Losing someone you love to a fatal accident can be devastating. Aside from the emotional pain and suffering, you may be experiencing financial hardship. And, while no amount of money can replace your loved one or eliminate the pain, it can help reduce your stress and allow you to work through the grieving process. The experienced team at Goodman Acker can help you and your family recover after losing a loved one through a wrongful death claim if the accident was caused by someone else’s misconduct or negligence.
When a person dies due to the misconduct or negligence of another that resulted in an accident, the victim’s family can sue the at-fault party for wrongful death. The family can pursue damages to cover medical bills, funeral and burial, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In the state of Michigan, a wrongful death claim can be made by the following family members:
Michigan also has a statute of limitation on wrongful death claims of three years from when the death occurred. If you’ve lost a loved one, don’t wait to speak with a wrongful death attorney in Grand Rapids. Reach out to the knowledgeable team at Goodman Acker. They will help you determine whether or not you have the right to a wrongful death claim.
A wide variety of accidents can end up fatal due to the misconduct or negligence of the at-fault party, resulting in a wrongful death claim. Accidents include, but are not limited to:
To prove the negligence of the at-fault party, your wrongful death attorney will investigate your case to gather and examine all relevant information. Evidence may include witness statements, police reports, medical records, doctor statements, video footage, and photographs. Your Goodman Acker lawyer will use this evidence to determine how the accident happened, who was at fault, and whether or not they were negligent.
No. You can represent yourself in any personal injury case, including wrongful death. There’s no law requiring you to hire an attorney. However, it’s in your best interest to do so. Hiring a wrongful death attorney reduces the amount of stress caused by your loss and pending case, and it will allow you to grieve. A wrongful death attorney also increases your chances of success with your claim as well as the amount of the settlement you may receive. The lawyers at Goodman Acker have the experience and skill to fight to protect your rights while seeking the award you deserve.
You can seek both compensatory and punitive damages in a wrongful death claim. Compensatory damages can be broken down into economic and non-economic. Economic damages include medical bills for treatment your loved one received after the accident, funeral costs, burial expenses, and lost wages, including any wages your loved one would have made in the future.
Noneconomic damages include the mental anguish, emotional stress, and pain and suffering brought on after losing a loved one. The loss of consortium is also considered in a wrongful death claim. This includes the loss of companionship, spousal intimacy, care, household services, parental guidance, and love and affection. If the at-fault party acted maliciously or with gross negligence, you can also seek punitive damages, which work to further punish the defendant.
There’s no way to put a price tag on your loved one’s life, and a wrongful death claim isn’t trying to do that. Wrongful death claims are a way to ensure that the liable party is held accountable for their actions. These claims are also a way to help the family of the deceased move on financially. Losing a parent or spouse can be devastating to the home finances. A wrongful death claim can help alleviate the added stress caused by this financial burden.
When you file a wrongful death claim, you’ll be asked to prove that your loved one’s death was the result of the at-fault party’s misconduct or negligence. You’ll also be asked to calculate your damages. This is where the experienced team at Goodman Acker steps in to keep the emotions out of the claim and assess what a fair settlement would be for you and your family. Failing to examine the entirety of your claim could mean you lose out on thousands of dollars, thus lacking the financial security required to move forward.
The team at Goodman Acker understands that this is a difficult time for you, but there’s also a limited time when you can file a wrongful death claim and the sooner you get started, the better. Our wrongful death attorneys have the skill, knowledge, and experience to handle these types of cases. We have over 150 years of combined experience with over a 99% success rate in winning cases. The team at Goodman Acker is available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offers a free consultation to evaluate your case.
We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, with a goal to maximize awards to reduce the financial strain placed on the family after a wrongful death. Wrongful death is not a criminal matter, which is why you must pursue a wrongful death claim in order to receive compensation for your loss. As long as the death of your loved one can be traced back to the misconduct or negligence of the at-fault party, you might have a valid case.
Give our Grand Rapids office a call today for a free consultation. We will match you with an experienced wrongful death lawyer who will evaluate your case and provide you with an estimated settlement amount. You can reach us 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone, or fill out our secure online messaging form, and a team member will get back to you.