To build this evidence-based 2026 list of Detroit-area wrongful death lawyers, we weighed practice focus and published results alongside client reviews and experience.
The list starts with Goodman Acker P.C. Among its published malpractice results is a settlement for a nursing home wrongful death. Before calling, ask who would manage the file and whether the firm handles deaths like your loved one's. Find out who pays costs, too. If medical care was involved in the death, ask a lawyer which filing deadline applies and review the Michigan malpractice rules.
4.7483 Google reviewsRated 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 483 reviews
Best for: Nursing home wrongful death claims
After a nursing home resident choked on food, Goodman Acker P.C. secured a $225,000 wrongful death settlement, according to its published results. Ask about claims involving similar deaths. Alongside settlements involving delayed cancer diagnoses, the firm's site lists a medical malpractice result of $6.5 million in Oakland County.
Stood out in our review for the recognition it has earned and the results it publishes.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
5.0987 Google reviewsRated 5.0 out of 5 on Google from 987 reviews
Best for: Families seeking clear communication
When describing Mike Morse Law Firm, clients repeatedly say they could understand its explanations of the process. Across 987 reviews, its Google listing carries a 5-star rating. Even with that much feedback, wrongful death results aren't established.
Stood out in our review for its years of experience and the recognition it has earned.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
5.0206 Google reviewsRated 5.0 out of 5 on Google from 206 reviews
Best for: Fatal motor vehicle accident claims
Michigan Auto Law's practice areas center on vehicle accidents, making it a more direct fit for a fatal crash than for many hospital-related deaths. The firm lists wrongful death and catastrophic injury, with a history dating to 1969. It also publishes an obstetrical malpractice settlement and an arbitration award in Oakland County, although neither description gives an amount.
Stood out in our review for its years of experience and the recognition it has earned.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
Not sure who to call first?
Tell us what happened. A malpractice lawyer who serves Detroit can look at it with you, and it costs nothing.
4.8178 Google reviewsRated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 178 reviews
Best for: Deaths involving missed medical treatment
After an aortic aneurysm went untreated, a wrongful death claim settled, according to the account on Lipton Law's site. Among its other published cases are a deceased infant with serious neurologic injuries suffered at birth and a woman who died after receiving a medication injection in the wrong limb. Through those accounts, families who have lost someone can see how the firm's medical malpractice work relates to deaths.
Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and what its clients say.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
4.920 Google reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 20 reviews
Best for: Stroke and birth injury claims
After a stroke wasn't recognized and promptly treated, a jury awarded $14.2 million, according to the verdict published by Sommers Schwartz, P.C. For a brain-damaged infant, the firm also reports a recovery of $7.4 million. Those malpractice results give specific figures.
Stood out in our review for the results it publishes and how much of its work is medical malpractice.
We order firms by how much of their work is medical malpractice, the results they publish, what their clients say, their experience, their standing with the regulator and the recognition they have earned, all from public records and the firms' own sites. How lists are made
When you explain what happened, give the lawyer the treatment dates. Under Michigan's stated malpractice deadline, filing is due 2 years from the act or omission, subject to a discovery rule and a 6-year outer limit. For your loved one's death, ask how those rules apply.
Records and medical review
When the discussion moves to your loved one's care, you'll go through the chart. Find out who will review the records and what's missing. To file the complaint in Michigan, you need an affidavit of merit bearing a qualified health professional's signature.
Preparing the complaint
When the complaint is filed, the court claim starts. Ask your lawyer to explain the filing date and what's required for the affidavit. If records weren't provided in time, Michigan allows another 28 days for the affidavit. Find out if your case meets that provision.
Evaluating the claim and damages
Ask about the losses being claimed as the lawyer explains the medical findings. For the most catastrophic injuries, Michigan allows a higher cap on non-economic damages than in other malpractice cases. Each year, the State Treasurer sets those figures.
Discussing a possible resolution
Alongside settlements, these firms publish jury verdicts. Your case comes with no promise of either. Before settlement or trial, ask what work remains and what could lead to either. If there's a recovery, ask how expenses and fees would affect it.
Malpractice claims in Detroit: the rules that matter
The filing deadline in Michigan
The clock startsOn the day of the treatment
Time to start a claim2 yearsMiss it and the claim is usually lost.
At the very most6 yearsafter the treatment, with a few exceptions
Limits on damages in Michigan
Pain and sufferingCapped at $596,400
All damages togetherNo overall cap
Expert paperworkFile an affidavit of merit signed by a qualified health professional with the complaint (28 more days are allowed if records were not provided in time).
A written agreementThe share the lawyer takes, set out before work starts.
If you recover moneyThe agreed share and the case costs come out of it.
If the claim failsNo legal fee on a contingency agreement. Ask about costs.
Contingency fees are how most firms on this list say they work. If the claim fails, the lawyer receives no legal fee; if there's a recovery, the lawyer takes a share. Beyond that fee, medical records and medical opinions can carry charges, with court fees adding to the separate case costs. From the firms' stated terms, you can't tell who advances those expenses or who must pay them if the claim fails. Before signing, ask about that. When you get the fee calculation in writing, check when costs are deducted and whether you'll owe expenses even if there's no recovery. Even if the consultation is free, representation isn't.
A free consultation is offered by nine of the ten listed firms, according to their statements. Contingency work is stated by eight.
What to bring to your first call
Your written timeline covering the treatment and your loved one's death
Dates for hospital stays, plus appointments and procedures
Names of the hospitals and providers who treated your loved one
Any delivery or surgical notes among the medical records you have
Records of expenses and bills for the care
Messages and letters from the hospital or insurer
Notes you've made about when you first thought something was wrong with the care
A copy of any lawyer's fee agreement you've signed
Questions to ask a lawyer
1When you've handled death claims, have any involved this care or accident?
