Wrongful Death Lawyers in Decatur, IL

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Wrongful Death Lawyers in Decatur, IL

Wrongful death lawyers in Decatur, IL. The sorrow and anguish of losing a loved one because of the negligent, careless behavior of another individual or company in Decatur, IL can only be described as unbearable. At Burger Law, we realize the pain and shock that you and your family are experiencing in Decatur, IL, and we are here to do our utmost to provide some measure of comfort. While no financial sum can bring back your lost loved one, our Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyers can help your family deal with the financial difficulties you may be experiencing, as well as provide some justice. Give us a call immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-cost, confidential, no-obligation case review.

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We know firsthand that wrongful death claims in Decatur, IL are complex. Negligent acts would never happen in a perfect world. But they unfortunately do, and Burger Law is by your side to help fight to make sure the entity or person responsible for your loved one’s death is held responsible to the fullest extent of the law. Our wrongful death lawyers will not settle for anything less than the best possible recovery in Decatur, IL for you and your family, and neither should you.

The Burger Law legal team fights for your rights and demands the best recovery possible in your Decatur, IL wrongful death case. Our knowledgeable and tenacious lawyers have successfully recovered $200 million in settlement and trial results for our clients, including a multi-year legal fight ending in a trial verdict of $113 million. We do not charge any fees unless we win your family’s claim in Decatur, IL.


Burger Law’s Successful Illinois Wrongful Death Claims

Burger Law’s Successful Illinois Wrongful Death Claims

We believe that results matter to our clients at Burger Law. We understand that no dollar amount is going to replace your loved one in Decatur, IL. But you deserve to know that we are investing 100 percent of our efforts and resources toward fighting on behalf of your loved one and the compensation we secure can help lessen the stress of paying for funeral costs and medical bills. Here are some of the wrongful death cases we have successfully taken on:

  • Truck Accident Wrongful Death Claim – In this case, we held the business liable for the actions of their truck driver and were able to win a great settlement for our clients, along with handle the family's probate matters so that their recovery was protected.
  • Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Claim – In this suit, we demonstrated that the doctor/provider did not take our client's symptoms seriously and that they also neglected to perform tests necessary to the symptoms displayed.
  • Nursing Home Negligence Wrongful Death Claim – Sometimes an individual will pass away years after an accident. A complication may come about after the accident that would not have happened had the accident not occurred. Here, we made sure that the nursing home was held entirely responsible for the injuries they caused to our client, and the sickness that led to her death.
  • Wrongful Death due to Fentanyl – In copious amounts, this drug can be fatal. The company failed to tell users that fentanyl patches could introduce possibly fatal levels of the drug into the bloodstream. We were able to prove that the company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, acted negligently, and were able to settle the claim for a substantial, confidential amount.
  • Car Accident Wrongful Death Claim – In this suit, we fought hard for a mother and her three sons to ensure they were given the care and compensation that they deserved and needed following the loss of their father when an emergency vehicle collided with their car.

Our firm has also been involved in several opioid overdose wrongful death claims. The opioid epidemic is ravaging the United States. Medical professionals frequently receive financial kickbacks for prescribing opioids, and thus prescribe the dangerous drugs more regularly. These companies need to be punished for their actions to the fullest extent of the law. Here is a short video on the misrepresentation of opioids:


How Does Illinois Law Define Wrongful Death in Decatur, IL?

How Does Illinois Law Define Wrongful Death in Decatur, IL?

According to 740 Illinois Compiled Statute 180/1, a wrongful death takes place when an individual dies as a result of another’s “wrongful act, neglect or default.” A Decatur, IL wrongful death claim can be brought in any circumstance where the individual could have brought a personal injury claim had he or she lived.

Under 740 ILCS 180/2, wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of the individual’s death. However, if the person died as a result of “violent intentional conduct,” referenced in Molly’s Law, the claim must be brought within five years of the date of the death.

A wrongful death claim may be filed one year after a criminal case is finished if the person who caused the wrongful death was charged with any of the following crimes in relation to the death:

  • First- or second-degree murder
  • Intentional homicide or voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child
  • Involuntary manslaughter or reckless homicide
  • Involuntary manslaughter or reckless homicide of an unborn child
  • Drug-induced homicide
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Decatur, IL?

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Decatur, IL?

