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Flint, MI Wrongful Death Lawyer
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A sudden, fatal car accident has taken someone you love, and the grief has not even settled in. The at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster may already be calling, funeral bills arrive, and the income your family depended on is gone. You may not know who can file a claim, how long you have, or whether you can afford a lawyer.
Every statement you make in the days after a fatal Flint-area crash, and every week you wait, can affect what your family recovers. Michigan’s rules about who can actually file a wrongful death lawsuit are unforgiving, and the no-fault claim and the civil claim run on separate tracks with separate deadlines.
You do not have to figure this out alone. At Matz Injury Law, we have handled fatal motor vehicle cases in Michigan for nearly five decades and recovered more than $300 million for Michigan families.
Why Choose Matz Injury Law for a Wrongful Death Case in Flint
At Matz Injury Law, we understand how devastating it is to lose someone because of another person’s negligence. Our team has spent decades representing injured people and grieving families throughout Michigan, traveling across the state to meet with clients, investigate claims, and take the legal steps needed to pursue accountability.
We have handled serious wrongful death cases across Michigan and have helped secure substantial results for our clients. With more than $300 million recovered in verdicts and settlements, our firm brings experience, preparation, and a practical understanding of what families need during one of the hardest moments of their lives.
Client Testimonials
“My parents were involved in a fatal car accident, where we needed guidance dealing with the insurance company. A month after the accident the insurance agency had stopped addressing our calls and emails. Retaining Steve Matz and his team was the absolute best decision we made for my mom. He was professional from start to finish and we had a settlement quickly. Steve answered all of our calls and emails, and assured us that he would take care of our family during this time. If you are questioning whether seeking guidance is needed, don’t hesitate and reach out. Steve was very open about what he could do for our case, and how retaining his services could impact our timeline. We felt as though we were talking to a friend, not an attorney, who checked on us often. Thank you for all you have done for our family, especially my mom during this time. Your service and compassion deserves more than 5 stars!” — Sarah M.
“My family is grateful for Steve Matz’s professional handling of our case. Steve was very thorough, candid, responsive, and strategic in his approach throughout our legal proceedings. If ever in a situation again like my family has experienced over the past year, we would immediately retain Matz Injury Law to represent our interests. Thank you Steve.” — John P.
Wrongful Death Lawyers in Flint Michigan
How to Know If You Have a Wrongful Death Case in Michigan
Many Michigan wrongful death cases begin with a fatal motor vehicle crash that another driver caused. Others involve a fatal motorcycle crash, a truck crash, or a pedestrian impact. The legal test does not turn on the type of vehicle but on whether another person’s negligence caused the death.
If you are not sure whether your loss fits, you are not alone. Call our legal team today for a free consultation to see if you have a case.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Michigan
Under MCL 600.2922(2), only the personal representative of the deceased’s estate may file a wrongful death claim. A surviving spouse, child, or parent cannot file directly.
For a Flint-area crash, Genesee County Probate Court appoints the personal representative before any civil lawsuit can begin.
Under Michigan law, the statutory beneficiaries may include:
- The surviving spouse
- The deceased’s children and descendants
- The deceased’s parents, grandparents, and siblings
- Children of the deceased’s spouse
- Persons who were financially dependent on the deceased
- Other beneficiaries named in the statute
These beneficiaries share in any recovery even though they cannot file the lawsuit themselves.
What Has to Be Proven Under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act
A Michigan wrongful death claim rests on four elements:
- Duty: The other driver had a legal responsibility to operate their vehicle safely.
- Breach: The driver failed that duty through speeding, distraction, impairment, or another form of negligence.
- Causation: The breach directly caused the fatal injury.
- Damages: Your family suffered losses because of the death.
These are the same elements as any personal injury case, except the estate, not the injured person, pursues the claim.
How Michigan No-Fault Survivor’s Loss Benefits Apply After a Fatal Crash
Michigan’s no-fault law sets aside a separate source of money for families after a fatal motor vehicle crash. This benefit, called survivor’s loss benefits, is part of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and runs parallel to any civil wrongful death lawsuit.
The benefit covers the deceased’s financial contributions to the household and services they would have provided, like child care or household help. Payments continue for up to three years from the accident, with a monthly maximum that the Michigan no-fault act adjusts each year.
You claim benefits through the deceased’s own no-fault policy regardless of who caused the crash. A combined no-fault and uninsured motorist claim can often recover what a civil lawsuit alone cannot reach when the at-fault driver had no coverage or fled the scene.
