If you are looking for information on wrongful death lawsuits, then you probably suspect that negligence was to blame for the death of a loved one. You might be able to sue on behalf of your family member who passed away, forcing the defendant to pay for their wrongdoing.
We know it’s a very difficult time to get through, yet any lawyer will tell you that you should start the legal process sooner rather than later, if possible. And if you are going to file a lawsuit, there are some things you can do right away to give your case a good chance of success. One of these things is getting an autopsy.
We’re sure it’s not at the top of your list, but getting an autopsy can be extremely important, especially for medical malpractice cases. In any wrongful death lawsuit, you’ll not only have to prove that the defendant was negligent, but you’ll have to prove that their negligence caused the death of your loved one. So being able to prove the cause of death is extremely important.
The decision to request an autopsy is an emotional and uncomfortable one to make. And unfortunately, it’s one that needs to be made fairly quickly. In cases of medical malpractice, the health care provider might tell you that an autopsy is unnecessary because they already know the cause of death. Or maybe the cause of death seems clear to you, as well. But it might not be the whole story.
Not getting an autopsy doesn’t always end your chances of having a good case, but many times it does. Without clear proof of cause of death, it’s hard to prove the defendant was at fault. If you have questions or need guidance, give us a call. We’ll talk to anyone for free about any Illinois legal issue, including the importance of requesting an autopsy if you have a potential wrongful death case.