When alcohol and speed combine on a freeway, the results can be fatal. Three Detroit women died in a crash on the Lodge Freeway, and investigators are pointing to both as suspected causes. If you’ve lost someone in a crash like this, a wrongful death car accident settlement may be available to your family — and Michigan law gives you a defined path to pursue it.
According to CBS News, alcohol and speed are both suspected in the triple-fatality that occurred on the Lodge Freeway in Detroit. Three women lost their lives. A suspect was involved. And families are now left with questions no one should have to ask.
This post explains what the law says, what your family’s options are, and what to watch out for in the weeks ahead. If you want to speak with a Detroit car accidents lawyer now, you don’t have to wait until you’ve read everything here.
What Happened on the Lodge Freeway
The Lodge Freeway — also called M-10 — cuts through the heart of Detroit. It sees heavy traffic at all hours, and it has a documented history of serious crashes, particularly late at night. This crash killed three women. Investigators believe the driver was impaired and traveling at excessive speed.
These are not minor factors. Together, alcohol and speed are among the leading contributors to traffic fatalities nationwide. According to NHTSA crash data, drunk driving kills about 37 people every day in the United States — one death every 39 minutes. When speed is also involved, stopping distances shrink and the force of impact multiplies.
For the families of the three women who died, the criminal case is only part of the picture. A separate civil case — a wrongful death claim — is something they can pursue on their own timeline, regardless of what happens in criminal court.
What Is a Wrongful Death Car Accident Settlement?
A wrongful death car accident settlement is a financial recovery that surviving family members can seek when someone dies because of another person’s negligence or wrongful act. In Michigan, the Wrongful Death Act (MCL 600.2922) allows certain family members — a spouse, children, parents, siblings — to bring a claim on behalf of the person who died.
The claim isn’t separate from the deceased’s rights. It steps into them. The estate files, and any recovery goes to the family based on the loss each person has suffered.
What Damages Can Be Recovered?
Michigan’s wrongful death law allows recovery for:
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost income and financial support the deceased would have provided
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and society — what the law calls “loss of consortium”
- The deceased person’s conscious pain and suffering before death, if any
These damages are real and specific. A woman with two children who worked full-time provided something measurable. Her absence creates a calculable financial gap, on top of the grief her family will carry for the rest of their lives.
Does a Criminal DUI Case Affect the Civil Claim?
Yes — but not in the way most people assume. A criminal conviction for drunk driving is powerful evidence in a civil case, but you don’t have to wait for a conviction to file. The civil case moves on its own timeline, uses a lower standard of proof (“more likely than not” rather than “beyond a reasonable doubt”), and is pursued against the driver and potentially other parties.
In Michigan, a fatal drunk driving accident can also trigger what’s called enhanced liability — meaning the court may consider punitive-style damages depending on the facts. An attorney can assess whether that applies here.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
The at-fault driver is the most obvious party. But in a crash involving alcohol, there may be others.
Dram Shop Liability in Michigan
Michigan’s dram shop law (MCL 436.1801) allows a claim against a bar, restaurant, or retailer that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then caused a crash. If the driver was drinking at an establishment before getting on the Lodge Freeway, that business may share legal responsibility.
These claims have a strict deadline: you must give written notice to the alcohol vendor within 120 days of the injury or death. Missing that window can end your claim against them. This is one reason contacting an attorney quickly matters.
The Driver’s Insurance
Michigan requires drivers to carry liability coverage. Under the Michigan no-fault act, surviving family members may be entitled to PIP benefits through their own policy — and they can pursue a bodily injury liability claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer for non-economic damages.
MCL 500.3135 sets the threshold for non-economic damages in Michigan: the injury (or death) must have caused serious impairment or death. A fatal crash clears that threshold without question.
The Statute of Limitations — Don’t Miss It
Michigan’s wrongful death statute of limitations is three years from the date of death (MCL 600.5805(2)). That sounds like a long time. It isn’t, especially when you factor in the investigation needed to build a strong case — accident reconstruction, toxicology records, police reports, witness statements, and insurance records all take time to gather.
