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Wrongful Death

Pritzker | Ruohonen is a national law firm, and attorneys at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and others.  In recognition of their achievements, attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics. Attorney Fred Pritzker has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America.  To contact a wrongful death attorney at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.

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Wrongful Death Lawsuit Information

When someone dies due to the negligence of another, the law allows the heirs and next of kin of the decedent a claim for money damages. This is called a "wrongful death claim."

Wrongful Death Trustee
The person who brings a wrongful death lawsuit is usually called a "trustee." He or she is appointed by a judge to bring the wrongful death claim on behalf of all of the heirs (spouse and blood relatives) of the person who died.

Proving Fault in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A wrongful death lawsuit is brought against the person or company whose fault caused the wrongful death. The law in most states requires the trustee (through his or her lawyer) to prove the fault of the defendant (the person being sued) is greater than the fault of the deceased person.

Compensation for Loss
A wrongful death lawsuit is not a criminal prosecution. Only state or federal prosecutors can bring criminal charges. The sole reason for a wrongful death claim is to compensate the heirs of the decedent for their loss.

Each state has different laws about the type of losses for which wrongful death compensation is allowed.

  • All states allow for the recovery of lost income the decedent would have provided his loved ones.
  • Most states do not allow recovery for grief or anger suffered by the surviving heirs, but do allow money damages for the loss of advice, care, comfort and companionship the deceased would have provided had he or she lived.
  • Some states also allow money damages for the pain and suffering of the deceased person prior to death.

Types of Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death lawsuits are typically pursued in cases involving auto accidents, medical malpractice, product liability and any other situations in which the fault of someone other than an employer caused the death (in most states wrongful death lawsuits are not allowed if the death was caused solely by the fault of the deceased worker, the employer or a co-worker)

Court Approves Division of Wrongful Death Proceeds among Heirs
Once the trustee and his or her wrongful death lawyer collect all of the financial compensation allowed by law, it is up to the court to approve the wrongful death settlement and divide the proceeds among the heirs. In most cases, the heirs agree upon how the money should be divided and the judge simply approves the agreement. But if the heirs cannot agree upon a distribution that is fair to all the heirs, the judge will take testimony and then decide the amount each heir will receive.

Wrongful Death Attorney Fred Pritzker and His Team at Pritzker | Ruohonen—Experience, Excellence, and  a Record of Success
At Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A., we have the experience and resources to take on complex wrongful death cases and obtain significant compensation for families. Senior partner Fred Pritzker has 30 years of experience helping people who have lost loved ones by making sure they are compensated for their loss. He is respected nationally for his abilities and understanding of complex wrongful death cases. 

Wrongful Death Attorney and Free Consultation
Because so much is riding on it, a wrongful death claim should only be handled by a wrongful death lawyer with the utmost skill and experience. At Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A., we’ve helped families collect some of the largest recoveries in wrongful death claims involving defective products, auto crashes, medical malpractice, fires and explosions and other wrongful death claims.
We understand this is a painful and difficult time. We’re ready to help when you need us. Contact us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, by email at info@pritzkerlaw.com, or fill in our online consultation form.

Pritzker | Ruohonen is a nationally-recognized law firm and represents clients throughout the United States.  The firm's offices are in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Read about Minnesota wrongful death and monetary compensation (damages) in a Minnesota wrongful death case.  .


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Firm News

Pritzker Named Super Lawyer

In recognition of their achievements, Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman were named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine. Fred Pritzker was also named a "Top 40 Super Lawyer."

Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America

Fred Pritzker is listed in the current issue of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury and wrongful death litigation.

 

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Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen spoke at the annual Minnesota Association for Justice Brain Injury Seminar. They represent brain injury survivors in personal injury cases throughout the nation.

 

E. coli Wrongful Death Settlement

We have recently settled a number of E. coli cases involving victims of various E. coli outbreaks, including a wrongful death claim.

 

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