How to Prove Wrongful Death After a Car Accident

It’s unfortunate when a loved one passes away because of another driver’s negligence. We understand that this time is difficult for you and other surviving family members. However, there is a limited window of time for the decedent’s estate to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Our wrongful death attorney can help you win compensation for lost earnings, loss of companionship, and other damages. Continue reading to learn the other ways we can help you prove wrongful death after a fatal car accident.

What Are the Leading Causes of Fatal Car Accidents?

Driving aggressively or recklessly
Careless driving mistakes
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Texting while driving or other distractions

Wrongful Death in a Car Accident

In the state of Michigan, you have 3 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. To prove wrongful death, you must show that the at-fault party owed a duty to the decedent to exercise reasonable care. Then, you must prove that the at-fault party breached this duty and caused actual damages. How to prove wrongful death in a car accident:

Hire a wrongful death attorney.
File claim within 3 years of death.
Expect pushback from claim adjusters.
Prove negligence.

1. Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney

Head-on collisions are considered the deadliest. However, our car accident attorney has experience representing a variety of cases and is ready to help you move forward with your wrongful death lawsuit.

If your family is weighed down by funeral expenses or medical bills incurred before death, you can’t afford to wait. Call our law firm today to request your consultation with our wrongful death attorney.

Damages for wrongful death can include:

Decedent’s pain and suffering before death
Medical bills incurred before death
Funeral expenses
Lost earnings
Services decedent would have provided
Loss of consortium (love, comfort, companionship, etc.)

2. File Claim Within 3 Years of Death

In the state of Michigan, the decedent’s estate has 3 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. For this reason, we recommend hiring a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible to provide legal guidance.

Our car accident attorney will make sure you don’t miss your deadline to file so you can get the compensation you need for lost earnings, funeral expenses, and other damages.

3. Expect Pushback from Claim Adjusters

It’s important to understand that the claim adjusters are not on your side. No matter how deserving your claim, the insurance company is working on behalf of the liable party to pay as little compensation as possible (if any).

Fortunately, our car accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence you need to prove liability for a wrongful death. We understand how death affects families and will make sure your claim isn’t dismissed on a technicality. We stand for justice.

4. Prove Negligence

You’ll need to prove that the other driver’s negligence caused the fatal car accident. Fortunately, our car accident attorney can help you gather the evidence needed to win compensation. To show negligence, you need to prove that the defendant owed a duty to the decedent to exercise reasonable care. Check out the other elements of a wrongful death lawsuit below.

You must show the following to prove wrongful death:

Defendant owed a duty to the deceased to exercise reasonable care
Defendant breached duty
Defendant’s breach of duty caused death
Defendant could have foreseen harm
Defendant’s breach of duty caused actual damages

Need a Wrongful Death Attorney?

Have questions about your wrongful death lawsuit? Jerry M. Beurkens will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have during your consultation. To schedule your consultation with our wrongful death attorney in Grand Rapids MI, call Beurkens Law at (616) 459-5344.

This blog post has been updated.