Belleville Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing a loved one is always painful, but what if someone else caused their suffering and yours? When you’ve lost a loved one to another person’s carelessness, get help from a Belleville wrongful death attorney.

When you lose a loved one, it’s a difficult, overwhelming experience. Whether they were a spouse, parent, or perhaps a child, it can take time to overcome the grief and pain of an accident. There’s nothing simple about this tragedy.

This may be especially true if their accident was the fault of a careless person. Whether it was another driver or a doctor or someone else, this person didn’t give your loved one the proper care and respect they deserved, and now you’ve lost them.

When this happens, reach out to a Belleville wrongful death lawyer from Hipskind & McAninch, LLC. You’ll need help navigating wrongful death laws so you and your family can get the full compensation you deserve when a loved one has passed away in this way.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Wrongful death claims are complex because the person injured isn’t the one who files. Instead, the survivors of their injury will take on the case. Who this includes varies from state to state, so you’ll need to focus on what you can expect for your loved one.

First, in Illinois, only one person can file their wrongful death claim: the personal representative of the estate. This person should have been named by the deceased in their will, and they’ll be responsible for the estate. This responsibility also includes key tasks, like the burial, so they’ll be responsible for their tasks and the compensation given to the estate.

Usually, the personal representative is a close family member of the deceased. If someone hasn’t been chosen as the personal representative, however, the court will designate someone. Typically, the personal representative is one of the following:

  • The spouse of the deceased
  • Their adult child
  • The parents, if the deceased is a minor

Compensation for Wrongful Death

When your family has suffered such a painful loss, you’ll need compensation to recover both financially and in other ways. However, you might be a close family member without being the personal representative, so you might be unsure if you can still seek compensation.

Fortunately, the judge should split the damages among the affected family members. For example, your surviving parent might be the personal representative, but that doesn’t bar you as the child from compensation. In these cases, however, the compensation for any estate losses, such as the cost of the funeral or burial, will go to the personal representative.

Damages for the grief you’ve suffered should be awarded to you, however. These damages often include grief, mental suffering, and the loss of companionship of a loved one. Because these damages are intangible, however, it can be tough to say how much they’re worth. Fortunately, an experienced wrongful death lawyer here in Belleville can review your claim. They’ll find the full worth of your damages and help you claim them.  

A Belleville Lawyer Can Help

Seeking a lawyer after the loss of a loved one is a difficult decision, especially if it’s not clear right away that the accident was another party’s fault. As such, you and your family might hesitate to seek the compensation you deserve.

Fighting back for your family is important, though, and others may be responsible for your recovery. You’re stuck dealing with the loss and grief their actions caused, and they should be held responsible. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do that alone.

Instead, you’ll need the help of a local attorney in Belleville. Because wrongful death claims can be complex and you’ll only have a few years to file your claim, you’ll need help. Get the professional care you and your family need to receive compensation for your suffering and get justice for your family’s loss.  

Get Help from a Belleville Wrongful Death Attorney

Losing a loved one is a difficult experience, and when it happens, you want answers as soon as possible. If it seems that another person was responsible for your loved one’s death, you’ll need help getting those answers.

That’s what our lawyers are here for. At Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, we know that losing a family member is tough, and you want to see justice served for them. By starting with a free consultation, you and your family can begin on the path to receiving the peace of mind and compensation you need.

If you’re not certain you have a wrongful death claim, or if you have questions about your claim, reach out for your free consultation. We’ll discuss your claim, determine who your family’s personal representative is, and get you on track to your compensation. If you’re ready to begin, contact a Belleville wrongful death lawyer by calling 618-641-9189 or by filling out the following online form.