The 120-day dram shop notice requirement is even shorter. If there’s any chance a bar or restaurant served the driver, that clock is already running.
What the Insurance Company Will Do Next
After a fatal crash, insurance adjusters move fast. They’re not moving fast to help you — they’re moving fast to limit what they pay. Families in shock often don’t realize that the first call from an adjuster isn’t a wellness check. It’s the beginning of a claims process designed to minimize the payout.
Don’t give a recorded statement. Don’t sign a release. Don’t accept a settlement offer before speaking with an attorney who handles wrongful death cases. Once you sign, you typically can’t go back. Our post on dealing with insurance companies after a Detroit car accident covers this in more detail.
How a Detroit Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
A car accident lawyer in Detroit who handles wrongful death cases does several things your family can’t do easily on your own:
- Sends immediate legal holds to preserve surveillance footage, bar receipts, and toxicology records before they’re lost or destroyed
- Identifies every liable party — driver, bar, vehicle owner, or others
- Files the required dram shop notice within 120 days if applicable
- Handles all communication with insurers so your family doesn’t have to
- Hires accident reconstructionists and medical experts to document what happened and what it cost
- Negotiates a wrongful death car accident settlement that reflects the full value of your loss — or takes the case to trial if the offer isn’t fair
For Arabic-speaking, Chaldean, and Assyrian families in the Detroit area, Khamo Law, PLLC offers consultations in Arabic and Chaldean. Founder Koro Khamo is Chaldean-speaking, and attorney Samar S. Shadaia handles auto accident and wrongful death matters in Arabic. You should be able to understand every step of this process in your own language.
See also our overview of what affects a car crash injury settlement in Detroit and the Detroit auto injury claim process for a step-by-step breakdown of what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we file a wrongful death claim even if criminal charges haven’t been filed yet?
Yes. The civil wrongful death case is completely separate from any criminal prosecution. You don’t need a conviction — or even an arrest — to file. The civil standard of proof is lower, and the case is about compensating your family, not punishing the driver (though the facts of the crash will still matter).
What if the driver had no insurance or minimal coverage?
This is more common than it should be. Michigan requires all drivers to carry liability coverage, but not everyone does. If the at-fault driver is underinsured or uninsured, your own policy’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may apply. A dram shop claim against the bar that served the driver is another avenue. An attorney can identify all available sources of recovery.
How long does a wrongful death car accident settlement take in Michigan?
It depends on the complexity of the case and whether the insurer cooperates. Straightforward cases with clear liability may resolve in six to twelve months. Cases involving multiple defendants, disputed liability, or litigation can take two to three years. The three-year statute of limitations exists, but waiting too long still hurts your case.
What is the dram shop law, and how does it apply here?
Michigan’s dram shop law (MCL 436.1801) allows a civil claim against any bar, restaurant, or store that sold or served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then caused injury or death. If the driver in this crash was drinking at an establishment before getting on the Lodge Freeway, that business could be liable. The 120-day written notice deadline is strict — missing it ends that part of the claim.
Can the driver’s criminal conviction be used in the civil case?
Yes. A criminal conviction for drunk driving is admissible as evidence in a civil case. It doesn’t automatically win the civil claim for you, but it’s strong supporting evidence of negligence. Even if the criminal case is still pending, you can proceed with your civil case in parallel.
Who actually receives the money from a wrongful death settlement?
In Michigan, the wrongful death claim is filed by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. Any recovery is then distributed to the eligible family members — typically a spouse, children, parents, or siblings — based on the damages each person can demonstrate. The court oversees the distribution to make sure it’s fair.
If you lost someone in the Lodge Freeway crash — or in any fatal drunk driving accident in Detroit — talk to us before you sign anything or speak with an insurance adjuster. Khamo Law, PLLC offers a free consultation. Call 248-466-0606 or reach us through the contact form on our site. We serve families throughout Detroit and metro Michigan. نتحدث العربية والكلدانية.