Founding Partner
Licensed in AZ
A Lawyer for the People
From a young age, Derick had a strong sense of empathy and a passion for justice. He watched as a negligent store got away with giving his father a lowball offer of only a few hundred dollars to settle a slip and fall case. Derick’s father was optimistic about his recovery and didn’t want to get lawyers involved, but he needed back surgery a year later and never got the compensation he deserved.
Seeing the store’s risk management strategy pay off stuck with Derick. He knew other innocent injury victims could be taken advantage of in the same way. This experience shaped his drive to get justice for working-class families, inspiring him to become a voice for others who feel powerless in a confusing legal system that doesn’t prioritize their rights.
A Career Built on Advocacy
Derick started his career working in the life insurance industry, handling final expense coverage claims. Over time, he learned that working families were often denied the benefits they paid for through “post-claims underwriting,” an underhanded tactic in which the insurer would dig through records to find reasons to rescind a life insurance policy after the subject had passed away.
Watching the way insurance companies treat policyholders and observing their strategies to avoid and minimize liability, Derick knew he was in the wrong field. Arbitrary and cruel claim denials influenced him to switch sides and advocate for people, not corporations. Now, Derick uses his knowledge of the insurance industry to fight back and win millions in compensation for injury victims throughout Arizona.
Experience You Can Trust
Since starting his practice in 2011, Derick has built a firm with a reputation for client-focused representation, outstanding service, and significant results. Runion Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered more than $50 million for injury victims, achieving a 99 percent case success rate while treating clients with the compassion they deserve. Derick’s accolades include recognition from Super Lawyers and an 8.3 rating from AVVO.
Derick and his team have handled a diverse variety of personal injury cases, giving them a depth of experience fighting and winning for clients both in and out of the courtroom. Here are some examples of the notable case results achieved by Derick’s team:
$2,740,000
Product Defect
Runion Personal Injury Lawyers worked together to represent a family of a young woman killed in an automobile collision caused by a defective ignition switch. Through thorough investigation and aggressive representation, we were able to prove that the product defect was responsible for the tragic incident and secured a result of $2.74 million for our clients.
$600,000
Car Accident
Our client was involved in a serious collision while driving her vehicle, resulting in head trauma and other injuries. Runion Personal Injury Lawyers presented scientific evidence to link her aneurysm to the automobile collision and obtained a $600,000.00 settlement for the client.
Committed to Every Client’s Story
Derick believes that every injury claim has a human story at its core. At the end of the day, personal injury law is about getting justice for hardworking people who just want to live their lives. It’s about holding negligent actors accountable for the harm they cause, and securing the compensation victims need to get their lives back on track.
Taking legal action after an injury can be confusing, frightening, and even feel shameful. You may feel tempted to downplay your injuries and how they’ve changed your life, but you have every right to seek the full recovery you deserve.
Derick knows that no client asked to be in their situation. That’s why Runion Personal Injury Lawyers puts people first through every step of the legal process, prioritizing personalized care, clear and transparent communication, and relentless advocacy for our clients’ rights. We never charge upfront fees and go beyond other firms by offering a Net Recovery Guarantee, promising our clients that they will never take home less than we do.
Why Clients Choose Derick Runion
Derick has deep ties to Arizona and its local communities. He grew up in Phoenix and attended Arizona State University both as an undergrad and law student. His firm’s primary offices are located close to downtown Phoenix, allowing convenient access to his services.
Derick has built a reputation for forming close relationships with his clients while guiding them through complex cases. He’s achieved a strong track record of proven results in high-stakes injury claims over more than a decade of dedicated representation.
Clients have praised Derick’s responsiveness, honesty, and compassionate approach to legal service. He’s also bilingual, helping him communicate effectively with both English and Spanish-speaking clients.
