Edwardsville Wrongful Death Lawyer

A loved one’s death is never an easy thing to cope with. Emotional distress, funeral expenses, financial stress, and general uncertainty can lead to further pain and worry, especially if your friend or family member died as a result of the negligence or carelessness of another.

If a loved one’s death was due to the negligence or misconduct of another party, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim and seek compensation.

Contact TorHoerman Law, Edwardsville Wrongful Death Lawyers, for a free consultation and advice on the legal process.

You can also use our chatbot below for a free case evaluation to see if you qualify for a lawsuit.

The THL Difference

TorHoerman Law’s dedicated team of personal injury and wrongful death lawyers in Edwardsville offer a free consultation and legal advice as it pertains to your potential case.

The THL Difference, Wrongful Death Edwardsville

Our law firm is built on competence and attention to detail, and our past results speak to quality of our exceptional legal representation.

Consider hiring TorHoerman Law for your wrongful death claim in Edwardsville IL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, in the case of a child, parents can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the individual responsible for the death.

We work on a contingency basis which means you will not pay anything out of pocket or upfront. You will only pay if we win your lawsuit.

A civil action against someone who can be held liable for a death.

Table of Contents

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

Wrongful death lawsuits are any personal injury or negligence lawsuits filed on behalf of an individual who has passed away as a result of another party’s negligence or harmful actions.

We know that a lawsuit will never erase the pain and suffering your family is enduring after a loved one’s passing, but our goal is to alleviate some of the financial burdens and hold the responsible parties liable.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

There are laws in the state of Illinois that limit which parties can file for wrongful death on behalf of the deceased. In order to file, you must meet one or more of the following qualifications:

  • You are an immediate family member or close relative to the deceased.
  • You are a surviving spouse, life partner, or financial dependent of the deceased.
  • You have suffered financial loss or burden as a result of the individual’s death.

Eligibility is not limited to this list, and special circumstances can arise in which others are eligible to take on the role. If you believe there is an extenuating circumstance, contact a wrongful death attorney right away with any questions regarding eligibility.

What Type of Incident is Considered a Wrongful Act?

Wrongful death is considered an incident in which a person’s death results from negligence or misconduct by another person. There is an array of incidents that could trigger a wrongful death suit.

Some of the more common types include:

  • Personal injury – any incident that may fall under the umbrella of an Edwardsville personal injury law claim
  • Car accidents and truck accidents
  • Any other motor vehicle accident, especially if the accident happened as a result of negligent acts
  • Medical malpractice
  • Birth defects
  • Nursing home abuse or neglect
  • Occupational accidents or exposure to hazards in the workplace
  • Criminal behavior such as assault or battery
  • Death during a supervised activity

When Should I File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Illinois has strict guidelines for when a lawsuit can be filed on behalf of your loved one after their death. A case must be filed within the time limit set for the underlying type of case, or within one year of the date of the deceased person’s death.

In simple terms, that means the lawsuit must be filed either within two years of the date of the accident or within one year of the passing of your loved one. You have two years to speak with a lawyer and file the case.

If you fail to contact a lawyer in that time frame, you may lose your right to compensation as a judge may refuse to hear the case because the deadline has passed.

Illinois Laws on Wrongful Death

Illinois has two laws to protect family members affected by a wrongful death:

  • Wrongful Death Act: Under this law, family members of a victim have the right to file a claim and recover financial compensation if the deceased victim could have filed a personal injury lawsuit if they would have survived the incident.
  • Illinois Survival Act: Similar to the Wrongful Death Act, this law states that those in charge of a deceased person’s estate can recover damages that the victim could have reasonably filed for if they survived the incident.

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Edwardsville IL

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Edwardsville IL

Filing a lawsuit can be an intimidating process, but with the help of an experienced wrongful death lawyer, filing and fighting a lawsuit can be made straightforward and less stressful.

A wrongful death attorney from our team will navigate the civil litigation process to gain your financial compensation through legal action and hold the negligent party responsible.

Steps a Lawyer Will Take

If a wrongful death lawsuit is necessary, personal injury lawyers will build your case by:

  • Establishing liability
  • Gathering evidence
  • Assessing damages

These three steps will help build a case to ensure that you have a strong personal injury claim.

Proving Fault or Establishing Liability in a Wrongful Death Suit

In order to have a viable wrongful death case, you must be able to prove the following:

  • A human death did, in fact, occur.
  • The death was caused by the accused’s negligence or intent to do harm.
  • You, the plaintiff, suffered economic loss, strain, or other damages as a result of the death.
  • There was an appointment of a personal representative for the deceased’s estate.

