What Qualifies As Wrongful Death?

You may be wondering what qualifies as wrongful death and if you have a case for an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit. If a loved one has died in a wrongful death accident, a Chicago personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file an Illinois wrongful death claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

You may be wondering how damages work and what damages can be received in a wrongful death lawsuit. If you’ve lost a loved one to a wrongful death accident, a Chicago personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file your wrongful death claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

What Will a Funeral in Illinois Cost Me?

Funerals can get quite expensive when people aren’t careful of costs. If you have lost a loved one in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

4 Things That Must Be Done After a Funeral

Here are 4 important things to do after a funeral in Illinois. If the death of your loved one was caused by the negligent actions of another person, an experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

Who benefits from survival action damages?

In a wrongful death lawsuit the entire settlement is not always paid out directly to the next of kin or beneficiaries. The Chicago wrongful death lawyers at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can explain how to structure your settlement to seek damages under the proper actions. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

Who benefits from wrongful death action damages?

The damages received from a wrongful death action portion of a wrongful death lawsuit are the ones that directly benefit the next of kin. The Chicago wrongful death lawyers at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can explain the differences in benefits with a wrongful death claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

Executor Responsibilities & Illinois Wrongful Death Claims

If you have lost a family member as the result of a wrongful death accident, you may need a qualified attorney to represent your interests. An experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation. – (312) 263-1080

Illinois Wrongful Death Claims & Comparative Negligence

Learn more about how comparative negligence may impact your Illinois wrongful death claim. An experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

Illinois Wrongful Death Claim & Trucking Accidents

If you have lost a family member due to a trucking accident, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. An experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation. – (312) 263-1080

Illinois Wrongful Death Claim & Types of Wrongful Death Suits

If you have lost a family member as a result of an accident, you need expert advice. An experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can provide you with a free case evaluation. – (312) 263-1080

Responsibilities of Filing an Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit

If you’ve lost a loved one in a wrongful death accident you may be eligible to file an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. are experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyers that can help you address the responsibilities associated with filing a wrongful death claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

Who Files an Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Family members, appointed parties and even companies may be eligible to file an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. are experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyers that can determine who is eligible to file on behalf of your loved one. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

Facts and Figures for Fatal Car Accidents in Illinois

Illinois was 10th in the nation for number of fatal car accidents in 2008 – even after improving from the previous year. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. are there to help victims’ families during this tragic time. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

Criminal Charges in Fatal Car Accidents

If a fatal car accident was caused by negligence by the surviving driver(s) they may be held liable for criminal charges. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. are experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyers that can help your family if you have suffered the loss of a loved one. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

Common Types of Wrongful Death Claims

An experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer who has helped many cases can list common types of wrongful deaths. The wrongful death lawyers at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. are here to listen and offer legal assistance to family members after the loss of a loved one. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

Contributory Negligence in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Claims

When filing a wrongful death lawsuit, one of the main factors the judge and jury look at is the degree of contributory negligence. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. have the experience to know how to help prove your claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

Chicao Police Department expands use of Tasers

The Chicago Police Department has placed a Taser in every squad car, even though they have been linked to the wrongful deaths of several who have been shot by them and to injuries suffered by several police officers during training.

Executive killed in motorcycle accident

A banking and real estate executive was killed in a motorcycle accident last week in Florida.  The wrongful death motorcycle accident happened when a Jeep failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn.

When considering the damages in any wrongful death suit, one of the key elements of compensation for the next of kin is the economic losses.  When the person killed is a high-level earner as was apparently the case in this accident, one thing that must be done is to carefully quantify the extent of the losses.  This is something that may require the assistance of an economist as an expert witness.

Also, the likelihood in this case is that the driver of the Jeep did not carry sufficient liability insurance to make good on  the damages caused by this car accident with a motorcycle.  This would be true even where he had $100,000 in insurance coverage.

