Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyers for Families Facing Sudden Loss

Losing a loved one because someone else was careless or reckless is one of the hardest experiences a family can face. There’s grief, shock, and a thousand unanswered questions—along with sudden practical worries about bills, income, and what comes next. Our Chicago wrongful death lawyers help families across Illinois pursue accountability and financial security after a preventable death, so you don’t have to navigate this alone.

Illinois Wrongful Death – What These Cases Involve

A wrongful death case arises when a person’s life is taken because another individual, business, or institution failed to act with reasonable care or engaged in wrongful conduct. It could be a driver who blew through a red light, a hospital that ignored obvious warning signs, a nursing home that neglected basic care, a contractor that cut safety corners, or a manufacturer that sold a dangerous product.


Legally, these cases are about more than just what happened on the day of the incident. They look at the choices that led up to it, the safety rules that were ignored, and the ripple effects on the people left behind. At the same time, families are trying to process grief, manage practical details, and deal with phone calls from insurers they never wanted to speak to. When you work with a Chicago wrongful death lawyer who understands both the legal and human sides of these cases, you get a team focused on protecting your rights, explaining the process in plain language, and honoring your loved one’s story at every step.

Common Situations Leading to Wrongful Death Claims in Chicago and Across Illinois

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Fatal Vehicle Collisions

Many wrongful death claims stem from crashes involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, or cyclists. Drunk or drug-impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, truck driver fatigue, and failure to follow basic traffic rules all play a role in preventable tragedies on Illinois roads. We investigate police reports, scene evidence, black box data, phone records, and witness statements to understand exactly how the collision happened and who should be held responsible.

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Medical Negligence and Hospital Errors

Hospitals, clinics, and providers are supposed to follow accepted standards of care. When they fail—by misdiagnosing a condition, delaying critical treatment, making surgical errors, mismanaging medications, or ignoring signs of deterioration—the result can be fatal. These cases often involve complex medical records and multiple providers. We work with qualified medical experts to evaluate what should have occurred and how the errors contributed to your loved one’s death.

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Nursing Home Abuse, Neglect, and Long-Term Care Failures

In long-term care facilities, residents are especially vulnerable. Wrongful death claims can arise from untreated infections, severe bedsores, repeated falls, malnutrition, dehydration, medication errors, or physical abuse. Facilities may try to label these tragedies as “natural” or “inevitable,” even when records show clear warning signs and missed opportunities to intervene. We examine staffing levels, policies, charting, and prior incidents to uncover what really happened.

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Construction, Workplace, and Industrial Accidents

Fatal injuries on construction sites, in factories, warehouses, and other workplaces often involve falls from heights, equipment failures, vehicle incidents, electrocutions, fires, or explosions. While workers’ compensation may apply, there are often additional claims against negligent third parties—such as general contractors, subcontractors, property owners, or equipment manufacturers. We analyze contracts, safety programs, and site practices to identify every entity that played a role.

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Dangerous Property Conditions

Property owners and businesses have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. Fatal incidents can result from fires, building or balcony collapses, unsafe stairways, inadequate security that allows violent crime, or unprotected pools and other hazards. These claims focus on what the owner knew or should have known, and whether they took reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.

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Defective and Dangerous Products

Sometimes the source of a wrongful death is not a single person’s mistake, but a product that was defectively designed, improperly manufactured, or sold without adequate warnings—such as vehicles, medical devices, machinery, or consumer goods. These cases may involve nationwide issues and large corporations. We work to identify how the product failed, whether others have reported similar problems, and what role that defect played in your loved one’s death.

What to Expect From Our Wrongful Death Team

From your first conversation with us, we know you are dealing with much more than legal questions. Our initial job is to listen: Who was your loved one? What happened, as far as you know? What have you been told by police, doctors, or others? What worries are keeping you up at night?


Once we understand your priorities, we outline a plan that may include:


  • Gathering police reports, incident reports, medical records, and autopsy reports where applicable
  • Collecting photographs, video, and witness statements related to the incident
  • Working with appropriate experts, such as accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, or safety engineers
  • Identifying every potentially responsible person, company, or institution and their insurers
  • Calculating financial losses, including lost income, benefits, and household contributions
  • Documenting non-economic harm, such as loss of companionship, guidance, and support for family members


We handle communication with insurance adjusters, risk managers, and defense lawyers so you don’t have to relive painful events in conversations designed to protect their interests, not yours. Throughout the case, we explain each step in plain English, talk through decisions like settlement versus trial, and keep you updated so you always know what is happening and why.

