Coping with the death of a loved one is truly one of the most difficult aspects of life. A more devastating factor can be when that loved one dies as a result of someone else’s negligence.
Wrongful death happens when a persons reckless behavior or negligent intentions cause someone else to die.
The Milwaukee personal injury attorneys at PKSD bring their compassionate knowledge and experience to help you determine whether you may be able to receive financial compensation in a wrongful death settlement.
Our successful track record has helped numerous Wisconsin families get the financial compensation that they deserve. Although we cannot bring your loved one back, we can help support you in a wrongful death settlement, bringing some closure to your tragedy.
Experience and results matter when your recovery, your finances, and your future are on the line. Our firm delivers both, backed by a record that few Wisconsin injury firms can match:
$500+ Million Recovered: Our attorneys have secured over $500 million in compensation for injury victims across Wisconsin, reflecting a consistent commitment to pursuing full and fair recovery for every client.
Over 150 Years of Combined Legal Experience: Our team’s collective experience enables our attorneys to anticipate how insurance companies and opposing counsel may operate and to prepare accordingly.
Awards and Accolades: PKSD has earned recognition from the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, and Super Lawyers, among others.
Maximizing Your Compensation: We gather evidence, consult medical experts, document long-term impacts, and negotiate aggressively. When the other side does not offer a fair settlement, we take the case to trial.
What is Wrongful Death?
Section 895 of The Wisconsin Statutes defines wrongful death when a person dies due to a wrongful act, neglect or default.
If the deceased person would have lived, they could have sought their own personal injury claim by filing a civil lawsuit. However, in the case of a wrongful death, appropriate parties have the right to pursue a wrongful death suit.
If your loved one was killed as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact the wrongful death attorneys at PKSD for a free legal consultation.
Jeffrey A. Pitman
Mr. Pitman is a member of the Nursing Home Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice. Mr. Pitman was President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice in 2013 and is a current member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). He lectures extensively on nursing home abuse and neglect and has authored numerous articles in the area of personal injury litigation.
Our firm handles these common causes of wrongful death include:
Motor Vehicle Accident: This includes any negligence associated with fatal car accidents. This could happen due to an intoxicated driver, a car manufacturing defect, a distracted driver, weather conditions, a fatigued driver, highway or road defects, and more.
Workplace Accident: This includes any negligence associated with someone who dies due to a work-related accident. Common occupations that have higher rates of work-related deaths include jobs in construction, miners, loggers, fisherman, electrical power installers, truck drivers and more. These deaths most typically happen because of defective, unsafe equipment and falling objects.
Product Liability: This includes any negligence associated with faulty or defective products that cause injuries that lead to death. This can include a defective medical device, defective mechanical failures (in cars and other vehicles), defective construction equipment, and more.
According to Wisconsin State Legislature, Section 895, an action for wrongful death may be brought by the personal representative of the deceased person or by the person to whom the amount recovered belongs. The appropriate parties who can file a wrongful death lawsuit include:
Living spouse;
Domestic partner;
Child of the deceased;
Parent or guardian of the deceased person; or
A personal representative of the deceased person’s estate
Please note that regardless of who files the settlement or claim, the court is required to set aside a portion for the dependents of the deceased person. Dependents may include the deceased person’s spouse, domestic partner or any children under 18 years of age. These dependents will receive no more than 50 percent of the damages.
I started my career defending insurance companies, but quickly realized my heart was in helping real people – not corporations. Now, I’m proud to fight for the little guy every day.
Wisconsin law allows an appropriate party to file a wrongful death lawsuit within three years of when the deceased person sustained injuries that caused death. If the injuries caused instantaneous death, the three-year time limit begins on the date the person died. If the person suffered prolonged injuries from a situation or accident and then later died, the three-year time limit may begin on the day of the accident and not on the day of death.
Sometimes, inconsolable grief causes those closest to the deceased to wait until it is too late to file a wrongful death claim. It is important to get support as soon as possible by speaking with a knowledgeable and compassionate Wisconsin wrongful death attorney.
What Damages May Be Available in a Wrongful Death Settlement?
Economic damages: This includes damages resulting in expenses incurred from the loved ones death. Examples include medical bills, loss of benefits or inheritance, loss of monetary earnings, funeral bills and more.
Non-economic damages: This includes damages resulting in the mental and emotional anguish of the loss of a loved one. Damages related to love, protection, pain, suffering and more fall under this category.
Punitive damages: This includes damages to punish the defendant for wrong conduct that resulted in the loved ones death.
Attorney fees: This includes expenses that were incurred from the attorney in bringing the lawsuit forward. The defendant will often be responsible for reimbursing this fee to the appropriate party.
Milwaukee Wrongful Death Lawyers Who Get Results. Call Now for Help
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, our wrongful death attorneys can help. Contact us to tell us about your case – the consultation is free. PKSD helps victims in all of Wisconsin, and our firm is conveniently located near you. We have an office in 1110 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr #320, Milwaukee, WI 53203. Call (414) 333-3333 to schedule your free case evaluation today.
Client Reviews
What Our Clients Are Saying About Us
J.H.
PKSD was great to work with after I had been in a car accident. They were incredibly thorough, patient, and understanding through the whole process! Sam Killian handled my case and kept me up to date every step of the way. He worked to negotiate my final settlement and was transparent about timelines and total amounts. Great, clear communication! Definitely would recommend! They make it a breeze.
C.B.
Excellent service! They handled my case with care and importance. They kept me updated every step of the way. They fought for me to get a higher payout and succeeded! I am grateful for their help!
C.D.
I have use PKSD 3 times. They took very good care of me. They walked me through the process and answered all my questions. I recomend them to everybody I know.
S.B
Outstanding Legal Representation – Highly Recommend! I had an incredible experience working with PKSD. They fought hard for me and made sure I got the money I truly deserved. From start to finish, they were professional, responsive, and genuinely cared about my case. Their expertise and dedication made the process smooth and stress-free. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and would highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal help. Thank you for everything!
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below or call us at (414) 333-3333.
No obligation. Available 24/7
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Jeffery A. Pitman, who has more than 28 years of legal experience and handled thousands of personal injury cases while obtaining millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements in Wisconsin.
About Us
PKSD is a Milwaukee personal injury law firm dedicated to helping injured individuals. We take a hands-on, client-focused approach and work closely with the people we represent from start to finish. We are committed to providing responsive service and strong legal advocacy when it matters most.
Areas We Serve
PKSD proudly serves clients throughout the state of Wisconsin. We represent individuals and families in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, Eau Claire, Wausau, and surrounding areas. No matter where you are located, our team is ready to help.
We’re Available 24/7 to Schedule Your Free Consultation