Injuries suffered in auto accidents can leave your family in a really difficult position. Not only will you have to deal with the financial burden that results from the accident due to medical bills and missed time from work, but you also have to figure out what to do to best protect your case.
At Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC, our Chicago personal injury lawyers strive to take the worry out of your accident case, providing you with the legal advice you need so you can focus on what matters most: recovering with your loved ones or mourning the loss of a family member.
Schedule a no-obligation consultation today — call (312) 701-0090.
Why Do Serious Injury Victims and Wrongful Death Clients Trust Us?
- We have a proven track record of success, having secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.
- We are committed to helping you move forward after a serious injury or the loss of your loved one by securing maximum compensation for your damages.
- Our firm understands that no amount of money can ever make up for the loss of someone dear to you. However, we also know that financial compensation can help ease some of the burdens caused by your loved one’s death.
- We will handle your Chicago serious injury or wrongful death claim on a contingency fee basis. You will pay nothing until we secure compensation on your behalf.
What Are The Most Common Serious Injuries In Chicago, IL?
Some injuries don’t just put you in the hospital for a few weeks. They change everything and alter the entire trajectory of your life. Some of the most serious injuries include:
- Brain Injuries– When someone suffers a severe traumatic brain injury, they might never be the same person again. The worst cases? People end up in vegetative states, requiring institutional care for the rest of their lives. Even so-called “moderate” TBIs can mean never working again, never enjoying the hobbies you loved, never relating to your spouse the way you used to.
- Burns– Third-degree burns destroy skin completely. You may need multiple skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and incredibly painful procedures. The scarring can be severe enough to limit your mobility. Beyond the physical damage, burn survivors often struggle with PTSD, depression, and anxiety about their appearance. It affects everything from job interviews to dating to just walking into a room full of people.
- Paralysis– Complete spinal cord injuries mean total loss of feeling and movement below the injury. Break your neck, and you might suffer quadriplegia and be paralyzed from the neck down. Injuries lower on the spine cause paraplegia, paralyzing your legs and lower body. Either way, your entire life will need to be rebuilt.
- Limb Loss– Losing an arm means struggling with once-automatic tasks, such as getting dressed, cutting your food, typing, and working. Losing a leg means relearning how to walk, balance, and navigate stairs. Prosthetics help, but they’re not the same as the limb you lost. You may deal with phantom pain, skin problems, and the need to replace prosthetics every few years.
- Multiple Injury Accidents– Some accidents result in numerous serious injuries. You might have a brain injury, broken spine, ruptured organs, and shattered bones all at the same time. Each injury requires its own specialist and treatment plan. The combined effect is often worse than the sum of the individual injuries.
Accidents involving large commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks often result in serious injury or even death — contact a Chicago truck accident attorney today to get your loved one the justice they deserve.
Lost a Loved One Due To Negligence?
Contact an Attorney at Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC Today
What Is Wrongful Death and Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Under Illinois law, wrongful death happens when someone dies because of another person’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. The Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/) gives surviving family members the legal right to seek compensation for what they’ve lost.
These cases arise from a range of situations. Drunk drivers who cause fatal crashes, doctors who make mistakes in surgery, or miss a cancer diagnosis until it’s too late, construction companies that cut corners on safety, and property owners whose negligence leads to someone’s death.
To succeed in a Chicago wrongful death claim, you must prove:
- The defendant owed the deceased a duty of care.
- The defendant breached that duty of care through negligence or wrongdoing.
- That breach caused the decedent’s death.
- The surviving family members suffered measurable losses because of their loved one’s death.
Wrongful death claims are different from survival actions, though you can pursue both. A wrongful death action is about what the survivors lost, such as the financial support, the companionship, and the guidance they would have received if their loved one hadn’t died. A survival action is about what the person who died went through before they died, such as their pain and suffering, their medical bills, and wages they lost between when they got hurt and when they passed away.
Illinois law is pretty specific about who can bring a wrongful death case. Under 740 ILCS 180/2, it must be filed by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, who is filing on behalf of the surviving spouse and next of kin.
The recovered funds go to the surviving spouse and next of kin. “Next of kin” includes children, parents, siblings, and other blood relatives, depending on the family structure.
Most Common Causes Wrongful of Death in Illinois
Some of the most common causes of wrongful death in Chicago include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Fatal crashes involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, or pedestrians remain one of the leading causes of wrongful death cases.
Commercial Truck Accidents
Collisions involving large trucks can result in catastrophic injuries due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles.
Medical Malpractice
Fatal mistakes by doctors, surgeons, or other medical professionals may lead to wrongful death claims.
Workplace Accidents
Dangerous job conditions, heavy equipment, or unsafe work environments may cause fatal injuries.
Construction Accidents
Falls, equipment failures, and unsafe job sites frequently contribute to fatal construction injuries.
