michelle stump
15 days ago
Working with Ed and Amber has been a true pleasure. They handled my claim efficiently and professionally, ensuring the process moved smoothly from start to finish. Their responsiveness, expertise, and effectiveness in working with the insurance carrier contributed greatly to a successful resolution. I sincerely appreciate their efforts, dedication, and guidance throughout the matter, and I am grateful for the outstanding service they provided.
Johanna Bukowski
2 months ago
Ed and Maggie have both been a pleasure to work with! They keep you up to date on your case, clearly explain the process and next steps along the way, respond quickly to any questions and always offer different options to discuss details (email, phone, text, Zoom, etc.). What I appreciate more than anything, is their genuine compassion and concern for you as a person. They both demonstrate true empathy for what is most likely one of the most unexpected and traumatic events in a person’s life and do everything they can to ensure justice is served. I highly recommend Collins Law!
Jeff Matticks
3 months ago
I became aware of Collins Law Group after I was involved in a motorcycle, several years ago. Since that time I have reached out to Ed Manzke, at Collins Law Group, for assistance in a couple of other areas. In each instance, I have found Ed and his team to be very helpful with great communication, keeping me informed every step along the way. Everyone who I have interacted with, at Collins Law Group, demonstrated that they are interested in building relationships so that you know who you can turn to for any of your legal needs.
Ella Folson
3 months ago
Chris and John were attentive and thorough to my needs throughout my entire case. I appreciate the all the time and effort they took. I will be recommending their services going forward to family and friends! Thank you so much for all your help!
J. Savv
3 months ago
Ed Manzke was very patient and kind with helping me and my sister with our mom’s case. He often took the time out his day to explain everything to ensure we understood what was going on. The law firm itself is organized making our whole process run smoothly. I appreciate Ed and his team.
Unique Morris
3 months ago
Ed Manzke was very informative, clear and honest when it came to my mother and father’s case. He took his time with all of my questions and concerns, making sure that no questions went unanswered and that there was no room for confusion with our case. I’m forever grateful for Ed and everyone at the law firm.
Nick Erlenbaugh
3 months ago
Collins Law was recommended to me after I was involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Amber Blevins was exceptional to work with. She is a total pro at what she does and made the process as easy as she could for me. Ed ensured I received the best outcome possible and exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who might be shopping around for an attorney!
Dwayne Kurfirst
4 months ago
I want to take a moment to recognize John at Collins Law for the incredible work he did in helping my mom secure her settlement. It wasn’t a quick or easy process—it took time, patience, and persistence—but John stayed committed every step of the way. What stood out most was his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for getting the best possible outcome. He kept us informed, navigated the complexities with confidence, and ultimately delivered results that truly made a difference for our family. If you’re looking for someone who will put in the work, stand by you through a long process, and follow through, I highly recommend John and the team at Collins Law.
Helen Montague
5 months ago
We are fortunate to have had the chance to work with John Risvold as he represented my brother in his case. Professional, personable and authentic in his manner, John kept us informed throughout the long process, and was always available to respond to my many questions. Having never been involved with a law suit, I really appreciated John's patience (especially since I am 1,000 miles away) and his genuine care for my brother's well being. We are forever grateful, John. Thank you.
Matthew Malone
6 months ago
I had an excellent experience being represented by Collins Law Firm. Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins were amazing to work with and truly helped me in my time of need. Both were extremely personable and knowledgeable throughout every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend them for anyone’s legal needs.
Ronnie Sanchez
6 months ago
I had an excellent experience with The Collins Law firm. Amber was extremely helpful, kind, and friendly throughout the entire process. She took the time to explain everything clearly whenever I didn’t understand something, which meant a lot to me. I truly felt supported and informed. I will absolutely seek Collin’s help again if I ever need legal assistance in the future. Thank you again :)
Maddie Scheele
6 months ago
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins. They are truly the best of the best. The efficiency and professionalism throughout the entire process of my case has been unmatched. What I really want to point out, though, is the empathy and compassion both Amber and Ed hold. That was the true difference maker. I knew they both prioritized my well-being and made that their number one priority. They represented me to their highest capabilities through every step of my case, and I cannot thank them and Collins Law Firm enough.
