Wrongful Death Attorney in Riverdale

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About Carlson Bier Associates

When facing the devastating reality of a wrongful death, it becomes essential to seek quality legal representation. The attorney group at Carlson Bier provides a compelling choice for those in Riverdale seeking justice and capable advocacy. Our dedication to our clients’ welfare is not just professional but personal as we strive to secure closure and compensation for victims’ families. With years of experience dealing with challenging Illinois state laws, our team commands an impeccable understanding of complex wrongful death cases. Trusting Carlson Bier means partnering with sharp negotiators and tenacious defenders who do not rest until justice is served—the definition thereof surpassing mere financial reparations, extending into reestablishing emotional balance post-tragedy too. Through compassion-driven counsel coupled with unrivaled legal acumen from handling numerous similar mandates over years, our attorneys offer you more than just support; they assure the best possible outcome for your case—a promise that sets us distinctly apart in this line’s arduous journey towards restitution.

About Carlson Bier

Wrongful Death Lawyers in Riverdale Illinois

At Carlson Bier, we are fully committed to providing the residents of Illinois with exceptional legal representation when they need it the most. Our personal injury attorneys have built an impressive track record over the years, helping families seek justice after a tragic accident has led to the loss of a loved one. Dealing with such devastating grief can burden you emotionally and financially, which is why we strive to lighten your load by guiding you through the intricacies inherent in wrongful death cases.

Wrongful death occurs when someone loses their life due to another person’s negligence or intentional act. While nothing could possibly compensation for such a profound loss, legally defining wrongful death helps its aggrieved family members pursue some form of redress against those who are arguably responsible:

• Demonstrable Proof – There must be clear evidence that the defendant’s carelessness or reckless behavior led directly to losing a dear one.

• Monetary Losses – The next-of-kin must establish the financial impact brought about by this unforeseen demise.

• Appointment of Personal Representative – For seeking legal remedy in Illinois courts, there must be an officially appointed executor or administrator for your loved one’s estate.

Understanding these key aspects will empower you during what might seem like an overwhelming litigation process at first glance. At Carlson Bier, we assist clients across Illinois navigate this challenging journey while reassuring them every step along the way.

What sets us apart is how we approach each case; treating it as unique as our clients themselves. We empathize but never forget; real people and real lives are affected— not just statistics mentioned in police reports or insurance claims forms.

Our lawyers diligently work towards obtaining optimal results on behalf of our clients during this difficult time:

• Special Damages Covering Financial Contributions – This refers to contributions made by deceased had they remained alive

• Compensation for Grief & Sorrow – Monetary award intended toward relatives demonstration of mental suffering

Nothing can replace a human life. However, these compensations offer financial support and stability during this time of immense upheaval. It also sends a loud message to the party at fault, reinforcing accountability for their actions.

At Carlson Bier, we take pride in our team’s dedication and expertise. Our years of experience in personal injury law, specifically wrongful death cases, underpin our ability to deliver legal services that cater directly to your specific needs tailored accurately under Illinois’ robust set of laws.

Our firm is deeply committed to ensuring you understand your rights while providing necessary information about potential outcomes each step along the way. We aim to use our comprehensive knowledge of Illinois statutes surrounding wrongful deaths to secure favorable results while amplifying your voice in court.

Going through this process can seem daunting; it doesn’t have be done alone. Obviously there is no way we could comprehend the depth of your grief; but from a legal perspective, let us at least bear some efficient alleviation with right compensations you deserve.

Shouldn’t something as grave as someone else’s negligence causing a loved one’s untimely demise be handled with utmost sincerity? At Carlson Bier, our mission is not only vindicating your agony but embracing fairness towards an equitable outcome for you in return as well.

Your journey towards justice starts here with us – immediate next course? Click on the button below for assessing what could potentially be worth pursuing as rightful compensation for such an irreplaceable loss.

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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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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 Riverdale

Areas of Practice in Riverdale

Bicycle Collisions

Specializing in legal services for clients injured in bicycle accidents due to responsible parties' indifference or perilous conditions.

Burn Damages

Extending expert legal support for individuals of grave burn injuries caused by occurrences or carelessness.

Physician Incompetence

Ensuring experienced legal representation for patients affected by physician malpractice, including surgical errors.

Items Liability

Managing cases involving defective products, providing professional legal assistance to customers affected by faulty goods.

Aged Malpractice

Supporting the rights of aged individuals who have been subjected to abuse in nursing homes environments, ensuring fairness.

Trip and Tumble Injuries

Expert in managing slip and fall accident cases, providing legal representation to victims seeking redress for their suffering.

Neonatal Wounds

Delivering legal aid for loved ones affected by medical carelessness resulting in newborn injuries.

Vehicle Incidents

Collisions: Committed to aiding victims of car accidents gain fair recompense for wounds and losses.

Motorbike Incidents

Focused on providing representation for bikers involved in motorbike accidents, ensuring adequate recompense for harm.

Big Rig Crash

Offering expert legal services for drivers involved in big rig accidents, focusing on securing fair settlement for damages.

Construction Incidents

Engaged in advocating for employees or bystanders injured in construction site accidents due to oversights or recklessness.

Head Harms

Committed to offering expert legal advice for patients suffering from neurological injuries due to accidents.

K9 Assault Wounds

Adept at addressing cases for people who have suffered injuries from puppy bites or wildlife encounters.

Foot-traveler Collisions

Expert in legal advocacy for pedestrians involved in accidents, providing expert advice for recovering compensation.

Undeserved Fatality

Fighting for loved ones affected by a wrongful death, extending empathetic and skilled legal services to ensure justice.

Neural Injury

Specializing in representing persons with spinal cord injuries, offering compassionate legal services to secure redress.

Contact Us Today if you need a Person Injury Lawyer