The firm’s only office is in Bloomfield Hills, on Woodward Avenue: see our Bloomfield Hills car accident and personal injury lawyer page for the address and directions.
Sterling Heights facts that matter in a fatal crash case
- Sterling Heights recorded 8 traffic fatalities in 2024, according to the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts Macomb County profile. Source
- A Michigan wrongful death claim must be brought by the personal representative of the estate, and the appointment is ordinarily sought in the county where the person lived, which for Sterling Heights residents is the Macomb County Probate Court (40 N. Main St., Mount Clemens). Source
No-fault benefits for the family
No-fault pays funeral and burial expenses and survivors’ loss benefits to dependents, from the insurer first in line under the priority rules. The one-year notice rule applies.
The wrongful death claim
Michigan’s wrongful death act (MCL 600.2922) lets the estate recover from anyone whose negligence caused the death. Death satisfies the no-fault threshold, so the estate does not have to prove a threshold injury.
The personal representative
The suit must be brought by a personal representative appointed by the probate court. The general limit is three years (MCL 600.5805). MCL 600.5852 lets the personal representative sue within two years after letters of authority are issued, but no later than three years after the general limit runs.
For a death in Sterling Heights, the estate is usually opened in the Macomb County Probate Court (40 N. Main St., Mount Clemens), the probate court for the county where the person lived.
Sterling Heights courts, police and hospitals
| Crash reports | Sterling Heights Police Department |
|---|---|
| District court | 41A District Court (40111 Dodge Park Rd., Sterling Heights). It also serves: City of Sterling Heights (41A also has a Shelby Township location serving Utica and the Townships of Macomb and Shelby) |
| Circuit court | 16th Circuit Court (Macomb County), 40 N. Main St., Mount Clemens |
| Probate court | Macomb County Probate Court (40 N. Main St., Mount Clemens) |
| Trauma centers | Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals (Clinton Township) (Level II, nearest; in Clinton Township); McLaren Macomb Hospital (Level II, nearest; in Mount Clemens); Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital (Level II, nearest; in Troy) |
| Major roads | M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue / Van Dyke Freeway), M-59 (Hall Road), Mound Road, 16 Mile Road (Metro Parkway), Dequindre Road, Utica Road |
What to do now
- Ask the probate court about opening an estate, or call us and we will guide the process.
- Get the crash report and any medical examiner records.
- Notify the auto insurers in writing within one year.
- Do not sign releases or give statements to the at-fault driver’s insurer.
- Keep funeral bills and records of the person’s income and household work.
Written notice to your no-fault insurer within one year of the crash. The deadline calculator shows every date for your crash.
Other Sterling Heights crash cases we handle
Sources: Michigan courts directory, Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (2024), state trauma center designations, the Michigan Compiled Laws and local agency websites, checked October 2026.
Questions people ask us
Who can file a wrongful death claim after a fatal crash in Sterling Heights?
Only the personal representative of the estate, appointed by the probate court. The recovery is then divided among the spouse, children, parents and other relatives the statute lists, under court supervision.
How long does the family have?
Generally three years from the death, with a saving period of up to two years after letters of authority are issued. No-fault funeral and survivors’ benefits require written notice within one year.
Where would a Sterling Heights case be filed?
Claims of $25,000 or less usually go to the 41A District Court. Larger claims and most injury lawsuits go to circuit court, the 16th Circuit Court for Macomb County. Venue can also depend on where a defendant lives or does business.
