Wrongful Death Attorney
Focused Representation For Families Facing Corporate Negligence
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s choices is devastating. When a death is tied to toxic exposure, a railroad incident, or corporate negligence, families are left not only with grief, but also with hard questions about what happened and who is responsible. In this moment, you need a wrongful death attorney who can help you confront powerful defendants and make sense of a complex situation.
The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC rrepresents families in and around Chicago who believe a corporation, railroad, or other powerful entity played a role in their loss. Attorney Gregory McMahon spent more than a decade defending Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes toxic tort and railroad cases, and he now uses that insider perspective to pursue accountability for the people those companies once tried to silence. His approach is grounded in strategy, careful preparation, and a commitment to protecting families affected by serious personal injury cases in Chicago.
If you are unsure what steps to take next, you do not have to face a corporation or insurer alone. You can contact our firm to request a free consultation and learn how a wrongful death claim may be evaluated under Illinois law.
Strategic Advocacy For Families After A Wrongful Death
Families who reach out after a suspected wrongful death are usually balancing intense grief with urgent practical problems. You may be facing funeral expenses, medical bills from a final hospitalization, and the sudden loss of your loved one’s income. At the same time, you might be hearing from employers, insurers, or corporate representatives who want to control the narrative about what happened.
The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC focuses on cases where a death may be linked to toxic exposure, railroad work, or other forms of corporate negligence in the Chicago area. These matters often involve industrial facilities, rail yards, or long term exposure to dangerous substances at work. They are not simple accidents. They require careful attention to medical records, safety practices, company documents, and regulatory standards.
The firm’s goal is to help surviving family members pursue accountability and the financial stability they need to move forward. That means listening closely to your concerns, explaining your options in clear language, and building a plan that fits the specific facts of your situation. As your case develops, the focus remains on protecting your family’s interests while respecting the memory of the person you lost.
In many cases, a wrongful death begins with a severe injury that later proves fatal, such as traumatic brain injuries, catastrophic injuries, or severe burn injuries. Understanding how those injuries occurred and whether they were preventable is central to determining whether a wrongful death claim exists.
How A Former Corporate Defense Lawyer Builds Wrongful Death Cases
Before founding The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC, Gregory McMahon spent more than a decade defending large corporations, including Fortune 500 companies, in toxic tort and railroad litigation. In that role, he worked directly with corporate legal departments, insurers, and national defense firms. He learned how they analyze risk, how they respond when someone is seriously injured or killed, and how they try to limit what they pay to families.
That experience gives him a detailed view of how corporate defendants approach a wrongful death claim. He understands how defense teams challenge causation, search for alternative explanations, and attempt to minimize the value of a family’s losses. He also knows where those strategies are most vulnerable and which kinds of evidence can be most effective in court.
When a family hires him as their wrongful death lawyer, he draws on that insider perspective to build cases that anticipate corporate tactics instead of merely reacting to them. This can influence how the firm approaches investigation, which documents it seeks from defendants, and how it prepares to explain complex facts to a judge or jury. For families, that strategic precision can help level the playing field when the other side has significant resources and experience.
Wrongful Death Cases This Firm Commonly Handles
Not every tragic loss is a wrongful death under Illinois law. The key question is whether a person or company failed to act with reasonable care and whether that failure contributed to your loved one’s death. The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC focuses on cases where negligence involves toxic exposure, railroads, or broader corporate practices that endanger workers and communities in and around the city.
Some of the types of situations the firm evaluates include deaths involving long term exposure to industrial chemicals or other hazardous substances at work. These cases may arise at manufacturing plants, refineries, warehouses, or other facilities where safety procedures and protective equipment should have been in place. The legal issues can involve complex medical and scientific questions about how a substance affects the human body over time.
The firm also handles cases connected to railroad work and rail corridors. Railroad employees and people living or working near rail facilities may face unique risks from equipment failures, unsafe work schedules, or exposure to harmful materials. In addition, corporate negligence cases can involve deaths tied to unsafe policies, ignored safety warnings, or a pattern of cost cutting that puts people at risk. In every matter, the first step is a careful evaluation of whether the evidence supports a wrongful death claim under Illinois law.
What Families Should Do After A Suspicious Or Negligent Death
In the days and weeks after a death, families are primarily focused on caring for one another and handling immediate arrangements. At the same time, certain steps can help protect your ability to pursue a claim if negligence is involved. If you suspect that corporate conduct, workplace conditions, or toxic exposure contributed to your loss, early attention to evidence can make a difference.
