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Sterling Heights Personal Injury Lawyers

Serafini, Michalowski, Derkacz & Associate, P.C., is a one-stop firm for any need. We have combined experience of more than 75 years helping clients. We have a breadth of knowledge and experience in many legal areas. In addition to personal injury, disability insurance claims, estate planning and elder law issues such as nursing home planning and family law. Our attorneys have repeatedly obtained significant verdicts for our clients and have been repeatedly recognized as top lawyers in their respective areas of practice. If you need a personal injury lawyer in the Sterling Heights area, give us a call.

Whenever you find yourself facing legal troubles, it is important to seek professional help from a lawyer as soon as possible. Many cases are resolved much more easily if an attorney is able to work with you from the beginning. Our attorneys will know how to navigate the laws surrounding your issue so we can prevent you from accidentally hurting your case by acting on your own.

We take our role in the Michigan community seriously. Our office is located in Sterling Heights and most of our clients are from the tri-county area. However, we do accept clients from all across the state. We see families and individuals struggling through tough situations every day. To us, our clients are always the number one priority. We listen, understand and then act. There is a solution to your situation and we will help you reach it.

Our experienced personal injury attorneys located in Sterling Heights specialize in helping clients handle the following legal cases and issues:


Personal Injury Car Accidents

In todays ever more connected digital age Distracted Driving has become one of the top causes of serious motor vehicle collisions. We have seen a significant increase in distracted driving cases in addition to the more traditional cases of driver error. We have successfully resolved countless car crash cases. From the moment you or a loved one are injured in a car accident there is an insurance company trying to minimize its risk. Don’t wait to call a Sterling Heights Personal Injury Lawyer.

Truck Accidents

Simple physics means that truck crashes are much more likely to result in significant injuries or even death. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds where a regular passenger vehicle usually weighs less than 5,000. Accordingly, commercial vehicles and their drivers are subject to extensive federal regulations regarding the safe operation and maintenance of these vehicles. Our attorneys have litigated many of these cases and understand the issues involved.

Motorcycle Accidents

There is nothing like the freedom you feel driving your bike on the open road. Unfortunately, for some riders that freedom comes with a price. It only takes a moment for one inattentive or distracted driver to change your life. Sometimes it can be important to inspect the scene of the crash as soon as possible to refute the at-fault driver’s excuses. Don’t wait to call our Sterling Heights Personal Injury Lawyer.

Premises Liability

Did you know that Michigan is one of the most difficult states to win a case when you are injured due to a condition of the premises? It’s true. The Courts in Michigan have created a rule they call “Open and Obvious.” This rule means that if there is a condition that could be discovered by you then the premises owner can argue they should not be responsible if you are injured because of that condition. Even when a person is blind and the property owner leaves water on the floor. (Sidorowicz v. Chicken Shack, Inc., 469 Mich. 912, 673 N.W.2d 106 (2003); Sidorowicz v. Chicken Shack, Inc., 2003 WL 140127 (Mich. Ct. App. Jan. 17, 2003) ("Plaintiff was unable to see this condition because of his blindness, but this condition would have been open and obvious to an ordinarily prudent person."). We have been able to successfully navigate many clients around the difficult maze created by the “Open and Obvious” trap. There is no substitute for contacting a personal injury attorney in Sterling Heights who understands the nuances of Michigan law.


Disability Long Term Disability

Have you paid for Long Term Disability Insurance coverage through a payroll deduction for years? Has your doctor taken you off work due to an illness or injury? Has your claim been rejected by the Disability Insurance Company? You should understand that the Disability Insurer has an inherent conflict of interest because the insurance company makes less money if they agree to pay your benefits. Call our Michigan Disability lawyer for help.

Disability Insurance Claims

Almost all disability insurance claims are governed by a federal law known as ERISA (The Employee Retirement Income Security Act). There are comprehensive regulations that govern these claims and your rights. It is critically important that you know these rules when your claim gets denied. We know the rules because we have been fighting with the Disability Insurance Companies to get our clients paid the benefits they paid for over the years. If you claim has been denied give our Michigan Disability attorney a call.


