Chicago ​​Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one becomes even more harrowing when the death occurs because of someone else’s negligence or deliberate harm. This is where the law steps in, granting the survivors the right to seek justice and compensation for their loss.

Wrongful death law is a vast and complex section of the law, but it becomes easier to understand when a team of experienced and dedicated top-tier attorneys guide you. This is exactly what our Chicago wrongful death lawyers offer at TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers.

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Why Choose TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers?

TopDog Law is a national law firm that handles personal injury cases, including wrongful death claims in Chicago. Our attorneys, respected for their relentless pursuit of justice, possess a wealth of experience in wrongful death cases.

Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyer

We explain the complexities of law for you, walking you through what falls under wrongful death and the particularities of the law as it pertains to Chicago. We have also assisted potential wrongful death claimants across the nation, ensuring they have the legal counsel they need to navigate the process in the state where their loved one died.

At the core of our practice is our promise to fight for our clients—a promise we have fulfilled time and time again, leading to our strong reputation. The numerous positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients reflect our success. Regardless of where you are in the United States, you can conveniently reach us through our online contact form or by calling us.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover Through the Wrongful Death Claims Process?

In a wrongful death case, the victim’s relatives or legal representatives can pursue a lawsuit against the party responsible for the death. This right includes the ability to seek compensation for the losses incurred from the death.

Chicago wrongful death lawyer

These losses may involve financial aspects, such as medical bills, funeral expenses, and loss of income that your loved one provided for your family. The wrongful death claims process can also cover non-economic aspects of your loss, including pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and emotional distress.

In instances involving particularly negligent or harmful conduct, the defendant may pay punitive damages.

How Do Wrongful Deaths Occur?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 225,000 people die each year in the United States as a result of unintentional injuries. Falls account for the highest number of accidental deaths, with car accidents and unintentional poisonings following.

Wrongful death is when a death occurs through the negligence, carelessness, or intentional actions of another party. It could involve various situations, such as medical malpractice, work-related accidents, car accidents, product liability, hazardous property features, or even criminal activities.

The law does not classify every accidental death as wrongful. A critical criterion is the establishment of fault or negligence on the part of the accused party.

To show that an individual or entity was responsible for causing your loved one’s death, you and your attorney must demonstrate the following elements in your case:

  • The at-fault party had a duty of care in a specific circumstance to take reasonable actions to avoid injuring or killing someone else. For example, in a wrongful death case involving a car accident, the negligent driver owed a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and legally. When a death occurred due to a premises liability matter, such as a fire in a rented dwelling, the landlord’s duty of care would be to equip the rental unit with a smoke detector and fire extinguishers and ensure a sufficient number of exits from the building.
  • The at-fault party breached the duty owed to others by taking reckless or careless actions. In wrongful death car accident claims, this could include the at-fault driver operating a poorly maintained vehicle or exhibiting dangerous driving habits, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or speeding. In other types of cases, the breach of duty may involve an at-fault party failing to protect others from hazardous property features, provide a standard of professional care, or conduct activities in a way that avoids harm.
  • The defendant’s breach of duty resulted in an accident that took your loved one’s life.

An experienced wrongful death lawyer from TopDog Law can consider all of the details of your claim to identify all sources of liability and the insurance resources that are available to compensate you.

The Wrongful Death Claims Process

Wrongful death cases not only seek justice for the departed but also provide protection and compensation for surviving family members. The law grants certain rights to the accusers in such cases, all aimed at ensuring they receive fair treatment and adequate compensation.

The wrongful death claims process typically begins with filing a claim against a relevant insurance policy held by the at-fault party. If the death occurred because of a car accident, this could be an auto liability insurance policy.

Premises liability wrongful death claims usually involve a property or homeowner’s policy. Wrongful death claims may involve workers’ compensation or medical malpractice policies.

Wrongful death laws are subject to a statute of limitations, meaning there is a specific timeframe in which to file the case. In Illinois, for example, this period is usually two years from the date of death, but it can vary depending on the circumstances of the case. Other states have different statutes of limitations. An experienced wrongful death lawyer from TopDog Law can explain how much time you have to file your claim.