It can be helpful to gather and keep copies of key records, such as medical records, the death certificate, employment information, and any incident or accident reports you receive. Communications from employers, railroads, or insurers should be saved as well, including letters, emails, and text messages. If coworkers, neighbors, or others have information about unsafe conditions, it is useful to note their names and contact details so they can be reached later.
Families are often approached by insurers or corporate representatives who want them to sign releases, provide recorded statements, or accept quick financial offers. Those steps can affect your legal rights. Before signing documents or agreeing to any settlement, it is wise to speak with an attorney who can explain what you are being asked to give up. Illinois law sets deadlines for filing wrongful death actions, so an early legal review can help ensure that your family does not lose options simply because time passes.
Understanding Wrongful Death Claims In Illinois
Wrongful death law in Illinois is intended to provide a path for certain family members to seek compensation when a person dies because of another party’s wrongful act or neglect. In many cases, there are two related legal claims. One is a wrongful death claim for the losses suffered by surviving family members. The other is a survival action that addresses harms the deceased person experienced before death, such as pain or medical expenses, which become part of the estate.
Under Illinois law, a personal representative of the estate typically brings the wrongful death claim. The beneficiaries of any financial recovery are often close relatives, such as a spouse or children, although the specific distribution follows the statute and any court orders. Damages may include lost financial support, loss of companionship and guidance, and the impact of losing the relationship itself. These categories are broad, and the way they are presented can influence how a case is evaluated.
Corporate and railroad defendants frequently defend these cases by challenging whether their conduct actually caused the death or by arguing that the value of non economic losses is lower than the family believes. Attorney Gregory McMahon has seen these strategies from the inside, which informs how he prepares evidence and works with experts. Statutes of limitation and other procedural rules can affect the timing and course of a claim, so families who suspect negligence are encouraged to seek legal guidance as soon as they are able.
How The Law Office Of Gregory M. McMahon LLC Guides Your Family
Families considering a wrongful death claim often want to know what working with a lawyer will look like. The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC approaches each case with a combination of strategic planning and clear communication. From the outset, the firm listens carefully to your account of what happened and reviews the records and information you can provide. The goal is to identify potential sources of liability and to decide whether a case should move forward.
If the firm accepts your case, the next steps usually involve a more detailed investigation. This may include requesting additional documents, analyzing medical and employment histories, and reviewing company policies or safety records. Attorney Gregory McMahon draws on his deep industry knowledge of toxic tort and railroad matters to identify patterns in corporate conduct and to evaluate whether those patterns contributed to your loved one’s death.
Throughout the process, the firm works to keep you informed in plain language. Decisions about settlement offers, litigation, or trial preparation are discussed with you, and you are given the information you need to make choices that are right for your family. The aim is to shoulder as much of the legal and strategic burden as possible so that you can focus on grieving and rebuilding your life, while knowing that a dedicated advocate is working to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Why Local Insight Matters In Chicago Wrongful Death Cases
Wrongful death claims involving toxic exposure, railroad work, or corporate negligence often unfold within a specific local context. In and around Chicago, many of these cases are connected to industrial plants, rail yards, or long standing workplace practices that affect entire communities. Understanding how these operations function and how they have historically interacted with workers and neighborhoods can be important when building a case.
Civil wrongful death cases for incidents that occur in this region may be filed in Illinois trial courts, which can include the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago. Each court system has its own procedures, scheduling patterns, and expectations about how cases are presented. An attorney who regularly works within this framework can plan filings, hearings, and other steps with those realities in mind.
Local knowledge also matters when identifying potential sources of information or evidence. For example, understanding which regulatory bodies oversee a particular type of facility, or how rail infrastructure is organized in the area, can guide where to focus investigative efforts. When The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC evaluates a case, that familiarity with industrial and legal landscapes around the city becomes part of the broader strategy to pursue a fair outcome for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If My Loved One’s Death Counts As Wrongful Death?
A death may give rise to a wrongful death claim in Illinois if it was caused by another person or company’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. In practical terms, this means there must be evidence that someone failed to use reasonable care and that this failure played a role in what happened. In cases involving toxic exposure or corporate negligence, the connection between the conduct and the death can be complex and may involve medical and scientific questions.
Attorney Gregory McMahon reviews medical records, workplace information, and any available incident reports to assess whether the facts support a wrongful death claim. He also considers how corporate policies and decisions may have created unsafe conditions. Because each situation is different, the most reliable way to find out if your family has a claim is to have a lawyer evaluate the specific circumstances of your loss.
Who Can File A Wrongful Death Case In Illinois For Our Family?
