At Ford & Murphy P.C., we have unfortunately seen too many loved ones lost due to the negligence of drivers on the road. With the increase in cell phone use while driving, we are predicting a rise in those numbers. We are doing everything in our power to bring awareness to this devastating practice, but if your family member has been killed due to distracted driving or texting and driving, their negligence must be brought to light.
Automobile accidents cause a large percentage of the Michigan wrongful death cases that we see at Ford & Murphy. Therefore, it is critical that you and your family members make an informed decision when deciding to hire an attorney. We have handled many automobile accidents that result in the death of a husband, wife, child, parent or loved one. We take our role very seriously and try to treat you like our family. We also strive to make an impact on your life by being there for you at all hours of the day and on weekends.
We choose to remain small so that we can focus all of our attention on the cases that we are pursuing. We are not a high volume law firm and refuse to do so. We maintain that focusing all of your effort and resources, including money, will have the best impact on the recovery for a family. Loved ones need to remember that you only get one shot at making a claim for damages due to the negligence of another.
Handled Right From the Start
When you retain the services of Ford & Murphy, we will handle your case properly from start to finish. Any time you have an automobile accident that causes a death, it needs to be worked on immediately. There are investigations that need to be completed, photos secured, accident reconstruction, and private investigators that may need to be hired to interview witnesses. The longer a family procrastinates or an attorney waits for the discovery process to get started on a case, the more likely maximum recovery will not be obtained.
Insurance Discovery
In Michigan wrongful death cases where there is an automobile accident, one of the main considerations is always the availability of insurance proceeds to compensate the family for their loss. The distribution of proceeds is governed by the Michigan Wrongful Death Statute and is typically decided by a Probate Court judge. However, it is very important to determine the amount and extent of insurance coverage very quickly. There can be short time periods set by insurance companies that are looking for any reason to deny coverage for a catastrophic event. This can also include making claims against your own insurance company if you have coverage such as underinsured motorist and uninsured motorist coverage.
Some states require this coverage, but in Michigan there is no requirement that individuals purchase this coverage. However, we would argue that an insurance agent, especially one who has represented your family’s interests for may years, at least offer this type of coverage and explain its significance. If they failed to do this, you may have a claim against your insurance agent for proceeds.
Governmental Immunity
Whenever an automobile accident causes a death on the roadways, Michigan wrongful death attorneys will look at the roadway safety and whether or not there may have been negligence on the part of the governmental agencies charged with their safety. These entities may have governmental immunity, therefore it is very important to hire experienced counsel that can pierce through this immunity and hold governments accountable for their actions.
The At-Fault Driver
Unique to cases involving a wrongful death caused by an automobile is that it is imperative to know everything possible about the at-fault driver. This requires the experience of an attorney that has interviewed many at-fault drivers, has the tools to properly investigate their background and financials, as well as their statement to witnesses, family members and phone calls and texts that may be able to be used to help prove that they were negligent when they caused the death of your family member.
If you have a family member that has been killed due to the negligence of an at-fault driver, you need the experience of Ford & Murphy PC by your side every step of the way.