2For my family's file, which lawyer will be responsible?
3To check which filing deadline applies, what dates do you need from us?
4If an affidavit is required, who prepares it and reviews the medical records?
5What calculation do you use for your contingency fee?
6Who pays the case expenses if we don't recover anything?
7When we need updates, who do we call and how will we hear?
8After my loved one's death, who has the legal right to bring this claim?
Choose a firm that handles the cause of the death
Start by describing what happened. If a diagnosis was missed, the conversation differs from one about a fatal truck crash. Alongside firms centered on vehicle accidents, this Detroit-area list includes firms that handle a substantial amount of medical malpractice work. When you ask about wrongful death work, go beyond that label and ask whether the firm handles claims involving the same accident or treatment.
Use the published results to shape your first questions. After fatal bleeding following hernia repair, Meyers Law PLLC reports an estate settlement; Goodman Acker P.C. describes a settlement involving a nursing home choking death. Find out what supported those claims. Even with those past recoveries, you can't predict what your family's claim is worth.
Find out who will read the hospital chart and ask if a qualified health professional will review the care.
Ask which attorney takes responsibility for your file. When you need routine answers or updates, find out who you'll hear from.
If you'd be working with a Southfield or Dearborn firm, find out whether you must travel there for meetings.
Before the firm decides whether to accept your case, ask what records it still needs and which ones are missing.
Discuss the deadline before the details get lost
Under Michigan's stated medical malpractice filing rule, you have 2 years from the act or omission, or 6 months after discovering or when you should have discovered the claim, whichever is later. Beyond that, the rule sets a limit of 6 years after the act. Don't assume death starts the filing clock. To understand how the rule fits your family's circumstances, ask a Michigan lawyer.
Get the fee terms and contact plan in writing
If a consultation is free, you can discuss whether the firm can help without paying for the first conversation. That doesn't mean it has accepted your case. If the claim fails, a contingency-fee lawyer receives no legal fee; otherwise, the lawyer takes a share of the recovery. Beyond legal fees, there are expenses for records and medical opinions, plus court fees. If nothing is recovered, find out who pays those costs.
Questions left unanswered shouldn't be brushed aside. When describing attorney contact, reviews on this list mention delays and calls that went unanswered. Get a contact plan before you sign. If someone promises a result or refuses to explain deductions from a recovery, be cautious about hiring them. Before handing over your family's file, know which lawyer will be responsible for it.
Questions people ask
Which Detroit-area firm leads this wrongful death list?
The list starts with Goodman Acker P.C. Alongside a $225,000 settlement for a nursing home wrongful death, the firm publishes several medical malpractice recoveries, one of them a $6.5 million result in Oakland County. You'll find its Southfield office 24 km from Detroit. Although you can ask about cases like yours, those results don't tell you what would happen with your family's claim.
What is the deadline if my loved one died after medical treatment?
Under Michigan's stated malpractice rule, filing is allowed within 2 years of the act or omission, or within 6 months after discovery or when discovery should have occurred, whichever is later. Beyond that, the rule sets a limit of 6 years after the act. The death date doesn't necessarily control filing. To learn whether other issues affect your claim and how these rules apply, ask a Michigan lawyer.
Do these deadlines apply to a death in a car accident?
Not every wrongful death claim uses these deadlines; they're for medical malpractice. If a crash killed your loved one, don't rely on the medical treatment deadline; ask a Michigan lawyer which filing rule applies instead. Alongside wrongful death, Michigan Auto Law and Kajy Law Firm list work involving vehicle accidents. When the consultation starts, explain what happened in the accident.
Can I speak with a lawyer without paying for the first conversation?
Nine listed firms say they offer a free consultation. Sommers Schwartz, P.C.'s consultation terms aren't confirmed, so ask before booking. That first free conversation doesn't mean a firm has agreed to represent you. Discuss the deadline and which records the lawyer needs. Ask about the fees and expense terms that would apply if you hired the firm, too.
What does a medical malpractice claim need before filing?
To file a complaint in Michigan, you need an affidavit of merit signed by a qualified health professional. For filing, that means a medical professional must provide a signed statement. If records weren't provided in time, the stated rule permits another 28 days. Before filing, ask how the affidavit requirement applies and who will review the chart. Even if records are missing, don't assume you can wait to file the complaint.
How long will a wrongful death claim take?
For your situation or these firms, there's no supported estimate of how long a case takes. Before filing, find out which records are missing and what work is left. To understand what could lead to settlement or trial, ask the lawyer. Alongside reports of clear updates, reviews on this list mention slow progress. Instead of trying to read meaning into silence, get a written contact plan that helps you understand what's happening with the case.
What if the medical care involved a child?
If a child was injured before age 8, Michigan's stated rule allows suit until the tenth birthday or within the normal period, whichever is later. If reproductive system injuries occurred before age 13, suit is allowed until the fifteenth birthday or within the normal period under the rule. If the child died, you can't assume those extensions answer the deadline question. To learn how they apply to that death, ask a Michigan lawyer.
Does Michigan limit damages after a medical malpractice death?
In all Michigan medical malpractice cases, non-economic damages are capped. When injuries are among the most catastrophic, a higher cap applies; the State Treasurer sets the figures each year. To learn which losses a cap covers and which cap could apply, ask a lawyer. Even with the large results listed here, don't assume your claim has that value or that those results let you get around the cap.
What should our family do first after a loved one dies?
When you write down treatment dates, note when you first suspected something was wrong. Start gathering hospital messages along with the medical records you already have. Before proceeding, ask a Michigan lawyer who can legally bring the claim and have them check the deadline. Although Meyers Law PLLC publishes an estate settlement following a surgical death, that result doesn't tell you who can act on your family's behalf.
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