Cook County Wrongful Death Attorneys

Lawyers in Northbrook and Glenview for Families of Fatal Accident Victims

Losing someone who is close to you is always tragic. However, if the person's death was the result of someone else's negligent, reckless, or intentional behavior, the tragedy can often be even more devastating and completely overwhelming. If you are in the midst of a situation like this, you are likely to have concerns about the future. Fortunately, you do not need to face this nightmare alone.

The compassionate attorneys at Gruzmark Law, Ltd. , recognize the challenges that the untimely death of a family member can create. When such a death is caused by another party's wrongful act, that party must be held fully accountable. If one of your family members was killed in any type of accident related to the negligence or actions of another party, contact our firm to learn about your options for recovering compensation through a wrongful death claim.

Types of Situations That Can Lead to a Wrongful Death

The legal term "wrongful death" refers to a death that would not have occurred except for some type of wrongful act on the part of an individual or entity other than the victim. Wrongful acts can include a wide range of behaviors, such as intentional actions, disregard for another's safety, and instances of negligence. A negligent driver who causes a car accident in which another person is killed is likely to have committed a wrongful act. The same is true of a nursing home staff member whose carelessness causes the premature death of a resident. Perhaps the most extreme example would be a person who commits a violent crime that leads to another individual's death.

A wrongful death could occur in many different types of situations, including but not limited to:

• Traffic accidents, including car crashes, truck wrecks and motorcycle accidents
• Mass transportation accidents, including train, bus and airplane accidents
• Construction site accidents
• Accidents involving recreational vehicles and ATVs
• Boating accidents
• Food poisoning
• Medical malpractice, including misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes and medication errors
• Neglect or abuse in a nursing home
• Defective consumer products, including children's products and medical devices
• Criminal behavior, including homicide

What Compensation is Available in Illinois Wrongful Death Cases?

When you have lost a loved one due to a situation that should have been avoided, there is no amount of money that could ever truly ease your pain. It is simply impossible to put a dollar value on the life of your loved one. However, there are ways in which financial damages could be helpful to the surviving family members of a wrongful death victim.

In general, however, a wrongful death action in Illinois allows close surviving family members of the victim to seek compensation for:

• The medical costs that the victim incurred after the incident in question and before he or she died
• Expenses related to the victim's funeral, as well as cremation or burial
• Lost income and work benefits of the victims
• Lost inheritances that the victim would have received
• Considerations for the services and support the victim provided to his or her family
• Loss of consortium or companionship

In cases of extreme negligence or willful acts, it may also be possible to collect punitive damages. Punitive damages can be awarded to help ensure that the party who caused the death in question will not repeat the wrongful behavior in the future.

Contact an Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyer

If your family has lost a loved one due to the wrongful actions of another party, money will not bring him or her back, but a wrongful death action could help you start to move forward. Contact Gruzmark Law, Ltd. to discuss your situation. Schedule a free consultation by calling 847-729-7660 today. We represent surviving family members in wrongful death claims in Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, the North Shore, Glenview, Northbrook, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Skokie, and the surrounding communities.