What Causes of Death Can Be Claimed as Wrongful Death?

While Chicago IL wrongful death attorneys can help you pursue damages, it’s important to know what makes up a successful claim. In particular, a wrongful death must have been caused through the negligent or willful acts of another person, or business. The types of accidents this involves fall into four main categories.

Traffic Accidents

This can involve car accidents, accidents with commercial drivers, or accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. While the legal team at Trapp & Geller can help you determine the value of a potential claim, this type of accident involves the violation of traffic laws that resulted in an accident fatality.

Workplace Accidents

The family of an individual killed at work as the result of an employer’s negligence is entitled to damages. If the settlement offered by the employer’s insurance company is inadequate, Chicago IL wrongful death attorneys can help you negotiate for a fairer offer.

Medical Malpractice

There are a number of ways that medical malpractice can result in a patient’s death. They may be misdiagnosed, prescribed the wrong medication, or the physician may not advise the patient of the side effects of treatment.

Defective Product

If an individual uses a product as intended by the manufacturer and follows all safety instructions, their resulting death can lead to a wrongful death claim. The claim may be filed against the manufacturer if the product’s design is found to be defective, or the distributor may be liable if the product was damaged prior to its sale.

As this overview demonstrates, a wrongful death claim can be complex and requires the expertise of an attorney. The legal team at Trapp & Geller will help you evaluate the strength and value of your case, so you can pursue a fair settlement. If they can’t negotiate a fair offer on your behalf, they will be ready to help you obtain damages in a lawsuit. Benefiting from their legal skills will put you on equal footing with the insurance company.