Few losses cut as deep as losing a family member to an accident that never should have happened. At Christensen Law, our Michigan wrongful death lawyers are here to listen to your story, protect your family’s rights, and pursue the justice your loved one deserves.
We know that no amount of money can replace the person you lost, yet holding the responsible party accountable can help secure your family’s future.
For over 35 years, we have stood beside grieving families from Detroit to Grand Rapids, and across the entire state. When you call us, you reach a team that treats your loss with the care and respect it deserves. Your first consultation is always free, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case.
Contact us 24/7 at 248-600-4591 when you’re ready to discuss your case and legal options.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Michigan?
A wrongful death claim is a legal case a family can bring when a loved one dies because of someone else’s wrongful act, neglect, or fault. In plain terms, it is the lawsuit your loved one could have filed for their injuries, had they survived. Michigan law allows the family to step into that role, and seek compensation in their place.
These claims are governed by the Michigan Wrongful Death Act, found in MCL 600.2922. The law recognizes that when a death is caused by another party’s carelessness, the surviving family members deserve a real path to accountability. It also makes certain the person responsible cannot escape liability simply because the injury proved fatal.
A wrongful death can grow out of many kinds of accidents. A fatal truck crash on I-75, a motorcycle wreck near Ann Arbor, or a serious car accident anywhere in the state can all give rise to a claim. What matters is whether another person or company acted carelessly, and whether that carelessness caused the death.
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle
Our firm focuses on wrongful death cases that arise from serious accidents across Michigan. Many of the families we serve lost a loved one in a sudden crash caused by another driver, or a careless company. We bring decades of courtroom experience to each of these cases.
Some of the wrongful death cases we handle include:
- Truck and commercial vehicle accidents on busy routes like I-94 and I-696.
- Car accidents, including those caused by distracted or drunk driving.
- Motorcycle accidents, where riders too often suffer fatal injuries.
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents involving people hit by a vehicle.
- Bus, rideshare, and other passenger vehicle accidents.
- Construction site accidents, and incidents involving negligent security.
If your loss came from another type of accident, we still encourage you to reach out to us. We have handled a wide range of cases, and we can tell you honestly whether we are the right fit for your family. There is no cost to ask, and no obligation to move forward.
How Our Michigan Wrongful Death Lawyers Help Your Family
Our role is to carry the legal burden, so you can focus on your family and your healing. From the moment you reach out, our Michigan wrongful death lawyers begin investigating what happened, gathering evidence, and identifying everyone who may share responsibility. We handle the paperwork, the insurance companies, and the court deadlines for you.
We work closely with accident reconstruction professionals, medical providers, and financial analysts to show the full picture of your loss. This includes the income your loved one would have earned, the care they provided, and the comfort of their daily presence. Building this kind of case takes real resources, and we invest them fully on your behalf.
We also keep you informed at every step. You will never wonder where your case stands, because we believe clear, honest communication is part of treating families with respect. When you are ready to talk, we are ready to listen.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Michigan?
In Michigan, only the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate may file a wrongful death claim. This is the person named in a will, or appointed by the probate court, to manage the estate. While one person files the lawsuit, the case is brought for the benefit of the surviving family members.
The law also sets out who may receive compensation from the case. These family members often include the surviving spouse, children, parents, and siblings, along with certain other close relatives. Each person’s relationship to the deceased, and their individual losses, help determine how any recovery is shared. Distribution of those funds follows the rules in MCL 700.3924.
If you are unsure whether you have the standing to pursue a claim, we can help you understand your options. The probate process can feel confusing during a time of grief, so we guide families through each requirement with patience and care.
What Damages Can Families Recover?
Michigan families can recover several types of compensation in a wrongful death case, depending on the circumstances. The goal is to account for both the financial and the personal losses your family has suffered. Under Michigan’s Wrongful Death Act, a court or jury may award damages it considers fair and equitable.
The damages available in a Michigan wrongful death claim often include:
- Reasonable medical, hospital, funeral, and burial expenses connected to the death.
- Compensation for the pain and suffering your loved one consciously experienced between the injury and their passing.
- Loss of the financial support your loved one would have provided to your family over time.
- Loss of the society and companionship your family shared with the person you lost.
Every family’s situation is different, so the value of a claim depends on the specific facts. We take the time to understand your loved one’s role in your life, and we work to see that role fully recognized. Putting a number on a life is never simple, yet we fight to make certain your family’s losses are not overlooked.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault System Affect a Wrongful Death Claim?
When a wrongful death involves a motor vehicle, Michigan’s No-Fault auto insurance system plays a key role in what your family can recover. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits cover certain losses regardless of who caused the crash, and they come from a first-party claim against the appropriate No-Fault insurer.
