Illinois Wrongful Death Lawyer
Grieving the devastating loss of a loved one can become even harder if someone caused their death through negligent actions. The Illinois Wrongful Death Act gives families the power to fight back, seek justice against those responsible, and recover compensation to help rebuild their lives.
$500 MILLION recovered for our clients
Content Reviewed by:
Bradley Dworkin
Last Date Modified
With decades of experience in Illinois wrongful death cases, the Illinois Hammer Injury Attorneys can help guide families through this difficult time—handling the legal work so you can focus on healing. Contact us online or call 888-742-6637 today for a free consultation.
- Why Choose The Illinois Hammer?
- Can You File a Wrongful Death Claim in Illinois?
- What Damages Can You Recover in a Wrongful Death Case?
- What to Expect in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
- How to Prove Liability in a Wrongful Death Case
- How The Illinois Hammer Builds a Strong Case
- Let Us Help You Get Justice for Your Loved One Today
- Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Cases
Why Choose The Illinois Hammer?
Our dedicated team has been fighting for injury victims for over 30 years, winning 97 percent of our cases and recovering substantial compensation. Thanks to our aggressive approach to representation, our case results include more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements. We won’t back down and agree to unacceptable offers. We’ll relentlessly fight to win the compensation you deserve.
We’re tough on insurers, but we care greatly about our clients. Some firms treat injury victims like case numbers, but we’re deeply invested in the well-being of every client we work with. We’ll do whatever we can to help give you one less thing to worry about, including helping you find medical care or secure a same-day settlement loan to cover emergency expenses.
We understand the financial and emotional toll of losing a loved one, and we’ll fight to get you justice while taking as much stress out of the process as we can. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case. We charge no upfront fees and offer a 30-day client satisfaction guarantee, so you can take your case elsewhere without any commitment if you’re unhappy.
Can You File a Wrongful Death Claim in Illinois?
A wrongful death claim compensates the surviving family for their losses stemming from the death caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate can sue for wrongful death and recover compensation for the damages sustained by certain surviving family members.
Meanwhile, the Illinois Survival Act also allows the estate to pursue any civil claims the victim might’ve had on behalf of their surviving family. Dependents and other immediate family members can receive compensation under these claims.
Illinois’ statute of limitations sets a deadline of two years after the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Missing this deadline could mean losing your right to pursue compensation, so it’s important to get started as soon as possible. Call us today at 888-742-6637 if you have any questions about your case or whether you have a valid claim.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Wrongful Death Case?
The deceased’s family can recover compensation for financial and emotional losses resulting from their loved one’s wrongful death. Typically, the surviving spouse, children, and certain next of kin are entitled to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Damages commonly available in wrongful death and survival claims include funeral and burial costs, the deceased’s medical expenses and lost future income, loss of companionship and support, grief, and mental suffering.
A 2023 law amended the Illinois Wrongful Death and Survival Acts to allow estates to seek punitive damages, which can be awarded when there is clear and convincing evidence that the responsible party acted intentionally or with reckless and outrageous indifference to the rights and safety of others.
Our Illinois wrongful death attorneys will work tirelessly to pursue all avenues of compensation available to you, ensuring your family is financially secure and worry-free.
What to Expect in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
When hiring a lawyer for an Illinois wrongful death claim, your first step is free consultation. Your attorney will review the details of your case with you, helping you understand the strength of your claim, the potential case timeline, and how much you may be able to recover.
Next, your lawyer will investigate and gather evidence to support your claims, including medical documents, police reports, video footage, witness or expert testimony, and more. Once you’ve built a strong case, your attorney will notify the responsible party of your claim and begin negotiating with insurers to secure a settlement.
Most cases settle out of court, but we prepare every case for trial just in case. We’re not afraid to sue and fight for you in court if that’s what it takes to win you the maximum possible compensation. We’ll keep you informed at every stage of the case, updating you on when we believe your case might be resolved and whether litigation may be necessary.
Getting started immediately gives you the best chance of successfully pursuing a claim. Our Illinois wrongful death attorneys are ready to discuss your legal options and advise you on your next steps, free of charge or commitment.
How to Prove Liability in a Wrongful Death Case
To prove liability in an Illinois wrongful death claim, you must establish the following four key elements:
- The responsible party owed a duty of care to the deceased.
- The party breached that duty by acting maliciously, recklessly, carelessly, or negligently.
- The breach caused the accident that directly led to the victim’s death.
- As a result of that accident and death, the victim’s surviving family suffered recoverable damages.
How The Illinois Hammer Builds a Strong Case
When we start collecting evidence to support a claim, we’ll work to obtain statements from witnesses and official police reports with firsthand accounts of the accident, helping us paint a stronger picture of exactly what happened.
In addition to traditional evidence, we engage experts to add valuable insight and context to our findings. We can consult specialists who will analyze the accident scene and reconstruct the accident, helping us prove who was at fault and why. We also seek out medical experts to review the victim’s records and draw connections between the responsible party’s actions and the wrongful death.
Let Us Help You Get Justice for Your Loved One Today
We understand how it feels to lose a loved one and face a greedy insurance company standing in the way of getting justice. Our compassionate Illinois wrongful death lawyers are ready to fight relentlessly to help you secure the compensation and peace of mind you deserve in this harrowing time.
Call us today at 888-742-6637 to schedule a free case review and learn more about how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Cases
Here are some common questions we receive from potential clients about wrongful death cases.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Wrongful Death Case?
You aren’t required to hire an attorney to pursue a wrongful death claim, but these cases can be complex and stressful. An experienced lawyer can handle every step of the process for you, including legal filings and negotiating with insurance companies. Getting legal help can maximize your compensation while minimizing stress.
What if the At-Fault Party Denies Responsibility?
Using hard evidence like accident reports, expert testimony, and witness statements, we can help establish the responsible party’s liability even if they refuse to accept it.
Will I Have to Deal With the Insurance Company?
Your attorney will handle all communications with insurance companies, including settlement negotiations. We’ll protect you from lowball offers and fight to ensure you get a fair deal.
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