Editorial disclosure: This website is owned and operated by Phillips Law Offices. The firms listed on this site are selected and described by the site’s editors, not by an independent third-party rating service. Phillips Law Offices is featured prominently as the site’s owner.

Losing a loved one is devastating under any circumstances. When that death is caused by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct, the grief is compounded by a profound sense of injustice. Surviving family members have the right to pursue compensation and accountability through a wrongful death lawsuit.

Wrongful death cases are among the most important and emotionally challenging areas of personal injury law. Families need compassionate, experienced attorneys who can guide them through the legal process while they grieve. This guide highlights the best wrongful death lawyers in Chicago.

What Is Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct of another. Common causes include:

Motor vehicle accidents – Car, truck, motorcycle crashes
Medical malpractice – Surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication errors
Workplace accidents – Construction falls, industrial accidents
Defective products – Dangerous vehicles, devices, or consumer products
Premises liability – Falls, fires, inadequate security
Criminal acts – Assaults, DUI crashes, shootings
Nursing home abuse – Elder neglect and abuse

Illinois Wrongful Death Law

The Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/) allows certain family members to sue for damages when a loved one dies due to another’s negligence.

Who Can File?

A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate on behalf of surviving family members, including:

Spouse
Children (including adult children)
Parents
Other dependents

Statute of Limitations

Under 740 ILCS 180/2, wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the death.

What Compensation Is Available?

Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided
Loss of benefits (health insurance, retirement)
Loss of companionship, guidance, and consortium
Loss of parental guidance for children
Grief, sorrow, and mental anguish
Medical expenses before death
Funeral and burial expenses

Best Wrongful Death Lawyers in Chicago

1. Phillips Law Offices

Chicago Wrongful Death Attorneys at Phillips Law Offices

Phillips Law Offices is one of Chicago’s most established and respected personal injury law firms, with a history of fighting for grieving families that dates back to 1945. For decades, the firm has built a reputation for handling the most serious wrongful death cases in Illinois – fatal car and truck crashes, dram shop liability claims, medical malpractice deaths, workplace fatalities, and catastrophic product liability matters. Founded by John Phillips, the firm was created with a singular mission: to represent injured people and grieving families, and to hold negligent individuals, corporations, hospitals, trucking companies, and insurance carriers accountable for the harm they cause.

Today, Phillips Law Offices continues that legacy through a team of highly skilled trial attorneys who focus exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death litigation. The firm has represented families in some of the most complex wrongful death cases in Illinois – dram shop liability, fatal truck collisions, hospital negligence deaths, surgical errors, anesthesia errors, nursing home neglect deaths, and product liability fatalities – and works closely with surviving spouses, parents, and children to secure the financial security and accountability they deserve.

A Legacy of Wrongful Death Excellence Since 1945

Few personal injury firms in Chicago can match the history, experience, and legal reputation of Phillips Law Offices. For more than 75 years, the firm has remained committed exclusively to protecting the rights of injury victims and grieving families. This long-standing focus has allowed the firm to develop extensive knowledge of the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, the Survival Act, dram shop liability, comparative negligence, and the proof and damages frameworks unique to fatal-injury litigation.

The firm’s founder, John Phillips, immigrated to the United States from Sicily as a child and built the law firm through hard work, integrity, and dedication to helping injured people. Over the years, Phillips Law Offices became known not only for securing substantial verdicts and settlements, but also for helping shape Illinois injury law through trial advocacy, leadership, and decades of involvement in the Chicago legal community.

That commitment to excellence remains a defining characteristic of the firm today.

Comprehensive Wrongful Death Representation

Phillips Law Offices handles nearly every type of wrongful death case in Chicago and throughout Illinois. The firm understands that the loss of a parent, spouse, child, or breadwinner devastates every part of a family’s life. Their legal team aggressively pursues compensation for loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, loss of parental guidance, grief and mental anguish, medical expenses before death, funeral and burial expenses, and any pre-death pain and suffering recoverable under the Survival Act.

The firm regularly represents families in wrongful death cases involving:

Fatal car and truck collisions
Drunk driving and dram shop liability deaths
Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities
Motorcycle wrongful death
Medical malpractice and surgical death
Hospital and emergency room negligence
Anesthesia and medication errors
Birth-related maternal or infant death
Nursing home abuse and neglect deaths
Workplace and construction fatalities
Product liability deaths (defective vehicles, devices, machinery)
Premises liability fatalities (fires, falls, negligent security)
Boating and recreational fatalities
Toxic exposure and chemical fatalities
Catastrophic injuries leading to delayed death

Their attorneys have experience handling both straightforward fatality cases and the most complex multi-defendant wrongful death litigation involving carriers, hospitals, manufacturers, and corporate defendants.

