Wrongful death lawsuits involve the most serious forms of personal injury. From a car crash to a workplace mishap, fatal accidents take parents away from children and spouse away from spouse. While grief, anger, and a host of other emotions are all normal after an accidental death, statutes of limitations can mean that you need to start thinking about a potential lawsuit long before you are emotionally ready to do so. Balancing competence and compassion during such an overwhelmingly difficult time, we will work to protect your family’s right to file a personal injury lawsuit and collect damages you both need and deserve.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits Provide for Families Who Lost Loved Ones

Wrongful death litigation is different from other kinds of personal injury law because it has to do with establishing the degree of the injury rather than its type. Any personal injury accident can evolve into a wrongful death lawsuit if the injured party dies as a result of the accident. Many wrongful death cases come out of high-speed auto accidents or serious product defect issues, while others may stem from workplace injuries or the negligence of business owners.

Wrongful death lawsuits are filed on behalf of the decedent – the person who died – by the representatives of the decedent’s estate. They are filed for the benefit of spouses, children, relatives, and other loved ones who suffer from the loss. The technical and legal details needed for a successful wrongful death case often require your wrongful death attorney to work closely with your estate administration attorney to ensure that the decedent’s wishes are met and that the proceeds of any lawsuit are distributed faithfully.

Compensating Estates for Wrongful Death Losses

In addition to the emotional grief that comes from an unexpected, wrongful death, the loss of a loved one can leave a gaping hole in a family’s finances. No matter which personal injury category your wrongful death lawsuit falls under, a decedent’s estate can receive damage awards for:

• Final medical expenses
• Pain and suffering felt during the person’s final days
• Funeral, burial, and cremation expenses
• Actual lost wages and loss of potential lifetime income
• Loss of support and companionship for the person’s household
• Other compensatory damages suffered related to the accident
• Attorney fees and costs (in some personal injury categories)

Standing water on the floor of a store, a poorly-lit stairwell, or faulty construction can all cause serious harm resulting in slip & fall personal injury. Michigan law states that property owners must take reasonable steps to keep their properties safe; they must properly warn visitors, customers, and guests about hidden or unexpected dangers. Our attorneys will help you determine the best approach for your case, so you can be properly compensated for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.

Dog bites can cause serious injury, especially when the victim is young or is an otherwise vulnerable individual. Even “sweet dogs” who have “never bitten anyone” before can suddenly become a problem through no fault of the person attacked. Michigan law states that dog owners are strictly liable for injuries in dog bite cases. If you or a family member have been bitten by a dog, our personal injury attorneys will help you financially recover from your injuries.

Auto accident claims are among the most common personal injury lawsuits. If you have been hit by a car, you could be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and possible permanent disability. Big-name firms handle cases like these across the state, but they are often strangers to our local courts in Southwest Michigan. Our personal injury attorneys will work with you to get the no-fault benefits you are entitled to and the negligence damages you deserve to move on with your life.