Can My Family Receive Compensation for a Loved One’s Wrongful Death?

 Posted on January 30, 2021 in Wrongful Death

The death of a family member is always a sad event. However, there is a difference between situations where a person passes away due to natural causes after a long life and cases where a person’s life ended abruptly and unexpectedly. When someone dies because of someone else’s actions or negligence, their family members will often be left without closure, and they may struggle both emotionally and financially as they deal with the loss of their loved one. In these cases, families may be able to pursue compensation from those who were responsible for their loved one’s death by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Damages in Wrongful Death Cases

A wrongful death claim may be appropriate in any situation where a person or company caused a person’s death, either intentionally or through negligence or inaction. For example, a drunk driver may be liable for the wrongful death of a person who died in a car accident, or a pharmaceutical company may be responsible for a death that occurred because of the harmful side effects of a dangerous drug.

The personal representative of a deceased person can pursue a wrongful death claim which can seek damages that will be paid to the person’s spouse or other dependents. These damages may include:

• Loss of income - Family members may be compensated for income that the deceased person would have provided to meet the family’s needs. This may not only include the wages that the person would have earned throughout the rest of their expected natural lifetime, but also other employment-related benefits, such as medical insurance or pension benefits.
• Loss of companionship - Also known as “loss of consortium,” this refers to the emotional support and services that a person would have provided to their family. This may include work performed on and around a family’s home, education and guidance for children, and a loving relationship with a spouse.
• Medical expenses - Before their death, a person may have received emergency medical treatment, as well as surgery or other types of medical care meant to preserve their life. Family members may be left holding the bill for these treatments, which can cause significant financial difficulties. A wrongful death claim may hold the defendant responsible for all of these costs.
• Burial expenses - Family members may be compensated for all costs related to a person’s funeral and the disposal of their remains.
• Emotional damages - Wrongful death compensation may address the grief, sorrow, and mental anguish experienced by family members due to their loved one’s death. 

Contact Our Arlington Heights Wrongful Death Attorneys

When your loved one has died because someone else acted negligently or irresponsibly, it may seem like no amount of money would be appropriate to address the trauma your family has experienced. However, by pursuing compensation from the person or parties who were responsible, you can address the financial issues that have affected your family, and you can ensure that your loved one will receive some justice for the wrongs that were done to them. To learn how our Schaumburg wrongful death lawyers can help you pursue compensation, call our office at 847-797-8000 to set up a complimentary consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2059&ChapterID=57

https://courts.illinois.gov/CircuitCourt/CivilJuryInstructions/32.00.pdf