Wrongful death attorneys will be able to determine what parties should be held liable. Whether it was a single person, a group of people, or even a company responsible for the death of a lost loved one, a skilled THL wrongful death lawyer in Edwardsville can help with you and your family’s claim.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence is one of the most important pieces of personal injury claim. Personal injury cases are won and lost based solely on evidence available.

Your attorney will first gather evidence to prove two key components:

  1. How and why the accident or injury occurred
  2. What damages resulted from the accident or injury

You can assist your attorney in gathering and preserving personal injury evidence.

 

Some evidence you can begin to gather after the accident includes:

  • Death certificate
  • Medical records
  • Police reports or autopsy reports
  • Relevant photos and/or videos
  • Contact information for witnesses, parties involved, and responding authorities
  • A written personal account of any relevant incident, in as much detail as possible
  • Financial records showing deceased (pay stubs or tax returns)

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Edwardsville IL gathering evidence If you are unable to collect these materials, Edwardsville injury lawyers will be able to assist in gathering this evidence.

Hiring an Edwardsville IL Wrongful Death Lawyer

Damages in a Wrongful Death Suit

Damages are the total losses, both economic and non-economic, that you incur as a result of an incident. It is difficult to assess damages, especially the full scope of potential future damages, unless you have an understanding of the law.

A victim is often led to believe that their damages are valued considerably lower than they actually are, sometimes due to a past experience with an insurance company or something similar.

An attorney will always factor in all potential damages so that their client does not suffer any current or future monetary losses because of an accident or injury that they did not cause.

Some damages to consider include:

  • Medical expenses or medical debt
  • Funeral costs
  • Loss of the deceased financial contribution to estate-holders
  • Lost wages
  • Emotional damage, pain and suffering
  • Companionship loss
  • Punitive Damages (additional damages to punish the defendant for their negligent or aggravated actions)

There are circumstances in which additional damages could be calculated to determine how much compensation families recover in a lawsuit.

Once you initially discuss your case with a wrongful death lawyer, they will begin working on determining the amount of compensation you could receive.

TorHoerman Law, Top Edwardsville IL Wrongful Death Lawyers

Family members of victims may be hesitant to file wrongful death claims, intimidated by the legal world, court system, choice of personal injury lawyers, and questions of future results.

TorHoerman Law, Top Edwardsville IL Wrongful Death Lawyers

Edwardsville IL wrongful death attorneys from TorHoerman Law can help alleviate these burdens and achieve justice, using the legal system to help you regain financial stability to cover the costs of your medical expenses, financial losses, emotional damages, and other costs.

 

TorHoerman Law has achieved more than $4 billion in verdicts and negotiated settlements for a variety of personal injury law cases. Our past results afford us recognition as some of the best personal injury lawyers in Southern Illinois.

We have some of the best attorneys in the state staffed on our team. A number of our attorneys have been named Top Lawyers in Illinois including Top 100 Lawyers in the state of Illinois; prestigious awards given through nominations by their peers in the industry. Our focus is based solely on competent legal representation, relationship building, and full financial compensation while you and your family recover and cope after your loved one’s passing. Consider contacting TorHoerman Law Edwardsville Wrongful Death Attorneys as you search for legal representation.

THL: Serving and Supporting Edwardsville Families

Our Main Street Edwardsville IL law office is comprised of staff and attorneys that live in the community. We pride ourselves on serving Edwardsville and Southern Illinois residents and giving back to the community through events and donation drives. TorHoerman Law operates on a contingency fee basis.

With working on a contingency basis, our clients do not pay legal service fees until they have been fully compensated for their losses.

If you do not receive compensation, our law firm will foot the bill for all legal costs. Our law firm accepts wrongful death claims in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Granite City, East St. Louis, Alton, East Alton, Wood River, and more across Southern Illinois. wrongful death attorney

THL Practice Areas

THL personal injury attorneys handle dozens of complex cases, helping injured people across the country.

We will provide you with formal legal advice and will fight for fair compensation while you make a full recovery. Reach out to us for a free consultation if you or a loved one have been involved in any of the following:

  • Car accidents or truck accidents
  • Premises liability
  • Workers compensation
  • Medical malpractice
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Product liability
  • Dangerous drugs and medical devices
  • Abuse and Assault

If you do not see your potential case listed above, explore our practice area pages or contact us for more information about any legal issue.

