What Qualifies As Wrongful Death?

If you have experienced the death of a loved one as the result of a reckless and preventable accident, you may be wondering if a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed against those responsible. What qualifies an accident as a "wrongful death" is when a person's death was the direct result of someone else's negligence or other improper conduct.

In a wrongful death lawsuit the negligent party or entity would be sued for damages, which would then be awarded to the victim's next of kin.  

These damages are awarded in order to compensate the victim's family for their loss and to deter others from acting in such a way that it would result in someone's death.

There are 4 factors taken into account for a wrongful death lawsuit: 

• The death must have been the result of a defendant's conduct, whether in part or whole;
• The defendant must have been either negligent or liable for the death;
• There must be surviving members, such as a spouse or children, or other beneficiaries; and
• There must be monetary damages that are a result of the loved one's death. 

To learn more about how to file a wrongful death lawsuit, visit our article library.

If you have lost a loved one and believe that you have a wrongful death case, contact a Chicago wrongful death lawyer who will help you determine negligence.

Hiring a Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyer

A Chicago wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can talk to you about the types of compensation that you and your family might be entitled to after the loss of a loved one. If you are coping with the loss of a spouse or family member after an Illinois accident, contact us today for a free case evaluation - 312-263-1080