Belleville Wrongful Death Lawyer
Losing someone is always painful, but what if someone else caused their suffering and yours? When you’ve lost a family member to another person’s carelessness, get help from a Belleville wrongful death attorney.
When you lose someone, it’s a difficult, overwhelming experience. Whether they were a spouse, parent, or perhaps a child, it can take time to overcome the grief, emotional trauma, and financial burdens that result from the accident. There’s nothing simple about this tragedy, especially when injuries due to negligence are involved.
This may be especially true if their accident was the fault of a careless individual. Whether it was another driver, a doctor, or someone else, these parties didn’t provide your loved one the proper care and respect they deserved, and now you’ve lost them. The responsible parties, including companies and insurance firms, must be held accountable.
When this happens, reach out to a Belleville wrongful death lawyer from Hipskind & McAninch, LLC. Our firm will handle your case throughout the process, helping you and your family receive the compensation you are entitled to under Illinois law. We understand how difficult life can be after such a loss, and we aim to provide the best support possible for our clients.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Wrongful death claims are complex because the injured individual isn’t the one who files the lawsuit. Instead, the survivors of their injury will take on the case on their behalf. Who this includes varies from state to state, so you should focus on what you can expect for your loved one under Illinois law.
First, in Illinois, only one individual can file the wrongful death claim: the personal representative of the estate. This individual should have been named by the deceased in their will, and they’ll be responsible for handling the estate. This responsibility also includes key tasks, like managing expenses, including the burial, so they’ll be in charge of the tasks and the compensation given to the estate.
Usually, the personal representative is a close family member of the deceased. If someone hasn’t been chosen as the personal representative, however, the court will designate someone. Typically, the personal representative is one of the following:
- The spouse of the deceased
- Their adult child
- The parents, if the deceased is a minor
Compensation for Wrongful Death
When your family has suffered such a painful loss due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation to recover both financially and emotionally. However, you might be a close family member without being the personal representative, so you might be unsure if you can still seek compensation.
Fortunately, the judge should divide the settlement among the affected family members. For example, your surviving parent might be the personal representative, but that doesn’t bar you as the child from compensation. In these cases, however, the compensation for any estate losses, such as the cost of the funeral or burial, will go to the personal representative.
Damages for the emotional grief you’ve suffered should be awarded to you. These damages often include mental suffering and the loss of companionship of a loved one. Because these damages are intangible, however, it can be tough to say how much they’re worth. Fortunately, an experienced wrongful death lawyer here in Belleville can gather evidence, review your claim, and help you understand the full value of your case.
A Belleville Lawyer Can Help
Seeking a lawyer after the loss of a family member is a difficult decision, especially if it’s not clear right away that the accident was another party’s fault. As such, you and your family might hesitate to seek the compensation you deserve.
Fighting back for your family is important, though, and others may be involved in your recovery. You’re stuck dealing with the emotional loss, the grief their actions caused, and the financial impact, and they should be held accountable. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do that alone.
Instead, you’ll need the help of a local attorney in Belleville. Because wrongful death claims can be complex, and you only have a few years to file your claim, you must act quickly. Our firm will help you navigate the process, handle the complexities, and ensure you are entitled to the compensation you deserve. We work on behalf of families who have suffered due to the negligence of others and will be with you throughout the trial or settlement process.
Get Help from a Belleville Wrongful Death Attorney
Losing someone is a difficult experience, and when it happens, you want answers as soon as possible. If it seems that another person or company was negligent and responsible for your family member’s death, you’ll need help getting those answers.
That’s what our lawyers are here for. At Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, we understand that losing a family member is tough, and you want to see justice served for them. By starting with a free consultation, you and your family can begin on the path to receiving the peace of mind and compensation you need.
If you’re not certain you have a wrongful death claim, or if you have questions about your claim, reach out for your free consultation. We’ll discuss your case, determine who your family’s personal representative is, and get you on track to the compensation you deserve. If you’re ready to begin, contact a Belleville wrongful death lawyer by calling 618-641-9189 or by filling out the following online form today.