Losing someone you cherish due to the fault of another can be a devastating realization. If your relative’s life was taken because of the negligence, recklessness, or harmful intent of a person, company or other party, then we recommend speaking with our team immediately for counsel. Our Naperville, IL wrongful death lawyer has represented families who are looking for a sense of justice in a tragic situation. We can hold the offender responsible for their actions. At Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to providing you with the best legal guidance during a difficult time. Contact us now for more information.
Naperville, IL Wrongful Death Lawyer
Our wrongful death attorney can imagine the anguish and stress you are going through. Finding compassionate yet strategic legal counsel is imperative to obtaining justice for your relative. Our Naperville wrongful death lawyer understands that more than anything, you may want to see that the offending parties are held accountable by law to the fullest extent. The purpose of wrongful death cases is to give the surviving family compensation so they do not go through financial turmoil along with their immense grief. While this compensation cannot bring back the life lost, it does at the very least give the family a sense of justice and monetary support as they navigate this period.
Many clients ask us who is eligible to file for a wrongful death lawsuit. In most cases, the spouses, children, and parents of unmarried children can initiate a case. The family members closest to the deceased are often the ones who suffer the most and are directly impacted from the loss, emotionally and monetarily. In some jurisdictions, putative spouses, life partners, or those who were financially dependent on the deceased may have grounds to file a claim. As our wrongful death attorney explains, this inclusion recognizes diverse family dynamics that exist in our modern society.
Why Experience Matters In Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death cases tend to be emotionally-charged, understandably. We can be the lead on your case while you focus on taking care of yourself and your family. You can depend on our wrongful death attorney for quality legal assistance for the following reasons:
- We have recovered more than $2 Billion for our clients in the state of Illinois.
- We have a reputation for our attentive customer service and unmatched case settlement results.
- We are proud to be named One of the Most Influential Law Firms in America.
- Our clients would say that we took the time to get to know their case and they would recommend us to others.
At Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, we can imagine what you may be going through right now, having recently lost a loved one in an incident where something may have gone awry. If you suspect that your relative was taken before their natural time due to a careless party, then now is the time to learn more about initiating a wrongful death lawsuit. Our Naperville wrongful death lawyer is ready to get to work on behalf of your loved one today.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims in Illinois
Wrongful death claims in Illinois are governed by two interacting deadlines. Under 735 ILCS § 5/13-209, the lawsuit must be filed within either one year of the victim’s death or within two years of the date of the incident — whichever is later. Because these deadlines interact in ways that aren’t always obvious, families should speak with an attorney well before either date to preserve the strongest possible case.
How Wrongful Death Compensation Works in Illinois
Illinois wrongful death actions are brought under 740 ILCS § 180/2. Unlike a typical personal injury case, the deceased cannot recover for their own medical expenses or pain and suffering, so the statute instead focuses on the losses suffered by the deceased person’s close family — including financial losses stemming from the death and damages for the family’s grief and mental suffering. The law places few limits on recoverable damages, directing jurors only to award “fair and just compensation.” That open-ended standard is one reason experienced counsel matters, since much of the case involves showing jurors how the loss should translate into a compensation figure.
How Wrongful Death Awards Are Distributed
Compensation in a wrongful death case does not go to the deceased; it goes to surviving loved ones. Rather than following the victim’s will or standard intestacy rules, the court determines how financially dependent each family member was on the deceased and distributes the award accordingly. Because this approach can create tension among surviving relatives who each stand to gain by demonstrating closeness to the deceased, having legal representation can be especially valuable in navigating those dynamics.
