When a person dies because of someone else's negligence - a surgeon's preventable error, a commercial truck driver's recklessness, or a corporation cutting safety corners - surviving family members face devastation that no amount of money can undo. But a wrongful death lawsuit can hold the responsible party accountable, secure fair compensation for the losses your family will carry for decades, and ensure the same negligence doesn't claim another life.
CHH Law - Cirignani, Heller & Harman - has served Chicago families in the most difficult wrongful death cases for over 40 years. Our legal team includes a licensed physician and a certified respiratory therapist, both of whom are also attorneys. That means we understand and read medical records, autopsy reports, and clinical documentation the way a clinician would - not just the way a lawyer does. When your wrongful death case involves catastrophic injury, corporate defendants, or medical malpractice, that distinction changes everything.
In medical malpractice wrongful death cases, the central question is whether a provider's deviation from the standard of care caused the person's death. Our physician-attorney reviews those records like a treating doctor - identifying missed diagnoses, medication errors, and surgical failures that generalist attorneys may overlook.
Corporations, hospital systems, and commercial vehicle companies deploy large defense teams with virtually unlimited resources. CHH Law has spent four decades litigating against exactly these opponents in Illinois wrongful death cases.
Many law firm offices refer out wrongful death claims that involve multiple defendants, contested liability, or intricate medical evidence. Those are the cases CHH Law was built to handle.
When a wrongful death occurs due to another's negligent act, the path to accountability depends on the type of negligence, the defendant, and the evidence available. CHH Law concentrates on the wrongful death cases that demand the deepest investigation and the strongest trial preparation.
Hospital errors, surgical mistakes, failure to diagnose, and medication errors account for a significant share of injury deaths in Illinois. Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, when wrongful conduct by a healthcare provider causes a patient's death, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim to recover damages.
These cases require mandatory expert testimony to establish the standard of care, breach, and causation. Our licensed physician reviews every medical record with the same clinical fluency as the specialists involved in the patient's treatment - an advantage that directly strengthens the wrongful death action. In April 2026, a Chicago-area jury returned a $51,015,445 verdict against OSF Healthcare System after failure to test blood glucose led to catastrophic brain injury and death - demonstrating the scale of accountability available in Illinois medical malpractice wrongful death cases.
Who it serves: Families of patients who died due to medical negligence in Chicago-area hospitals, surgical centers, and care facilities.
Motor vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles often result in fatal injuries due to the sheer size and force involved. A head on collision with a loaded semi-truck is frequently unsurvivable. CHH Law investigates fleet safety violations, driver training records, hours-of-service compliance, and corporate policies to establish liability against both drivers and their employers.
Who it serves: Families of victims killed in crashes involving commercial vehicles, trucking companies, and corporate fleets.
Workplace accidents, dangerous products, and unsafe premises owned by businesses and corporations cause preventable deaths every year in Chicago. When a person dies because a corporation failed to maintain safe conditions, the wrongful death claim often involves complex discovery - internal safety audits, maintenance logs, training protocols, and corporate communications. CHH Law's decades of experience litigating against large corporate defendants means we know how to extract the evidence these companies work hardest to protect.
Who it serves: Families facing well-funded corporate defense teams after a loved one's death due to corporate negligence.
Wrongful death cases are among the most complex civil lawsuit matters in Illinois law. For grieving families, understanding what happens next provides clarity during the most difficult period of their lives. A wrongful death lawyer helps families seek justice for their loss while handling every procedural and investigative burden.
Contact CHH Law for an immediate, no-cost consultation. We assess your potential wrongful death claim under Illinois law, identify the responsible party, and explain your legal options. If medical malpractice is involved, our physician-attorney begins reviewing medical records during this phase - not months later.
Our legal team conducts a thorough investigation - they investigate circumstances surrounding the death to build a case. This includes securing medical records, accident reports, corporate safety documents, and witness statements. We engage expert witnesses in medicine, accident reconstruction, or engineering as needed. Illinois wrongful death claims involve complex litigation requiring thorough investigation and expert consultation, and we file your wrongful death lawsuit well within Illinois's strict deadlines.
You must file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of death under the statute of limitations. If suing a government agency, file within one year. Exceptions to the two-year limit may apply in certain cases - particularly in medical malpractice, where a discovery rule may extend the window but a four-year repose period acts as a hard cap. Acting early preserves critical evidence and protects your family's rights.
CHH Law fights for fair and just compensation under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act and the Illinois Survival Act (755 ILCS 5/27-6). We pursue every category of damages available - economic damages, non-economic losses, and punitive damages where the defendant's conduct was willful or malicious. A wrongful death attorney operates on a contingency fee basis - you pay no fees unless we win your case.
