Helping The Families of Wrongful Death Victims in Chicago
Attorneys define “wrongful death” as a death caused by another person’s negligence. (Legally in this instance, the word “person” also includes a corporation.) Examples where wrongful death occur might include a doctor misdiagnosing a fatal disease; a motorist driving drunk; a retailer failing to keep a store’s premises safe; a manufacturer creating and selling a dangerous or defective consumer item; a landlord or apartment manager’s failure to replace dangerous stairs or railings; or the inattention of a nursing home staff. These are only the typical examples. Wrongful death threatens us and our families daily in a myriad of ways.
That’s why, as tough as it will be, if your family loses a loved one due to another’s negligence, you should contact a Chicago wrongful death attorney to obtain sound legal advice regarding your potential case. If you belong to the family of the deceased you may have legal standing to sue for wrongful death. The damages you may be able to claim can include loss of love and affection of the deceased, compensation for the victim’s pain and suffering and for your own grief and sorrow; funeral costs and medical expenses; loss of consortium (for spouses); and loss of financial support from projected future earnings and benefits. If the deceased was your son, daughter, spouse, or parent, you very likely have the legal right to compensation.
When Is It A Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed when a preventable death has been caused by someone else’s negligence. If you’ve lost a loved one this way in the Chicago area, obviously, no amount of money can relieve your suffering, but a unfair decease suit can provide the resources for the family to move forward with their lives without additional financial concerns. If you’re the survivor of a unfair decease victim, speak right away to experienced Chicago wrongful death attorney Joseph Dooley.
According to wrongful death lawyers, a wrongful death lawsuit may be appropriate in a number of situations. One example would be in a hospital setting where a patient’s urgent need for immediate care is clear but isn’t dealt with properly by the medical staff. If medical malpractice results in the patient’s decease, the patient’s family can file a unfair decease claim. Other types of wrongful death include death in an avoidable accident such as a fatal car crash caused by distracted or intoxicated driving or a slip-and-fall from the balcony of a hotel or office building because of a damaged safety railing.
Just for a moment, let’s imagine the worst possible scenario. Just for a moment. Your family is killed in a traffic collision with a commercial vehicle like a taxicab or a delivery truck. Let’s say the driver who killed your loved ones was obviously negligent – both drunk and texting while driving. You can probably win a wrongful death case against the driver in this situation, but can you also sue a commercial driver’s employer? In this scenario, could a taxi company or delivery business be considered negligent for hiring such a negligent driver? Under a doctrine called respondeat superior (actually Latin for “let the master answer”), employers are liable in wrongful death cases for the actions of their employees when those actions happen in the course of the job. If a commercial vehicle’s driver is negligent and responsible for an accident, the employer’s liability hinges on whether the employee was acting within the scope of his or her employment. If your loved one was killed in a crash caused by a negligent commercial driver, a good Illinois wrongful death lawyer can look at the details of your case and determine if you can seek damages from the negligent driver’s employer as well as the driver.
If someone you love has died as a result of another party’s careless or negligent actions, contact a good unfair decease lawyer to determine if you have grounds to file a wrongful death claim. A good unfair decease attorney will work diligently and fight hard for you and your family, but it’s imperative to launch a wrongful death lawsuit as quickly as possible after the fatality. A wrongful decease lawsuit may only be a minor compensation for the loss of a human life, but it does hold the responsible party accountable. If you have lost a loved one in the Chicago area in a wrongful death, speak at once to experienced Chicago wrongful death attorney Joseph Dooley.
An Experienced Chicago Wrongful Death Attorney
As a full-time, Chicago wrongful death attorney for almost two decades, I have represented a considerable number of clients in wrongful death cases. I have seen a variety of causes of wrongful deaths. I am also a personal injury attorney, so I have experience representing clients in all types of cases, including motorcycle or car accidents, truck accidents, nursing abuse, brain or birth injury claims, and premises liability lawsuits. I work diligently and fight hard for each client that I represent, and I’m gratified with the results and pleased that I’ve been able to recover compensation and help so many in their time of suffering and need.
If you’ve lost a family member in a deadly accident, you will find yourself handling emotional, legal, and financial issues, all at one of your life’s lowest moments. If your family’s loss was due to negligence by an individual or a corporation, it is imperative that you initiate a wrongful death suit as quickly as possible. When you get in touch with my law firm office about a wrongful death claim, your inquiry will be handled with understanding, professional courtesy, and promptness. If you seek legal representation in Cook County, or if you would like more information about my legal services, contact me today by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 312-236-7282. Or, you can fill out the form on this website.