Wrongful Death Lawyers in Rockford, IL

Wrongful death lawyers in Rockford, IL. The heartbreak and anguish of losing a loved one due to the reckless, negligent behavior of another individual or company in Rockford, IL should not happen. At Burger Law, we know the pain and shock that you and your family are going through in Rockford, IL, and we are here to do everything in our power to provide some semblance of comfort. While no monetary sum can make up for losing your loved one, our Rockford, IL wrongful death lawyers can help your family address the financial hardships you may be experiencing, as well as provide some justice. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free, confidential, no-obligation case review.

We know firsthand that wrongful death claims in Rockford, IL are complex. In a perfect world, negligent acts would never happen. Yet they unfortunately do, and Burger Law is here to help fight to ensure the business or person responsible for your loved one’s death is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We will never settle for anything short of the best possible recovery in Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL wrongful death claim. Our knowledgeable and aggressive attorneys 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. Unless we win your family’s wrongful death claim in Rockford, IL, we do not charge you any fees.

Burger Law’s Successful Illinois Wrongful Death Claims

At Burger Law, we believe that results matter. We understand that no amount of money is going to ease the death of your loved in Rockford, IL. But you deserve to know that we are giving our all on behalf of your loved one and the compensation we secure can help lessen the stress of paying for medical bills and funeral costs. The following are some of the successful wrongful death cases we have worked:

• Truck Accident Wrongful Death Claim – In this claim, 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 case, we demonstrated that the doctor/provider neglected to perform tests necessary to our client’s symptom and did not take the symptoms seriously.
• Nursing Home Negligence Wrongful Death Claim – Sometimes a person will pass away years following an accident. A difficulty may arise after the accident that would not have happened had the accident not occurred. In this case, we made sure to hold the nursing home entirely responsible for the injuries they caused to our client, and the sickness that led to her death.
• Wrongful Death due to Fentanyl – This drug, in large amounts, can be fatal. The company neglected to tell users that fentanyl patches could introduce possibly fatal levels of the drug into the bloodstream. We were able to settle the claim for a substantial, confidential amount, proving that the company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, acted negligently.
• Car Accident Wrongful Death Claim – In this case, we fought hard for a client and her three boys to ensure they received the compensation and care that they deserved and needed after the loss of their father when a first responder vehicle collided with their car.

Our firm has also worked a number of opioid overdose wrongful death claims. The opioid epidemic is ravaging the United States. Medical professionals frequently get financial kickbacks for prescribing opioids, and therefore prescribe the dangerous drugs more often. These businesses need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law for their actions. Here is a short video on the misrepresentation of opioids:

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

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

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

A wrongful death claim may be brought one year after a criminal suit 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 Rockford, IL?

Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, a wrongful death claim can only be filed by a personal representative of the deceased in Rockford, IL. If the decedent 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 chooses an administrator that is commonly proposed by an interested party. Illinois Probate Act governs the process of selecting this administrator. While a court may appoint any person as administrator, the Probate Act gives preference to 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 Rockford, IL?

The first thing you need to do is, at the very least, have a conversation about the specifics of your claim with an experienced Rockford, IL wrongful death lawyer. You can do that for free right now at (314) 500-HURT or contacting us online for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

The Burger Law wrongful death lawyers in Rockford, IL understand that the primary goal of any family that loses a loved one is to seek justice. We get it. However, it is just as critical to seek damages for your substantial losses – financial or otherwise – right now, as you only have one opportunity to make the person or company who ended your loved one’s life pay for what they have done. Our talented and tenacious lawyers work with you throughout the following parts of your Rockford, IL wrongful death claim:

Investigation to make your case. This is Allow your Burger Law wrongful death lawyer in Rockford, IL to handle all the administrative and other aspects of your case so you can focus on the things that mean the most to you and your family. We have a fully staffed firm of legal professionals who can handle filing the necessary paperwork, speaking with the defense and any other parties involved and any other clerical tasks.

Understand the value of your claim. As a knowledgeable lawyer who has been handling cases like yours for more than two decades, your Burger Law wrongful death lawyer in Rockford, IL understands how to properly calculate the value of your suit. Without this know-how, it is next to impossible to understand the financial value of damages like loss of consortium, mental anguish and pain and suffering. Even when it comes to economic damages like medical bills and loss of income and benefits, your aggressive wrongful death attorney will make sure that every dollar is accounted for and that you and your family are pursuing what your case is truly worth in Rockford, IL. This also includes negotiating a settlement with the defense and taking your case to trial in front of a jury of your peers, if needed. The trial and litigation experience of your Rockford, IL wrongful death lawyer greatly increases your chances of winning your wrongful death case.

