Detroit Wrongful Death Attorney
Wrongful Death
Nobody should ever have to worry about losing a loved one due to the careless or negligent actions of another person, company, or entity. At White Law PLLC, we are here to help if you need a Detroit personal injury lawyer.
Our compassionate team understands that this is a difficult time for your family, so let us investigate your case and work to secure the closure and compensation you need.
Reach out to us by completing our contact form or giving us a call. You can schedule a case evaluation with a wrongful death lawyer in Detroit today. We will go over your rights for pursuing legal action to recover compensation.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Detroit, Michigan?
Under Michigan law, a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate. Although surviving family members may be entitled to compensation, they generally cannot initiate the lawsuit individually unless they are acting as the estate’s appointed personal representative.
Eligible beneficiaries may include the deceased person’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and certain other relatives or individuals identified under Michigan law. A Detroit wrongful death lawyer can help families understand the estate administration process, identify eligible beneficiaries, and determine how to pursue a claim.
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How Much Compensation Can a Family Receive in a Detroit Wrongful Death Case?
The compensation available in a Detroit wrongful death lawsuit depends on the circumstances of the death, the financial and emotional losses suffered by surviving family members, and the evidence supporting the claim.
Potential damages may include reasonable funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses incurred before death, lost financial support, and compensation for the loss of companionship and society. In certain cases, damages for the deceased person’s conscious pain and suffering may also be recoverable.
An attorney can evaluate the family’s losses, identify applicable insurance coverage, and help determine the potential value of the wrongful death claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Detroit?
The deadline for filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Detroit depends on the underlying cause of death. For example, a wrongful death claim arising from an ordinary negligence-related motor vehicle accident generally follows Michigan’s three-year personal injury limitation period.
However, deaths involving medical malpractice, government entities, or other circumstances may be subject to different deadlines. Michigan also provides certain statutory extensions involving estate representatives, but those provisions have specific requirements.
Because these deadlines can be complicated, families should seek legal guidance promptly rather than assume they have three years to file.
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What Types of Accidents Can Lead to a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Detroit?
Wrongful death claims in Detroit can arise when a person’s death results from another party’s negligence, recklessness, or wrongful conduct. Common examples include fatal car accidents, commercial truck collisions, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, dangerous property conditions, workplace incidents involving negligent third parties, and medical malpractice.
To pursue compensation, the estate generally must establish that the responsible party’s wrongful conduct caused the death and that the underlying circumstances would have supported a legal claim if the deceased person had survived.
A wrongful death attorney can investigate the circumstances, identify potentially liable parties, and help determine whether a lawsuit is appropriate.
Can I File a Wrongful Death Claim in Detroit If My Loved One Was Partially at Fault?
A wrongful death claim may still be possible if your loved one was partially responsible for the accident that caused their death. Michigan’s comparative fault laws can reduce recoverable damages based on the deceased person’s percentage of responsibility.
The effect of comparative fault depends on the type of claim and damages involved. In motor vehicle negligence cases, being more than 50% at fault generally prevents recovery of noneconomic damages, although other damages may be subject to different rules.
A Detroit wrongful death attorney can investigate the accident, evaluate allegations of shared fault, and determine how Michigan law affects the estate’s potential recovery.
Choose White Law PLLC for Your Case
When your family is grieving, you need assistance from a compassionate attorney with vast experience handling these types of cases. White Law PLLC is going to stay by your side. Some of the reasons to choose our firm include:
- We believe in building strong cases on behalf of our clients, and we treat every matter as if it is going to go to trial.
- We have more than 60 years of combined legal experience handling wrongful death cases throughout Michigan, so we understand what it takes to be successful in these matters.
- We are going to handle your Detroit wrongful death case on a contingency fee basis, which means you will owe no legal fees until we secure the compensation to which you are entitled.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
How Will an Attorney Help With Your Wrongful Death Case?
Wrongful death cases in Detroit can become immensely complicated. However, a skilled attorney will have the resources necessary to help. Your focus after the untimely death of a loved one should be on your family. You shouldn’t waste time and energy worrying about recovering money from the liable party.
When you hire an experienced Detroit wrongful death attorney, they will take over all aspects of your case. Some of the actions you can expect your lawyer to take on your behalf include:
- Obtaining all evidence needed to prove liability
- Working with expert witnesses to testify in court
- Properly calculating a family’s total financial losses
- Handling all negotiations and trial preparations
- Arguing your case in court if necessary
We’re not just lawyers. We’re passionate advocates who will ensure that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
How Much Compensation is Available?
Family members of those who have lost their lives due to the negligence or a purposeful act of another person may be entitled to various types of financial compensation. There is no set amount of money awarded in wrongful death claims in Detroit. However, the team at White Law PLLC is regularly able to help families recover the following:
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and other intangible benefits that family members enjoyed in their relationship with the deceased
- Pain and suffering, and emotional distress damages endured by family members of the deceased
- Compensation for lost wages and benefits the deceased would have provided over the course of their lifetime
- Costs for medical care administered before the death of your loved one
- Cost of any pre-death medical expenses or pain and suffering damages on behalf of the deceased
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Possible punitive damages against a grossly negligent party
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are awarded in an effort to compensate for the losses suffered by the family members of wrongful death victims. Compensatory damages are split into two categories.
The first category is economic damages. These damages cover all the losses you suffered that were financial in nature.
The second category is non-economic damages. These damages will repay you for any other losses you endured as a result of your accident.
Punitive Damages
These damages differ significantly from compensatory damages. Rather than compensating the families of wrongful death victims for the losses they suffered, punitive damages are solely focused on the actions taken by the at-fault party.
Punitive damages are assessed as a means of punishing the responsible party in cases where they acted with criminal negligence or the intent to harm others.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Michigan
The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Michigan is three years from the date of the decedent’s death. This means that any claims must be filed within this time frame, or you could be barred by law from recovering compensation.
It is important to note that this time limit may be extended under certain circumstances, such as if the deceased was a minor at the time of their death or if the cause of death was not immediately known. At the same time, you may find that the specifics of your case further restrict the amount of time you have to file.
It is important to speak with an experienced wrongful death attorney in Detroit as soon as possible to ensure that your claim is filed within the statute of limitations.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Understanding Detroit Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death cases arise in various ways throughout Detroit. At the law office of White Law PLLC, our experienced attorneys help family members who have lost loved ones due to the negligent actions of others in the following instances:
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus or transit accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Property owner negligence
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Workplace or construction accidents
- Police misconduct
Under Michigan Compiled Laws section 600.2922, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate must file a wrongful death claim. The law specifies that the following family members will be able to recover damages (in descending order of priority)
- The deceased’s spouse or child
- The deceased’s parents or grandparents
- The deceased’s siblings
- Children of the deceased’s spouse
- Any other parties that were left property in the deceased’s will
Let a Detroit Wrongful Death Lawyer Help
Do not hesitate to seek legal assistance after losing a loved one due to the negligence of another person or entity. At White Law PLLC, our compassionate team of wrongful death lawyers is going to conduct a full investigation into your claim and stand by your side to ensure you receive the closure and compensation you deserve.
When you need a Detroit wrongful death attorney, you can contact us for a consultation of your case by clicking here or giving us a call.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
