If you are a close loved one of someone who died in an auto accident, you likely have many things on your plate in the days, weeks and months after the tragic incident. You may be dealing with interactions with friends and family. You may be dealing with the deceased’s personal effects and final arrangements. You are doubtlessly dealing with your own emotions. On top of all that, there may the matter of possible legal action based upon the accident. As you deal with the multitude of personal and family issues that require your attention, leave the litigation issues to the legal professionals. Retain knowledgeable Chicago auto accident counsel to be sure that your case gets the legal representation it needs.
Patch.com recently reported on a wrongful death filing submitted in nearby Will County. In that civil court complaint, the estate of a woman fatally injured in a crash just west of Joliet had sued two drivers. The complaint alleged that J.B., an elderly woman, was riding in a minivan that was being driven by E.C., her caretaker. E.C. was traveling west on a city street near an interstate overpass. A.R. was driving his 1999 Mitsubishi eastbound on the same road. As the two vehicles crossed paths, a massive collision occurred.
The lawsuit named both E.C. and A.R. as defendants. The complaint alleged E.C. was negligent in her driving and therefore liable. Specifically, the lawsuit asserted that E.C. had a solid red traffic light in her direction but that, in spite of her red light, she improperly failed to yield the right of way. The lawsuit also named A.R. and asserted that he was negligent.
In pursuing a wrongful death case based upon an auto accident, there are several things that you will need to do to get the positive results you need. It is important to accumulate as much evidence as possible from the crash scene. This may include getting photographs of the damaged vehicles or the roadway area where the impact took place. Your case may additionally require the services of an accident reconstruction expert to aid the jury in understanding how the accident took place. Your case will very likely involve taking depositions of the drivers.
Once you’ve amassed evidence, you must decide whom you should sue. Your case may involve making this decision before you have accumulated all of the evidence you will need at trial, in order to ensure that your filing complies with the statute of limitations. If the fatal crash involved more than one vehicle, your lawsuit may involve more than one defendant. In the crash that killed J.B., E.C. allegedly ran a red light prior to the accident. Nevertheless, that fact does not mean that E.C. was 100% to blame. A.R. may have also been negligent in the manner that he operated his car, which, if proven, would make him also potentially negligent and liable for the damages suffered. Naming multiple defendants can increase your chances of a full and complete recovery of damages.
If a loved one has been killed in an auto accident, getting the right legal advice and representation is vital to your case. The experienced Chicago wrongful death attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca have been providing effective representation for many years and are ready to handle your case. To set up a free case evaluation, contact us at 312-724-5846 or through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Pursuing an Illinois Wrongful Death Case Arising from an Auto Accident, Chicago Injury Attorneys Blog, June 8, 2018
When It Might Be an Appropriate Time to File a Lawsuit Against a Friend or Family Member in Illinois, Chicago Injury Attorneys Blog, April 4, 2018