Elder Law Asset Protection / Nursing Home Planning

Americans are living longer than ever. Unfortunately, living longer does not always mean living better. Today’s seniors frequently require some form of care. We work with family caregivers to secure Medicaid and Veteran’s Benefits without spending down family assets. In addition we leverage our elder care referral network to identify the very best senior care resources in Metro Detroit. If you need the best Elder Law attorney in Michigan, give us a call.

Elder Abuse

Many of our family members are part of the Greatest Generation and deserve only the best care and compassion in the final chapters of their life stories. Unfortunately, in their time of greatest need they are often most vulnerable. If you believe that one of your loved ones has received inadequate care that has caused them to needlessly suffer, give us a call. We will do our best to help you find a solution to get them the proper care they need.


Estate Planning Probate

Estate Planning is a complex and nuanced area of the law encompassing Estate Tax Planning, Lifetime Gifts, Powers of Attorney, Wills and Trusts. Without the proper planning the decedent’s estate must go through the probate court which can lead to significant delays and costs as well as making private information public. Accordingly, it is important to have appropriate estate planning. We have significant experience assisting families navigate the complexities of probate court in the most efficient manner possible.

Wills / Trusts

A will only directs the probate court what to do with your assets. A trust may avoid probate court altogether if written and funded properly. Our attorneys maintain special elder law certification and stay current with this constantly evolving area of the law. Call our Michigan Elder Law attorney for help.


Family Law

Issues that arise in family law are challenging and emotional for everyone involved. Dealing with these issues with an experienced attorney that knows the law and how the family court works is important to achieve the best outcome for you and your family. We have the knowledge and understanding that you need to support you throughout this difficult time. Give our Sterling Heights family law attorney a call for help.

Divorce

Making the decision to divorce is a difficult and emotional choice whether you have children or not, but often it is the best choice for everyone involved. Studies have shown that children do better in two separate homes with two separate parents rather than living in one home with both parents in constant conflict. When a marriage reaches a level where differences are too great to overcome the best choice to make is to end the marriage and move on.

We understand the complexities, deadlines, and process of divorce. Our experienced divorce attorneys will be there for you to explain and navigate you through the process making a difficult time easier for you. Contact our experienced Family Law attorney.

Child Custody

Child custody can be one of the most challenging and difficult processes in divorce proceedings. Courts are required to make a determination on custody based on the “best interest” of the child. If custody is an issue, we know how and what to present to the court to persuade them to make the right decision. Our knowledgeable and skilled attorneys will make sure that you are well informed and that the best possible outcome is achieved. If you need a family law lawyer, give us a call.

Child Support

Michigan courts are required to use a child support formula to calculate child support. However, this does not mean that there is a “cookie-cutter” approach to child support. There are many factors and variables that contribute to the final child support amount. Our attorneys understand the intricacies of the support formula to ensure that your child or children receive the amount that they deserve.

Spousal Support

Spousal support is not automatic and the courts and judges have wide discretion in granting spousal support. Spousal support awards are difficult to obtain. Michigan uses a formula to determine a spousal support amount that considers many different factors. Our attorneys know what is important to the courts and judges when deciding to award spousal support and will present the court with the best case for you to persuade them to award the spousal support that you need and deserve.


Call Us First, Act Second

The best thing you can do if you are facing legal trouble is to find an attorney right away. Acting on your own could make the situation worse. Please contact us online or call us at (866) 529-3537 to schedule an appointment with a personal injury lawyer in Sterling Heights or get assistance with a disability, elder law, estate planning, or family law issue. We offer free phone consultations. We work throughout Wayne County, Oakland County and Macomb County.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Thanks so much for all your help these past five years in helping me with all the legal aspects of my folks, L & E.M's, trust. Thanks for answering all my questions. It's been a difficult last 5 years on making decisions for my father, but I'm so grateful that god blessed me with them for so many years! I appreciate all you did to help me though to the end. D.C.
★★★★★
I want to thank you both for all your help and hard work on my case. This certainly was good news! You both did tremendous jobs dealing with Cigna and answering my questions. Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas season! Marc
★★★★★
Thank you so much for all of your help getting me thru this mess. You have no idea how much you have helped. I couldn’t have done this without you! Only one more hurdle, yay!! B. T.
★★★★★
I really wanted to thank you, the way you talked with me and worked with me, it was amazing. I was dreading the experience & the deposition & you really made it very easy for me. So, thank you very much for a job well done. H. H.
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