When truck drivers act irresponsibly behind the wheel or fail to make sure their trucks are roadworthy, they put themselves and others at risk of far worse than injuries. Much more so than standard passenger car drivers, negligent truckers and trucking companies are capable of causing severe and potentially fatal injuries to many people at once, making it unacceptable for truckers or their employers to be irresponsible at work.

Lawyers at The Law Firm for Truck Safety have successfully handled Illinois wrongful deathA legal term referring to a claim against a person who can be held liable for a death. cases. The law that applies in these cases is found at 740 Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) 180. This Statute spells out in detail the requirements for bringing a wrongful death claim, including who can sue.

If you have had a close family member taken from you because a semi-truck driver or trucking company failed to act responsibly, you may have the right to seek civil recovery in your loved one’s name from the people whose misconduct led to their wrongful death. However, this type of claim can be difficult to pursue without an experienced truck accident attorney’s help. If you want to explore your options, contacting an experienced Itasca wrongful death lawyer from the Law Firm for Truck Safety should be among your top priorities.

Rules for Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Wrongful death claims inherently revolve around harm sustained by someone who can no longer act. Therefore, someone else must file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the person who lost their life. Under Illinois state law, the only person with authority to do this is whoever the deceased person nominated as their personal representative in their will. If there is no nomination, a court will nominate someone to fill the role.

The personal representative generally has two years from the date of the deceased person’s death to formally file suit for wrongful death, which they can do exclusively for the benefit of the deceased’s surviving spouse and next of kin. Among other things, an attorney from our Itasca team can help determine exactly who could pursue an unlawful death case and who may be eligible to recover compensation.

What Losses Can You Include in a Wrongful Death Truck Crash Claim?

If you are eligible to receive compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit, you could recover for both economic and non-economic forms of harm experienced because of your family member’s death, including:

• Costs of funeral, burial, and estate administration services
• Lost future financial support and value of inheritance
• Lost instruction and guidance
• Lost love, companionship, society, and help with everyday tasks from a spouse
• Emotional anguish

An Itasca civil court could also impose punitive damagesDamages designed to punish a defendant or set an example (in some states, called exemplary damages). against the defendant(s) at fault for your loved one’s death by negligence, but as our lawyers can explain, this is a rare outcome reserved for situations involving serious misconduct.

Contact Our Itasca Office To Discuss Legal Options with an Unlawful Death Attorney

If trucking companies and truck drivers always acted as lawfully and responsibly as they should, fatal truck wrecks would be rare. However, illegal and irresponsible behaviors occur in the trucking industry. If either kind of misconduct led to you losing a family member, you very likely have the right to seek financial recovery.

No amount of money can compensate for a loved one’s life being unjustly cut short, but an Itasca wrongful death lawyer can help you take a comprehensive approach to the civil recovery process which accounts for your entire family’s financial, psychological, and personal needs. Call us today to schedule a confidential consultation.