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Wrongful Death Attorney in Columbia

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Carlson Bier - 14 W Superior St Ste. 1503, Chicago, Il 60654, United States

About Carlson Bier Associates

Suffering a loss due to wrongful death can be traumatic. During such trying times, you need an expert advocate like Carlson Bier by your side. With knowledgeable and compassionate representation in the complex field of Wrongful Death law, Carlson Bier has built a solid reputation in dealing with these sensitive matters effectively. As personal injury lawyers based out of Illinois, their commitment reaches far and wide to support victims and families seeking justice. Decades of impeccable service make them the ideal choice to navigate through the legal process for claiming rightful compensation after unjust fatalities. Their deep understanding ensures that each case is meticulously evaluated for unique circumstances surrounding it before initiating any legal procedure so they can fight tenaciously for your rights while providing empathetic client-oriented services 24/7 during your most challenging moments helping garner just outcomes.

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About Carlson Bier

Wrongful Death Lawyers in Columbia Illinois

At Carlson Bier, our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys fully understands the anguish and grief that accompany wrongful death cases. Experiencing a loss in itself is painful, but when it occurs due to another’s negligence or misconduct, the pain gets compounded. To help you navigate these turbulent waters during such challenging times, we are committed to providing comprehensive legal assistance concentrated on representing your interests assertively in Illinois.

Wrongful death can be defined as one resulting from reckless actions, negligence, irresponsibility, or deliberate behavior of another individual or entity. It applies to various instances where loss of life has occurred unnecessarily. This could involve motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, product defects, workplace accidents among others.

When you partner with us at Carlson Bier for rightful compensation owing to wrongful death claims – we focus on specific vital parameters:

– The responsible party’s negligent behavior: Our attorneys will inevitably prove beyond doubt the offender’s act of carelessness that led to the tragic incident.

– Direct link between negligence and fatality: We ensure absolute proof that the demise was indeed caused by their negligent act.

– Impact on survivors: Be assured that we would efficiently represent how this unwarranted tragedy has affected you emotionally and financially as well.

Even though nothing can adequately compensate for your loss – financial retribution not only ensures justice served but also provides much-needed economic support. Surviving family members usually become entitled to collect damages related to lost wages expected over a lifetime – which could extend beyond regular paycheck amounts including retirement benefits or bonuses; substantial medical expense coverage due to untimely auto accidents or failed medical interventions resulting in wrongful deaths; alongside emotional trauma inflicted upon surviving kin like mental agony along with suffering pain.

At Carlson Bier – we understand that grieving families often encounter drastic shifts not merely at an emotional level but also in terms of lifestyle changes post losing a breadwinner prematurely. Ultimately this battle isn’t principally about money – nonetheless, rightful compensation provides surviving family members with much-needed financial security. We are here to support you every step of the way – aiming at maximum compensation through strategic litigation.

Trust us – we comprehend what this unsettling catastrophe means for your family. Hence our legal counsel intends to buffer such trying times defensively by ensuring that the responsible party is held accountable, thus honoring the innocent departed’s memory adequately.

Navigating wrongful death claims can indeed be overwhelming amidst grappling looming insecurities and imminent grief- That’s where Carlson Bier steps in resolutely as your staunch ally! With us standing by your side firmly, rest assured that empathetic yet aggressive representation in Illinois courts designed towards securing the highest possible recompense would shield your afflicted families to make a fair recovery post enduring this heart-wrenching incident.

Experiencing such an unfathomable personal loss could indeed become a maddening maze of legal complexities when seeking deserving compensation – Carlson Bier is here to stand assertively beside you fighting for justice relentlessly. Being armed with formidable legal knowledge on various intricacies related to wrongful death cases across Illinois, backed by decades-long successful track record guarantees robust representation underlying dedicated ethical services towards achieving optimal resolutions customised around differing client needs.

Remember, you’re not alone in these turbulent times – team up with Carlson Bier for conscientious and effective legal advocacy coupled with compassionate personalized service. It’s about absolute dedication beyond mere victory but rather passionate engagement towards securing justice deserved making tangible differences within affected lives left behind in despair.

Eager now undoubtedly but unsure what’s next? Allow us to help streamline validating claim potentials along saving invaluable time via providing instantaneous case assessments absolutely free of cost. To find out just how much prospective claim worth might turn out actually; click on the button below right away.Watch how we at Carlson Bier tenaciously pursue maximum remunerations duly owed fight tirelessly until justice served rightfully across Illinois!