Offer guidance and support. {Being present and available in Rockford, IL is one of the most important your attorney can do for you. We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time. You have lost someone you love suddenly and tragically, and now you have to deal with the legal process of your wrongful death suit. We are here to make things as easy as possible for you. The Rockford, IL wrongful death attorneys of Burger Law understand that occasionally what you need most from us is nothing more than 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 Rockford, IL?

Burger Law’s wrongful death lawyers have more than 20 years of proven experience in wrongful death lawsuits and have helped countless family members in Rockford, IL and throughout Illinois get the compensation they deserve to alleviate the uncertainty and pressure they face in the aftermath of their sudden, substantial loss. Our wrongful death attorneys in Rockford, IL have successfully taken on all types of cases, including:

• Car accidents in Rockford, IL are one of the most common causes of death, and can result either from driver negligence or road problems.
• Medical malpractice cases near Rockford, IL often involve the failure to properly diagnose an issue or misdiagnosis, but can also involve surgical errors and other problems.
• Construction site and workplace accident suits near Rockford, IL involve deaths that occur at high-risk jobs, especially if safety precautions were not properly observed and followed.
• Product defects that cause the death of a loved one frequently warrant a Rockford, IL wrongful death suit, and can involve anything from dangerous toys to toxic foods.
• Truck accidents in Rockford, 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 vehicle, and cause death with more frequency.
• Pedestrian accident suits near Rockford, IL can involve driver negligence, but also sometimes deal with problems with roadways which are maintained by Rockford, IL or the nearby county.

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

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

You must demonstrate 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 Rockford, IL. In order to make sure that you and your family have a legitimate claim, and for the best likelihood of winning a wrongful death suit and recovering damages for your claim, you need to talk to a knowledgeable Rockford, IL wrongful death attorney at Burger Law based in Chicago right away.

In proving your Rockford, IL wrongful death case, you must show the following facts are true:

• The decedent was owed a duty of care.

  This means the defendant owed a specific duty to the victim. In a Rockford, IL auto crash, it is automatically accepted that drivers owe their fellow road users a duty to drive safely and do their best to keep other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safe. {Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are supposed to treat their patients as effectively as possible in all Rockford, IL medical situations. Consumer product manufacturers are supposed to build and release products that have the slightest risks to users, and dangers in using the product throughout the Rockford, IL area.

• There was a breach of this duty of care.

  The next aspect you must establish is that the defendant acted in a way that violated that responsibility in Rockford, IL, a breach of duty. This is where negligence comes in. This takes place when an intoxicated person makes the decision to operate a motor vehicle or when a doctor fails to operate on a patient safely.

• This breach caused the death of your loved one.

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

• The defendant's negligence caused damages.

  Lastly, to win your Rockford, IL wrongful death case, you must demonstrate how the defendant's behavior has affected you. A skilled wrongful death lawyer in Rockford, IL will figure the whole value of your damages and negotiate suitable financial compensation for you and your family. Burger Law's wrongful death lawyers have experience in wrongful death cases like yours in Rockford, IL, and know how to value your damages and negotiate the best possible recovery.

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

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

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

Surviving family members can struggle to stay afloat financially, after the death of a loved one near Rockford, IL. Funeral costs and medical bills may be too much and families can struggle to make ends meet in Rockford, IL. Failing to file a wrongful death claim in Rockford, IL, you and your family will be responsible for covering those expenses with your own money. Advantageously, a strong wrongful death claim headed by an experienced Rockford, IL wrongful death attorney from Burger Law will have a strong chance of recovering some of these costs as damages. Under Illinois law, your family can recover a number of different damages, and there are no damage caps. Damages are categorized in Rockford, IL as:

• Economic: expenses that are measurable dollar amounts, like treatment costs, medical bills, funeral expenses and loss of income and benefits
• Non-economic: other damages that are not quantified, like mental anguish, loss of guidance and loss of companionship
• Survival: damages sustained from the accident yet prior to their death, such as pain and suffering because of their fatal injuries

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

We know that your loved one's death is hard. 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 reach out to our Rockford, IL wrongful death lawyers based in Chicago.

Burger Law knows how overwhelming the sudden loss, and we realize the unknowns and fear associated with your loss. When you hire a Burger Law Rockford, IL wrongful death lawyer, we stand by your side and fight to preserve the memory of your loved one and the future of your family. We refuse to settle for anything less than the best possible recovery, and so should you. We can help you and your family get the justice, compensation, and recovery you are entitled to in Rockford, IL.

Give a Burger Law Rockford, IL wrongful death lawyer a call now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free, confidential case review. Unless we win your family’s claim, we do not charge any fees.