Michigan Wrongful Death Lawyer: Justice for Families Who’ve Lost a Loved One
Losing a loved one is even more complicated when their passing may be tied to someone else’s negligence or misconduct, but speaking with experienced wrongful death lawyers in Michigan can help you understand your options and protect your family’s interests.
Understanding Wrongful Death Claims in Michigan
What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death means someone died due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional harm. In Michigan, you’ve got legal ground to take civil action to hold the responsible parties accountable and get financial relief for surviving family members.
Common Causes
Cases of wrongful death can happen because of medical malpractice, car accidents, workplace accidents, defective products, and nursing home neglect, just to name a few. If you think someone else was responsible for your loved one’s death, you should talk to a Michigan wrongful death attorney.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Michigan?
Legal Representatives
You can only file a wrongful death claim in Michigan if you’re the personal representative of the victim’s estate, which means you were named in the will or appointed by the probate court to act on behalf of eligible family members.
Eligible Family Members
Personal representatives can file on behalf of the spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and other dependents who suffered losses. A family death lawyer protects everybody’s interests throughout the legal process.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Wrongful Death Case?
Medical Expenses
You can get compensation for wrongful death for hospital stays, emergency care, surgeries, medications, and other medical costs that took place before the person’s death.
Funeral Costs
Families recover what they spent on funeral and burial expenses: Caskets, cremation, memorial services, and other related expenses.
Loss of Income and Support
A wrongful death case seeks to cover those lost wages, benefits, and the future income the person would have contributed to the family based on their age, work history, and when they would have been expected to retire.
Pain and Suffering of Surviving Family
Emotional suffering also counts as part of the damages that you can claim in a wrongful death case in Michigan, because losing someone means losing companionship, guidance, and emotional support, so an accidental death attorney helps you quantify these non-economic damages and get you fair compensation.
Proving Liability in Wrongful Death Cases
Evidence Needed
You need strong evidence for wrongful death cases, and Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. works hard to gather medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimony. We know how to get the detailed documentation you need for birth injuries, surgical complications, etc., and how to use it to build a strong case.
Establishing Negligence or Intentional Act
To get compensation, we’ve got to prove the defendant owed your loved one a duty of care, and that they breached that duty, which directly caused their death. We’ve got the experience to make the connections and build compelling arguments.
Why You Need an Experienced Michigan Wrongful Death Attorney
Navigating Complex Legal Processes
Wrongful death lawsuits involve complicated procedures, strict deadlines, tons of paperwork, and a lot more, but Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. handles all of that for you.
Maximizing Compensation
Insurance companies usually try to minimize payouts or even flat-out deny your claims, so we fight to get you the maximum compensation for wrongful death by presenting thorough documentation of your losses and negotiating settlements aggressively.
Handling Insurance Companies
We deal with insurance adjusters on your behalf, so you’re not taken advantage of, and you get every dollar your family deserves.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim
Michigan Deadlines for Wrongful Death Lawsuits
In Michigan, you’ve typically got the years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit, although it can vary for medical malpractice cases. Miss a deadline, and you lose your right to compensation forever.
Why Timely Legal Action is Crucial
Evidence deteriorates over time, and witnesses forget details, so don’t put off consulting with wrongful death lawyers in Michigan.
Our Legal Approach at Cochran, Kroll & Associates
Client-First Philosophy
We promise you compassionate, personalized attention from our team at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. We listen, answer your questions, and keep you informed at all times.
Track Record in Wrongful Death Settlements
We’ve successfully represented Michigan families for decades and secured significant settlements and verdicts in complex wrongful death cases involving medical errors, traffic accidents, and workplace fatalities.
Get the Legal Support Your Family Deserves
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you’ve lost someone due to negligence, Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. wants to help. Contact us today for a free consultation, and we’ll review your situation to explain your legal options and answer any questions.
No Fees Unless We Win
We work on contingency, so you don’t pay anything up front and nothing throughout the case. We only collect fees if we win compensation for your family.
Call us at 1-866-MICH-LAW day or night to discuss your wrongful death claim in Michigan and help your family seek justice.
FAQs About Wrongful Death in Michigan
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim?
In Michigan, you’ve usually got three years from the date of death. Consulting a Michigan wrongful death attorney fast prevents you from missing critical filing deadlines that could prevent recovery.
How are damages calculated in a wrongful death lawsuit?
There are a lot of factors involved: Medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, lost benefits, and the pain and suffering of survivors. We examine the deceased’s age, health, and earning capacity, and have economic experts provide testimony to make accurate calculations and maximize compensation for wrongful death.
What makes a death wrongful under Michigan law?
A death is wrongful when it results from another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions. This includes car accidents caused by drunk drivers, medical errors, defective products, and workplace safety violations.
Can siblings file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Siblings can’t directly file a wrongful death claim in Michigan, but they may be eligible beneficiaries if they were financially dependent on the deceased. The estate’s personal representative files on behalf of all eligible family members.