Because there was not likely enough liability insurance, the family of the man killed will probably be making an underinsured motorist claim on their own policy, assuming that they carried full coverage on the family's vehicle at adequate levels of coverage.

Sixth worker dies from injuries from Connecticut power plant explosion

When someone dies as a result of injuries from any kind of accident, including a construction accident, there are two separate parts to the wronful death suit. One part is known as the survival action. The other part is the wrongful death action.

Wyoming man killed at G & D Integrated in Morton

A truck driver from Wyoming in rural Stark County was killed in a workplace accident at G & D Integrated in Morton last week.  The truck driver, an employee of Brubaker Transfer in Goodfield, was delivering a load of pipes to G & D.  Forklift drivers employed by G & D were unloading the pipes and caused the load to shift, and a 30-foot long, 2,500 pound pipe fell off the flatbed trailer and onto the truck driver's midsection, causing crushing injuries.  Even though the pipe was lifted off him and he was taken immediately to the hospital, the man was pronounced dead three and a half hours later at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  OSHA is investigating.

When someone suffers fatal injuries on the job, their family is entitled to seek Illinois worker's compensation death benefits.  However, when someone other than the deceased employee, his employer, or a co-worker are to blame for the accident, his family can also file a third party liability lawsuit against the persons or companies responsible for the accident.  In that lawsuit, they would be claiming that the negligence of the at-fault parties caused the wrongful death accident.  The reason that a family in this situation would want to a third party laibility lawsuit is because it provides significant additional compensation for the death and holds the true wrongdoers accountable for what occurred.

Families that find themselves in this situation do not have to choose between filing for worker's compensation benefits and pursuing a third party liability suit.  They can do both.  The interplay between the worker's compensation case and the third party liability suit can be quite complex, so we always strongly recommend that people in this situation hire an experienced Illinois personal injury lawyer.

Flagger killed by gravel truck

A flagger employed by a Chicago Ridge gravel company was struck by a gravel truck operated by a driver employed by another company.  The driver misinterpreted a stop signal as one to proceed and struck the flagger.  After hearing the reaction of witnesses, he backed over the flagger, resulting in a wrongful death truck accident.

This man's family is entitled to Illinois worker's compensation benefits for this wrongful death accident.  However, due to the negligence of the gravel truck driver, his family is also entitled to pursue a third party wrongful death liability lawsuit.

As part of this wrongful death lawsuit, the family would be entitled to seek the full measure of damages resulting from this accident, as the worker's compensation benefits are limited relative to the actual damages suffered.  Understanding the relationship between worker's compensation cases and third party liability lawsuits is quite complex, so we always strongly recommend that anyone involved in a third party liability suit hire an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer.

Stickney couple in Wisconsin truck accident

A man from Stickney was killed and his wife was seriously injured in rear-end tractor trailer accident near Belgium, Wisconsin.  The accident happened as traffic slowed for lane closures on I-43.  The tractor trailer, being operated by a driver employed by S & J Potashnick of Sikestown, Missouri, failed to slow for the upcoming lane closure and struck a Cadillac, forcing that off the road and into a ditch, where it overturned.  After forcing the Cadillac off the road, the truck hit the sports utility vehicle being driven by the couple from Stickney.  Their vehicle got wedged underneath the front of the tractor trailer.  Both the truck and the SUV went off the road and continued for another 150 yards before finally coming to a stop.

The cause of this wrongful death truck accident: distracted driving.  The driver of the truck reportedly told authorities that he was reaching for a snack and did not realize that traffic slowed ahead for him.

One problem that Chicago area residents face when they are involved in an accident of any kind, whether a car accident, slip and fall, dog bite attack, or any other kind of incident, including a wrongful death case like this, is finding a well-qualified local lawyer to assist them with their case.  

There are a number of good reasons why someone injured in another state or area would want to hire a local lawyer.  One reason is that personal injury law varies greatly from state to state, as do court procedures, and lawyers who work in that state's system day in and day out are better equipped to reach a resolution of a case.  Another reason is that they are likely to have a working relationship with investigators, photographer, accident reconstructionists, court reporters, and other people who are needed to prosecute the case to a successful resolution.

