Losing someone you love because of another person’s careless choices is a kind of heartbreak that words cannot fully reach. At Christensen Law, our Southfield wrongful death lawyers stand beside families during these painful moments, working to hold the responsible parties accountable so that you can focus on healing.
We have advocated for grieving families across Michigan since 1991, and we are ready to listen to your story today.
When the unthinkable happens, you deserve a legal team that treats your family with compassion and respect. Our firm has secured significant recoveries across our personal injury practice, including a $17,800,000 motor vehicle accident verdict, alongside wrongful death recoveries of $9,500,000 and $6,000,000 in past cases.
While no two situations are alike and past results never guarantee future outcomes, these recoveries reflect our deep commitment to pursuing full and fair compensation for the families we represent.
If you have lost a loved one in Southfield or anywhere in Michigan, please reach out at 248-600-4591 24/7 for a free, no-pressure consultation. You owe nothing unless we win your case.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
What Is a Wrongful Death Claim in Michigan?
A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit that allows surviving family members to seek financial recovery when a loved one dies because of another party’s negligent, reckless, or intentional actions.
Michigan’s wrongful death statute, found at MCL 600.2922, spells out who may bring this kind of claim and what damages can be recovered. The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate is the one who files the case on behalf of eligible family members.
These claims are different from criminal charges. Even if no criminal case is filed, or even if the at-fault party is found not guilty, your family may still have the right to pursue a civil claim for damages. Civil cases have a different burden of proof, so accountability is still possible.
Our Southfield wrongful death attorneys have guided countless families through this process. We know how to investigate, build evidence, and work toward the recovery your family needs to move forward.
How Our Southfield Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help You
When you bring your case to us, we take on the full weight of the legal fight, so your family can focus on each other. We handle everything from gathering evidence and filing court documents to negotiating with insurance companies and arguing your case in front of a jury if needed. Our team brings decades of trial experience to every case we accept.
We understand that grief does not follow a schedule, and we never rush our clients. You will always know where your case stands, and you will always be able to reach a real person at our firm when you have questions. Our promise is simple: listen, protect, win.
Here are some of the things we do for every wrongful death client:
- We investigate the cause of the fatal incident, including reviewing police reports, video footage, and witness statements
- We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economists to build a strong case
- We identify every party who may share legal responsibility, so no source of recovery is overlooked
- We calculate the full economic and emotional impact of your loss, both now and for the years to come
- We deal directly with insurance companies, so you are not pressured into accepting a low offer
In the days after a fatal crash, insurance adjusters often move quickly for a reason. We have seen carriers request recorded statements from grieving family members before funeral arrangements are even set, push for independent medical exams designed to minimize pre-death pain and suffering, and float quick settlement offers that close off recovery before the full scope of the loss is known.
Our role is to intercept these tactics from day one, so no family member feels pressured into signing away rights or accepting a settlement before they fully understand the value of their claim.
This thorough approach has helped families recover meaningful compensation after the most tragic losses. Reach out today to learn what we can do for your family.
What Types of Accidents Lead to Wrongful Death Cases?
Wrongful death cases can arise from many types of preventable incidents, but most of the cases we handle involve serious vehicle crashes and other catastrophic events. Across Oakland County and the greater Detroit area, fatal collisions on roads like I-696, the Lodge Freeway, and Telegraph Road happen far too often.
Our Southfield wrongful death lawyers have handled cases involving many causes, including:
- Commercial truck collisions caused by tired, distracted, or improperly trained drivers
- Car accidents involving speeding, drunk driving, or running red lights
- Motorcycle crashes where another driver failed to yield or check blind spots
- Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities at busy intersections
- Bus and rideshare incidents involving large carriers and ride-hailing platforms
- Boating, aviation, and train accidents where safety rules were ignored
- Negligent security cases where a property owner failed to protect visitors from foreseeable harm
- Construction site incidents involving third-party contractors
No matter how your loved one was taken from you, we encourage you to contact us so we can review the facts and explain your family’s options.
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 lawsuit.
However, the damages recovered are distributed to eligible family members, including the surviving spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and other relatives who suffered a loss. The court reviews each claim and approves how the settlement or verdict is divided.
If your family has not yet opened an estate or named a personal representative, do not worry. We can help guide you through that process so your case can move forward without delay. Our team has handled this step many times, and we will make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Time matters in these cases. Michigan generally gives families three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit, but some situations have shorter deadlines. The sooner you reach out, the more time we have to preserve evidence and protect your rights.
What Compensation Is Available in a Michigan Wrongful Death Case?
Michigan law allows families to recover both economic and non-economic damages in a wrongful death case. Economic damages are the measurable financial losses, while non-economic damages account for the deep emotional toll of losing someone you love. The goal is to recover the full value of what your family has lost.
Compensation in a Michigan wrongful death case may include reasonable medical expenses related to the final injury or illness, funeral and burial costs, lost wages and benefits the loved one would have earned, and the loss of financial support to dependents.
