March 5, 2025
Electric Bicyclist Seriously Injured in Car Wreck on March 3, 2025 in Salem, IL
Injuries So Severe That Bicyclist Had To Be Life Flighted A 54-year-old Salem man suffered seriou …
Wrongful Death Lawyer Fults, IL
Wrongful Death Lawyer Fults, IL. Since 1950, Hassakis & Hassakis has been offering exceptional legal support to victims and their families. A wrongful death lawsuit can have a significant emotional and financial impact on survivors, employers, insurance companies, and more. Our Southern Illinois attorneys are here to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve while working to prevent future tragedies. If you’ve lost a family member or loved one, call our Fults, IL, wrongful death lawyers at (618)-244-5335 or contact us online.
Our wrongful death lawyers and legal team are ready to assist. If we don’t win your case, you don’t pay.
Common Wrongful Death Claims in Fults, IL
Negligence is often the primary cause of wrongful death claims in Illinois. When a fatality occurs as a result of wrongful actions, the surviving family members face important legal challenges. In many cases, other parties may be found responsible for damages tied to personal injury or wrongful death. We can assist in proving your wrongful death claim.
In Illinois, the following are some of the most typical wrongful death case types:
- Motor Vehicle Fatalities: Deaths resulting from car crashes, truck collisions, or motorcycle accidents caused by negligent drivers. In 2024, around 1,200 vehicle-related fatalities occurred in Illinois.
- Medical Malpractice: Fatalities that occur as a result of healthcare professionals’ errors, such as surgical blunders, misdiagnosis, or mistakes in prescribing medications. Wrong-site surgeries are a prime example of extreme negligence in the medical field.
- Workplace Accidents: Fatalities in the workplace, often from unsafe conditions, machinery failures, or inadequate safety measures. Illinois reports approximately 150 workplace-related deaths annually.
- Product Liability: Fatalities caused by defective products, such as faulty vehicle brakes, broken machinery, hazardous consumer goods, and dangerous chemicals.
- Premises Liability: Deaths from accidents occurring on another person’s property, such as slip-and-fall accidents, poor security, and lack of maintenance.
- Boating and Watercraft Accidents: Fatalities resulting from boating accidents due to equipment defects or operator error. In Illinois, there are typically 15-20 boating fatalities every year.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Fults, IL?
The wrongful death claim in Illinois is typically file by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate, who is usually a family member or an individual designated by the court. However, some surviving relatives may also pursue compensation for their emotional and financial losses.
- Personal Representative of the Deceased’s Estate: The representative files the claim on behalf of the estate and surviving family members.
- Surviving Spouse: The surviving spouse can seek compensation for emotional distress, loss of companionship, and financial support.
- Children: If there is no surviving spouse, children may file a claim or seek damages for the loss of their parent.
- Parents: If the deceased has neither a surviving spouse nor children, parents may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim.
Comprehending who is eligible to file a wrongful death claim is essential to ensure that the proper individuals can seek justice and compensation.
Who Cannot File a Wrongful Death Claim in Fults, IL?
In Illinois, not everyone is eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Typically, close family members are given priority, though those with substantial financial connections to the deceased may also be eligible.
- Friends: Generally, friends cannot file a wrongful death claim unless they can demonstrate that they were the deceased’s primary financial dependent.
- Siblings: Siblings generally do not have the ability to file a wrongful death claim unless they were financially dependent on the deceased or had an exceptionally close bond, which must be demonstrated through evidence.
If you’re unsure about your qualifications to file a wrongful death claim, seeking advice from an experienced wrongful death lawyer is essential. Get in touch with us today or call (618)-244-5335 for expert advice.
What Do Fults, IL, Wrongful Death Attorneys Do?
Our wrongful death lawyers help families seek justice and compensation when a loved one dies due to another party’s negligence or wrongful actions. Here’s what we typically do:
- Case Evaluation: We review the case to determine if there is a valid claim, examining medical records, accident reports, and other key evidence.
- Investigation: We collaborate with experts to investigate the cause of death and identify the responsible party.
- Filing the Lawsuit: If warranted, we file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family or estate.
- Negotiating Settlements: We negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance and legal team to secure a fair settlement.
- Court Representation: If a settlement isn’t reached, we represent the family in court and present the case for justice.
We’re here to guide you through this difficult time and help secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to discuss your case.
Special and General Damages for Wrongful Death Cases in Illinois
At Hassakis & Hassakis, we work tirelessly to help families obtain compensation to ease their burden. Below are some common general and special damages:
Economic Damages
Economic damages, also known as special damages, encompass the tangible financial losses that stem from the death of a loved one. They are often easier to calculate due to their specific monetary nature. Examples of economic damages include:
- Lost Wages and Benefits: Compensation for the income the deceased would have earned, including salary, bonuses, and potential future earnings, which can help ease financial hardship for surviving family members.
- Medical Expenses: Compensation for the emergency medical services, hospital charges, surgeries, and other treatment-related costs suffer before the victim passed away.
- Funeral and Burial Expenses: Payment for funeral services, burial or cremation fees, headstones, and other necessary expenses, ensuring that families are not burdened with these costs.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, also known as general damages, aim to address the emotional and psychological effects of losing a loved one. While they are more subjective, they can have a deep impact on the surviving family members. Some examples include:
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the emotional and relational loss, including love, companionship, support, and intimacy, that family members experience after the death of a loved one.
- Pain and Suffering: Reimbursement for the emotional pain, mental suffering, and grief endured by surviving family members after losing a loved one.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and act as a deterrent for future similar behavior.
In wrongful death lawsuits, courts may look at a survivor’s personal factors, including their age, lifestyle, education, and any other relevant circumstances.
Get in touch with one of our wrongful death lawyers in Fults, IL, to better understand the potential damages you may be able to claim in your case.
Top Fults, IL, Wrongful Death Lawyers
Here are a few of our other services:
If you’ve lost a loved one due to negligence, it’s time to act. Reach out to us online or call 618-244-5335. With millions recovered for victims, we provide tailored support and compassionate care. Trust our Fults, IL, Wrongful Death Lawyers to advocate for your family’s justice.