A wrongful death suit can only be filed by a personal representative of the deceased, according to the Illinois Wrongful Death Act in Decatur, IL. If the deceased has a accurate will that singles out an executor, then the executor is considered the personal representative. However, if the decedent does not have a will or their will is considered inaccurate, then the court selects an administrator that is normally nominated by an interested party. The process of selecting this administrator is governed by the Illinois Probate Act. While a court may select any individual as administrator, the Probate Act leans toward family members and others in the following order:

  • Surviving spouse
  • Legatees
  • Children
  • Grandchildren
  • Parents
  • Brothers and sisters
  • Nearest kin
What Are My First Steps in a Wrongful Death Claim in Decatur, IL?

What Are My First Steps in a Wrongful Death Claim in Decatur, IL?

The first thing you need to do is, at the very least, have a conversation with a qualified Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyer. You can do that for free by calling Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT or contacting us online for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.

The Burger Law wrongful death lawyers in Decatur, IL recognize that the primary goal of any family that is dealing with the loss of a loved one is to seek justice. We get it. However, it is just as crucial to pursue damages for your substantial losses – financial or otherwise – right now, as you only have one chance to make the person or business who caused the wrongful death of your loved one pay for what they have done. Our talented and tenacious attorneys stand in your corner, working with you throughout these steps of your Decatur, IL wrongful death claim:

Investigation to make your case. This is Rely on your Burger Law wrongful death lawyer in Decatur, IL to deal with all the administrative and other aspects of your case so you can concentrate on the things that matter to you. We have a completely staffed firm of legal professionals who can handle filing the necessary paperwork, communicating with the defense and any other parties involved and other clerical tasks.

Understand the value of your claim. As a knowledgeable attorney who has been handling cases like yours for over 20 years, your Burger Law wrongful death lawyer in Decatur, IL knows how to properly calculate the value of your claim. Without this experience, it is nearly impossible to fully know the financial value of damages like loss of consortium, mental anguish and pain and suffering. One of the most important things your attorney can provide you is to be present for you and your family in Decatur, IL. We realize that this is an incredibly difficult time. You have lost a loved one tragically and suddenly, and now you have to go through the legal procedure of your wrongful death suit. We are here to make things as easy as possible for you in Decatur, IL. The Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyers of Burger Law understand that occasionally what you need from us most is encouragement, a kind word or a hand to hold, and we take our job of representing and counseling mourning families very seriously.

What Are Some Examples of a Wrongful Death Case in Decatur, IL?

What Are Some Examples of a Wrongful Death Case in Decatur, IL?

Burger Law’s wrongful death attorneys have over 20 years of proven experience in wrongful death claims and have assisted many family members in Decatur, IL and throughout Illinois get the compensation they deserve to lessen the pressure and uncertainty they face after their sudden, substantial loss. Our wrongful death lawyers in Decatur, IL have successfully taken on all kinds of cases, such as:

  • Car accidents in Decatur, IL are one of the most common causes of death, and can result either from road issues or driver negligence.
  • Medical malpractice cases near Decatur, IL often have to do with the failure to properly diagnose an issue or misdiagnosis, yet can also involve surgical errors and other problems.
  • Construction site and workplace accident claims near Decatur, IL involve deaths that occur at high-risk jobs, particularly if safety precautions were not properly followed.
  • Product defects that result in the death of a loved one frequently warrant a Decatur, IL wrongful death suit, and can deal with anything from dangerous toys to toxic foods.
  • Truck accidents in Decatur, IL are different from auto accidents in that trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, as much as 20 to 30 times more than a standard car, and cause death with far more frequency.
  • Pedestrian accident suits near Decatur, IL can involve driver negligence, but also sometimes involve problems with roads which are maintained by Decatur, IL or the nearby county.

These are only typical examples of wrongful death cases near Decatur, IL. Give Burger Law a call right away at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online contact form if you have any questions about the substance of your claim. It costs nothing to speak with our top-ranked Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyers for a case review. There is no fee unless we win your case.

How Will a Wrongful Death Lawyer Prove My Claim in Decatur, IL?

How Will a Wrongful Death Lawyer Prove My Claim in Decatur, IL?

