What are common causes of wrongful death accidents in Chicago and Illinois?

A wide variety of events can cause wrongful deaths. The most common are:

• Traffic accidents – More than 900 people died in traffic accidents in Illinois in 2010. Negligence, distracted driving and drunk driving contributed to most of these fatalities. A family can hold a negligent, distracted or intoxicated driver financially responsible for causing a fatal accident. Cars, motorcycles, trucks, bicycles and pedestrians can be involved in these accidents.
• Job-related accidents – Common workplace accidents include falls from ladders and scaffolds, falling objects, flying debris, fires, explosions and motor vehicle crashes. An employer may be liable if a death occurs because the employer failed to provide safety equipment or adequate training or violated other safety regulations.
• Medical malpractice – A health care provider commits medical malpractice if the provider’s negligence or wrongdoing causes a patient to die. Common situations include misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, anesthesia mistakes, surgical errors and prescription drug errors.
• Dog bites – Pet owners must exert control over their animals. The family of a dog bite victim may sue the dog’s owner for monetary damages.