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RESULTS

More Than $4 Billion Awarded in Verdicts & Negotiated Settlements

$2.4
BILLION

ACTOS INJURY LAWSUIT
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$1.5
BILLION

SYNGENTA CORN LAWSUIT
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

$650
MILLION

PRADAXA INJURY LAWSUIT
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$103.8
MILLION

COX-2 INHIBITORS INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$20
MILLION

TOXIC TORT INJURY
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

$16.05
MILLION

ANTIDEPRESSANT INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$14.8
MILLION

ANTY-PSYCHOTIC DRUG INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$12.4
MILLION

BIRTH CONTROL BLOOD CLOT
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$11.9
MILLION

HORMONE REPLACEMENT INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$8
MILLION

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$4.6
MILLION

BLOATING DRUG INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$4
MILLION

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AT DAYCARE
PERSONAL INJURY

$3.4
MILLION

HEART SURGERY DRUG INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$2.9
MILLION

SGLT-2 INHIBITOR INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$2.8
MILLION

DEFECTIVE HEART DEVICE INJURY
MEDICAL DEVICE

$2.6
MILLION

POPCORN LUNG INJURY
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

$1.9
MILLION

TYPE 2 DIABETES DRUG INJURY
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$1.65
MILLION

POWER MORCELLATORS INJURY
MEDICAL DEVICE

$1.5
MILLION

CAR ACCIDENT
PERSONAL INJURY

$900
THOUSAND

DEFECTIVE HIP REPLACEMENT
MEDICAL DEVICE

$800
THOUSAND

DAYCARE INJURY
PERSONAL INJURY

$403
THOUSAND

FLUOROQUINOLONES TENDON RUPTURE
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT

$300
THOUSAND

SLIP AND FALL
PERSONAL INJURY

$200
THOUSAND

DEFECTIVE HIP LAWSUIT
MEDICAL DEVICE

$150
THOUSAND

PHARMACEUTICAL MALPRACTICE INJURY
PERSONAL INJURY

$100
THOUSAND

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
PERSONAL INJURY

$100
THOUSAND

ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SHOULDER INJURY
PERSONAL INJURY

$100
THOUSAND

AUTO ACCIDENT
PERSONAL INJURY

$100
THOUSAND

DOG BITE INJURY
PERSONAL INJURY

$60
THOUSAND

SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENT
PERSONAL INJURY

CLIENT REVIEWS

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Tom Lewis

TorHoerman Law was responsible for handling a medical case for our family. I was extremely impressed with their professionalism and ability to react quickly. They also did a nice job keeping us updated with the case throughout the process. This was the first time experiencing a situation like this and Tor Hoerman law did an excellent job from start to finish.

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Jordan Terry

TorHoerman Law is an extraordinary law firm – a firm that truly makes the client’s best interests the primary concern. Their team of personal injury lawyers are experienced, personable, and well versed in a range of litigation areas. They are supported by a dedicated team of staff that are as equally friendly and helpful. I would recommend TorHoerman Law for any personal injury litigation needs.

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Dave Woodley

All of my questions were answered quickly and in a way I could understand. Steve and the entire staff were friendly and professional.

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Jordan Butler

I highly recommend this law firm! The attorneys and staff at THL worked hard, communicated every step of the process, kept me well informed at all times, and exceeded all expectations! The staff is kind, considerate, professional, and very experienced. Look no further, call now!

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Maddy Moeller

Top-notch, hardworking attorneys!

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Karen Hersman

A wonderful and professional legal team. They helped me when I needed expert legal representation! Thank you TorHoerman Law!

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They contacted me the next day. Very nice people!

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Paul Graegin

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We'll Help You Balance The Scales of Justice

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Dont' waste time, contact our law offices today.

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Disclaimer: The contents of this webpage have been prepared by TorHoerman Law, LLC for informational purposes only. None of this information is intended as either legal or medical advice or opinions. No attorney/client relationship is established with use of this website. Sending or receiving information through this site, posting to our blogs/news site does not establish an attorney/client relationship. An attorney/client relationship with TorHoerman Law is established only by an express and written agreement by TorHoerman Law to represent you. Our attorneys make a case-by-case assessment of any claims and results may vary depending on the facts concerning any case. The attorneys at TorHoerman Law are licensed to practice in Illinois, Missouri, and California. In some circumstances, cases may be sent to other qualified lawyers. In those circumstances, TorHoerman Law maintains joint responsibility.