A wrongful death attorney can help victims’ families recover financial compensation after deaths caused by other people’s negligent acts. There are several forms of compensation available to plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits. However, the process for recovering compensation can be complex.
Wrongful death lawsuits can take months to years to complete. Furthermore, defendants and their insurance companies may employ several tactics to avoid paying the full value of your claim. It is important to have an experienced wrongful death lawyer on your side to protect your interests.
If your family member suffered a wrongful death in Joliet, get help recovering the monetary damages you deserve. Contact our experienced Joliet wrongful death lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
Types of Damages Available to Plaintiffs in Joliet Wrongful Death Lawsuits
There are multiple types of damages available to plaintiffs in Joliet wrongful death lawsuits. The amount of damages awarded can vary greatly from case to case. Our Joliet wrongful death lawyers can help explain which of the following types of damages may be available in your case:
Medical Expenses
First, plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits may recover damages for any medical expenses incurred by their loved one before their death. Damages for medical expenses cover all costs related to the treatment of the deceased person’s injuries. Such damages are typically proven through medical records and bills.
Past Lost Wages
Plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits may also recover damages for past lost wages. For example, a wrongful death victim spent a time in the hospital attempting to recover, their family members may recover damages for lost wages incurred while the victim was away from work.
Lost Future Income
Furthermore, plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits can recover damages for lost future income their deceased family member would have provided. Lost future income can be calculated in various ways. Usually, such damages are calculated using the victim’s prior income, opportunities for advancement in their field, and remaining life expectancy. Expert witness testimony is often used to determine these values. Our Joliet wrongful death lawyers can help plaintiffs gather the necessary evidence to establish damages for lost future income.
Pain and Suffering
Damages for pain and suffering are another type of compensation available to plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits. Such damages serve to compensate victims’ family members for the emotional distress caused by the death of their loved ones.
Accounting for such injuries can be difficult. Accordingly, the assistance of our Joliet wrongful death lawyers can be very helpful when pursuing damages for pain and suffering.
Loss of Companionship
Additionally, victims’ spouses may recover damages for the loss of intimacy and companionship caused by wrongful deaths. Financial compensation can help spouses endure the intense emotional trauma caused by the death of their loved one.
Loss of Familial Services
Lastly, plaintiffs in Joliet wrongful death lawsuits may also recover monetary damages related to the loss of familial services their loved one would have provided. For example, plaintiffs may recover compensation for the cost of child care incurred because their family member is no longer around. Our experienced Joliet wrongful death lawyers can help seek damages related to the loss of familial services.
Elements of a Joliet Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Wrongful death lawsuits can come in many different forms. The legal strategies applied to your case can vary depending on the cause of the accident at issue. However, the following four elements must be satisfied for your wrongful death lawsuit to proceed:
- The defendant owed the victim a duty of care
- The defendant breached their duty of care
- The victim was killed because of the defendant’s breach of duty
- The victim or their family members suffered damages because of the victim’s death
While these elements seem simple at first, applying them to your case can be complicated. Our Joliet wrongful death lawyers can help determine if the aforementioned elements have been established in your case during a free case review.
How Our Joliet Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help
The process for recovering compensation in wrongful death lawsuit can be tiresome and frustrating. Defendants and their insurance companies may use various tactics to avoid paying your claim in a timely manner. Our team can help ease plaintiffs’ stress by offering assistance in the following ways:
Reviewing Your Case
First, our lawyers can help assess the validity of your potential case. Wrongful death claims can be complicated. Victims’ families may have trouble determining if they have a valid cause of action. Accordingly, if you believe your loved one suffered a wrongful death, our team will review your case for free.
Gathering Evidence
In order for your wrongful death lawsuit to succeed, you must prove that your loved one’s death was caused by a defendant’s negligent actions. Various forms of evidence can be used to establish fault for a wrongful death. The following are examples of evidence that may be required to prove your case:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert witness testimony
- Accident reports
- Physical evidence
- Photographic evidence
- Security footage
- Personal recollections
There are many other forms of evidence that may be used to support your case. However, gathering such evidence can be difficult. Our Joliet wrongful death lawyers can help gather the evidence required to win your case.
Negotiation
Furthermore, our lawyers can also help when negotiating for fair compensation. Defendants’ insurers will hire defense lawyers that may attempt to entice low settlement agreements. Our lawyers can fight insurance companies on your behalf, so you may recover the compensation you deserve.
Litigation
Lastly, our Joliet wrongful death lawyers will represent your interests at trial. Having experienced lawyers on your side will be very helpful when presenting your case. Furthermore, our team can pursue appeals or defend against appeals that occur after a verdict.
If Your Loved One Suffered a Wrongful Death in Joliet, Our Lawyers Can Help
If your family member suffered a wrongful death in Joliet, seek assistance from our experienced Joliet wrongful death lawyers by calling the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case review.
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