View Chicago Google Reviews 
When a loved one dies because of a workplace accident, no amount of money can undo that loss. But your family still deserves justice and financial support to help you move forward.
The Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers at Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., have been fighting for working families since 2002, recovering over $100 million along the way.
Our fatal work injury lawyer in Chicago team brings 75 years of combined experience and a unique edge: our founding partner spent years on the insurance side, so we know exactly how insurers think and how to hold them accountable. Let us help you today.
What Is a Workplace Fatality?
A workplace fatality happens when a worker dies as a result of a work accident: an injury, illness, or unsafe condition that occurred on the job. These deaths leave families without answers and often without a clear path forward.
Some of the most common causes of fatal workplace injuries include:
- Falling objects striking workers below
- Construction accidents involving heavy equipment or unstable structures
- Scaffold accidents and falls from height
- Crane accidents and equipment accidents
- Electrocution injuries from exposed wiring or unsafe job sites
- Chemical burns and chemical poisoning from hazardous materials
- Slip and falls on dangerous surfaces
These tragedies happen across many industries, but workers in the construction industry face some of the highest risks. If your loved one was killed on a job site, you have legal options, and a Chicago personal injury lawyer can help.
What Benefits Can My Family Receive?
Understanding what you may be entitled to is one of the first steps in the legal process. Illinois law provides several forms of financial support for families who lose a loved one to a workplace fatality. Examples include:
- Death benefits are payments made to surviving family members through the workers’ compensation system. These can help replace the income your family depended on.
- Funeral and burial expenses are also typically covered under a workers’ compensation claim in Illinois, helping to ease an immediate financial burden during an already painful time.
- Lost wages are the income your loved one would have earned. A portion can be recovered as part of your claim for up to 25 years’ worth of lost wages in some situations. This is especially important for families who rely on that paycheck to cover rent, groceries, and everyday expenses.
- Medical expenses or medical bills incurred before your loved one passed may also be recoverable.
A fatal work injury attorney in Chicago can walk you through exactly what your family qualifies for based on your specific situation.
Workers’ Compensation vs. a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Many families don’t realize there may be more than one path to justice after a fatal work injury. The two most common are a workers’ compensation claim and a wrongful death lawsuit, and in some cases, both may apply.
Workers’ compensation benefits are available regardless of who was at fault. If your loved one was covered by workers’ comp, their employer’s insurance is required to provide death benefits and cover certain expenses. You don’t have to prove negligence to receive these benefits.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A wrongful death lawsuit is different. It’s a personal injury claim filed against a party whose negligence caused the death. This could be a property owner, a contractor, or another third party.
These are sometimes called third-party claims. They can result in additional compensation beyond what workers’ comp provides, including damages for pain and suffering and loss of companionship.
Our Chicago fatal work accident attorneys will review your case and help you understand which options are available to your family.
Third-Party Claims: When Someone Else Is Responsible
Workers’ compensation covers most on-the-job injuries, but it doesn’t always tell the whole story. In many fatal workplace accidents, a third party shares responsibility for what happened.
For example, if a crane accident was caused by a defective piece of equipment, the company that maintained or operated that equipment may be liable. If a construction site accident happened because a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, they may be held accountable through a personal injury claim.
Third-party claims allow families to pursue compensation outside of the Illinois workers’ compensation system. This can mean recovering damages that workers’ comp simply doesn’t cover, including survivor benefits and compensation for the full impact of your loss.
Our team knows how to investigate these cases thoroughly and identify every party that may be responsible.
How Insurance Companies Handle These Cases
Insurance companies are not on your side. Their job is to protect their bottom line, and that often means minimizing what they pay your family.
Because our founding partner spent years working on the insurance side, we understand exactly how these companies operate. We know the tactics they use to delay, reduce, or deny workers’ compensation benefits and personal injury claims. And we know how to push back.
When you work with us, you have a team that has seen the process from both sides. That experience gives us a real advantage when it comes to negotiating on your behalf.
You Don’t Need to Pay Anything Upfront
Many families worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer, especially when they’re already dealing with lost income and mounting medical expenses. Here’s what you should know: we work on contingency.
That means you pay nothing unless we win your case. No upfront fees. No hourly charges. We only get paid when you do.
You can also upload forms and communicate with our team directly through our app or website, making it easier to stay informed and connected throughout your case no matter how busy life gets.
Contact a Fatal Work Injury Lawyer in Chicago for a Free Consultation
The team at Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. is ready to listen, answer your questions, and help your family take the next step.
We’ve spent over two decades fighting for working people across Chicago, people who work hard, play by the rules, and deserve real support when something goes wrong. Our workers’ compensation attorneys and personal injury attorneys bring 75 years of combined experience to every case we take.
If you need help or your workers’ comp claim has been denied, we can help. There’s no cost to speak with us, and no obligation. Reach out today because your family deserves someone in your corner who will go to bat for you.
Choose Charlie.
