A wrongful death action refers to a death that was caused by the fault of another person. For example, deaths caused by drunk driving, the manufacture of a defective or dangerous product, failure to diagnose a fatal disease, or the improper construction of a building, may be considered under the law as wrongful deaths. Family members or beneficiaries of the deceased person generally file wrongful death lawsuits or claims. In some cases, these claims are filed in order to obtain monetary damages to cover the earnings the deceased person would have provided.

Other damages that may be recovered in a wrongful death case include:

1. Loss of that person's companionship, care or protection
2. Expenses associated with the death, such as medical and funeral
3. Lost benefits, such as insurance
4. Loss of inheritance from an untimely death
5. Pain, suffering or mental anguish suffered by the survivor of the deceased person
6. Punitive damages, intended to punish wrongdoers and prevent them from harming others

Most lawyers in Chicago advance all costs in wrongful death cases and seek no attorney fees unless they are able to obtain a recovery on your behalf.

It is vital to select Chicago attorneys known for being extremely well prepared. Each case must be prepared, at every stage of the court case, as if the matter were certain to go to a jury trial. Insurance companies are quite often willing to negotiate reasonably with such lawyers to settle their cases on fair terms when they are aware of an experienced lawyer's preparedness to go to trial.

One should select the best available Chicago lawyers to fight their case. A good lawyer will always do their best to keep you up-to-date and fully informed about how your family's wrongful death claim is progressing and to respond promptly to all of your contacts and calls, regardless of whether your case is filed in the Chicago courts or elsewhere in Illinois.