- January 23, 2015
- Car Accidents
- Personal Injury
Under the Michigan no-fault law, a family member who has a lost a loved one as a result of a Detroit car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or any type of motor vehicle accident, is entitled to survivor loss benefits from the no-fault insurance company, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.Survivor loss benefits are not only available to the surviving family members if the victim was killed as a driver, but also if the loved one was passenger in a vehicle, and/or a pedestrian or bicyclist who was killed after being hit by a car. While no compensation will ever be enough to compensate for the loss of a loved one, it is important that survivors of the deceased victim take legal action as the compensation provided by a survivor loss claim can help ease the financial burdens a family may face in the future due to their loss.
What Are Survivor Loss Benefits?
Survivor loss benefits is money compensation from the auto insurance company that covers what surviving family members would have received in support from the wrongful death victim if he or she not been killed in an accident. Survivor loss benefits include loss of financial support, such as annuity income, investment income, pensions, and more, loss of household services, hospital/medical insurance premiums, as well as payment for a portion of the funeral bill.How Long Can I Collect Survivor Loss Benefits in Michigan?
Under Michigan no-fault law, surviving family members are entitled to receive survivor loss benefits for the first three years from the date of the motor vehicle accident. The maximum amount a family member is able to receive changes every year in the State of Michigan. Depending on the circumstances of the deceased victim will also determine how much a family member can collect.
To learn how much you may be able to receive in benefits or to find out the maximum monthly amount payable, call our law firm office today at (248) 286-8100. There is no obligation and we will be able to answer your questions and get you the help you need.
Who Can File For Michigan Survivor Loss Benefits?
Not just anyone can file a claim. The people who are dependents of the deceased auto accident victim can file for survivor loss benefits. Dependents include husbands, wives, children under the age of 18, physically or mentally incapacitated children over 18 and whomever the facts suggest is a dependent.
How Do I Submit My Claim for Michigan Survivor Loss Benefits?
To submit a claim for survivor loss benefits, you must complete a Michigan Survivor's Loss Benefit claim and submit it to the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim. Required with the submission of the claim is a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the funeral bill. To properly calculate the amount of survivor loss benefits a person is entitled to, the insurance company also requires you to submit a written proof of the loss of financial support and household services.
There is a one-year time limit from the date of the accident in which you must submit your claim. If you do not file within that one-year time frame, you will not be able to collect survivor loss benefits. To ensure you have submitted everything correctly and the insurance company has everything they need, our Michigan no-fault insurance lawyers highly recommend that a claim is submitted sooner than later.
In addition, in tragic situations such as these it is really in the best interest of the family to speak to an experienced attorney so that they can clearly explain what rights the family is entitled to and discuss other options of compensation that may be available, such as the right to file a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit.
What To Do If My Survivor Loss Benefits Claim Is Denied?
It is not uncommon for surviving family members to submit their Michigan Survivor Loss Benefits claim and run into trouble with the insurance company. Insurance companies are known for playing tactics, denying benefits, cutting them off, or not paying the rightful amount a person is entitled to.
If your insurance company refuses to pay your survivor loss benefits, delays payments, terminates or underpays your benefits, your only recourse is to file a lawsuit. This is called a no-fault insurance lawsuit.
Get Help Today From Michigan's Best No-Fault Insurance Lawyers
At the law firm of Goodman Acker P.C., our attorneys have over 30 years of experience helping clients obtain the survivor loss benefits they deserve from the insurance company. We specialize in auto and no-fault insurance lawsuits, getting successful results for our clients and the justice they deserve.
We can help you too. Whether you just have some questions regarding submitting a claim and how much you are entitled to, need help submitting your claim, or believe you have a lawsuit against the insurance company, call our top rated Michigan no-fault insurance lawyers at (248) 286-8100. We offer a free consultation where we are happy to answer all questions and concerns you may have and best of all there is no obligation. If you have questions, call today and get the advice you need. We also represent our clients on a no-win no-fee basis, which means no fees or costs whatsoever unless we win your case.