Dedicated and Trustworthy Flint Wrongful Death Attorney
Let’s Help You Get Justice for the Death of Your Loved One
Losing a loved one is saddening and devastating and can leave a hole in your life that nothing can fill. If the deceased was the breadwinner of their family, it could result in a financial strain, affecting the family’s well-being. Therefore, while monetary compensation doesn’t bring back a deceased loved one, it helps take off some of the financial strain caused by their death.
However, to receive compensation, you must be eligible and file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible. Cases where victims die are one the exceptions to Michigan’s no-fault law for car accidents. Therefore, as long as the deceased was not to blame for the event that killed them, their loved ones can seek compensation.
Seeking financial compensation is easier when represented by our Flint wrongful death attorney. This way, you can focus on grieving your loved one while we handle the legal aspects of your claim. We have done this for several clients, and you can trust us to do the same for you and work towards a favorable outcome.
Our Goodman Acker, P.C. team is available 24/7 to listen to you and provide legal guidance, so don’t sleep on your rights. Contact us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.
Why Choose Our Flint Wrongful Death Attorney?
Picking a wrongful death lawyer after losing a loved one is not always an easy choice. You must ensure the attorney is experienced in these cases and will give your case the time and attention it needs. This is what we offer our clients at Goodman Acker, P.C. We understand the pain of losing a loved one and do all we can within the law to help you receive fair compensation.
Our attorneys will help maximize your settlement in your time of need and ensure your losses are well-covered.
We are dedicated to every case we handle, and we get to know the details of each client’s case on a personal level. We are very hands-on with the claims we handle and dedicate a team to every client. So, with us, you don’t have to worry about being passed around to different attorneys; the lawyer you start with will be with you till your case concludes.
Also, we bring decades of experience and an in-depth understanding of the laws affecting wrongful death claims and compensation amounts. So, if you want a law firm in Flint that will fight for you and not relent, we are the people to call. Contact us today at 248-286-8100 to book a free case review.
What Qualifies as a Wrongful Death Case in Flint, Michigan?
A wrongful death case arises when a person dies due to the negligent actions of another. A personal injury claim can become a wrongful death case if the injury suffered leads to the death of the victim. Therefore, for a wrongful death claim to be valid, the victim must have been entitled to file a personal injury claim had they lived.
Wrongful death claims result from different types of events, including the following:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, and pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Nursing home neglect or abuse
- Premises liability
- Slip-and-fall accidents, etc.
A wrongful death case can also arise from a criminal action or in cases where the police wrongfully kill a person. Irrespective of what caused your loved one’s death, our Flint wrongful death lawyer can help as long as it was the result of a negligent action.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Wrongful Death Case?
Since negligence is the ground for suing for wrongful death cases, it is vital to show how the at-fault party’s (defendant) negligence led to the victim’s death. To do this, the law requires establishing the following:
- Duty of care: First, the claimant must show that the defendant owed the deceased duty of care. The duty will differ based on what led to the victim’s death. So, the duty of care in a vehicle accident case will vary from that of a premises liability.
- Breach: Next, the claimant must establish that the defendant breached the duty of care by negligent action. Again, what amounts to a violation will differ based on what led to the wrongful death.
- Causation: The breached duty must be the actual and proximate cause of the victim’s death. As such, even if the defendant violated their duty of care, if it was not the cause of the victim’s death, the claim might fail.
- Damages: Finally, the claimant must have suffered losses, financial and nonfinancial, due to the defendant’s action, for which they deserve compensation.
Our wrongful death lawyers in Flint know how to establish these elements of negligence and the evidence needed to back them up. So, you don’t have to worry about proving them, as we will handle everything.
Our Flint wrongful death attorneys have a 99% success rate and positive testimonials from past clients who are satisfied with our services.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Flint?
Under Michigan law, not everyone can file a wrongful death claim. Those allowed to file a wrongful death lawsuit are:
- The surviving spouse
- Children of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
- Personal representative of the deceased’s estate.
If the personal representative is listed in the deceased’s will, they take precedence in filing the wrongful death lawsuit. But the Probate Court will appoint one if the will has no personal representative listed. Where the personal representative files the lawsuit or claim, the settlement or verdict awarded goes to the legal beneficiaries. The primary beneficiaries under Michigan law are the spouses, children, and parents; in some cases, grandparents and other blood relatives might be entitled to compensation.
Recoverable Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
You can receive economic and noneconomic damages for the death of your loved one. Economic damages are quantifiable and easier to calculate than noneconomic damages that are unquantifiable and have no fixed dollar value. The two cover the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering of the deceased before death
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of services
- Loss of parental guidance
- Emotional distress.
In some cases where there is evidence of gross or malicious negligence, you might receive exemplary damages. It is rarely awarded in Michigan, but it significantly boosts the compensation if granted.
At Goodman Acker, P.C., we have secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Flint Wrongful Death Attorney FAQS
When faced with the unplanned death of a loved one and a legal process, you are bound to ask questions. The following are some of the common questions we get:
Yes, you may still have a valid claim as long as you can establish that the pre-existing condition was not the direct cause of the death. Also, if the event that harmed the victim aggravated the pre-existing condition, leading to the victim’s death, you still have a valid claim.
The worth of a wrongful death claim varies from one to the next and is affected by several factors. These factors include the severity of negligence or misconduct leading to the death, circumstances leading to the wrongful death, economic losses (funeral expenses, medical bills, etc.), loss of financial support, emotional distress, mental anguish, etc.
Our wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid when we secure a favorable outcome. Also, we only receive a percentage of the settlement or verdict.
You have three years to file a wrongful death claim, and the time starts counting from the accident date. Once it lapses, you lose your right to compensation forever.
These may not be your only questions; our attorneys will discuss your specific concerns in your initial consult.
How Our Wrongful Death Attorneys in Flint Can Help You
At Goodman Acker, P.C., we offer a variety of services to our clients when they retain us. You can expect us to do the following:
- Handle case evaluation and legal consultation
- Gather evidence and identify liable parties
- Determine damages and file the necessary paperwork to commence a claim or lawsuit
- Negotiate with insurers and represent you in court if the negotiations fall through
- Advise you on legal rights and openly communicate with you about the case
- Explain the legal processes and the strategy we plan to use to secure favorable outcomes
- Ensure timely filing of all paperwork to meet deadlines.
We will always place your interest first and guide you to make the best decision for your case.
Book a Free Case Evaluation with Us Now!
Did you lose a loved one due to the negligent actions of another person? Our wrongful death attorneys at Goodman Acker, P.C., can help. From investigating what led to your loved one’s death to negotiating a settlement, we will be with you every step of the way. Call us at 248-286-8100 to book a free case review.
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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