Fighting the Insurance Company for the Compensation You Deserve

When someone else’s negligence causes the death of a loved one, your quest for compensation typically involves a claim against the insurance company rather than a long court battle with the at-fault party. Insurance companies, however, commonly seek to protect their bottom line by reducing or eliminating the amount they have to pay out for a claim.

Navigating the complexities of a wrongful death lawsuit can be emotionally draining and legally challenging. This is where hiring a wrongful death lawyer can be crucial. An effective wrongful death attorney not only provides legal assistance in fighting the insurance company for your compensation but also provides support and guidance during a difficult time.

Some of the services your wrongful death lawyer can provide include:

  • Establishing the grounds for a lawsuit by compiling the necessary evidence.
  • Determining the value of your claim by looking at the financial and psychological costs of your loss, the at-fault party’s level of negligence, and the amount of insurance coverage available to compensate the claim. As explained by Annuity.org, other factors to consider when valuing a wrongful death claim include the age of the deceased’s dependents and any special needs they have, the deceased’s health and educational training at the time of their death, and their income and future earning capacity had they lived long enough to complete their career.
  • Negotiating with insurance companies or opposing attorneys to ensure your family is not put under pressure to accept a lesser settlement.
  • Handling all legal paperwork and representing your family or estate in court, if necessary.
  • Ensuring you receive the appropriate compensation following your claim.

The legal team at TopDog Law works on a contingency fee basis. As explained by Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute, a contingency fee means your wrongful death lawyer can provide legal services to you without requiring any money in advance or billing you by the hour every time they work on your case. Instead, when you decide to work with our attorneys, we will ask you to sign a contingent fee agreement.

This agreement outlines the services your lawyer will provide and designates a percentage of the overall compensation you receive for your claim as payment for your legal team’s services.

After your claim, your attorney will receive your compensation, withdraw the amount owed for their services, and settle any medical liens that your healthcare insurers or providers have placed on the award. Your family will then receive the remainder of the compensation.

What to Do After You Have Lost a Loved One

When someone’s loved one has died due to wrongful circumstances, it can be difficult to focus on the path forward.

Hiring an attorney is an important part of seeking compensation, and but you can protect the value of your claim when you:

  • Provide your legal team with the information you have about your case, such as receipts or bills for expenses around the death and an official accident report.
  • Create a journal about the financial and psychological impacts that you and your family have experienced as a result of your loss. This information can help your attorney determine the value of the non-economic impacts you have incurred.
  • Avoid discussing the case on social media. Many people post about a loved one’s death and information about funeral services. You should, however, reserve discussions about the legal process, such as details about the accident or who was at fault, for your attorney.
  • Avoid talking to the at-fault party’s insurance provider about your case. Your attorney will communicate with them about your claim and provide the information they need to evaluate it.

The wrongful death claims process can take longer than most people think. While most cases offer compensation through a negotiated settlement before reaching the courtroom, it takes time to gather evidence, present this evidence to the insurer, and work on a fair resolution. Having patience during this process will allow your attorney to work on negotiating the best settlement possible for you.

Contact Us if Your Loved One Died Because of Someone Else’s Negligence

If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, we encourage you to seek legal assistance. This is not a battle to fight alone; a skilled Chicago persoanl injury attorney can provide you with the opportunity to achieve justice and obtain fair compensation. At TopDog Law, we will stand by your side throughout this process.

TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers offer comprehensive legal services tailored to wrongful death cases. Our team has the skills to analyze and investigate your case, collect essential evidence, determine the value of your claim, and advocate for you in court.

Understanding the emotional trauma of losing a loved one, we bear the burden of the legal process so that you can focus on healing and remembering your loved one. With TopDog Law on your side, you have a partner committed to fighting for justice and securing the compensation you deserve.

James Helm, Lawyer for Wrongful Death in Chicago

Deciding to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit can be daunting, but it is an important step toward justice and closure. The legal team at TopDog Law makes this step as easy as possible for you. To arrange an initial consultation, contact us via our online contact form or call (708) 734-6928.

TopDog Personal Injury Lawyers – Chicago Office

1517 W 54th
Street #2 West,
Chicago, IL 60609

Ph: 708-734-6928

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