Proven Results in High-Value Wrongful Death Cases

Phillips Law Offices has secured significant verdicts and settlements for surviving families throughout Illinois. The firm’s track record reflects decades of aggressive advocacy against insurance carriers, hospitals, trucking companies, and dram shops.

$25 Million Wrongful Death Verdict (Dram Shop)

Phillips Law Offices obtained a $25 million verdict for a widow whose husband of 40 years was killed by a drunk driver after two restaurants overserved the intoxicated driver. The case involved complex dram shop liability issues and demonstrated the firm’s willingness to pursue every negligent party in a fatal-crash case.

$5 Million Truck Accident Wrongful Death

The firm secured a $5 million settlement for the spouse of a 53-year-old truck driver killed in a collision with the defendant’s commercial truck. The case proceeded through trial and resolved after closing arguments before the jury.

$5 Million Insulin Overdose Wrongful Death

Phillips Law Offices recovered $5 million for the family of a 56-year-old man given an insulin overdose that resulted in his death – a hospital and medication-error wrongful death matter.

$4 Million Surgical Wrongful Death

The firm secured $4 million for the family of a 51-year-old who died following knee surgery, holding the surgical and post-operative care providers accountable.

$4 Million Boating Wrongful Death

Phillips Law Offices obtained $4 million on behalf of the family of a woman who died following a boating accident.

$2.25 Million Medical Device Wrongful Death

The firm recovered $2.25 million for the family of a woman who died from uncontrolled bleeding and bilateral leg amputations after a medical device broke during a heart-artery procedure – a complex case involving both medical malpractice and product liability.

$800,000 Wrongful Death of Unmarried Adult

Phillips Law Offices secured $800,000 in a difficult wrongful death case involving a 51-year-old woman with no surviving husband or children. The case had been rejected by five other firms before Phillips Law Offices accepted and resolved it.

These results reflect the firm’s commitment to pursuing maximum compensation for families facing the worst kind of loss.

Respected Trial Attorneys in Chicago

One of the reasons Phillips Law Offices is consistently recognized among the top wrongful death firms in Chicago is its reputation for trial advocacy. Insurance carriers and corporate defense counsel know the firm is fully prepared to take cases to court when fair settlement offers are not made. This litigation-focused strategy strengthens the firm’s negotiating position and allows attorneys to pursue better outcomes for grieving families.

The attorneys at Phillips Law Offices are known for:

Thorough investigation of fatal incidents and medical records
Strategic litigation against multiple defendants and insurers
Aggressive courtroom advocacy in wrongful death cases
Detailed economic loss and life-expectancy analysis
Effective negotiation with major insurers and self-insured defendants
Strong jury trial experience in fatality cases
Compassionate, family-centered representation

Their experience handling complex wrongful death litigation has helped establish the firm as a trusted name throughout the Chicago legal community.

Meet the Attorneys at Phillips Law Offices

Stephen D. Phillips

Stephen D. Phillips is widely recognized for his work representing victims and grieving families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation throughout Illinois. Known for his courtroom skill, compassion, and extensive litigation experience, Stephen Phillips has helped continue the firm’s longstanding reputation for excellence in wrongful death law.

Stephen J. Phillips

Stephen J. Phillips continues the family legacy of trial advocacy at Phillips Law Offices, representing surviving spouses, parents, and children in serious wrongful death matters. He is known for thorough case preparation, strong client communication, and a steady focus on building cases that withstand scrutiny at trial.

Terrence M. Quinn

Terrence M. Quinn brings substantial trial experience to the litigation team at Phillips Law Offices, with a practice focused on catastrophic injury, medical negligence, and wrongful death cases. Clients consistently praise his thorough preparation, courtroom presence, and commitment to pursuing maximum compensation.

Michael J. Phillips

Michael J. Phillips has earned praise from families for his communication, professionalism, and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes. He works closely with grieving families throughout every stage of the legal process and is known for keeping clients informed while aggressively protecting their interests.

Alec D. Mesrobian

Alec D. Mesrobian has developed a strong reputation for handling complex injury and wrongful death litigation with professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail. Clients consistently praise his strategic guidance, thorough preparation, and commitment to achieving successful resolutions.

