As one of the biggest cities in America, Chicago and the surrounding areas see a fair share of deadly accidents. Car accidents are one of the most common, but there are plenty of other situations that can lead to tragic deaths as well, such as unsafe work conditions and even medical malpractice. When these circumstances arise, the emotional toll can be overwhelming. However, there may be legal options to help with the financial toll, primarily a wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful death lawsuits obviously won’t change the fact that a loved one died unexpectedly and needlessly, but these civil lawsuits can help hold a negligent or reckless person responsible, if that person caused the deadly incident. To move forward with such a claim, there are some basic elements that need to be present. First, there was a death. Second, that death was caused by another person’s negligent or reckless conduct. And third, the death resulted in financial loss or impact for the deceased person’s surviving family members.
Going through the steps of proving a wrongful death claim can be challenging for surviving family members. After all, they are mourning the death of a loved one while also facing unexpected financial troubles if the deceased person was one of the primary “breadwinners” in the family. But, pushing forward with a wrongful death claim could result in much-needed financial resources for the surviving family members.
No one expects to deal with the tragic loss of a loved one in an accident. However, when this does happen, the family members may have legal options to consider.