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Compensation for a Truck Accident Death (Part B)

Economic Loss in an Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit

When determining your family's economic loss following the loss of a loved one in an Illinois truck accident, the court evidence looks at 4 main factors:

The deceased's earning potential;
The deceased's life expectancy;
The deceased's assets; and
The deceased's health at the time of their death.

Their wages at the time of their death are used to estimate their future earnings and their ability to continue working before retirement is also estimated. There is no set formula for calculating the final value of the loss of earning ability by the deceased, and every case has different circumstances. A Chicago truck accident lawyer can help you obtain the proper documentation to help prove your economic situation.

Emotional Loss in an Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Emotional losses are an entirely different situation when it comes to determining a settlement value. There is no way you can put a price on the loss of a human life, so there is also no solid method of determining the damages to pay a family who has just lost a loved one.

There are many more factors that the court looks at when determining a settlement amount for emotional losses. If the deceased left behind a husband or wife, they consider loss of companionship or consortium to the surviving spouse. The loss of affection to the rest of the surviving family is also considered to be part of the emotional loss.

If the deceased leaves behind children the loss of parental influence is also taken into consideration as part of the emotional loss. This is increased if the deceased was a single parent. Also, if the deceased provided care to extended family this would also come into consideration.

Hiring a Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer

Because you are going through an emotionally stressful time, you should know that you have the right to seek the assistance of a Chicago truck accident lawyer when filing for an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit following a fatal Illinois truck accident. You don't need to handle the procedures of a wrongful death claim alone; let an experienced lawyer bear the burden of gathering evidence and building your claim.

A Chicago truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. knows how to structure your Illinois wrongful death lawsuit to obtain the fullest compensation amounts for your family's emotional and economical losses. Contact us today for a free case evaluation - 312-263-1080.

As a service to the residents of Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and Illinois in general, the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Illinois and can result in serious injuries and/or fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

-- single-car accidents such as SUV rollovers;
-- accidents due to hazardous road conditions; and
-- accidents caused by distracted, aggressive, and/or drunk drivers.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.