Joliet, IL asked in Car Accidents and Wrongful Death for Illinois

Q: Is there a time frame for suing for Wrongful Death?

I lost my entire family when a Semi Truck driver ran over their car from behind. I had an attorney who took advantage of my grief coaxing me to settle for a outrageously low amount. He didn't follow through with the suits he had promised and it has bothered me through the years.

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer

A: You must file suit within 2 years. That said, once you signed the Release in exchange for the money, you lost the ability to sue. The situation that you describe is the "Holy Grail" of personal injury attorneys because most commercial semi's have virtually unlimited insurance. It is truly a shame if it was settled for short money.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.