You must show that the defendant owed your loved one a duty of care, as the plaintiff in a wrongful death case, as well as proving that their negligence in that duty caused your loved one's death in Decatur, IL. In order to make sure that your family has a legitimate claim, and for the greatest likelihood of being successful in a wrongful death suit and recovering damages in your case, you should talk to a knowledgeable Decatur, IL wrongful death attorney at Burger Law based in Chicago In a medical situation near Decatur, IL, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are supposed to treat their patients as effectively as possible. Consumer product manufacturers owe a duty to release products that have the slightest risks to users, and dangers in using the product throughout the Decatur, IL area.

  • There was a breach of this duty of care.

    The next fact you must establish is that the defendant behaved in a way that violated that responsibility in Decatur, IL, a breach of duty. This is where negligence is found. This occurs when an intoxicated person decides to operate a motor vehicle or when a doctor or other medical professional fails to operate on a patient safely.

  • This breach caused your loved one's death.

    At this point, you must prove fault and causation. Essentially demonstrating that, if the defendant had not done what they did in Decatur, IL, the decedent would almost certainly still be living. Your Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyer will likely consult and gather testimony from experts like professionals in the medical field or coroners who can determine the cause of the death and how certain situations and injuries influence an individual's ability to survive.

  • The defendant's negligence caused damages.

    Finally, to win your Decatur, IL wrongful death suit, you must demonstrate how the defendant's behavior has affected you. A skilled wrongful death lawyer in Decatur, IL will calculate the whole value of your damages and negotiate suitable financial compensation on your behalf. Burger Law's wrongful death lawyers have experience in wrongful death cases like yours in Decatur, IL, and know how to value your damages and negotiate an excellent recovery.

  • Call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

    Learn more about the other kinds of cases we win for our Decatur, IL clients by clicking below.

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    What Damages Can My Decatur, IL Wrongful Death Lawyer Help Recover?

    What Damages Can My Decatur, IL Wrongful Death Lawyer Help Recover?

    Surviving family members can struggle to stay afloat financially, following the death of a loved one near Decatur, IL. Medical bills and funeral costs may be too much and families can struggle to make ends meet in Decatur, IL. Failing to file a wrongful death suit in Decatur, IL, you and your family will be responsible for covering those expenses with your own money. Advantageously, a strong wrongful death case led by a seasoned Decatur, IL wrongful death attorney from Burger Law will have a good likelihood of recovering some of these costs as damages. Under Illinois law, your family can seek a variety of damages, and there are no caps. Damages are classified in Decatur, IL as:

    • Economic: expenses that are measurable dollar amounts, such as treatment costs, medical bills, funeral expenses and loss of income and benefits
    • Non-economic: other non-quantified damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of companionship and mental anguish
    • Survival: damages sustained from the accident yet prior to their death, such as pain and suffering because of their fatal injuries

    To get the complete damages you and your family are entitled to, you must find a knowledgeable and aggressive Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyer from a firm you can trust. The Decatur, IL wrongful death attorneys of Burger Law are committed to fighting for you and your family and bringing you the best possible recovery on the heels of your terrible loss. We will not rest until we have helped you recover any applicable damages in Decatur, IL, including:

    • Loss of income
    • Reduced capacity for future income
    • Loss of benefits
    • Loss of companionship
    • Loss of instruction to children
    • Guidance
    • Counseling
    • Funeral Expenses
    • Burial costs
    • Medical expenses
    • Treatment costs
    • Pain and suffering
    • Mental anguish

    We understand that your loved one's passing is complicated. We want to help you and your family receive the best possible recovery under Illinois law. You and your family deserve to have your concerns and needs met. When you are ready to talk, we can help. Call (314) 500-HURT or contact our Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyers based in Chicago.


    Reach Out To a Burger Law Wrongful Death Lawyer in Decatur, IL

    Receive a Free, Confidential Case Review Today

    Reach Out To a Burger Law Wrongful Death Lawyer in Decatur, IL

    Burger Law understands how overwhelming the loss, and we realize the unknowns and fear associated with your loss. We stand in your corner and fight to preserve the memory of your loved and the future of your family when you hire our Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyer. We never settle for anything less than the best possible recovery, and neither should you. We will help you and your family get the justice, compensation, and recovery you are entitled to in Decatur, IL.

    Give a Burger Law Decatur, IL wrongful death lawyer a call right away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. We do not charge any fees unless we win your family’s suit.

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