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Wrongful Death Attorney in Lake Petersburg

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Jeff Bier – Personal Injury Lawyer At Carlson Bier Associates
Personal Injury Lawyer Orland Park Illinois | Carlson Bier Associates

About Carlson Bier Associates

Facing the aftermath of a wrongful death is heart-wrenching. Amid these overwhelming emotions, you need legal representation that empathizes with your situation – Carlson Bier is there to stand by you. Our firm has become a beacon of hope for families in Lake Petersburg who have had to endure these devastating losses. We build solid cases on principles of integrity and dogged determination, characterized by our unrelenting pursuit for justice in wrongful death cases.

At Carlson Bier, we hold responsible parties accountable through meticulous examination and analysis of each case’s unique complexities. Our team prides itself on its attention to detail and commitment towards achieving maximum compensation for our clients’ suffering.

Choosing us means opting for expertise: years helping clients navigate complex legal landscapes during their toughest times equip us with the necessary knowledge base across different scenarios related to wrongful deaths.

Above all else at Carlson Bier, compassion counts; it underpins every interaction since your wellbeing matters most. As pioneers in this field serving Lake Petersburg area residents, we are deeply committed when handling such sensitive situations requiring both care and competence from start-to-finish.

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About Carlson Bier

Wrongful Death Lawyers in Lake Petersburg Illinois

When a loved one’s life is abruptly and tragically cut short due to another party’s negligence, the emotional toll can be crushing. During such trying times, Carlson Bier, an esteemed law firm in Illinois, stands ready to support you. We specialize in personal injury cases like wrongful deaths and work tirelessly on behalf of our clients to secure justice and rightful compensation.

Wrongful death refers to a litigation scenario where someone dies as a result of another person or entity’s negligent act or failure to act. In these cases, surviving family members act as plaintiffs seeking legal remedies for their loss. Wrongful death claims aim not only at punishment for wrongdoing but also at financial stability for those left behind.

A fundamental characteristic that separates wrongful death lawsuits from other kinds of personal injury claims involves who has the legal right to bring the lawsuit forward. The responsibility falls onto the estate of the deceased person represented typically by an executor appointed by court or named in deceased’s last will.

An array of situations can contribute to a wrongful death case:

• Medical malpractice: If health care professionals neglect their duties causing patient death.

• Car accidents: Due to negligent drivers involved in fatalities.

• Workplace accidents: Where employers don’t provide safe environments resulting in worker fatalities.

• Defective products: Products malfunctioning leading to consumer fatality could be subject to suit.

What qualifies as ‘damages’ in these cases varies significantly; however, here are typical damages pursued:

• Funeral costs

• Loss income expected from deceased

• Lost benefits (e.g., pension plans)

• Pain and suffering experienced by survivors

• Loss companionship/consortium

Navigating through legal channels after losing someone can often feel overwhelming without expert guidance. At Carlson Bier, we demystify this process, helping you understand every stage involved while providing solid representation throughout proceedings.

In Illinois specifically, state laws dictate who can file a wrongful death lawsuit and what compensation is recoverable. While most often, spouses, children, or parents act as direct plaintiffs in these cases, other family members may also qualify dependent on relationships with deceased.

One key provision of the Illinois Wrongful Death Act involves the statute of limitations—or legal time limit—for filing such a case. According to this law, wrongful death lawsuits in Illinois must commence within one year of the date of person’s death. A failure to file within this period may result in forfeiting right to sue for damages forever.

Dedicated lawyers at Carlson Bier are well-versed in intricacies of Illinois laws regarding wrongful deaths. Our commitment is that no stone goes unturned while pursuing justice for your lost loved one where we shoulder all associated legal burdens during your time of grief.

In every interaction with our team, you’ll experience utmost professionalism alongside empathetic understanding—we don’t forget real lives and emotional trauma lie behind every case we handle.

Lawsuits cannot bring back lost loved ones but they can go a long way towards ensuring those left behind live comfortably; alleviating financial stressors typically exacerbated by sudden losses. Obtaining just compensation isn’t just about money—it’s also closure and justice for an unnecessary loss.

The Carlson Bier team understands intricacies involved in establishing liability during a wrongful death case rely largely on demonstrating negligence—proving that negligent party failed duty causing fatality—so we delve deep into available evidence leaving nothing unexplored for serving you better.

Discover how much value your case holds by clicking the button below. Potentially significant compensations might be awaiting warranting further exploration guided by seasoned experts at Carlson Bier. Don’t carry the weight alone—we are here for this journey beside you offering relentless representation striving for justice.

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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 Lake Petersburg

Areas of Practice in Lake Petersburg

Bicycle Accidents

Specializing in legal representation for individuals injured in bicycle accidents due to other parties' lack of care or dangerous conditions.

Thermal Traumas

Extending expert legal services for sufferers of major burn injuries caused by events or misconduct.

Healthcare Misconduct

Extending dedicated legal services for victims affected by clinical malpractice, including negligent care.

Goods Fault

Dealing with cases involving unsafe products, extending adept legal services to clients affected by product-related injuries.

Geriatric Mistreatment

Protecting the rights of the elderly who have been subjected to malpractice in elderly care environments, ensuring restitution.

Slip and Tumble Accidents

Adept in managing slip and fall accident cases, providing legal representation to sufferers seeking restitution for their injuries.

Birth Wounds

Extending legal guidance for relatives affected by medical negligence resulting in birth injuries.

Auto Incidents

Accidents: Dedicated to supporting clients of car accidents get equitable compensation for wounds and impairment.

Motorcycle Collisions

Focused on providing legal advice for individuals involved in bike accidents, ensuring fair compensation for harm.

18-Wheeler Collision

Ensuring professional legal support for persons involved in lorry accidents, focusing on securing fair settlement for losses.

Building Accidents

Dedicated to defending staff or bystanders injured in construction site accidents due to safety violations or carelessness.

Head Injuries

Committed to delivering professional legal services for clients suffering from cerebral injuries due to misconduct.

Canine Attack Injuries

Skilled in dealing with cases for persons who have suffered traumas from canine attacks or animal attacks.

Pedestrian Crashes

Specializing in legal advocacy for joggers involved in accidents, providing comprehensive support for recovering restitution.

Unjust Demise

Advocating for bereaved affected by a wrongful death, delivering empathetic and adept legal guidance to ensure redress.

Spine Damage

Dedicated to assisting individuals with spine impairments, offering specialized legal guidance to secure settlement.

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312-313-2440

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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