Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death Attorney

Our Mission Statement: To help families hold accountable those who caused their loved one's death.

How Our Attorneys Handle Wrongful Death Cases:
Meeting the Needs of the Family

Wrongful Death Lawyer In all of our accident death cases, we take the time to get to know who the person who died was, what that person meant to the family (both financially and emotionally), what the person’s job was and what future prospects the person may have had, and what the person’s hobbies and other community activities were. We try to get as full a picture as possible of the person’s life because we have to persuasively present evidence as to the value of that life. The process is difficult for the family, but we understand and try to make it part of the healing process and not an additional burden.

Our goals are to get justice for families and to make sure they do not needlessly suffer financially.

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).

Many states have interpreted the wrongful death statutes to allow families to sue for compensation for the death of an unborn baby due to an accident, malpractice or defective product.

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:
Experience, Excellence, and a Record of Success

Because of our past successes, Pritzker Olsen law firm has the resources and experience to take on complex wrongful death cases and obtain significant compensation for families.

Attorney Fred Pritzker, founding partner of Pritzker Olsen law firm, has obtained multi-million-dollar awards for families in wrongful death lawsuits. He has been named a "Top 100 Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics (August 2009) and is listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Fred has appeared on CBS News and Fox's "Geraldo Live" to discuss wrongful death litigation and public safety. He has also been interviewed by The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and others. To contact wrongful death attorney Fred Pritzker or another wrongful death lawyer at Pritzker Olsen law firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit our online form for a free consultation.

NO MONEY UP FRONT, AND WE ARE NOT PAID UNLESS YOU WIN.

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Pritzker Olsen, P.A. 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.

Free Case Consultation

We are Not Paid Unless You Win

Our attorneys work on a continguency fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay our law firm for representing you unless we win you money.

Firm News

$2,469,339 Verdict For Family

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman of our office won a $2,469,339 verdict from a Hennepin County jury in a tragic bicycle accident wrongful death case. They represented the family of a 53-year old bicyclist who was killed when she was run over by the trailer of a right-turning semi truck.

Eric Hageman Chairing Wrongful Death Seminar

In recognition of his accomplishments in the area of wrongful death litigation, attorney Eric Hageman has been named chair of the Minnesota Association for Justice Wrongful Death Seminar scheduled for January 2012.

Truck Wheel Accident Death

Our law firm recently won $2,850,000 for a family whose loved one was killed by a truck wheel that crashed through a car windshield. Read about a truck wheel off accident.

Food Poisoning Death

Attorney Fred Pritzker negotiated a $3,500,000 settlement for a couple that suffered the death of unborn twins due to contaminated food consumed by the pregnant mother. Read more about this food poisoning wrongful death settlement.

Fatal Apartment Fire

Attorney Fred Pritzker won a $2,950,000 settlement on behalf of two children following an apartment fire in which their mother and brother were killed. The surviving girl suffered brain damage from smoke inhalation and the surviving boy suffered minor injuries from which he fully recovered. Read about hiring a lawyer for your fire investigation and lawsuit.

Pharmacy Error Wrongful Death

Attorney Fred Pritzker won a $1,050,000 settlement on behalf of a woman in her late 70's who died as a result of an overdose of pain medication caused by a pharmacy compounding error. The ingested drug was 8-10 times stronger than prescribed. Read about pharmacy malpractice.

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.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.

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