Families may also recover for loss of the deceased person’s society, companionship, guidance, and care. In cases involving extreme misconduct, the court may also consider additional damages.
Our team works with financial experts and life-care planners to make sure every dollar of your loss is documented and presented clearly. We have seen too many families undersold by insurance companies that rush to close cases. We will not let that happen to you.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault System Affect a Wrongful Death Claim?
Michigan’s No-Fault auto insurance system still plays an important role in a wrongful death case that began with a motor vehicle crash.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, available under Michigan’s No-Fault Act (MCL 500.3105), can cover reasonable medical expenses, attendant care, and wage loss your loved one incurred between the time of the crash and the time of death, regardless of who caused the collision.
These first-party PIP benefits run alongside a third-party lawsuit against the at-fault driver. The third-party case is where we pursue compensation for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and the broader losses your family has experienced.
We coordinate both the PIP claim and the third-party suit so that no source of recovery is missed and your family receives the full benefit of every coordinated policy.
Why Choose Christensen Law for Your Southfield Wrongful Death Case?
Our firm has built its reputation by treating every client like family and fighting for every penny they deserve. Since 1991, we have been one of Michigan’s most trusted personal injury and wrongful death practices. With offices in Southfield, Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids, we serve families from the D to the UP.
Here is what sets us apart:
- Our founder, David Christensen, is a member of the MILW Hall of Fame and is recognized as one of Michigan’s top trial attorneys
- We have been ranked First-Tier in Detroit for Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiffs by U.S. News, Best Lawyers® for the 2026 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
- Our firm is a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Law Firm and a member of ABOTA, the American Board of Trial Advocates
- We have secured record-setting verdicts and settlements throughout Michigan, including multi-million-dollar recoveries in wrongful death cases
- You pay nothing up front, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you
When you call our Southfield office, you will reach a team that genuinely listens. We will treat your loved one’s memory with the dignity it deserves, and we will fight for the justice your family is owed. Please reach out at 248-600-4591 24/7 for a free, no-pressure consultation.
How Long Does a Wrongful Death Case Take in Michigan?
The length of a wrongful death case depends on many factors, including how clear the liability is, how many parties are involved, and whether the insurance company is willing to settle fairly.
Some cases resolve in several months, while others take more than a year, especially if they go to trial. We will give you an honest assessment of the timeline based on the specific facts of your case.
What we promise is that we will never let your case sit on a shelf. From day one, we move quickly to preserve evidence, locate witnesses, and document every aspect of your family’s loss. Speed matters because memories fade and physical evidence can disappear.
We also keep you informed throughout the process. You will never have to wonder what is happening with your case, because we will tell you. Honest, regular communication is one of the things our clients value most.
FAQs Answered by a Southfield Wrongful Death Attorney
Here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from families considering a wrongful death claim in Southfield and across Michigan.
In Michigan, wrongful death claims and survival actions are combined under the same statute, but they cover different types of losses. The wrongful death portion compensates surviving family members for their loss, while the survival portion recovers damages the deceased person suffered between the time of injury and death, such as conscious pain and medical bills.
Both types of damages are pursued together in one lawsuit filed by the personal representative.
Yes, in many cases you can. Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means recovery is still possible as long as your loved one was not more than 50 percent at fault for the incident. The compensation amount may be reduced by your loved one’s share of fault, but families often recover meaningful damages even when partial fault is involved.
When the at-fault party lacks adequate insurance, we look for other sources of recovery, such as the deceased person’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, an employer’s commercial policy, or claims against additional responsible parties.
Many of our largest recoveries have come from finding insurance coverage that families did not know existed. We dig deep so that no source of compensation is missed.
Many wrongful death cases settle before trial, but some do go before a judge or jury. Our team prepares every case as if it will go to trial, which often motivates insurance companies to offer fair settlements earlier in the process. If a trial is what your case needs, our courtroom experience speaks for itself.
There are no up front fees or hourly bills when you hire us. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we recover compensation for your family. The initial consultation is always free, and we cover the costs of investigating and building your case.
Yes, but these claims involve special rules and shorter deadlines. The Michigan Governmental Tort Liability Act requires written notice within specific time frames, sometimes as short as 120 days. If a government vehicle, road defect, or public employee was involved in your loved one’s death, please contact us right away so we can protect your right to file.
A criminal case and a civil wrongful death case are separate matters and can proceed at the same time. The criminal case is brought by the state to punish the wrongdoer, while the civil case is brought by your family to recover compensation. Even if a criminal case ends without a conviction, your civil case may still succeed because the legal standards are different.
Reach Out to Our Southfield Wrongful Death Lawyers Today
No family should have to carry the burden of a sudden loss alone, and no family should have to fight insurance companies while they are still grieving.
Our Southfield wrongful death lawyers are ready to listen to your story, answer your questions, and protect what matters most to you. We have the experience, the resources, and the heart to stand by you through every step of this journey.
Please call our Southfield office at 248-600-4591 24/7 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case, and there is never any pressure to move forward. Let our family help your family find justice.