What Compensation Is Available in a Flint Wrongful Death Case
A Michigan wrongful death recovery is not the same as a general personal injury award. MCL 600.2922(6) sets the categories your family may recover when a motor vehicle crash kills a loved one.
A recovery under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act can include:
- Reasonable medical, hospital, funeral, and burial expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering your loved one experienced between the injury and the moment of death
- Loss of the financial support your loved one would have provided to the household
- Loss of the society and companionship that your loved one gave to the family
Michigan law treats the last two categories as difficult to value because no receipt captures what a parent, spouse, or sibling meant to the family. Michigan uses the phrase “exemplary damages” rather than “punitive damages,” and exemplary damages may apply when the at-fault driver’s conduct goes beyond ordinary negligence, most often in cases involving impaired drivers with a history of driving under the influence.
A wrongful death claim often runs together with a survival action, which covers what your loved one endured while still alive. A Flint wrongful death attorney can pursue both in a single filing, so your family is not forced to choose.
How to Choose a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Flint
The firm you hire will shape how much of the recovery reaches your family, and that decision comes at a terrible time. The right firm will tell you what they have actually done in fatal motor vehicle cases before they ask you to sign anything.
- Look for verifiable fatal motor vehicle case results, not generic personal injury wins.
- Read the fee agreement before you sign anything.
- Ask whether you will reach the attorney directly or if a paralegal takes the call.
- Ask whether the firm has handled a wrongful death case and no-fault survivor’s loss benefits at the same time.
- Ask whether the firm will travel to you.
The answers will tell you how a firm handles these cases.
At Matz Injury Law, we meet each of these markers. Our 22% contingency fee holds through settlement and trial, where most Michigan firms charge 33 1/3%. On a $100,000 recovery, that math leaves roughly $11,000 more with your family.
How Long Do You Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Michigan
Michigan generally gives you three years from the date of death to file most negligence-based wrongful death lawsuits. The court may bar a lawsuit filed after that deadline.
Before the personal representative can file, the probate estate has to open, and that process typically takes weeks. Every week your family waits is one less week for investigation and settlement talks.
Michigan no-fault survivor’s loss benefits run on a shorter, separate track. Written notice to the insurer generally needs to reach the carrier within one year of the accident, and a late notice can bar the no-fault claim.
The civil wrongful death suit and the no-fault claim are filed in different courts: Genesee County Circuit Court for the wrongful death lawsuit arising from a Flint crash and Genesee County Probate Court for opening the estate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flint Wrongful Death Cases
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Flint?
At Matz Injury Law, we charge 22% of the final recovery rather than the 33 1/3% standard for most Michigan firms. You pay no hourly rate, no upfront retainer, and no fee at all unless we recover money for your family.
Who Is the Personal Representative in a Michigan Wrongful Death Case?
The personal representative is the person the Genesee County Probate Court appoints to act on the deceased’s estate, usually a surviving spouse or adult child. Only this representative may file the civil wrongful death lawsuit in Michigan, and the appointment must happen through the probate court before the civil case can begin.
How Are Wrongful Death Settlement Proceeds Distributed in Michigan?
Under MCL 600.2922, a probate judge approves distribution after a hearing. Proceeds go to qualifying beneficiaries, typically the surviving spouse and children, and to the estate for any conscious pain and suffering. The personal representative files a motion for distribution, and legal fees and estate obligations come out before beneficiaries receive their shares.
Can You File a Wrongful Death Claim If the At-Fault Driver Was Uninsured?
Yes. Michigan drivers carry uninsured motorist coverage that can respond when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance. Survivor’s loss benefits remain available through your loved one’s own no-fault policy regardless of fault. A Flint wrongful death lawyer can identify every coverage layer your family can reach, including underinsured motorist protection.
Speak With a Flint Wrongful Death Lawyer Today
You do not have to carry probate court, the insurer, and a civil lawsuit alone while your family is grieving. A free consultation with a Flint wrongful death lawyer at Matz Injury Law is the first step. Call 866-226-6833 or reach us through our contact form.
Written By Steven Matz
Steven J. Matz is the founder of Matz Injury Law, specializing in personal injury litigation with a focus on car accident victims. With over 40 years of legal experience, Mr. Matz has achieved numerous million-dollar settlements. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized among Michigan’s Top Attorneys. Steven J. Matz is a frequent lecturer on legal ethics and personal injury law, and serves on the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.
