Wrongful Death
Losing someone you love to a fatal accident can be devastating. Aside from the emotional pain and suffering, you may be experiencing financial hardship from losing your income or benefits.
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 if you can get a financial reward.
The experienced team at Goodman Acker could 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. Here’s what you need to know and how we can help as you move forward.
What Is Wrongful Death?
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:
- Spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Sisters and brothers
- Stepchildren
- Anyone appointed in the victim’s will
- The victim’s estate.
Michigan also has a statute of limitation on wrongful death claims 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 Dearborn. 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.
Why Choose Us?
You have options when it comes to choosing representation, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. Starting with a free consultation, we will get to know and work with you to achieve the best possible results. We’ll guide you through the process, so you understand the compensation you may be entitled to and what kind of results you should expect.
Getting the Right Dearborn Wrongful Death Attorney Near You
Every wrongful death case is unique. Your specific objectives and needs become part of the fabric of a tailored legal strategy to give you the best chance of achieving your goals and receiving a positive outcome to compensate you for your losses.
Goodman Acker Has a 99% Success Rate in Winning Cases
When you are in a wrongful death lawsuit, the decisions made by a judge or jury will have a significant impact on your life. Having the right lawyer can mean the difference between winning and losing your case. Our wrongful death attorneys at Goodman Acker have a 99 percent success rate with the cases they take on—and we routinely take on cases that other attorneys won’t. It is a testament to our success in getting clients the compensation they need and are entitled to receive.
We’ve Won Millions for Our Clients
We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients in Dearborn and throughout Michigan. These multimillion-dollar awards and verdicts result from over 150 years of combined experience, creativity, compassion, and giving cases our full attention. Moreover, the results we’ve obtained for our clients are also due partly because we were prepared to go to trial and prevailed with a positive outcome.
We Keep Up with Clear Client Communication
You don’t deserve to be left wondering what’s happening with your case. You deserve our attention, time, and dedication.
We know that our clients have a lot of questions, and we promise to answer them all directly and straightforwardly. Additionally, you can expect clear and open lines of communication with your assigned attorney, regular updates on the status of your case, and phone calls returned within 24 business hours.
After suffering through the tragic event of losing a loved one, we want our clients to know their rights and feel empowered to pursue justice.
You Deserve a Quality Wrongful Death Attorney in Dearborn
You deserve to work with an award-winning team that can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Goodman Acker P.C. will continue its Legacy of Excellence and Award-Winning Trust from clients and the community by ensuring that people who wrongfully cause the death of others are held accountable to their victims’ families. The essential work of attorney Barry J. Goodman has earned him and his firm many awards and accolades, such as the following:
- Member of the Nation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys 2019 by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- The National Trial Lawyers—Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys
- Leaders in Law, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
- 0 Superb Avvo Rating
- AV® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Inclusion on the Super Lawyers® list
- Inclusion in the Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2021 Hall of Fame
We understand the devastation that follows the loss of a loved one. Moving forward is not easy, and we can’t take all the pain away, but we can do what you expect us to do when it comes to getting a full and fair settlement and representing you and your family.
How Can We Help?
No one plans for the death of a loved one with someone else to blame, but, when the unthinkable happens, it’s important to have a knowledgeable Dearborn wrongful death lawyer to help put your case on the right path for your family’s best possible outcome.
We can do several things for you, including scheduling a free consultation with you, helping you seek lost sources of income, and focusing on your case so you can focus on healing. Here’s more about what to expect.
1. Schedule an Appointment with Us
The first step is to schedule a free consultation with one of our compassionate wrongful death attorneys. This is your opportunity to tell us how this heartbreaking event has affected you and what your goals and needs are for your family.
We will listen and explain what options are available to you under Michigan’s wrongful death laws. The consultation is 100% free and without obligation. Call 248-286-8100 or use our online contact form to schedule an appointment.
2. Get Help with Your Loss of Income
At Goodman Acker P.C., our experienced Dearborn wrongful death attorneys understand the financial and emotional toll that the death of a loved one can take on a family. You may be worried about funeral or recent medical expenses, which are recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit.