Together, the attorneys at Phillips Law Offices bring generations of combined legal experience to every wrongful death case they handle.

What Clients Say About Phillips Law Offices

Phillips Law Offices has earned outstanding reviews from injury victims and grieving families throughout Chicago who consistently praise the firm’s professionalism, communication, and compassionate representation.

One client, Dani Berny, praised attorney Michael Phillips for consistently providing updates throughout her case and ensuring she always felt confident in her legal team’s judgment.

Another client, Khaled Aboushaala, described attorney Alec D. Mesrobian’s representation as “exceptional in every respect,” noting how efficiently the case progressed once Alec assumed representation.

Marge S. commended Alec Mesrobian and Amanda Daliege for guiding her family through the legal process step-by-step while answering every question thoroughly and patiently.

Brandon DeWitt referred to Phillips Law Offices as home to some of the “best, skilled, elite personal injury attorneys in Chicago.”

Sasha Spektor described the caliber of talent at Phillips Law Offices as “unmatched,” specifically recognizing Stephen Phillips.

Reagan Tokoly highlighted Michael Phillips’ clear communication and willingness to explain every stage of the process.

“I highly recommend Phillips Injury Attorneys of Chicago for anyone that needs a highly skilled injury lawyer in Chicago. Stephen Phillips has an amazing record of providing great representation throughout the greater Chicagoland area. If you’re living in Chicago, you should know about Stephen and his firm’s abilities to help people that have been involved in an accident. If I was ever in an accident, I would call Stephen Phillips.”

– Darrell Blue

Client-Focused Representation

What truly distinguishes Phillips Law Offices is its client-centered approach. The firm understands that a wrongful death affects the entire family for years to come. Because of this, their attorneys prioritize communication, accessibility, compassion, and personalized legal support throughout every case.

Families are never treated like numbers or files. The firm takes time to understand each family’s loss, financial dependency, and long-term needs. The attorneys at Phillips Law Offices remain accessible throughout the legal process and work closely with families to ensure they understand every available legal option.

The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no attorney fees unless compensation is successfully recovered. Free consultations are available for families facing the loss of a loved one.

Deep Roots in Chicago and Illinois

Phillips Law Offices has represented grieving families throughout Chicago, Cook County, and communities across Illinois for generations. Their attorneys possess extensive familiarity with local courts, judges, insurance defense tactics, and the Illinois Wrongful Death Act and Survival Act framework.

Their longstanding reputation in the Chicago legal community reflects decades of dedicated advocacy and commitment to helping families rebuild after devastating loss.

Why Clients Choose Phillips Law Offices for Chicago Wrongful Death Cases

Phillips Law Offices continues to be recognized among Chicago’s leading wrongful death firms because of its:

More than 75 years of personal injury and wrongful death experience
Exclusive focus on personal injury and wrongful death law
Proven record of significant fatal-case verdicts and settlements
Highly respected trial attorneys
Strong client reviews and testimonials
Compassionate, family-centered representation
Extensive litigation experience against insurers, hospitals, and corporate defendants
Deep knowledge of Illinois Wrongful Death Act and Survival Act
Commitment to maximizing compensation for surviving families
Longstanding reputation within the Chicago legal community

For families facing the aftermath of a fatal accident or fatal medical error, Phillips Law Offices remains one of the most trusted and accomplished wrongful death firms in Chicago.

Every case is evaluated on its own facts, and prior results do not predict future outcomes.

Contact Phillips Law Offices

Address: 161 N Clark St, #4925, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: (312) 346-4262
Website: phillipslawoffices.com

2. Clifford Law Offices

Nationally recognized for wrongful death litigation.

3. Power Rogers & Smith

Record-setting verdicts in wrongful death cases.

4. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

Substantial wrongful death results.

5. Levin & Perconti

Medical malpractice wrongful death expertise.

6. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

Compassionate wrongful death representation.

Official Resources

Seeking Justice for Your Loved One

No amount of money can replace your loved one, but wrongful death lawsuits provide financial security for surviving families and hold negligent parties accountable. Contact an experienced wrongful death lawyer today.

To build a strong claim, families should preserve medical records, incident reports, witness contact information, financial dependency records, and proof of funeral expenses. These records help establish both liability and the full economic and non-economic impact of the loss.

Related Illinois Resources and Internal Guides

Wrongful death claims can involve multiple defendants and competing insurance policies. Early legal intervention helps preserve crucial evidence and ensures statutory deadlines are not missed while families focus on immediate needs.