Top Questions About Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Lake County, Illinois

 Posted on January 21, 2022 in Wrongful Death

The death of a family member can come as a huge shock – especially if the death was caused by a sudden accident. Car crashes, truck accidents, work accidents, and other unexpected accidents can turn your life upside down. While the death of a loved one is heartbreaking regardless of the circumstances, losing your loved one in a preventable accident is especially tragic.

Fortunately, Illinois civil law allows individuals to bring legal actions on their loved one's behalf. If your parent, child, spouse, or other family member died because of another party’s actions, you may be able to file a wrongful death action and seek justice.

What is Considered a Wrongful Death?

A wrongful death is a death caused by another party’s negligent or intentional actions. Negligence occurs when a party owes a duty of care, fails to fulfill that duty of care, and the failure causes injury or death.

Wrongful death claims may involve:

• Car crashes caused by a negligent driver
• Truck accidents caused by a truck driver or trucking company negligence
• Dog bites, slip and fall accidents, fires, or other accidents caused by a property owner’s carelessness
• Accidents caused by a defective product

These are just a few of the situations in which a wrongful death claim may be appropriate.

What Types of Damages Are Available for Wrongful Death Claims?

Money could never make up for the loss of human life. However, wrongful death claims may enable you to recover compensation for:

• Loss of the victim’s financial support
• Loss of consortium (meaning the loss of the marriage relationship)
• Loss of parental guidance and support suffered by the victim’s children
• The surviving family members’ grief and suffering

Are Criminal Charges Necessary for a Wrongful Death Claim?

Some wrongful death claims occur in conjunction with a criminal case. For example, a drunk driver may be charged with vehicular homicide by the state if he or she causes a fatal crash while intoxicated. Wrongful death claims are separate from criminal claims. You may be able to bring a successful wrongful death claim against an at-fault party regardless of whether that party is charged or convicted of a crime.

Contact a Lake County Wrongful Death Attorney

If your loved one was killed in a fatal accident, contact Salvi & Maher, LLP for help. Our team of skilled, compassionate Waukegan personal injury lawyers can help you explore your legal options and decide if a wrongful death claim is the right step. Call us today at 847-662-3303 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/illinois-pattern-jury-instructions-civil/