Auto Accidents
2Wrongful Death
3Medical Negligence
4Product Liability
5Slip and Fall Injuries
6Transportation Injuries
7Work Injuries
Nursing Home
1Workers Comp
Legal Malpractice
Elder Law
1Alcohol-Related
1Pedestrian Accidents
1Police Chases
1Fires
1Head Injuries
1Toys and Recreation
1Animal Injuries
2Criminal Attacks
2Lawyer Referrals
WRONGFUL DEATH
Our firm has successfully
handled many wrongful death cases.
We have represented victims of every age and from every walk of life.
We have had death cases resulting from traffic accidents, construction
zone accidents, defective products, medical negligence, and electrocution,
to name a few.
This area of the law is filled with misconceptions. One big misconception
is that you cannot sue for the death of a person who was not working or
who made no monetary contribution to their family. That's all wrong. We
have repeatedly achieved significant results when a family member was
not working, was retired, or was unable to work because of a disability.
We help families recover for the death of their loved ones because we
understand that the loss is primarily about love, affection, care, attention,
companionship, comfort, guidance, and protection: These are the mutual
benefits that each family member gives to the other.
That loss of love has nothing to do with age or economics.
- Our youngest victim was a one-month-old fetus. The family was anguished
by the terrible mistake a doctor made in ending a viable pregnancy for
which they had waited so long. This case is still being fought.
- At the other end of the spectrum, our client was an 83-year-old man-a
victim of medical negligence. He died in the doctor's office during a
routine test because the doctor was nowhere around to help him. This case
settled successfully after six days of trial.
- Tragedies can occur
when a doctor misses or ignores important warning signs. We recently won
a $2.4 million verdict for the family of a woman who was discharged from
the hospital after undergoing routine surgery. She died of a pulmonary
embolism almost immediately after returning home. Her physician failed
to order tests or treatment even though a hospital nurse had phoned the
doctor twice in the hours before discharge to warn him that his patient
was suffering from numbness and dizziness while walking.
- In one tragic case, a little girl was crushed to death while playing with
friends on the hydraulic lift gate of a rental truck that was supposed
to have been locked.
- In another case a little boy was buried while playing on a large sand
pile at a roadway construction zone.
- We represented the estate of a mentally challenged woman in a medical negligence/wrongful death action against a hospital and physicians. The decedent had a biliary gallstone emergency and the hospital and doctors failed to stabilize her condition before performing an ERCP Procedure (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) which resulted in her untimely death. The case setted for six fugures.
- We represented a family who lost a mother and child when their car stalled
on the expressway and was hit by a car coming from behind. Their car stalled
due to a defective fuel injection system. The case settled in seven figures
against the automobile manufacturer.
- We handled the case of a beautiful 25-year-old "retarded" woman
who worked in a shelter, making just $13.00 per week. Her case settled
for $2 million against the physicians who carelessly took her life while
her mother and grandmother watched in horror.
- In a recent case, doctors misdiagnosed cancer in a wonderful 72-year-old
retired man whose wife and children adored him. That case settled for
$2.4 million, even though there were no economic damages of any kind.
- In a case involving a jailhouse suicide, an 18-year-old boy got into trouble,
joined a gang, went to jail, and hung himself while the guards watched.
His mother had never given up on him and they had written each other beautiful
poems and letters. Her loss was no less because her son was in trouble.
The jury awarded her $1.5 million.
- A case for an Hispanic woman hit by a car while crossing the street settled
in the upper six figures.
- A mother was electrocuted and died when she attempted to get out of a
bus that hit a power cable. Unfortunately, she touched that cable as she
tried to leave the bus. We won a seven-figure award for her family.
- A truck and car collided on a rainy night killing both drivers and leaving
no witnesses. Our client was driving the car. We were able to prove scientifically
that the truck came into her lane and caused her death. Her family received
a significant award.
- Our client, in her early 50s, died in the emergency room while waiting
for the doctors to see her. She left five adult children and numerous
grandchildren.
- Our 29-year-old client died when the hospital and doctors ignored her
repeated complaints of chest pain and headaches. She left behind her mother
and three siblings. The case settled for a significant amount.
- $5.3 million dollar verdict for the death of a 28 year construction worker who left a wife of 3 years.
- We recently settled a wrongful death/medical malpractice case for the death by suicide claim for $1 million dollars. This is our third suicide settlement for $1million dollars.
We have handled many other death cases that we can tell you about.
It is very important that you call as soon as possible if you have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one.
It takes understanding, creativity and imagination to show other people the immense loss of love and companionship from the death of a love one.
We know just how to do that. Call anytime.
Michael R. Panter & Associates
30 N. LaSalle Street
Suite 1524
Chicago, IL 60602
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