Did you recently lose a loved one in a fatal accident in Northbrook, IL? Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult. Grieving their loss is even more difficult when you know their loss could have been prevented. If someone else was responsible for your loved one’s death, an experienced Northbrook wrongful death lawyer at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
Since we opened our doors over thirty years ago, clients have trusted our team to help them get results. Our legal team has 64 years of combined experience and has recovered over $125 million for our clients.
You don’t have to deal with the loss of your loved one alone; our lawyers are here to help. Contact our law office today at (847) 513-9582 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Wrongful Death in Northbrook, IL
After a tragic loss in Northbrook, Illinois, an emotional battle with an uncaring insurance company is the last thing you should have to worry about. Recovering fair compensation for wrongful death is often the only way grieving families get justice. It’s also often key to protecting your family’s financial stability.
Insurance companies, of course, aren’t known for simply handing over fair settlement checks. You’ll have to prove every element of your case. You’ll also have to worry about the insurance company’s cunning tactics, including shifting the blame to the victim.
Our lawyers at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience practicing personal injury law. We want to put our experience and dedication to work for your family.
When you hire us to represent you and your family, you’ll have an experienced Northbrook personal injury attorney on your side who can:
- Investigate and collect evidence on your behalf
- Locate all sources of compensation and insurance
- Determine who is ultimately responsible for paying your damages
- Assess your case value
- Hire experts who can testify about various issues important to your case
- Negotiate with the other side for a full settlement
Don’t let the idea of an emotional and challenging legal battle prevent you from seeking compensation from the parties responsible for your loved one’s death. Call us today for a free consultation.
Understanding Illinois’ Wrongful Death Laws
The Illinois Wrongful Death Act allows surviving family members to seek compensation when a loved one dies as a result of someone else’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. If the victim had survived, they could have filed a personal injury lawsuit. However, when the injuries are fatal, the right to sue for damages transfers to the victim’s family.
Wrongful death claims are handled in civil court and follow a process similar to personal injury cases. If successful, the remedy is typically financial compensation. It’s important to note that you can pursue damages in a wrongful death case regardless of whether criminal charges are filed against the responsible party.
The Process for Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Northbrook
Wrongful death lawsuits in Northbrook are technically filed by a victim’s personal representative, formally appointed by the representative of the estate. That’s usually a close friend, family member, or trusted advisor.
The lawsuit is brought on behalf of the victim’s next of kin, including:
- A surviving spouse
- Children
- Parents (or a legal guardian)
If the victim has no surviving family, the lawsuit proceeds are handed over to the victim’s estate. The compensation is then distributed according to the victim’s will or state intestate laws.
How Much Money Is My Family’s Northbrook Wrongful Death Case Worth?
You only have one chance to recover compensation from the responsible party. That compensation award must account for all the losses the party’s actions have caused.
When our lawyers are evaluating your case value, we’ll evaluate your family’s unique circumstances, considering:
- Your loved one’s age and life expectancy prior to the accident
- Your loved one’s expected earning potential had they lived
- The identity of surviving children and dependents
- How your loved one contributed to your family’s household
- The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
- How the loss has impacted your family, both emotionally and financially
- The costs your family incurred due to an accident and injury
Your lawyer’s skill and experience can be critical to getting a full settlement. Many of your losses will be non-economic in nature. Our attorneys in Northbrook can bring in experts from various fields who can testify about the value of the losses you have suffered.
What Damages Can I Recover in an Illinois Wrongful Death Case?
Under Illinois law, you can pursue compensation for both your financial losses and your family’s personal and subjective losses. The losses you incur will be unique to your family.
Common examples of damages that are available in a wrongful death case include:
- Burial costs and funeral expenses
- Estate administration expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses your family has incurred
- Loss of financial support provided by the victim
- Loss of the victim’s job-related benefits
- Loss of the value of the victim’s household services
- Loss of consortium or loss of a spouse’s company and support
- Loss of parental instruction, education, and guidance
- Grief, sorrow, and mental suffering
Your family may also pursue compensation to cover your loved one’s medical expenses if they survived for a period of time following their initial injury.
In extreme cases where the defendant’s acts were malicious or particularly shocking, courts might award punitive damages as punishment.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Illinois?
Our wrongful death attorneys in Northbrook work on a contingency fee basis. Once your case is resolved, you’ll pay us a percentage of your settlement or verdict. Depending on complexity, that percentage is typically between 33% and 40%.
The bottom line is that your family doesn’t have to pay upfront fees to get quality legal representation.
Can My Family Recover Damages If My Loved One is Being Blamed for Causing a Fatal Accident in Illinois?
Possibly. Your family will lose your right to compensation only if your loved one’s share of fault is greater than the other party’s. This rule is known as a modified comparative negligence law.
Your family’s compensation will be reduced if your loved one is even slightly responsible for their own injuries. That reduction is based on the percentage of fault assigned to your loved one.
What Causes Most Fatal Accidents in Northbrook, IL?
Our lawyers at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers are prepared to handle any type of wrongful death case, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Taxi accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Dangerous property conditions
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Negligent security
- Intentional torts (assault and violence)
If you lost a loved one because of someone else’s actions, contact our Northbrook wrongful death attorneys today. We have the skills to help your family recover the full compensation you deserve.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Wrongful Death Case in Northbrook?
As with personal injury cases, most wrongful death cases are based on negligence.
The elements of a negligence claim are:
- The defendant owed your loved one a legal duty of care.
- They breached their duty of care.
- That breach of duty directly caused your loved one’s death.
- Your family has suffered damages from the loss of your loved one.
You may not even have been present when your loved one suffered fatal injuries. Locating strong evidence in the wake of a traumatic loss can seem impossible. Our lawyers are here to take the lead in the investigation.
We’ll search for any evidence to support your claim, including:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Physical evidence from an accident scene
- Eyewitness reports
- Employment policies and practices
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Video surveillance footage
- Photos of an accident scene
The exact evidence that can be useful in your case will depend on the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death. Regardless of the situation, you can count on our attorneys to do everything possible to locate the evidence you need. Give us a call to get started today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Illinois?
You only have a limited amount of time to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Illinois. The statute of limitations is two years. If you miss this deadline, you may forfeit your right to seek compensation from those responsible for your loved one’s death.
Exceptions to this rule are rare. For example, you may have more time if the defendant is also facing criminal charges related to the same conduct. In these cases, the statute of limitations is paused until the criminal case is resolved.
Contact an Experienced Northbrook Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Losing a loved one is painful enough. You shouldn’t have to worry about how you’ll pay the bills on top of everything else. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s actions, call our team at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation. An experienced Northbrook wrongful death lawyer will sit down with you and review your legal options for seeking financial compensation from those responsible.
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Visit our Northbrook Personal Injury Law Office
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers Northbrook
601 Skokie Blvd Suite 401,
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 513-9582