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Notable Illinois Appellate Wins

Moruzzi v. CCC Servs., Inc., 2020 IL App (2d) 190411, 171 N.E.3d 61
Background: Insured motorist filed action against insurer for declaratory judgment seeking construction of automobile insurance policy issued to insured and that was in effect when insured was injured by an underinsured driver. The Circuit Court, DuPage County, Bonnie M. Wheaton, J., granted the insurer's motions for summary judgment. Insured appealed.Holdings: The Appellate Court, Zenoff, J., held that:1 medical payments reduction clause in automobile insurance policy conflicted with underinsured motorist provisions so as to render reduction clause ambiguous, and thus medical payment benefits were deductible from insured's damages;2 law firm representing insured did not create common fund or common funds when it reached settlement with underinsured motorist, and thus law firm was not entitled to recover fees under common-fund doctrine; and3 collateral estoppel did not bar automobile insurers from litigating whether common-fund doctrine applied in insured motorist's declaratory judgment action.Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
Maier v. CC Servs., Inc., 2019 IL App (3d) 170640, 132 N.E.3d 795
Background: After insured, who was injured in automobile collision with another driver, recovered full liability limits of driver's policy, she filed amended complaint for declaratory judgment against her own automobile insurer, alleging that insurer breached contractual duty to pay for insured's damages in accordance with uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage in insured's policy and that insurer acted in bad faith in denying insured such coverage. The Circuit Court, La Salle County, Troy D. Holland, J., granted the insurer's motion to dismiss claims as time-barred. Insured appealed.The Appellate Court ruled that neither the insurer nor the insured could add amended policy provisions to the court record. It was decided that the policy's requirement for a written arbitration demand applied to both uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. The court found that a letter from the insured's attorney to the insurer wasn't a valid arbitration demand nor a proof of loss to toll the statute of limitations. Finally, the insurer was permitted to use the defense based on the two-year statute of limitations period. The court's decision was affirmed.
Econ. Premier Assurance Co. v. Country Mut. Ins. Co., 2021 IL App (1st) 192364-U
Holding: The circuit court's order that granted defendant's motion for summary judgment and denied plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment was proper where defendant had no duty to indemnify its insured with respect to the underlying complaint and therefore plaintiff was not entitled to recover against defendant on its subrogation or unjust enrichment claims; affirmed.
Country Preferred Ins. Co. v. Westerheide, 2023 IL App (5th) 220343-U
Holding: The court affirmed judgment of the circuit court granting summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff where the defendant failed to make a written demand for arbitration within two years from the date of the accident as required by the underinsured provisions of the defendant's automotive insurance policy.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Olsak, 2022 IL App (1st) 200695, 216 N.E.3d 291
In a complex legal case, an insurer sought to avoid defending or indemnifying a hockey player under a policy issued to the player's stepfather after the player was sued for assaulting his coach. The initial Circuit Court ruling favored the insurer, but the Appellate Court reversed this decision, leading to a protracted legal battle. Ultimately, the Appellate Court determined the insurer was liable only up to the $3 million policy limit and found the insurer's four-year delay in seeking a declaratory judgment to be reasonable. This case highlights important aspects of insurance litigation and policy limit liabilities.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Durkin Elec. Co., Inc., 2022 IL App (1st) 210293-U, appeal denied, 199 N.E.3d 1187 (Ill. 2022)
Holding: The circuit court's order that denied plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment and found that defendant was an additional insured under the policy was proper. The circuit court's order that denied defendant's motion for summary judgment and found that plaintiff did not have a duty to defend or indemnify defendant under the policy was proper; affirmed.
Country Preferred Ins. Co. v. Groen, 2017 IL App (4th) 160028, 69 N.E.3d 911
Background: Uninsured motorist (UM) carrier brought action against insured for declaratory judgment that it owed no benefits since workers' compensation received by insured exceeded policy limits. The Circuit Court, Sangamon County, Chris Perrin, J., entered summary judgment in favor of the carrier. Insured appealed.Holdings: The Appellate Court, Harris, J., held that:1 employer's medical payments entitled carrier to setoff, and2 setoff clauses were enforceable.Affirmed.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Frobish, 2021 IL App (3d) 190473-U
Holding: Allegations in the underlying complaint that a township employee caused property damage by excavating and digging out a ditch failed to impose a duty to defend under township employee's individual farm insurance policy.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Jones, 2018 IL App (1st) 173154-U
Holding: The judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed; plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment on its claim for a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend or indemnify its insured against the underlying complaint because the loss claimed in the underlying complaint is subject to an exclusion. The court held that it would also enter judgment for plaintiff because the underlying complaint does not allege an “occurrence” causing bodily injury within the meaning of the policy.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Schmitt, 2021 IL App (5th) 190173-U
Holding: The appellate court reversed and remanded the judgment of the circuit court where plaintiff had no duty to defend its insured and thus was not stopped from raising policy defenses to coverage for the underlying tort action contained in the amended declaratory action.
Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Livorsi Marine, Inc., 222 Ill. 2d 303, 856 N.E.2d 338 (2006) (the late Keith Carlson)
Liability insurer brought action against insureds for a declaratory judgment based on failure to provide timely notice of lawsuits against them. The Circuit Court, Cook County, Stephen A. Schiller, J., entered judgment for the insurer. Insureds appealed. The Appellate Court, Wolfson, J., 358 Ill.App.3d 880, 295 Ill.Dec. 665, 833 N.E.2d 871, affirmed. Leave to appeal was granted.Holdings: The Supreme Court, Garman, J., held that:1 if the insurer did not receive reasonable notice of an occurrence or a lawsuit, the policyholder may not recover under the policy, regardless of whether the lack of reasonable notice prejudiced the insurer, overruling Rice v. AAA Aerostar, Inc., 294 Ill.App.3d 801, 229 Ill.Dec. 20, 690 N.E.2d 1067, and Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Baur's Opera House, Inc., 296 Ill.App.3d 1011, 230 Ill.Dec. 624, 694 N.E.2d 593, and2 insured did not need to prove that it was prejudiced by delayed notice of lawsuits.Affirmed.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Wrongful Death FAQ​