In Illinois, wrongful death claims are generally brought by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, rather than by individual family members filing separately. The personal representative may be named in a will or appointed by a court if there is no will. Although the representative files the claim, the statute identifies which relatives may benefit from any financial recovery, often including a spouse and children.
This structure is intended to create a single, organized claim that reflects the losses of the family as a whole. When families contact The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC, the firm helps them understand who can serve as the personal representative and how that role works in practice. The attorney also explains how any potential settlement or verdict would be allocated according to Illinois law and any court orders.
How Will You Handle A Case Against A Large Corporation Or Railroad?
Handling a wrongful death case against a large corporation or railroad requires a different approach than a simple accident claim. Attorney Gregory McMahon uses his background as a former corporate defense lawyer to anticipate how these defendants are likely to respond. He understands the internal review processes, the common arguments used to contest causation, and the ways corporations attempt to limit their financial exposure.
In practice, this means the firm works to collect and analyze documents that may reveal patterns in safety practices, prior incidents, or company decision making. The strategy also involves preparing to explain complex technical issues in clear terms for judges and juries. Throughout the case, the focus remains on building pressure through strong evidence and careful preparation so that the corporation or railroad must fully confront its role in your loved one’s death.
What Will It Cost My Family To Hire Your Firm?
Families who are already facing medical bills, funeral expenses, and lost income are often worried about the cost of legal help. Personal injury and wrongful death cases are commonly handled on a contingency fee basis. In that structure, the firm’s fee is a percentage of any amount recovered for you, and clients typically do not pay upfront attorney’s fees.
The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC can explain its fee structure clearly during your first conversation, including how costs related to investigation and litigation are handled. The goal is to make quality legal representation accessible to families who are already under financial strain. If the firm does not recover money for you, you would not owe an attorney’s fee under a standard contingency arrangement, although you should always review the specific terms of any agreement before signing.
How Long Does A Wrongful Death Case Usually Take?
The time it takes to resolve a wrongful death case in Illinois can vary. Factors include the complexity of the facts, the number of defendants involved, the need for expert analysis, and how willing the defendants are to negotiate in good faith. Some cases may resolve through settlement after a period of investigation and negotiation. Others may proceed through formal litigation and, in some situations, a trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County or another Illinois court.
Attorney Gregory McMahon discusses likely timelines with families after reviewing the specific details of their case. While no lawyer can control every factor that affects timing, having a clear strategy from the outset can help keep the case moving and reduce unnecessary delays. Throughout the process, the firm works to keep you informed about significant developments and upcoming steps.
What Information Should I Bring To The First Meeting?
It is helpful, but not required, to gather certain documents before your first conversation with a wrongful death attorney. Useful items include the death certificate, any medical records you already have, information about your loved one’s employment, and copies of incident reports or safety investigations. If you have received letters, emails, or other communications from an employer, railroad, or insurer, bringing those can also be valuable.
If you do not have all of this information yet, you should not let that stop you from reaching out. Part of the attorney’s role is to help identify what additional records are needed and how to obtain them. At The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC, the initial conversation focuses on understanding your story and determining whether further investigation is warranted, not on whether you have gathered every possible document.
Will I Have To Relive Everything In Court If We Move Forward?
Many families are concerned about the emotional strain of testifying or having their private grief examined in a courtroom. While some wrongful death cases do go to trial, many resolve through settlement before that stage. Whether testimony is required depends on how the case progresses, the strength of the evidence, and the positions taken by the defendants.
When testimony is necessary, attorney Gregory McMahon works to prepare clients carefully and to support them throughout the process. He explains what to expect, helps you practice answering questions, and looks for ways to limit unnecessary repetition of painful details. The firm’s goal is to pursue justice while being mindful of the emotional weight that legal proceedings can place on a grieving family.
Talk With A Wrongful Death Lawyer About Your Family’s Options
If you believe corporate negligence, toxic exposure, or a railroad incident contributed to your loved one’s death, you do not have to sort through the legal issues alone. Speaking with a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney Chicago families trust can help you understand whether you have a claim, what evidence matters most, and how Illinois law may apply to your situation. An initial conversation is an opportunity to get clear, direct answers so you can make informed decisions for your family.
At The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon LLC, you will work with a lawyer who has stood on the other side of the courtroom defending major corporations and who now uses that insight to pursue accountability for families. The firm strives to offer free consultations and to handle wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront attorney’s fees for you to worry about. When you are ready to talk about what happened and what your options might be, help is available.
To discuss your situation with a wrongful death lawyer, call (464) 250-9272 today.
