Have you lost a loved one in a tragic accident in Illinois? Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help you seek justice. Call (312) 726-1616 today to schedule your free consultation with an Illinois wrongful death lawyer. We’re ready to stand by your side and help you hold the responsible party accountable.
Grieving a sudden loss is overwhelming—and legal action may be the last thing on your mind, but you don’t have to go through this alone. Let us guide you through your legal options and fight for the compensation your family deserves. Contact our law office today to get started.
Why Choose Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for Help After a Wrongful Death in Illinois?
If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys is here to help you pursue justice. Our firm has earned a reputation for delivering results when families need it most.
Here are just a few reasons why families across Illinois continue to trust us:
- Our attorneys have decades of combined experience advocating for grieving families in wrongful death cases.
- We have successfully recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
- Our firm has been ranked among the Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers.
- Our Illinois personal injury lawyers are recognized for securing top-dollar outcomes when the stakes are highest.
- Members of our team have been recognized by Super Lawyers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for excellence in advocacy.
- Our attorneys have achieved a 99% success rate in recovering compensation for injured clients and their families.
Contact our law firm today to discuss your case. We offer a free consultation with an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney.
How Does Illinois Define Wrongful Death?
Under Illinois wrongful death laws, surviving family members have the right to seek compensation for wrongful death if their loved one:
- Died because of the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another party, and
- They would have been entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit for compensation had they survived the injuries
The Illinois wrongful death laws cover a range of situations. There’s a very good chance that your family has the right to seek compensation if someone else was responsible for your loss.
What Is the Difference Between a Criminal Case and a Wrongful Death Case?
Wrongful death claims and criminal matters are entirely separate–even if they arise from the same set of facts.
A few key differences exist, including:
- Purpose: The purpose of a wrongful death case is to compensate survivors, while the purpose of a criminal prosecution is to punish the responsible party.
- Defendant’s acts: Criminal cases involve criminal offenses defined by law. Most wrongful death cases involve accidents.
- Lawyer’s role: In criminal cases, the state prosecutes primarily to protect society as a whole. In wrongful death matters, your lawyer is representing your family’s interests.
- Burden of proof: The standard of proof in criminal cases is much higher (beyond a reasonable doubt). Wrongful death cases are civil matters subject to a preponderance of the evidence standard, meaning that it’s “more likely than not” true that the defendant was responsible for the death.
It’s possible that the person responsible for your loved one’s death committed a crime. Regardless of their criminal intent, you retain the right to pursue compensation in civil court.
It’s important to remember that you may have a valid wrongful death case:
- If the defendant did not commit a crime
- The defendant was acquitted of a crime
Our lawyers are here to help your family fight for every ounce of justice available. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn about your options for seeking compensation.
What Do I Need To Know About the Process for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim in Illinois?
Wrongful death cases and personal injury cases are very similar from a process standpoint. The key difference is that the victim is not here to file a lawsuit on their own behalf. In Illinois, the victim’s personal representative files the formal claim.
When compensation is recovered, it’s distributed to the victim’s “next of kin”, including:
- A surviving spouse
- Children
- Parents or legal guardians
If the victim has no surviving family, the compensation is included in the victim’s estate. It’s then distributed according to their will or Illinois intestate laws.
What Is the Financial Value of My Family’s Illinois Wrongful Death Case?
While all cases are unique, some key details that are likely to impact your case value include:
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy
- The victim’s earning power before death, based on past earnings, education, work history, etc.
- The financial support your loved one provided
- The non-financial ways your loved one contributed to the family
- How your life has changed, and will change, due to the loss
- The costs your family has incurred due to the defendant’s acts
- The nature of the defendant’s acts
- The identities and ages of the dependents the victim left behind
Calculating the value of any injury claim can be a complex undertaking. Wrongful death cases present even more challenging issues. Many of your damages will represent financial losses that your family has yet to experience. Others will represent purely intangible losses.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to Survivors in an Illinois Wrongful Death Case?
Your family may deserve compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages.
If your case is successful, your compensation award should account for the financial losses you have experienced due to the loss of your loved one, including economic damages like:
- Medical bills incurred between the date of injury and the date of death
- Funeral expenses
- The cost of administering your loved one’s estate
- Lost financial support
- Loss of your loved one’s employment benefits, such as insurance and retirement benefits
- Loss of the value of the household services your loved one performed
- Property damage
Your compensation award should also account for the more personal losses your family has endured, including non-economic damages such as:
- Grief, sorrow, and mental pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium, or loss of a spouse’s companionship
- Loss of parental guidance, instruction, and support
Punitive damages are rarely awarded by Illinois courts. However, they may be available if the defendant acted intentionally or with a shocking disregard for your loved one’s safety.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Illinois?
Like most injury law firms in Illinois, Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys operates under a contingency fee structure.
This means:
- You don’t owe us any initial fees
- Your attorneys’ fees depend on how much we recover for you
- You only pay if we win
Securing top-quality legal representation shouldn’t add to your family’s burden. We can discuss our fee structure in detail during your free case review.
Can Illinois’ Shared Fault Laws Impact My Right To Recover Compensation if My Loved One Is Being Blamed for a Deadly Accident?
Even in fatal accident cases, insurance companies tend to try pinning blame on the victim. We’ll be ready to fight against any such allegations.
Assuming the defense has evidence to prove your loved one actually did share blame, here’s how the modified comparative negligence law in Illinois works:
- Available compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault allocated to the victim
- Your family loses your right to damages if the victim was more than 50% responsible
When you hire our lawyers, we conduct our own investigation. That includes searching for evidence to undercut any allegations of shared fault.
What Causes Most Wrongful Deaths in Illinois?
Wrongful death can occur in any number of situations. With decades of experience, our Illinois wrongful death attorneys are prepared to handle any type of claim.
Wrongful deaths may occur because of:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle wrecks
- Accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists
- Dangerous property conditions and premises liability issues
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Workplace accidents
- Construction and industrial accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products
- Toxic exposure
- Intentional torts and intentional criminal wrongdoing
Our experienced lawyers can review the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and help you understand whether you have a valid claim for compensation.
How Do I Prove My Family Deserves Compensation After a Wrongful Death in Illinois?
Most wrongful death claims require proof of negligence, meaning you’ll need to prove:
- The defendant had a legal duty to use reasonable caution
- They failed to use reasonable care, breaching their duty
- The breach caused the death
- Your family suffered damages
Our lawyers have the resources to locate any evidence that can be used to prove liability.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for Compensation After a Wrongful Death in Illinois?
In Illinois, the law limits the amount of time you have to take legal action after losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. Generally, you have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This legal deadline is known as the statute of limitations.
Contact an Experienced Illinois Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
After the loss of a loved one in Illinois, count on our team at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to protect your right to compensation. Hiring an experienced Illinois wrongful death lawyer can significantly increase the amount of money you take home.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.
