Southfield Fatal Car Accident Lawyer

Experienced Southfield Car Accident Attorneys Help Families After a Fatal Crash Claims the Life of a Loved One

Cars are a necessity for families in southeastern Michigan. Unfortunately, fatal car crashes are far too common in the metro Detroit area. Survivors may face devastating grief while they struggle to recover from their own serious auto accident injuries.

You are not alone. The experienced Southfield car accident lawyers at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. can help protect your legal rights and fight for the compensation your family needs and deserves.

Michigan Fatal Car Accident Statistics

According to car accident data from the Michigan State Police (MSP), 1,095 people died in traffic crashes in Michigan in 2023. Although this is slightly fewer than the 1,123 deaths recorded in 2022, Michigan’s roads and streets still pose significant safety risks to all users.

The MSP spotted these patterns in the 2023 accident data:

• August was the deadliest month on Michigan roads, with 113 fatal crashes.
• Sunday was the deadliest day overall, with 168 fatal crashes. Friday and Saturday also saw higher rates (162 and 163, respectively) than weekdays.
• Fatal crashes were most likely between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and the least likely between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
• Michigan had only 30 days in 2023 with zero traffic-related deaths.

In 2023, 537 vehicle drivers and 162 passengers died in Michigan traffic accidents. Another 183 pedestrians, 24 bicyclists, 165 motorcyclists, two snowmobile riders, and 22 off-road vehicle (ORV) riders also lost their lives.

Common Causes of Fatal Car Accidents

According to MSP’s 2023 data, fatal crash situations commonly included head-on collisions, left-turn crashes, rear-end collisions, and single motor vehicle crashes.

• Head-on collisions give drivers no time to avoid or mitigate the crash’s impact. As a result, they frequently cause serious injuries or death. They can occur when a driver crosses the center line, drives the wrong way on a one-way street, or misjudges a narrow, blind turn. Head-on collisions caused by intoxicated or reckless drivers at high speeds are frequently deadly.
• Left-turn crashes often occur when a driver fails to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. These collisions are also usually preventable. They often occur when a driver fails to use reasonable care to judge the distance of oncoming traffic correctly or turns impatiently. They can also happen when an oncoming driver tries to “beat the light” as it changes.
• Rear-end collisions happen when a driver follows too closely, failing to leave adequate space between their vehicle and the vehicle ahead of them. They can also occur when a driver fails to pay proper attention to the road and traffic, responding too late to stopped vehicles ahead.
• Single-vehicle crashes do not involve a collision between two vehicles. Instead, a car may hit a pole, tree, guardrail, or another object, leave the roadway, or roll over. Hidden vehicle defects, improperly designed roadways, weather, obstacles in the road, construction, and many other factors can cause these crashes.

Types of Compensation for Southfield Families After a Fatal Car Accident

A fatal crash can plunge a family into financial uncertainty, along with their grief and shock. A wrongful death lawsuit allows a crash victim’s legal representatives to hold someone legally responsible for their loved one’s death.

Southfield families may be able to recover compensation for both financial and emotional damages in a wrongful death claim. These may include:

• Payment of your loved one’s final medical bills.
• Compensation for lost wages, including compensation for work your loved one would have done if they had lived.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Compensation for a loved one’s final conscious pain and suffering.
• Compensation for family members’ loss of care, companionship, and support.

Other types of compensation may also be available. An experienced attorney can help you pursue a claim for the compensation your family deserves after a tragic accident.

Speak to an Experienced Southfield Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Today

A fatal car accident is often the preventable result of someone else’s negligence. Speak to a Southfield fatal car accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident to explore your options and protect your family’s future. Michigan law limits your time to file a claim, so don’t wait.

Contact the experienced Southfield fatal car accident attorneys at Sommers Schwartz, P.C., today to learn more and schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.