Wrongful death occurs when a person’s death is caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person.

The following people may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit:

  • The spouse or children of the deceased
  • The parents of the deceased
  • The siblings of the deceased
  • The personal representative of the deceased’s estate

To prove a wrongful death claim in Illinois, the plaintiff must prove the following elements:

  • The defendant owed the deceased a duty of care.
  • The defendant breached that duty of care.
  • The breach of duty caused the death of the deceased.
  • The plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the death of the deceased.

In a wrongful death lawsuit in Illinois, you may be able to recover the following types of damages:

  • Pecuniary damages: These damages are designed to compensate the plaintiff for the financial losses they have suffered as a result of the death of the deceased. This could include lost wages, medical expenses, and funeral expenses.
  • Non-pecuniary damages: These damages are designed to compensate the plaintiff for the non-financial losses they have suffered as a result of the death of the deceased. This could include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of parental guidance.

The statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Illinois is two years. This means that you have two years from the date of the death to file a lawsuit.

If you have any questions about your legal rights or options after a wrongful death, you should contact an experienced wrongful death attorney.

All Attorney Services in Columbia

Areas of Practice in Columbia

Bicycle Crashes

Specializing in legal representation for persons injured in bicycle accidents due to other parties' indifference or risky conditions.

Scald Injuries

Supplying expert legal advice for sufferers of serious burn injuries caused by occurrences or recklessness.

Physician Misconduct

Delivering expert legal services for clients affected by medical malpractice, including medication mistakes.

Products Accountability

Dealing with cases involving defective products, providing adept legal support to customers affected by harmful products.

Senior Abuse

Supporting the rights of nursing home residents who have been subjected to mistreatment in elderly care environments, ensuring protection.

Stumble & Fall Incidents

Adept in addressing slip and fall accident cases, providing legal representation to clients seeking recovery for their suffering.

Childbirth Injuries

Offering legal assistance for families affected by medical carelessness resulting in newborn injuries.

Automobile Mishaps

Mishaps: Devoted to guiding clients of car accidents gain reasonable recompense for wounds and losses.

Motorcycle Collisions

Dedicated to providing legal assistance for motorcyclists involved in motorcycle accidents, ensuring adequate recompense for harm.

Trucking Collision

Offering professional legal support for persons involved in truck accidents, focusing on securing fair claims for damages.

Construction Crashes

Focused on supporting staff or bystanders injured in construction site accidents due to safety violations or misconduct.

Brain Traumas

Specializing in delivering professional legal assistance for persons suffering from neurological injuries due to misconduct.

Dog Bite Damages

Skilled in dealing with cases for clients who have suffered injuries from K9 assaults or wildlife encounters.

Cross-walker Accidents

Dedicated to legal support for pedestrians involved in accidents, providing professional services for recovering claims.

Unwarranted Death

Fighting for loved ones affected by a wrongful death, providing compassionate and adept legal representation to ensure justice.

Spine Injury

Focused on representing victims with spine impairments, offering professional legal services to secure justice.

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