Serious Injury & Wrongful Death in West Michigan

Serious or life-changing injuries, and families after a death.

Sorin & Pyle, Trial Lawyers takes cases for people in West Michigan with serious or life-changing injuries, and families after a death, in situations involving a person, a business, or an institution. We can review what happened and talk with you about whether we can help.

Talk With Us About What Happened

Start with your name, a phone number, and who was involved (for example, the school, the care facility, or the business). Once we've checked for conflicts, we'll set up a time to hear what happened. Family members are welcome to reach out on someone's behalf.


Cases we look at

Child abuse or serious harm in someone else's care

We look at situations where a child was abused or seriously harmed while in the care of a school, a youth program, or a foster-care placement, including physical or sexual abuse and serious injuries from neglect or a lack of supervision. We know these conversations are hard, and you do not need to share every detail to start.

Sexual abuse by someone in a position of trust

We look at situations where someone was sexually abused by a person in a position of trust, such as a coach, a doctor or therapist, a member of the clergy, a teacher, or a counselor. That includes abuse of adults, not only children.

Nursing home and care-facility neglect

We look at situations where someone living in a nursing home, an assisted-living facility, or an adult foster-care home was seriously hurt or died, such as after a serious fall, pressure injuries (bedsores) that got worse, dehydration, malnutrition, or missed medication, or abuse by staff or by other residents.

The most serious crashes

We look at crashes that caused a death or a life-changing injury, especially when a commercial truck or a government vehicle was involved. We do not handle routine car-accident or no-fault claims.

Wrongful death

Losing someone often leaves a family with more questions than answers. We take cases for families after a death in any of these situations. Families are welcome to contact us, including before anyone has been appointed to handle the person's estate, and you do not need to send documents or a detailed account to start.


Cases we do not take

We focus on serious harm. We do not handle cases about minor injuries or routine slip-and-fall cases. If you are not sure where your situation fits, you can still ask for a case review.


Why a criminal defense trial firm?

Serious injury and wrongful death cases are often built on the same evidence we work with in criminal cases every day: police reports, 911 calls, video, and witness testimony. The firm's attorneys are former public defenders and criminal trial lawyers, and we are prepared to take a case in front of a jury. Read more about why a criminal defense trial firm handles these cases.


How a case review works

Call us, or email your name, a phone number, and who was involved. Once we've checked for conflicts, we'll set up a time to hear what happened and let you know whether we can help. Not every inquiry becomes a case.

These situations can have short deadlines, and missing one can mean losing the right to bring a claim at all. It helps to reach out early.

We review civil rights and serious injury matters case by case. When we take a case, it is usually on a contingency fee, set out in a written agreement that also explains how case costs are handled.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can a family member contact you for someone else?

Yes. Family members are welcome to reach out on someone's behalf, including after a death. Start by calling, or by emailing your name, a phone number, and who was involved.

What counts as a serious injury?

We mean injuries that change someone's life, such as injuries that need surgery or a long hospital stay, brain or spinal cord injuries, severe burns, or a lasting loss of movement or function. We do not take cases about minor injuries. If you are not sure where your situation fits, you can still ask for a case review.

Is there a deadline?

These situations can have deadlines, and some of them are short. Missing one can mean losing the right to bring a claim at all. Which deadline applies depends on who was involved and what happened, so call early to request a case review.

How do fees work?

We review civil rights and serious injury matters case by case. When we take a case, it is usually on a contingency fee, set out in a written agreement that also explains how case costs are handled.

Request a Case Review

If you were seriously hurt, or you lost a family member, and you have questions about what happened, call (616) 227-3303 or email us to request a case review.

Hurt by police, or hurt or denied care in a jail, a prison, or juvenile detention? See Police & Jail Misconduct.

This page is general information, not legal advice about your situation.