When Life Is Cut Short, We Fight for What’s Left
Our wrongful death lawyers fight for you. With over $20 million won, we’ve helped hundreds of families throughout Belleville, St. Clair County, and the rest of Southern Illinois navigate the legal process following a tragic loss.
What is a Wrongful Death Claim?
A “wrongful death” occurs when someone dies due to another party’s negligent, reckless, or intentional actions.
- Workplace accidents and construction incidents
- Auto accidents and motorcycle crashes
- Medical malpractice and hospital errors
- Defective products and dangerous medications
- Nursing home neglect and abuse
- Slip and fall accidents on unsafe premises
Different Forms of Compensation for Wrongful Death Cases
- Medical expenses incurred before death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost income and benefits the deceased would have earned
- Loss of companionship, guidance, and support
- Pain and suffering experienced by the deceased before death
- Punitive damages in cases of extreme negligence
Understanding The Wrongful Death Claim Process
While legal action may seem overwhelming during this time of grief, understanding the process can help provide clarity as you seek justice. Here’s how we’ll navigate this difficult path together:
Step 1: Connect with a Wrongful Death Attorney
The first step is connecting with an experienced attorney who understands both the legal complexities and emotional weight of your situation. We bring not only legal expertise but also compassion to every case we handle. Your attorney becomes your guide, protector, and advocate—allowing you to focus on your family while we handle the legal burdens.
With our team, you gain a partner who will explain each step clearly, answer your questions honestly, and fight relentlessly for the justice your loved one deserves.
Step 2: Establish What Happened
Whether your loved one’s death resulted from medical negligence, a car accident, workplace incident, or defective product, we work with expert investigators to gather evidence and reconstruct what happened. This might include reviewing medical records, consulting with specialists, examining accident scenes, or analyzing defective products. Essentially, whatever it takes to establish exactly what happened and who is responsible.
Step 3: Identify All Responsible Parties
- A doctor or medical facility in cases of malpractice
- Drivers, vehicle manufacturers, or maintenance companies in auto accidents
- Product manufacturers, distributors, or retailers in defective product cases
- Property owners in premises liability situations
- Employers in workplace fatalities
Step 4: Build Your Case
Strong cases require solid evidence. We’ll help gather and preserve critical documentation, including:
- Witness statements
- Medical records and death certificates
- Accident reports and photographs
- Expert testimony
- Employment and financial records
- Family records showing relationships and dependencies
Step 5: Negotiating Fair Compensation
With a thorough understanding of your case’s value, we approach the responsible parties and their insurers with a comprehensive demand. We keep you informed throughout negotiations, explaining offers and providing honest recommendations.
Step 6: Taking Your Case to Court (If Needed)
The early stages of litigation include:
- Filing formal complaints with the court
- Engaging in discovery to obtain additional evidence
- Participating in depositions and pre-trial motions
- Presenting your case persuasively before a judge or jury
Even after filing, settlement remains possible. In fact, many cases resolve during litigation once the other side fully understands our preparation and determination.
Whether through settlement or verdict, we remain by your side until your case reaches its conclusion. While no legal outcome can truly compensate for your loss, the financial security and sense of justice obtained can provide crucial support as your family moves forward. Throughout this journey, we handle the legal challenges so you can focus on healing. That’s our commitment to every family we represent.
Why Choose Menges Law Firm for Your Wrongful Death Case?
Compassionate Legal Representation: We understand that this may be the most difficult time in your life. We provide compassionate guidance while handling the legal complexities, allowing you to focus on your family’s emotional healing.
No Fee Unless We Win: You won’t pay anything upfront to work with our wrongful death attorney team. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid when we secure compensation for your family.
Proven Results for Similar Cases: Our teams have secured millions in settlements and verdicts for bereaved families. While each case is unique, our track record demonstrates our commitment to maximizing compensation for our clients.
The Statue of Limitations and What It Means for Your Case
Illinois’ statute of limitations is two years from the date of the incident that caused your injuries. This means you have a two-year window to file a wrongful death suit against the at-fault party. If you fail to file within this two-year period, you will almost certainly lose your right to seek justice and compensation. Courts strictly enforce these deadlines, and defendants will typically request immediate dismissal of any case filed after the statute has expired.
Special Circumstances
- Medical Malpractice Discovery: If your loved one’s death resulted from medical negligence that wasn’t immediately apparent, the two-year period may begin when you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the connection between the medical error and the death.
- Minors: If the deceased left behind minor children, these beneficiaries generally have until two years after their 18th birthday to pursue a claim.
- Legal Disability: If a beneficiary has been declared mentally incompetent, the statute may be paused until their disability is resolved.
- Out-of-State Defendants: If the responsible party leaves Illinois, the clock may temporarily stop until they return to the state.
Government Cases Require Faster Action
When a government entity contributed to your loved one’s death, you face a much tighter deadline. In most states, you must file a formal notice of claim with the State Attorney General within just one year of the death.
Don’t be misled by thinking a two-year window gives you plenty of time. Building a wrongful death case requires evidence gathering, medical record collection, negotiations, and more. To learn more about the statute of limitations and what it means for your case, check out our recent blog post.