Leticia Pink
7 months ago
Ms. Maggie Galka is an experienced environmental (radon) attorney who prioritizes her clients' health and safety in her legal practice. She maintains thorough records and offers strategic advice while working with government agencies. Ms. Galka demonstrates key values such as integrity, expertise, respect, empathy, and compassion essential for positive outcomes. Her professionalism, follow-up and communication skills are excellent. Ms. Galka's guidance extends beyond legal issues, and the Collins Law Firm advocates strongly and effectively for clients. We sincerely thank Collins Law Firm, and in particular Ms. Galka, for helping our family reach a successful outcome and for their meaningful impact on our community. I strongly recommend Ms. Galka and Collins Law Firm as an outstanding legal firm.
Megan
7 months ago
I can’t say enough good things about John Risvold at The Collins Law Firm. From start to finish, John was professional, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. His dedication, attention to detail, and genuine care made a stressful situation much easier to handle. John’s expertise and clear communication built a lot of trust, and I’m very grateful for his hard work. I would highly recommend John Risvold to anyone looking for a reliable and skilled attorney.
David Bretti
7 months ago
(Translated by Google) They are very responsible in what they do, they were able to resolve my case quickly and efficiently, I especially recommend Mr. Chris for always being in contact and being honest throughout the process 👏🏻 (Original) Son muy responsables en lo que hacen, pudieron resolver mi caso de forma rápida y eficaz, recomendando, especialmente el Se Chris por siempre estar en contacto y ser sincero en todo el proceso 👏🏻
Jas R.
7 months ago
Amber was very thorough, informative, and made this process very easy for me, which I greatly appreciated considering all the events that led up to this point. Justice isn’t always served, but working with Collin’s Law Firm really me feel that my injuries were tangibly worth something, and that to some degree, justice was served. Would highly recommend this law firm to anyone seeking out a personal injury firm/attorney.
Amy Ressen
9 months ago
I wana say a huge thank you to the Collin’s Law firm and Chris Gauthier for helping me with my Complicated case. They helped me put my life back together after a horrible incident that I didn’t think I could over come. Chris was always good about communicating and he made sure I got what I deserved! I highly recommend this law firm they were so kind and reassuring that things would work out. Thank you again for all the hard work and being there to help me through the process when I didn’t know where to turn to for help! Thanks again Chris and The Collin’s Law firm!
Lauren Dryanski
9 months ago
I had an exceptional experience with Collins Law Firm . A special thank you to Chris, my lawyer, and Patti, the legal assistant. They helped me navigate my car accident proceedings from start to finish, and I always felt like I was in great hands. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and explained everything in a way I could understand. He always made sure I felt informed and supported, especially when it came to legal details I wouldn’t normally know. Patti was also wonderful—very helpful, communicative, and always made sure I had everything I needed throughout the process. I never once doubted this team. They made everything easy and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of legal support!
Will Brooks
10 months ago
John brings impressive expertise and heartfelt dedication to every matter he handles. His thoughtful approach and clear communication make it easy to trust his advice, and it’s evident he is committed to fighting for what’s right with both professionalism and empathy. John’s balance of insightful expertise and warm, personal attention truly sets him apart.
Icela Hernandez
11 months ago
If ever needed. I will gladly go to the Collins law firm again. They were always quick to respond any questions. Happy to say case is closed and all went well .
Compassionate Wrongful Death Attorneys in Illinois
Get a free, no-obligation case review. We're available 24/7 and you pay nothing unless we win.
When a loved one’s life is tragically cut short due to an individual or institution’s negligence, family members are left reeling. They need to grieve and the last thing they want to think about is a lawsuit. At Collins Law Group, we understand that the recovery of damages can never compensate for the pain of losing a family member too soon. However, a lawsuit may help your family recover financially from your devastating loss and may prevent future tragedies form occurring. If you are looking for the right law firm to represent your family after the death of a loved one, then you have come to the right place. Our compassionate Illinois wrongful death attorneys can support your family through this tragedy and bring you some peace of mind for the future.
What Does Wrongful Death Mean?
What Should I do if I Think I Have a Wrongful Death Case?
What Kinds of Cases do Our Wrongful Death Attorneys Handle?
