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When a car accident takes someone you love, nothing feels the same. On top of your grief and the overall disruption to your life, the insurance company starts making lowball offers before you’ve had time to breathe.
You need a fatal car accident lawyer in Chicago who understands what’s at stake. Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. has been standing up for everyday working families since 2002.
Our founding partner worked on the insurance side, so we know their playbook. Our Chicago car accident lawyers have recovered over $100 million for our clients, and we’re ready to fight for your family, too. Choose Charlie.
What is a Fatal Car Accident Case?
A fatal car accident case is a legal claim filed after someone dies in a crash that was someone else’s fault. Fault comes down to negligence, which just means someone wasn’t careful enough and someone died because of it.
These cases fall under wrongful death law. In Illinois, certain family members have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit and seek compensation for what they’ve lost. That includes lost income, companionship, and the future your loved one would have provided.
While no financial recovery can replace your loved one, pursuing a claim can provide accountability and financial security for your family. A Chicago fatal car accident attorney can help you with the insurance companies and all that goes along with a personal injury claim.
What Causes Fatal Car Accidents in Chicago?
Most fatal crashes come down to one thing: someone made a choice that put other people at risk. Common causes include:
- Distracted driving, including texting or phone use behind the wheel
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Reckless driving, like aggressive lane changes or road rage
- Drowsy driving, especially on highways
- Failure to yield
If any of these played a role in your loved one’s accident, you may have a strong wrongful death claim. If you’re not sure whether you qualify, call our Chicago personal injury lawyers. There’s no cost to talk.
What Can a Family Recover?
Fatal car accidents leave families dealing with real financial hardship on top of everything else. A wrongful death claim can help recover:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Medical bills from treatment before your loved one passed
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Loss of companionship and guidance, especially for surviving children or spouses
- Pain and suffering your loved one experienced before they died
Illinois also allows for a survival action (755 ILCS 5/27-6), which covers what your loved one personally went through between the accident and their death, including pain and suffering.
Every case is different. We’ll help you understand what yours may be worth.
Insurance Companies are Not on Your Side
Insurance companies are businesses. Their job is to pay out as little as possible, and they’re very good at it.
After a fatal auto accident, an adjuster may reach out quickly. They may sound sympathetic. But they’re not calling to help you. They’re calling to protect the company.
Here’s what they do:
- Offer a fast, low settlement before you know what your claim is actually worth
- Ask for a recorded statement they can use against you later
- Drag out the process to pressure you into taking less
- Dispute fault or downplay what happened
Our founding partner spent years on the insurance side. We know how adjusters think, how they negotiate, and where they cut corners. That’s not something most law firms can say.
What a Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in Chicago Actually Does
Handling a wrongful death claim while you’re grieving is a lot. We take that off your plate.
Here’s what we do:
- Investigate the accident, pulling police reports, witness statements, traffic footage, and other evidence to build your wrongful death case
- Figure out who’s responsible, including the at-fault driver and any other liable parties
- Deal with the insurance companies directly so you don’t have to
- Calculate the full value of your claim, including future losses that are easy to miss
- Fight for a fair settlement and take the case to trial if that’s what it takes
You focus on your family. We’ll handle the rest.
You Don’t Need Money to Get Started
We work on a contingency fee basis. That means no upfront costs and nothing out of pocket. We only get paid if we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us anything.
Most families dealing with a fatal accident are already stretched thin. You’re covering funeral costs, possibly missing work, and trying to hold everything together at the same time. The last thing you should have to worry about is whether you can afford a lawyer.
That’s exactly why we work this way. Legal help shouldn’t be something only certain people can access. Every family deserves someone in their corner, regardless of what’s in their bank account.
So don’t let cost be the reason you don’t make the call. There’s nothing to lose by talking to us.
Why Families Choose Charlie Therman
We’re not a billboard firm. We’re a smaller practice that takes client service seriously, because we think that’s how people deserve to be treated. When you work with us, you get a team that actually picks up the phone, keeps you in the loop, and treats you like a person. Not a case number.
We bring 75 years of combined experience, a real track record with car and truck accident cases, and something most firms don’t have: a founding partner who spent years working on the insurance side. We know how they operate because we’ve been in the room.
Contact a Chicago Car Accident Attorney About a Fatal Car Crash
If you lost someone in a fatal motor vehicle accident, you have rights. And the clock is ticking. Illinois gives loved ones a limited window of time to file a civil lawsuit, so the sooner you talk to someone, the better. We know the legal system is overwhelming, especially when you’re already carrying emotional trauma and financial burdens on top of your grief.
There’s no pressure and no obligation. If we think you have a valid injury claim, we’ll tell you. If we don’t, we’ll tell you that too. Our car crash attorneys are not here to string anyone along. Call us, reach out through our website, or upload your information through our app. A real person will get back to you.
You’ve already been through enough. Let our personal injury lawyers at Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. carry this part. Choose Charlie.
