Each year, countless Illinois residents lose their lives due to the negligence of others, including auto accidents, use of defective products, visiting dangerous premises, and many other ways.

A common question surviving loved ones often have after unfortunate incidents like these occur is, “What relatives can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Illinois?” We’ll provide some additional insight into that below.

If a loved one lost their life in a preventable accident caused by negligence, certain surviving family members (heirs) have the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. A personal representative of the deceased’s estate can represent a spouse or next of kin in holding the negligent party accountable for the fatal accident.

Before you begin the process of filing a wrongful death claim, you may be wondering: How long does a wrongful death lawsuit take? The timeframe for a wrongful death lawsuit is highly contingent upon the unique details of the case. Thus, it may take anywhere from a matter of months to several years. While some cases can be resolved within a year, most cases take longer to get to trial or reach a resolution – typically 2 to 4 years.

On Friday, September 25th, part of Interstate 80 in LaSalle County just west of Ottawa was shut down due to a fiery crash involving six different vehicles. The crash happened just four miles west of Ottawa at 9:24 a.m. According to Illinois State Police and the LaSalle County Coroner, two individuals passed away and several others were injured. The deceased victims– a 47-year-old LaSalle woman and a 43-year-old Joliet man– were in two different vehicles. Three other drivers were injured and brought to local hospitals. One of those driver’s injuries are life-threatening.

Four of the vehicles, including a box truck, an SUV, and a van, were found fully engulfed in flames. Reports say that one of the vehicles was transporting batteries, which exploded when two other vehicles caught fire. Firefighters and paramedics were quick to get to the scene and treat injured victims and extinguish the fires. The State Police say that the collision occurred in an area where traffic was already slowed due to a nearby construction zone.

The loss of a loved one is tragic and one of the most challenging things a family can endure. When the death was the result of someone else’s negligent actions and could have been prevented, the situation can be even more difficult to deal with.  In addition to the grief of losing a loved one, there’s also the potential for a family to suffer financially if they depended on the deceased family member’s income. In the State of Illinois, a death that occurs because of the negligence of another can be the basis for a wrongful death claim. If you or someone you love is in a situation like this, it’s important to understand who can file a wrongful death claim and who is entitled to recover damages. While it’s understandable for a family to have reservations about the legal process, it is sometimes the only means of holding those who wrongfully caused a loved one’s death responsible and securing a comfortable future for those who have been left behind.