The death of a loved one can be even harder when their fatal injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence. Along with your loss, your family may face emotional and financial burdens. An Arlington Heights wrongful death lawyer from our personal injury law firm can help you seek justice and hold the responsible parties accountable for the injury victim’s death. Call our Arlington Heights law office today for a free consultation.
In this Article
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Wrongful Death Accident in Arlington Heights?
What Is a Wrongful Death in Arlington Heights?
A death is considered “wrongful” under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/) when it results from another person’s or entity’s negligent or wrongful actions. A key factor is determining whether the death could have been prevented if not for the other party’s actions.
How Can You Prove Wrongful Death in Arlington Heights, IL?
To prove wrongful death in Illinois, a knowledgeable and experienced wrongful death lawyer must show four things:
Duty of care: the defendant had a legal duty to act safely.
Breach of duty: they failed to uphold that duty.
Causation: negligent or intentional actions directly caused the person’s death.
Damages: the death led to financial losses (like medical bills) for the surviving family members.
Common Types of Accidents That Cause Wrongful Death in Arlington Heights
Any type of fatal accident can potentially be classified as a wrongful death, but some accidents causing serious injuries are more common than others:
Motor vehicle accidents—car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
Medical malpractice—medical negligence, medical errors, or birth injuries
Slip and fall accidents due to negligent property owners
Workplace accidents
Construction site accidents
Product defects
What Does Not Qualify as a Wrongful Death?
Not all deaths are considered wrongful. Deaths from natural causes or unavoidable accidents don’t qualify. However, if negligence contributed in any way, you may be able to pursue legal action and hold the negligent party accountable.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Suit in Illinois?
Only the personal representative of the deceased’s estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit, according to Illinois law. In most wrongful death cases, this is typically an immediate family member (like a surviving spouse or adult child) who is named in the deceased’s will or appointed by the court.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Wrongful Death in Arlington Heights?
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
After a loved one’s death, families can recover both economic and non-economic wrongful death damages. Our legal team can help you pursue compensation for:
The physical pain an injured person suffered before death
Medical expenses
Funeral and burial costs
Lost income (future income and other financial support)
Mental suffering (like emotional distress)
Loss of companionship
Punitive damages (in rare cases)
How Long Does It Take to Settle an Illinois Wrongful Death Case?
Most wrongful death claims can take months or years to resolve, depending on the complexity of the case, the available evidence, and the willingness of the at-fault party to settle.
Our IL wrongful death lawyers handle all legal elements. We gather and preserve evidence (like medical records and police reports), negotiate with insurance companies, and work to resolve your case as quickly and efficiently as possible.
How Long Do I Have to File an Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
In Illinois, the statute of limitations (735 ILCS 5/13-114) for wrongful death lawsuits and other personal injury cases is typically two years from the date of death, with some exceptions. Contact our law firm for legal representation.
Seek Legal Advice from Our Law Firm
Our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience navigating personal injury lawsuits in Cook County and across the state. We can work to prove negligence—ensuring the at-fault party is held accountable for their actions—and recover compensation for funeral expenses and more.
Schedule Your Free Case Consultation
If intentional or negligent acts caused a family member’s death, call for a free case evaluation. In these meetings, our Arlington Heights, Illinois, wrongful death attorneys will review your case and discuss your legal options for recovering fair compensation for monetary damages (including non-economic damages).
Get help from an Arlington Heights wrongful death lawyer when you've lost a loved one because of someone else's negligence.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$500,000
$500,000 Policy limit settlement for a 48-year-old woman injured in a Cook County head-on collision after another driver made an unsafe left turn into traffic.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$250,000
Recovered for an individual who suffered a severe knee injury after a slip and fall on a wet floor at a Will County retail store.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
(312) 223-1700