The passing of a loved one may be the most difficult experience a family could go through. When a loved one dies as a result of the negligence or malicious action of another person, the situation may be even harder to bear.
If your loved one passed away because of the actions of another person or entity, contacting a Cicero wrongful death lawyer may be the best way for you to pursue damages against that party. Financial compensation cannot fully make up for your loss, but with a compassionate personal injury attorney’s help, it could go a long way toward helping you and your family recover and move on with your lives.
Who May File a Wrongful Death Claim in Cicero?
In most cases, a wrongful death claim must be brought to court by the decedent’s personal representative—typically a spouse, parent, or child of the deceased person. If none of these parties are available to act in this capacity, the closest surviving relative of the deceased party could bring the claim to court instead. If there are no surviving relatives of the deceased person at all, a wrongful death lawyer in Cicero may file a claim on the behalf of the decedent’s estate.
Recoverable Damages
In Cicero, Illinois, there are two kinds of damages for which the family or estate of a deceased person may seek compensation. These damages may be both economic and non-economic in nature.
Economic damages are more objective losses that come with clear price tags attached to them. They may include expenses like the lost wages of the deceased person that would have supported their surviving family, medical expenses incurred before the death, and funeral costs.
On the other hand, non-economic damages are more subjective in nature and do not have ready-made price tags attached to them. These kinds of damages can include loss of consortium with a spouse and the emotional toll that a loved one’s death has taken on their family members.
Scenarios That Could Lead to a Wrongful Death Claim
Unfortunately, there are many ways in which loved ones may lose their lives as a result of negligent or malicious actions. For example, truck accidents often lead to fatalities due to the sheer size and weight of large trucks, and any motor vehicle accident that leads to a fatality could be grounds for a wrongful death claim.
Other examples of common accidents that lead to wrongful death claims in Cicero include pedestrian accidents, accidents that occur at construction worksites, and medical malpractice incidents. In essence, a wrongful death case may stem from any incident that would have been grounds for a personal injury case had it not resulted in the victim’s death.
Speak with a Cicero Wrongful Death Attorney Today
If you lost a loved one due to a wrongful death, a Cicero wrongful death lawyer could help you navigate the legal system and pursue compensation in a thorough and effective manner. They could also help you collect and preserve evidence, argue passionately in court on your behalf, and bring in experts to testify in support of your settlement demands. Call today to set up a confidential consultation.