As an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer active in the American Association for Justice, the leading bar association for plaintiff's personal injury lawyers, I have met and know several of the leading trial lawyers in other parts of the country.  One service that I am able to offer Illinois residents is a referral to qualified personal injury and wrongful death lawyers outside Illinois.  Hiring a lawyer outside the area is an enormous and important decision for a family which is struggling in a time of need and sorrow, and we are happy to help.

Teen dies days after car accident

A teen from Chillicothe died last week at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, approximately a week after a single vehicle accident that happened when a car left the roadway and struck a utility pole.  The car crash also resulted in the death of one other passengers and injuries to the driver and another passengers.  The accident was serious enough that all of the vehicle occupants that survived the accident were life-flighted from the scene.

As an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer, there are a few points to make about this Illinois car accident:

1.  When you are a passenger in a single vehicle car accident in Illinois, you can make a claim against the driver of the car.  This is not true in every state.

2.  The fact that the one teen lived for a week before passing away from injuries from the accident emphasizes the differences between the wrongful death and survival aspects of a wrongful death suit.  The family of this young man can seek compensation for everything that he experienced prior to his passing as part of the survival aspect of the case.  Further, they can seek damages for their own losses resulting from his passing as part of the wrongful death aspect of the case.

3.  Accidents such as this where there are multiple victims demonstrate the need for underinsured motorist coverage.  There were three passengers in the vehicle: two died and the other suffered serious injuries.  There is a strong chance that there will not be sufficient automobile liability insurance coverage to fairly compensate all of the victims from this accident.  Underinsured motorist coverage will allow the family of this young man to obtain the maximum compensation possible, not that it will ever really be enough.

Motorcyclist dies after crash

A Colorado Springs motorcyclist died last Friday after being in a motorcycle crash on Wednesday.  The accident happened when a car made a turn right in front of him.

This accident is one which draws out an important aspect of Illinois wrongful death suits.  When someone dies as a result of an accident, there are actually two components of the wrongful death case: the wrongful death action and the survival action. 

The wrongful death action is intended to compensate the deceased next of kin for their losses resulting from the death.  There are three main categories to this: the loss of the family relationship, the loss of economic support, and grief.

The survival action is intended to compensate the estate of the deceased for injuries sustained prior to death.  Medical expenses, lost wages, and conscious pain and suffering are the main components of the survival action.

As experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers, one thing that we would do to help establish the damages in the survival action is to locate witnesses who could testify to what happened in the aftermath of the accident.   This may include interviewing responding emergency personnel and locating other people who came to the scene after the accident.  We also review the medical records closely to see what evidence of pain and suffering is being documented in the hospital chart. During depositions, we always try to elicit testimony on this subject from the defendant.

It's sometimes really morbid work, but it is important if we are going to make sure that the family of our deceased client is going to be properly compensated for their losses.

Man killed in hit and run accident in Homan Square neighborhood

A pedestrian was killed by a hit and run vehicle on Friday.  The man was walking in the Homan Square neighborhood on Chicago's west side when he was hit by a car which fled the scene.

Many people are unaware that when you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, you are entitled to pursue an uninsured motorist claim through your own insurance policy.  Uninsured motorist coverage is one of the coverages you obtain when you purchase full coverage on your car.  This coverage applies to all hit and run accidents, including ones that take place when you are a pedestrian.

Further, even if the man did not have uninsured motorist coverage himself, he may still be covered under the policies of other members of his household, as uninsured motorist coverage usually also covers "resident relatives".  This means that is his parents or siblings lived with him and had uninsured motorist coverage, they would be able to pursue a hit and run wrongful death claim under a policy held by another member of the household.

Identifying potentially available uninsured motorist coverage can be a complicated issue, and anyone having difficulties with this should consult an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer to make sure that all of the potential coverages are found.