Dangerous Property Conditions
Property owners may be responsible when unsafe conditions on their premises lead to fatal accidents.
Because each case involves different circumstances, determining liability often requires a detailed investigation into how the incident occurred.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Chicago Wrongful Death Case?
Several different parties may be responsible for a wrongful death depending on the circumstances of the incident. Potentially liable parties may include:
- Negligent drivers: Motorists who cause fatal crashes through speeding, distraction, or impaired driving.
- Trucking companies: Employers may be responsible for accidents involving commercial drivers who were improperly trained or supervised.
- Medical professionals: Doctors, hospitals, or other healthcare providers may be liable when negligent medical care leads to death.
- Employers or contractors: Companies may be responsible for fatal workplace accidents caused by unsafe conditions or safety violations.
- Property owners: Dangerous premises conditions may result in liability when they contribute to fatal injuries.
- Manufacturers: Companies that design or produce defective products may be responsible if those products cause fatal accidents.
In many cases, more than one party may share responsibility for a wrongful death.
What Can You Recover in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Compensation in a wrongful death case is intended to address both the financial losses and the personal impact the death has on surviving family members. Damages may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses: The costs associated with funeral services, burial, or cremation.
- Loss of financial support: Compensation for the income and financial contributions the deceased person would have provided.
- Loss of companionship and guidance: The loss of a spouse, parent, or family member can have profound emotional consequences. Illinois law allows recovery for the loss of companionship, care, and guidance.
- Grief and mental suffering: Courts may also consider the emotional pain and suffering experienced by surviving family members.
In many cases, a survival action may also be filed along with the wrongful death claim. Survival actions allow the estate to recover damages the deceased person experienced before death, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
How Much Is a Chicago Wrongful Death Claim Worth?
The value of a wrongful death claim depends on several factors related to the circumstances of the death and the losses experienced by surviving family members. Courts and insurance companies often consider the following:
- The age of the deceased person: Younger individuals may have a longer expected working life and future earnings.
- Income and earning potential: The financial support the deceased person provided to family members is an important consideration.
- Number of dependents: Claims involving spouses or children who relied on the deceased person’s support may result in higher damages.
- Circumstances of the fatal incident: The severity of negligence involved in the accident.
- Available insurance coverage: Insurance policies or other financial resources often affect the total compensation that can be recovered.
Because every case is different, the amount of compensation available can vary significantly.
Chicago Wrongful Death Statistics
- 57 traffic fatalities have occurred in Cook County so far in 2026, and 344 in 2025.
- 1,072 fatal traffic accidents took place in Illinois in 2025, resulting in 1,176 fatalities.
- Pedestrians consistently have the highest number of fatalities each year (around 200+ annually).
- Motorcyclist fatalities remain high, increasing from 145 (2024) to 153 (2025).
- Semi-truck-related fatalities fluctuate, reaching 168 in 2022 and 132 in 2025.
- 28 pedal-cyclist fatalities occurred in 2025.
- Work zone fatalities remain relatively low over the past five years, but consistent (15–36 annually), with 36 taking place in 2025.
- 156 workers died from job-related injuries in Illinois in 2024, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most common causes of these fatal incidents include:
- Transportation accidents involving vehicles or equipment.
- Falls from heights, particularly in construction jobs.
- Contact with machinery or heavy equipment.
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that unintentional injuries are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., accounting for more than 220,000 deaths annually.
- 24% of all preventable injury-related deaths in the U.S. are caused by falls.
What Should Families Do After a Wrongful Death in Chicago?
Losing a loved one unexpectedly is overwhelming. In the days and weeks that follow, families are often faced with emotional stress, unanswered questions, and difficult decisions. While no legal action can undo what happened, taking certain steps early on can help protect your family’s rights and provide some stability during a very difficult time.
Obtain Important Documents
You may need to gather documents such as the death certificate, medical records, and any reports related to the incident. These records can help clarify what happened and may become important if a legal claim is pursued.
Preserve Any Available Evidence
If the death was caused by an accident, it may be helpful to preserve photographs, contact information for witnesses, and any physical evidence related to the incident. This information can be important in understanding how the loss occurred.
Avoid Speaking With Insurance Companies Alone
Insurance representatives may reach out soon after the incident. While they may seem helpful, their goal is often to limit financial liability. It is important to be cautious about providing statements or accepting early settlement offers before speaking to an attorney.
Speak With a Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyer
An experienced wrongful death attorney can help guide your family through the legal process with care and respect. They will evaluate the circumstances of the loss, explain your rights under Illinois law, and handle the legal aspects of the case so you can focus on your family.
Have Life-Changing Injuries Have Affected Your Family?