We start by determining the loss of income, including how much the deceased was earning at the time of their death, how much they would have been able to earn in the future, and how much they contributed to the family’s maintenance, among other things.
We will also calculate the amount of pain, suffering, and loss of companionship that is part of your compensation. We will also stop any bill collectors harassing you during this painful time.
3. Let Us Take Care of the Legal Process While You Heal
After a loved one dies, the last thing you want to worry about is building a case and going to court. However, if the death was someone else’s fault, you may have to pursue legal action to get the compensation you deserve.
Our Dearborn wrongful death lawyers will handle everything for you so that you can focus on healing. We will gather evidence, investigate the cause of death, and build a strong case. We will also hire investigators, expert witnesses, and accident reconstructionists, if necessary.
Once the investigation is complete, your attorney will begin to prepare all necessary documents and evidence against the responsible parties and negotiate for a favorable settlement.
If we cannot reach a settlement, we will file a lawsuit and present your case to a jury in a trial. If we are successful, the jury will award you monetary compensation. This process can be complex and time-consuming, but it is sometimes necessary to get the full compensation you deserve.
We understand the financial stress and anxiety of losing a spouse or loved one. We are dedicated to providing outstanding client service and achieving the best possible results in wrongful death lawsuits. Contact us today for a free consultation at 248-286-8100.
What Types of Accidents Can Result in Wrongful Death?
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:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Product malfunction
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Work-related accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Bicycle accidents.
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.
Many cases are settled outside court, meaning you won’t need to appear yourself. However, if the case goes to trial, our attorneys will be there to represent you and make sure you get the justice you deserve for your loved one.
What Type of Damages Can Be Recovered with a Wrongful Death Claim?
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 could also seek punitive damages, which work to punish the defendant further.
Why File a Wrongful Death Claim?
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 and has to compensate those who are left behind. 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, allowing families to rest easier and take the time they need to heal.
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 thousands of dollars and, thus, lack the financial security required to move forward.
FAQs about Wrongful Death Lawsuits
You have questions, and we have answers. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about wrongful death cases and what you can expect when you work with our team.
A wrongful death lawsuit is defined by the Michigan Wrongful Death Act, MCL § 600.2922. This act says that a wrongful death occurred when a person’s death (or injuries leading to death) was caused by the wrongful or neglectful acts or faults of others.
Additionally, if the person had not died, those acts or faults would have allowed the injured party to make a claim and recover damages. A wrongful death lawsuit allows the decedent’s representative to make a claim for compensation on behalf of the estate.
Relatives of the deceased victim can file a wrongful death lawsuit. Sometimes, a non-family member will file the case, but, in most cases, it is a family member representing the victim in court. The personal representative can then hire a Michigan wrongful death attorney to handle the case.
A wrongful death case has a few elements that must be met to win an award. First, you have to show that the person who died did so as a result of another person’s fault or negligence. You have to show that they are liable for financial losses, and you have to show that the at-fault party would have been liable to an action for damages if the person had lived.
The limit, also known as the cap, on damages in Michigan doesn’t exist, meaning there is no limit on how much you can claim for your wrongful death case. While there’s no universal cap, there may be other limitations, such as insurance limits, to consider.
There is no limit on what you can sue for in Michigan, but you will need to show real financial losses to start your claim. Even if you do have emotional injuries, those are often combined with financial losses to go with your claim. Additionally, remember that insurance policies may limit your claim, even if the state doesn’t have a cap on how much you can collect.
We hope that these FAQs have been helpful in answering your questions, but we know that this can be a challenging time that raises many concerns. We’re here to help you and want to be on your side.
Do You Need an Attorney to File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Hiring a wrongful death attorney reduces the stress caused by your loss and pending case, allowing you to grieve.
A wrongful death attorney also increases your chances of success with your claim and 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.
At Goodman Acker, we work with you and your family to obtain the best results for your case. We’re ready to take your call today and are looking forward to meeting with you in the office. Schedule a free consultation at 248-286-8100 to learn more about what we do and how we can help you get the results you expect.
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN
Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]
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