Dearborn Wrongful Death Lawyer

Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney in Dearborn, MI

If you’ve lost a loved one in an accident or to an act of malice, you may want to consider hiring a skilled Dearborn wrongful death lawyer to help you file a claim against the person responsible for their passing. You could be eligible to receive compensation that can make it easier to pay for expenses associated with their death and make up for the loss of their earning capacity moving forward.

Work With Wigod & Falzon

We know how difficult it is to deal with the untimely passing of a beloved family member, but the team here at Wigod & Falzon is here to help. You should be focused on grieving for your loved one, not dealing with the minutiae of filing a legal claim. Let us leverage our knowledge of wrongful death laws and experience with the court system to file your claim and negotiate a fair settlement for you so you don’t have to deal with the extra stress during this challenging time.

Why Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer?

In the first quarter of 2026, 381 people in Michigan died due to unintentional injuries. Another 37 people died in homicides. What many of these victims have in common is that they left behind family members to struggle with financial insecurity following their deaths. If you’ve found yourself in this position, you can hire a wrongful death lawyer to help you file a claim against the liable party. Developing a customized Michigan wrongful death claim presentation strategy allows our firm to systematically calculate future economic shortfalls and compile estate asset discovery files while protecting your family’s immediate privacy.

Your wrongful death lawyer can assist you with everything from paperwork to negotiating a settlement or litigating your case in court. They can help you prove negligence if the death was accidental, or file a civil claim against a defendant in a criminal homicide investigation. If the fatal incident stemmed from a severe roadway collision, unsafe work site, or property safety failure, a dedicated Dearborn personal injury lawyer from our team will manage all corresponding corporate liability lines on your behalf.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Michigan?

While a wrongful death claim in Michigan can only be brought by the executor of the decedent’s estate, the parties that stand to benefit from the claim are primarily the decedent’s family members. Potential beneficiaries of a claim can include:

• Children
• Spouses
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Siblings
• The children of a deceased spouse
• Anyone else designated under the decedent’s will

If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible to file a wrongful death claim, contact a Dearborn wrongful death attorney to discuss your options.

Damages Allowed in Wrongful Death Cases

Juries are allowed to award whatever damages they determine to be fair and equitable. They include damages for:

• Medical bills incurred before your loved one died
• Reasonable funeral and burial expenses at a cemetery like Northview or Mount Kelly
• Your loved one’s pain and suffering between the time of injury and their death
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of society and companionship
• Loss of guidance

The total amount of damages you receive can depend on many factors. Some of them include the decedent’s:

• Age
• Character
• Condition
• Earning capacity
  Life expectancy
• Health
• Intelligence

The circumstances of the beneficiaries are also taken into account by the court when determining a fair settlement. However, the primary consideration when awarding damages is usually the decedent’s circumstances at their time of death, including not just their earning capacity but also whether they had children or other dependents. Reviewing our step-by-step guidelines on how to file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court can help clarify how probate notification parameters operate before a formal complaint can be served to the at-fault party’s insurers.

You may also be eligible to receive exemplary damages. They are designed to compensate surviving family members of a deceased person who died due to another person’s malice, willful misconduct, or extreme recklessness. Traditional punitive damages are not awarded in Michigan.

FAQs

Who Is Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Michigan?

Only the executor of the deceased’s estate is eligible to file a wrongful death claim in Michigan. This personal representative is typically named in the deceased’s will but can be appointed by probate if no will exists.

Under Michigan Compiled Laws Section 600.2922, only certain survivors are entitled to recover damages. They include children, spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, stepchildren, children of the deceased’s spouse, financial dependents, and designated devisees or beneficiaries in the deceased’s will.

How Much Is the Average Wrongful Death Claim Worth?

How much the average wrongful death claim is worth varies substantially. Factors that could influence how much compensation you receive can include the projected income of the deceased over their lifetime, the medical bills incurred due to their fatal injury, burial and funeral costs, their age, the age of spouses or children, and non-economic factors like the loss of companionship, guidance, and emotional support.

What Is the Success Rate of Wrongful Death Claims?

The success rate of wrongful death claims varies. The success of your wrongful death case can hinge on proving the defendant’s negligence or wrongful act; showing the full extent of the damages, including both economic and non-economic losses; and filing your claim within the three-year statute of limitations for wrongful death cases.

How Long Does a Wrongful Death Claim Usually Take?

How long a wrongful death claim usually takes varies depending on the complexity of the case. Evidence needs to be gathered, and expert witness testimony must be given. This sets the pace of the case before settlement demands are even made. Cases that can be resolved via negotiation tend to be quicker than those that must go to court. If your case goes to trial, the schedule of the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court can play a role.

Your Dearborn Wrongful Death Lawyer

There is no pain worse than that of losing a loved one to another person’s negligence or willful act. We know that no amount of monetary compensation can make up for your loss, but it could help to make the grieving process easier by giving you the money you need to pay for funeral and burial expenses and make up for lost wages. You can trust a Dearborn wrongful death lawyer to help you file your claim successfully.

You can contact Wigod & Falzon for help with your claim as soon as you realize you’ll need to file it. Our team provides compassionate legal care for the families of deceased Dearborn residents. We’ve been in practice for over 30 years, and in that time, we’ve handled many wrongful death claims and developed a reputation for providing personalized services and robust representation for our clients. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.