Who can Sue for Wrongful Death in Illinois?
What Must I Prove in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
How Much Time do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Who can I Sue in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
What Damages can I Recover in a Wrongful Death Claim in Illinois?
Does Illinois Have Caps on Damages in Wrongful Death Cases?
What if My Loved one was Partially Responsible?
Why Should I Hire Collins Law Group?
How Expensive Will This be and How Long Will it Take?
Wrongful death is a legal term that refers to a death caused by the fault of another person. A wrongful death lawsuit is one that is brought by a family member because a loved one has died as a result of the negligent behavior or unintentional act of another person. Common causes of wrongful death might be a car accident, medical malpractice, or nursing home negligence. Illinois has laws that allow a victim’s family or estate to recover compensation when a wrongful death occurs. Those laws are:
These are separate claims, but may be pursued at the same time depending on the circumstances of the case.
If you believe that your loved one’s death may have been caused by another person’s negligence, you need to contact an experienced wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. In many wrongful death cases, crucial evidence can be lost if not quickly preserved. At Collins Law Group, we recognize this important issue and are ready to quickly mobilize to preserve evidence. We know how to thoroughly investigate all the factors that led to the fatal accident that took your family member from you. We will review any police reports that are available, consult with experts, and interview witnesses and other victims. We will leave no stone unturned in trying to recover compensation on your behalf.
Our experienced wrongful death attorneys help grieving families with a wide variety of wrongful death cases. Some examples of these include:
Medical malpractice wrongful death cases due to:
Nursing home wrongful death cases, caused by:
Pharmaceutical wrongful death cases, due to:
Motor vehicle accident wrongful death cases, including:
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can be intimidating for many people going through the process for the first time. You can take comfort in the fact that we are trial attorneys who have recovered millions in compensation for our clients, and who have the skills, knowledge and resources to go toe-to toe with the people and corporations responsible for your loss.
A wrongful death lawsuit must be brought by a person who has standing to pursue the case in Illinois. This personal representative for the deceased may be named in the victim’s will, however, if no one is named, a close family member can petition the probate court to be appointed the personal representative. The lawsuit is then brought on behalf of the victim’s next of kin. In most cases, the next of kin includes the deceased person’s immediate family: the surviving spouse, children, siblings or parents (including adoptive parents and adopted children). If no immediate family survives, a lawsuit may be brought on behalf of a niece or nephew.
In a wrongful death lawsuit, it is up to the party initiating the case to prove certain things:
Wrongful death lawsuits in Illinois and in most states have time constraints called statute of limitations. If you do not initiate a lawsuit within the time allowed by the statutes, you will be barred from ever recovering compensation. Generally, in Illinois, you must file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years from the date of the incident. There are, however, some exceptions:
Statute of limitations exist to facilitate a swift resolution to cases. By giving plaintiffs a deadline for filing a lawsuit, the state compels them to pursue their case within a reasonable time frame. This helps ensure that valuable evidence does not get lost over time. It is very important that you consult a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney about the relevant statute of limitations in your case-- and the sooner the better-- if you believe that you have a wrongful death claim.
In Illinois, next of kin may sue the individual or the company responsible for the death of their loved one. If a city, state, or county agency is responsible for the death, there are special rules, so you should contact an experienced wrongful death attorney who understands these particular cases. Examples of responsible parties in a wrongful death lawsuit could include:
The damages that you may recover when a loved on dies depend on whether you file a claim under the Wrongful Death Act or the Illinois Survival Act.
In wrongful death lawsuits, survivors may recover “just and fair compensation” for their “pecuniary injuries”, according to the law. This compensation relies on several factors:
Generally you can expect to recover damages for:
In a wrongful death claim, the lawsuit is brought on behalf of the surviving family directly, so the damages go to the next of kin and not to the deceased person’s estate. This shields them from claims by creditors.
In a survival lawsuit, however, the lawsuit is brought on behalf of the deceased’s estate, which then recovers the damages when a person passes away. Creditors of the estate then have a claim against the recovery. Damages in survival actions are recovered for the harm that the victim suffered between the time of injury to the time of death. These damages may include:
Finally, when there are multiple surviving family members entitled to recover damages, a judge will determine how much each person shall receive. This amount will depend on the closeness and quality of the relationship between the family member and the deceased.