Standing Up to Insurers, Corporations, and Defendants in Fatal Cases

Wrongful death claims are often defended aggressively. Insurers and corporate defendants may minimize their role, point to preexisting health problems, argue that your loved one “knew the risks,” or suggest that the death was a tragic but unavoidable event. They may offer early settlements that focus only on immediate bills—not the long-term impact on your family’s financial stability and emotional wellbeing.


At Alberts & Eiler, P.C., we are prepared to push back. Our attorneys bring more than 30 years of combined experience working both for and against insurance companies and have completed over 100 jury trials as a team. That experience matters when you are facing entities that are used to hard-fought litigation and are focused on protecting their bottom line.


Because we intentionally maintain a smaller caseload, we can devote the time your case deserves. That means carefully documenting who your loved one was as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling; how they supported the family financially and emotionally; and what has been taken from you. We work to present not just numbers, but a full picture of a life cut short. When defendants underestimate your loss or refuse to be fair, our readiness to present your case to a jury in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois makes it clear that we are prepared to fight for a meaningful result.

Common Questions About Wrongful Death in Chicago and Across Illinois

  • Who can bring a wrongful death claim?

    Wrongful death laws specify who has the right to bring a claim and how any recovery is distributed among surviving family members. Typically, a representative—often a close family member or the personal representative of the estate—pursues the claim for the benefit of the spouse, children, and sometimes other next of kin. Part of our role is to explain exactly how this works in your situation and ensure that the proper person is appointed to act on behalf of the family.

  • What is the difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action?

    In many cases, there are two related types of claims. A wrongful death claim focuses on the losses suffered by surviving family members—such as loss of financial support, companionship, guidance, and emotional support. A survival action, by contrast, focuses on harms suffered by your loved one between the time of injury and death—such as pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses. These claims are often brought together and can involve somewhat different legal rules. We handle both so that the full scope of harm is addressed.

  • What types of compensation are available in a wrongful death case?

    Depending on the facts, a wrongful death claim may seek compensation for loss of financial support and benefits your loved one would have provided; loss of companionship, guidance, and emotional support; funeral and burial expenses; and other losses allowed by law. In cases involving particularly egregious conduct, there may also be claims for additional categories of damages. Our job is to understand how your loved one contributed to your family in both financial and non-financial ways and build a case that reflects those realities.

  • Do I still have a case if there is a criminal investigation or charges?

    Yes. A criminal case and a civil wrongful death claim are separate. Criminal proceedings focus on punishment and are brought by the government, while a civil case focuses on compensation for the family and is brought by you through your attorney. A civil claim can move forward regardless of whether charges are filed, a plea is negotiated, or a criminal case results in conviction or acquittal. We coordinate with any criminal proceedings as needed but do not have to wait for them to finish to evaluate or pursue your civil rights.

  • Will my family have to go to trial?

    Many wrongful death cases resolve through settlement, especially when liability is clear and the damages are well documented. However, because the stakes are high, some defendants and insurers are unwilling to be fair without the real possibility of trial. Our approach is to prepare from day one as if the case may go to court, while at the same time exploring settlement options that align with your goals. If trial becomes the best path to a just result, we will explain what to expect, help you prepare, and stand with you at each step.

  • How long do we have to bring a wrongful death case in Illinois, and when should we talk to a lawyer?

    There are strict time limits for bringing wrongful death and related claims, and they can vary depending on the type of case and who the defendants are. Waiting too long can limit or even eliminate your ability to pursue a claim. In addition, important evidence—such as scene conditions, vehicle data, video, or internal records—can be lost or destroyed over time. It’s wise to speak with an attorney as soon as you feel ready so deadlines can be identified, evidence preserved, and your options fully explained before any windows close.

  • How do legal fees work in wrongful death cases?

    In most wrongful death matters, we work on a contingency-fee basis. That means you do not pay attorney’s fees unless we obtain compensation through a settlement or verdict. At the beginning of the case, we explain the fee structure, how case expenses are handled, and how any recovery is allocated, so you can make informed decisions without adding financial uncertainty to an already difficult time.

Ready to Talk With a Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyer?

If you have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois, you should not have to face insurers, corporations, or complex legal rules on your own. Our firm combines deep insurance-industry insight, substantial trial experience, and a deliberately compassionate, hands-on approach to wrongful death cases. We offer free, confidential consultations, and you do not pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for your family.