Being involved in a car accident can change your life in an instant. Serious injuries that our attorneys commonly see in personal injury cases include:
- Spinal cord injuries, including those that cause paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Back and neck injuries that cause pain and debilitation
- Painful burn injuries that may require surgery
- Complex orthopedic injuries and bone fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries resulting from head trauma
Many of these injuries require long-term medical care, and some may result in disabilities that keep you from working and enjoying life as you did before the accident. We understand that you and your family never expected this kind of emotional and financial strain on your day-to-day living. We can help.
Experienced Lawyers | Maximum Compensation
Our accomplished trial lawyers have more than 30 years of experience helping those injured due to another’s negligence recover the compensation they need. We provide client-centered representation focused on your best interests in the case. We will never talk down to you or treat you like a number on a file. We will evaluate your serious injury and wrongful death cases and give you straightforward advice on your best legal options.
Our personal injury attorneys will negotiate on your behalf, and work hard at obtaining a settlement to resolve your claim before a lawsuit is necessary. If the insurance companies refuse to recognize the value of your case, we are ready to take your injury claim or wrongful death action to court.
How Much Does a Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyer Cost?
Most Chicago wrongful death lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis, including Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC. This means families do not pay any upfront legal fees. Under this arrangement, legal fees are only paid if the case is successful. If no compensation is recovered, the client typically does not owe attorney’s fees for the lawyer’s work.
Wrongful death cases often require significant resources, including expert testimony, accident investigations, and detailed financial analysis. A contingency fee structure allows families to pursue a claim without taking on these costs out of pocket. During a free consultation, a Chicago wrongful death lawyer can explain how fees are structured and what to expect as the case moves forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do I Have to File a Serious Injury or Wrongful Death Claim?
A statute of limitations is a law that establishes a deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation in a wrongful death or personal injury case.
In most cases, you have two years from the date you were injured to file a personal injury lawsuit, as outlined in 735 ILCS 5/13-202. If you miss your deadline, you will not be able to recover compensation for your damages.
The wrongful death statute of limitations under 740 ILCS 180/2also gives you two years, but it runs from the date of death, not the date of the accident. If someone gets hurt in a crash on January 1st but doesn’t die until March 1st, the two-year clock starts ticking on March 1st.
Medical malpractice cases have more complicated rules. Generally, you have two years from when you knew or should have known that malpractice caused your injury. But there’s a hard stop at four years from when the negligent act happened, even if you didn’t discover it until later. This “discovery rule” exists because medical errors aren’t always immediately apparent.
There are exceptions to these filing deadlines. In some cases, you may have a much shorter filing deadline, and in others, the deadline may be extended. For example, if the injured person is under 18, the clock doesn’t start until they turn 18. So a minor has until age 20 to file. The statute can also be paused if someone is legally incompetent. If a government entity is a defendant, the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act requires formal notice within six months and the filing of suit within one year.
You must promptly consult an experienced Chicago serious injury & wrongful death lawyer to determine your filing deadline. The sooner you talk to an attorney, the better. We can investigate while the evidence is fresh, ensure we meet all deadlines, and build your strongest possible case.
Why Do You Need a Chicago Serious Injuries & Wrongful Death Attorney?
Serious injury and wrongful death claims are much more complex than most personal injury cases. The damages are much greater, and the stakes are much higher. Insurance companies and defense attorneys will work diligently to avoid liability. They will deny, devalue, and delay your claim, hoping you will settle for much less than your case is worth.
You need the assistance of an experienced Chicago serious injuries & wrongful death lawyer with a proven record of success to help you recover the full value of your claim. Your chances of success are much greater when an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer represents you.
If you or a loved one were injured and a claim is possible, take pictures documenting the condition as it existed.
What Happens In A Wrongful Death Claim?
There is nothing we can say that makes the pain of losing a family member in a motor vehicle accident go away. We know that this is perhaps the most difficult thing you will ever experience. What we can do, is make sure that the person who caused the fatal accident is held responsible for their negligence.
If the accident resulted in the death of your family member, a Chicago wrongful death lawyer at our law firm can help you explore the financial compensation that may be available to you under Illinois law. This can include compensation for the loss of companionship, future lost wages, pain and suffering, as well as any other damages appropriate for your case.
How Much Does a Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyer Cost?
Most Chicago wrongful death lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis, including Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC. This means families do not pay any upfront legal fees. Under this arrangement, legal fees are only paid if the case is successful. If no compensation is recovered, the client typically does not owe attorney’s fees for the lawyer’s work.
Wrongful death cases often require significant resources, including expert testimony, accident investigations, and detailed financial analysis. A contingency fee structure allows families to pursue a claim without taking on these costs out of pocket. During a free consultation, a Chicago wrongful death lawyer can explain how fees are structured and what to expect as the case moves forward.
Learn More About What We Can Do To Help
Our injury attorneys handle your serious injury or wrongful death lawsuit on a contingency fee basis. There are no attorney’s fees unless we are successful on your behalf.
Contact Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC today for a free case consultation with an experienced lawyer. Our attorneys represent clients throughout the Chicago area. Se habla español.