Unlike many states, Illinois dos not have a cap on the amount of money that surviving family members can recover in a wrongful death lawsuit. Before 2010, Illinois did have a law that limited non-economic damages in Medical Malpractice cases to $500,000 in actions against doctors and $1,000,000 in actions against hospitals. However, in 2010, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that this law was unconstitutional.
As tragic as it sounds, there are times when a loved one’s actions were partially responsible for the accident that led to his or her death. What happens to your wrongful death claim as a result? In Illinois, being partially responsibility for events that cause an accident is called contributory negligence. Contributory negligence does not prevent you from bringing a claim under Illinois law. Wrongful death and survival actions can still be brought if the deceased was partially at fault, however, the damages awarded may be reduced. For example, if your loved one is determined to be 1 -49% at fault, then the damages will be reduced proportionate to that percentage. However, if a jury decides that your loved one was more than 50% responsible, the case may be dismissed.
Living through a situation where a loved one has died tragically is heart wrenchingly difficult. Our compassionate Chicago wrongful death attorneys understand that your primary concern is getting answers. We know the pain you are going through and can guide you through the process of finding out what happened and fighting for justice for your loved one. We will lift the legal burden off your shoulders and allow you to grieve in peace. Our attorneys will reach a resolution to your case and recover compensation so you can move on with your life. We will:
Investigate: Our legal team will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident that caused your loved ones death. We will pull together all the medical records and necessary evidence—including consulting with experts-- to determine who is at fault and should be held accountable. We will also review all available insurance policies that may be accessed to cover your claim. This insurance may include homeowner’s insurance, automobile insurance, malpractice insurance, premises liability insurance or other policies.
Negotiate: The attorneys at our wrongful death law firm have years of experience negotiating with insurance companies and know every tactic they use to reduce settlements. We are tough, aggressive negotiators and will work hard to get you a fair and just settlement so you do not have to go through the rigors of a trial.
Litigate: Sometimes, the other party refuses to negotiate in good faith. In these case it is necessary to go to court. Our knowledgeable, experienced trial attorneys know how to create a compelling case in court -- with state of the art exhibits and expert testimony—that will convince a jury to decide in your favor.
As you can see, it is critical that you retain a good lawyer when choosing a wrongful death attorney. You need a wrongful death law firm with the experience and resources to handle even the most complex wrongful death lawsuit. Collins Law Group has decades of experience handling these kinds of cases and has recovered millions—including an $8.5 million settlement for a fireman killed in a traffic accident in Chicago—in wrongful death settlements and verdicts for families in Illinois.
At Collins Law Group we handle every wrongful death case on a contingency basis. That means that we charge you nothing upfront and do not get paid unless you recover damages. When you recover compensation, we receive a percentage of the total recovery, based on the length of time the case takes and the expenses involved. This is standard among personal injury attorneys, and will be explained before you retain any of our attorneys because we believe in complete transparency.
As far as the time involved in a wrongful death lawsuit, this can be harder to answer. The length of time can vary wildly, depending on the defendant, their attorneys and their insurance company. In a few cases, a quick settlement may be reached in a matter of months. However, it usually takes one to two years—and sometimes up to four years--for a wrongful death lawsuit to resolve. This will depend on the complexity of the case, the length of time needed to investigate and whether the parties settle or go to court. At Collins Law Group we proceed with your case in a timely manner and never park cases on a back burner. However, we also want to be sure everything is done right, and sometimes a quick settlement is not a good settlement. Our attorneys take the time necessary to make sure that you receive a fair settlement for your loss.
Let Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Fight for You
The wrongful death of a family member is an incredibly tragic and painful experience. Making this experience even more difficult is knowing that the death could have been avoided. While monetary compensation cannot make up for the loss in your life, holding the responsible party accountable can give you some peace of mind and let you move on with your life.
At Collins Law Group, our compassionate Chicago wrongful death attorneys fight to get you the compensation that you and your family deserve. Contact us at 630-527-1595 if you are grieving the loss of a loved one because of someone else's negligence. You can schedule a free consultation with an attorney who is committed to helping you get the justice you deserve.
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