In a fatal motor vehicle case, PIP benefits often include reasonable medical and hospital expenses your loved one received before passing, funeral and burial costs subject to statutory limits, and survivor’s loss benefits that replace income and support your loved one would have contributed to your family. These benefits may also cover replacement services your loved one performed at home.
A third-party lawsuit under the Wrongful Death Act is separate from these No-Fault benefits, and the two work together. That lawsuit allows your family to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, loss of society and companionship, and other harms that No-Fault does not cover.
Because coordinated and uncoordinated policies can affect which insurer pays first, a careful review of every policy involved matters from day one.
How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Michigan?
In most Michigan wrongful death cases, families generally have three years from the date of death to file a lawsuit. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations, which is simply the legal time limit for bringing a claim, and it comes from MCL 600.5805. Certain situations can shorten or extend that window, so the safest step is to speak with a lawyer early.
Michigan law also includes a saving provision under MCL 600.5852 that can affect the timeline once a personal representative is appointed. Because these rules can be complex, and because important evidence can fade as time passes, acting promptly protects your family’s interests. The sooner we begin, the more thoroughly we can investigate and preserve what happened.
Missing a deadline can cost a family the right to recover anything at all. That is why we encourage families to call us as soon as they are able. We will review the dates that apply to your situation, and explain them in plain language.
Why Families Across Michigan Choose Christensen Law
Families choose us because we treat every case with the same dedication, honesty, and care that has guided our firm since 1991. We built our reputation on three simple principles: listen, protect, and win. From your very first call, we work to understand your loss and your goals, so your case reflects what matters most to your family.
Insurance companies pay close attention to which firms actually try cases, and which ones settle quickly to clear their files. In our experience, that knowledge shapes every offer they put on the table.
We prepare every wrongful death case from day one as if a jury will hear it, which is one reason our results include a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident verdict, along with multiple multi-million dollar recoveries, including a $9.5 million wrongful death case, for families across Michigan.
We also take the weight of the legal process off your shoulders. Our team deals with the insurance companies and opposing parties, so your family is never pressured or taken advantage of during an already painful time. When a fair resolution is not offered, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial.
Led by firm founder Dave Christensen and managing partner Sarah Stempky-Kime, our trial attorneys have earned national recognition for their work on behalf of injured families. We serve clients from our offices in Detroit, Southfield, Ann Arbor, Troy, and Grand Rapids.
If your family is ready for honest answers and committed advocacy, we are here to help, so please call us 24/7 at 248-600-4591 for a free consultation.
FAQs Answered by Our Michigan Wrongful Death Attorneys
Below are answers to some of the questions families ask us most often when they are considering a wrongful death claim.
For our clients, there are no up front costs to begin a case. We handle wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we recover compensation for your family. Your consultation is free, and we take on the costs of building your case, so money is never a barrier to getting honest legal help.
No, a wrongful death claim is a separate civil case, not a criminal prosecution. A criminal case is brought by the government and can lead to penalties like jail time, while a wrongful death claim is brought by the family to recover financial compensation. A family can pursue a civil claim even when no criminal charges are filed, because the two systems work independently.
Your family may still be able to recover compensation even if your loved one shared some of the blame. Michigan follows a comparative fault rule, which can reduce a recovery based on the deceased person’s share of responsibility. Because these rules can be detailed, it helps to have a lawyer review exactly how they apply to your situation.
The timeline depends on the facts of the case, the injuries involved, and whether the matter settles or goes to trial. Some cases resolve in a matter of months, while others that head to court can take longer. We move your case forward as efficiently as possible, and we keep you updated so you always know what to expect.
Helpful evidence often includes police reports, photographs of the scene, medical records, witness statements, and records of your loved one’s income. The right evidence depends on how the death occurred, so an early investigation matters a great deal. We work quickly to gather and preserve this proof before it is lost.
Possibly, since Michigan’s saving provision can extend the filing window once a personal representative is appointed. The deadlines are strict, though, so the best step is to talk with a lawyer right away. We can review the dates in your case and let you know honestly whether you still have time to act.
Talk to a Michigan Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
Your family does not have to face this difficult time alone, and you do not have to fight the insurance companies by yourself.
At Christensen Law, our Michigan wrongful death lawyers are ready to listen with compassion, protect your rights, and pursue the full measure of justice your loved one deserves. We have helped families throughout the state move forward, and we are ready to help yours.
Reach out today for a free, no obligation consultation, and remember that you pay nothing unless we win. Call our Southfield office 24/7 at 248-600-4591, or contact the location nearest you in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, or Troy. Let us carry the legal burden, so your family can begin to heal.
