retaliation for protected speech or reporting misconduct
• Violation of due process or equal protection rights
• Civil rights violations in jails or detention facilities
• Wrongful search and seizure
• Unconstitutional policies or practices by government agencies
• Other civil rights litigation cases

Depending on the nature of the violation, who was involved, and what took place, our civil rights attorneys may use Arizona state protections as well as those provided by the federal government.

Arizona civil rights protections

Arizona Revised Statute § 41-1463
Often referred to as the Arizona Civil Rights Act, this state law prohibits employment discrimination. It also outlines unlawful employment practices, employee rights, and details regarding filing discrimination charges.

Arizona Revised Statute § 12-820 et seq
This collection of statutes govern claims against public entities in Arizona, including what makes up being an “employee”. These statutes also detail the procedures, immunities, and limitations for bringing lawsuits against the state and its political subdivisions.

Federal civil rights protections

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
This landmark act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, firing, compensation, and promotion.

American with Disabilities Act of 1990
This protects employees from disability discrimination, which can include prohibiting employers from asking about the existence, nature or severity of a disability. 

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
This act protects employees and applicants age 40 or older from workplace age discrimination.

Fourth Amendment protections
The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. This includes protection for their persons, houses, papers, and effects.

Fourteenth Amendment protections
Among other things, the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution prevents states from taking away life, liberty, or property without due process, along with ensuring all individuals are subject to the same laws. 

If you need help understanding what your civil rights are and if they have been violated, let the attorneys at Gillespie, Shields & Taylor help.

What to Do If Your Civil Rights Were Violated

The sooner you take action after a civil rights violation, the better your outcome is likely to be. This is due to a number of factors, including the availability of usable evidence for your case and only having a limited time to take legal action.

Our attorneys recommend taking these steps if you feel your civil rights have been violated:

1. Contact our civil rights attorneys – It’s essential to contact our civil rights attorney as soon as possible before filing complaints. The earlier we intervene, the stronger we can make your case and the less likely you are to make mistakes that can damage your outcomes.
2. Gather information – The more information you have, the more evidence you can use in your case. That means you should write down everything that happened immediately, along with preserving video, emails, or communications. Additionally, you may be able to request body cam or records early if police were involved.
3. Follow your attorney’s advice – Because there are so many unique factors that affect your case, it’s important to strictly follow your attorney’s advice. For example, they will likely advise you on how to report the violation, what steps to take, and what to avoid doing.

The civil rights lawyers at Gillespie, Shields & Taylor will use our decades of experience to guide you through the complex civil rights litigation process to help you receive the best outcome possible.

Personal Injury in Arizona

No one expects to suffer a personal injury. But the sad reality is that they can affect anyone, anytime, and anywhere. 

Whether your injury was caused by a person’s actions or their failure to act safely or responsibly, our personal injury attorneys at Gillespie, Shields, & Taylor can help you get the maximum compensation possible.

We represent clients in a wide range of personal injury matters, including:

• Car accidents
• Truck and commercial vehicle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian or bicycle injuries
• Slip and fall / property liability
• Dog bites
• Catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death
• Other personal injuries

No matter what occurred when you were injured, we’re ready to use the legal system to your advantage.

This is true even if you were partially at fault, since Arizona Revised Statute § 12-2505 allows an injured person to recover compensation, even if they were partially responsible. 

However, insurance companies and other responsible parties involved will want to pay out the least amount possible to settle these claims. 

That’s why you need the personal injury lawyers at Gillespie, Shields & Taylor. We’ll use the best legal strategies for your case to maximize your compensation.

Car Accidents  

Hundreds of car accidents occur in Arizona each day. However, they are far from a simple procedure to handle, since car accident claims often involve complications like disputed liability, medical bills, and lost income. 

To make matters worse, insurance companies frequently try to reduce payouts or delay claims — even though Arizona Revised Statute § 28-4009 requires drivers to maintain liability insurance in the event of an accident.

If you’ve suffered a car accident and want to collect the compensation and damages you deserve, let our accident lawyers at Gillespie, Shields & Taylor help.

We know how to handle any responsible parties to secure fair compensation for medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term impacts.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

If you’ve been attacked by a dog, you may be physically and emotionally affected for the rest of your life.

Because of this, Arizona Revised Statute § 11-1025 holds dog owners strictly liable for bites that occur in public or when the victim is lawfully on private property. This makes Arizona more victim-friendly than many other states.

However, cases can still quickly become complicated and difficult to manage. For example, the animal owner may try to dispute that you provoked the animal and try to shift the responsibility to you.

If you’ve suffered from a dog bite or an animal attack in Arizona, let us help. Our attorneys are ready to help you establish evidence and prove the liability of others to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Slip and Fall / Property Injuries

In a split second, your life may have been severely affected from a slip and fall accident that you weren’t responsible for.

Whether it was from hidden hazards, poor lighting, broken surfaces, or safety code violations, you deserve to be compensated by businesses or property owners. 

However, the responsible parties sometimes deny liability unless evidence is preserved early on. Knowing this, it’s essential to get our experienced legal representation on your side before repairs or cleanup alter the evidence. 

Let the personal injury attorneys at Gillespie, Shields & Taylor help you gather and preserve evidence, identify responsible parties, and hold them legally accountable.

Wrongful Death Claims 

Wrongful death cases can be some of the most devastating legal situations that a person has to face. As a result, Arizona Revised Statute § 12-611 allows surviving family members including spouses, children, or parents to bring a claim when a death results from negligence or misconduct.

Wrongful death damages may include:

• Loss of companionship and care
• Funeral and burial costs
• Lost financial support
• Emotional harm of survivors
• Future income the deceased would have earned

Turn to the wrongful death lawyers at Gillespie, Shields & Taylor to help your family rebuild after these tragic losses. We’ll help you receive the maximum financial compensation possible that helps establish accountability and preserve your family’s dignity.

Receive the Trustworthy Legal Representation You Deserve 

When life’s unexpected events leave you feeling powerless, you deserve legal guidance that knows how to get the law on your side.

Since 1985, the Arizona attorneys at Gillespie, Shields & Taylor have helped thousands of individuals and families hold the responsible parties accountable for their civil law violations and personal injuries.

Let us help you navigate your complex legal situation successfully by showing you the protections available to you, gathering needed evidence, and using the legal system to get the compensation you deserve.