For over 40 years, CHH Law has achieved results in catastrophic wrongful death cases involving medical malpractice, commercial vehicles, and corporate negligence. Our skilled trial attorneys prepare every case as if it will go to trial - which is why defendants take our claims seriously at the negotiation table.
Recent Chicago wrongful death verdicts and settlements demonstrate what is possible when experienced wrongful death attorneys build strong cases. For example, the family of Jack Murray reached a $10.5 million settlement with Elk Grove Village over a fatal police shooting - illustrating both the scale of recoverable damages and the willingness of public entities to resolve well-prepared claims. Recent wrongful death settlements in the Chicago region span from mid-seven figures to tens of millions in cases involving extreme negligence.
Contact CHH Law to discuss the specific facts of your wrongful death case.
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CHH was the only firm willing to take on our complex surgical injury case, and we are so glad they did. I truly don't believe we would have had the positive outcome we did without them.
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I don't know what we would have done without Dan during this difficult time. I highly recommend having Dan J. Pylman and his team to represent you & yours if you want to win your case.
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I can honestly say I felt the compassion from each member of the CHH team. You CAN NOT go wrong choosing CHH.
CHH Law represents families throughout Chicago and the surrounding region in wrongful death cases, including:
Chicago neighborhoods: Loop, River North, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Hyde Park, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Rogers Park, Edgewater, Austin, Englewood, Chatham, South Shore, Bronzeville
North suburbs: Evanston, Skokie, Elk Grove Village, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Des Plaines
West suburbs: Oak Park, Cicero, Berwyn, Naperville, Aurora
South suburbs: Orland Park, Tinley Park, Joliet, Harvey, Calumet City
Cook County and surrounding counties including DuPage, Lake, Will, and Kane
If a wrongful death occurred anywhere in the greater Chicago area, CHH Law can help. Our experienced wrongful death attorney team handles Chicago wrongful death lawsuits across every jurisdiction in the region.
The statute of limitations is two years in Illinois. You must file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the victim's death. For medical malpractice cases, a discovery rule may extend this deadline - but no claim can be filed more than four years from the date of the fatal accident or negligent act. If suing a government agency, the timeline is even shorter: you must file within one year, and pre-suit notice periods (often 90 days or less) may also apply. Exceptions to the two-year limit may apply in certain cases, but waiting risks losing your right to seek compensation entirely.
Under Illinois law, only a personal representative of the deceased person's estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit. The personal representative may be named in a will, or a family member can petition the court to be appointed through probate court. Claims are filed for the benefit of the deceased's survivors - the victim's surviving spouse, surviving children, and parents as next of kin. Next of kin includes children, parents, and siblings. Surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim through this representative on behalf of all beneficiaries.
Calculating damages includes economic losses like medical bills, lost income, and funeral expenses, as well as non-economic damages like grief. Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, survivors can recover lost income from the deceased, including future income the person would have earned. Funeral expenses can be claimed in wrongful death lawsuits. Illinois allows recovery for grief and mental suffering damages - including mental anguish, sorrow, and loss of companionship and support. Survivors may also recover compensation for household assistance lost. There is no statutory cap on compensatory damages in Illinois wrongful death cases. Punitive damages may also be available when the defendant's wrongful conduct was willful, wanton, or malicious - though they are excluded in medical malpractice actions.
Additionally, under the Illinois Survival Act, the estate can seek compensation for what the deceased person endured between injury and death - covering pain, suffering, and medical expenses before the victim's death.
No. CHH Law handles every wrongful death case on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, no hourly rates, and no fees unless we recover compensation for your family. Your free initial consultation allows us to evaluate the facts of your case, explain the legal claim, and determine the strongest path forward - at no financial risk to you. Lawyers can help recover compensation for lost income and funeral expenses while families focus on what matters most.
Except in medical malpractice cases… Illinois uses comparative fault rules. If a beneficiary's contributory fault is 50% or less, damages are reduced proportionally. However, if a beneficiary's fault exceeds 50% of the proximate cause of the person's death, that beneficiary is barred from recovering damages entirely. An experienced attorney can evaluate the facts to determine how comparative fault may affect your wrongful death claim.
Every day that passes after a loved one's death risks the loss of critical evidence - medical records, vehicle data, surveillance footage, witness memories. Illinois wrongful death laws impose strict deadlines, and acting quickly protects your family's right to seek justice and recover damages from the responsible party.
CHH Law provides compassionate, experienced legal assistance to families navigating the most devastating loss imaginable. Our legal team - including a licensed physician and certified respiratory therapist - brings 40+ years of wrongful death and personal injury expertise to your case. They guide clients through the wrongful death claims process from first consultation through trial or settlement.
Cirignani, Heller & Harman, LLP Chicago, Illinois Call today for your free wrongful death consultation.
