Professional opera singer Edward Reicin formerly served as the development chairman of the central region of the Metropolitan Opera. Also a trial lawyer, Edward Reicin has penned articles on the expansion of wrongful death laws in Illinois. Illinois law defines “wrongful death” as the death that resulted from the “wrongful act, negligence, or default” of another person. A wrongful death claim is a personal injury lawsuit in which another person represents the deceased for damages. Examples of events that may warrant a wrongful death claim are car accidents, medical malpractice, and crimes. Under Illinois law, the personal representative who files the wrongful death lawsuit must be the executor of the deceased person’s estate. If the person dies without an appointed executor, the court will appoint a personal representative to pursue the wrongful death claim and handle other tasks in the estate. The personal representative must file the wrongful death claim within the statute of limitations under Illinois law, which is two years from the date of death. However, if the cause of death was “violent intentional conduct,” the personal representative has five years to file a wrongful death claim.

1. Illinois Law for Wrongful Death Claims
Edward Reicin

2. Introduction
Professional opera singer Edward Reicin formerly served as the development
chairman of the central region of the Metropolitan Opera. Also a trial lawyer,
Edward Reicin has penned articles on the expansion of wrongful death laws in
Illinois.

3. Illinois law defines “wrongful death” as the death that resulted from the
“wrongful act, negligence, or default” of another person. A wrongful death
claim is a personal injury lawsuit in which another person represents the
deceased for damages. Examples of events that may warrant a wrongful
death claim are car accidents, medical malpractice, and crimes.

4. Under Illinois law, the personal representative who files the wrongful death
lawsuit must be the executor of the deceased person’s estate. If the person
dies without an appointed executor, the court will appoint a personal
representative to pursue the wrongful death claim and handle other tasks in
the estate.

5. The personal representative must file the wrongful death claim within the
statute of limitations under Illinois law, which is two years from the date of
death. However, if the cause of death was “violent intentional conduct,” the
personal representative has five years to file a wrongful death claim.