Wisconsin Wrongful Death Lawyers | Third Coast Legal Support for Grieving Families

Wisconsin Wrongful Death Lawyers | Third Coast Legal Support for Grieving Families

Nothing prepares you for the moment when someone’s life is taken by another’s carelessness. One phone call. One crash. One missed diagnosis. In seconds, your world collapses. 

Grief overwhelms. Questions consume. Who let this happen? 

Why wasn’t it prevented? And what comes next—when the loss is permanent but the bills keep arriving?

At Third Coast Lawyers, we don’t just understand wrongful death—we stand in that silence with families across Wisconsin who are left holding nothing but memories. 

When institutions deflect blame or insurance adjusters offer pennies for your pain, we bring clarity, action, and accountability. Because this isn’t just about loss—it’s about injustice.

You shouldn’t have to mourn and fight. Let us carry that weight with you.

We’re here to uncover the truth, demand responsibility, and pursue everything your family deserves—legally, financially, and emotionally.

Because what was taken can’t be returned, but what’s owed can be won.

A Life Cut Short Deserves More Than Grief—It Deserves Justice

No one plans to lose someone this way—not to a driver’s mistake, a doctor’s oversight, or a company’s failure to follow the rules. 

And yet, more than two thousand Wisconsin families faced that very nightmare last year. When death didn’t have to happen, grief alone isn’t enough. Justice must follow.

The Devastating Toll of Preventable Deaths

In 2023, over 1,000 Wisconsin residents lost their lives due to negligence-related incidents, including car crashes, fatal medical errors, and unsafe working conditions.

These deaths don’t just leave empty chairs—they leave unpaid bills, broken routines, and futures that were never supposed to end this soon. 

Spouses become single parents. Children lose guidance. Households collapse under the pressure of both sorrow and survival.

When a life is wrongfully taken, emotional devastation is only the beginning. That’s why the law offers more than sympathy—it offers a path forward.

Why Filing a Claim Is an Act of Protection, Not Revenge

Grieving families often hesitate to pursue legal action. Some feel guilty. Others fear judgment. Many are simply overwhelmed. But filing a wrongful death claim isn’t about vengeance—it’s about protection.

It’s how you secure your family’s future, force negligent parties to acknowledge their actions, and help prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

We’ve guided countless Wisconsin families through this process with respect, privacy, and strength. You don’t have to feel ready—you just need to know you’re not alone.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Wisconsin?

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Wisconsin?

After an unexpected death, many families aren’t sure who’s legally allowed to take action. Wisconsin law provides a clear but sometimes misunderstood framework. Here’s who has the right to step forward.

Legal Eligibility Under Wisconsin Statutes

Under Wisconsin Statute § 895.04, several parties may file a wrongful death claim:

  • Spouses
  • Domestic partners
  • Children (biological or adopted)
  • Parents of a deceased minor or unmarried adult
  • Personal representatives of the estate

If no eligible relatives survive, the claim may be filed by someone appointed to represent the deceased’s estate. 

We help clarify eligibility in complex family structures and ensure that claims are filed on behalf of all entitled beneficiaries.

Understanding the “Loss of Society and Companionship” Claim

Wisconsin law doesn’t just allow financial compensation for economic losses—it recognizes the profound emotional harm families suffer. You may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Loss of emotional support
  • Lost parental guidance
  • Absence of love, companionship, and daily presence

This category of damages is deeply human. And it’s one we fight hard to secure—because no spreadsheet can account for the silence left behind.

Losing someone is hard enough. Let us handle the legal battle while you focus on healing. Contact our team now for a free, private consultation.

What Types of Incidents Lead to Wrongful Death Lawsuits?

What Types of Incidents Lead to Wrongful Death Lawsuits?

Wrongful death isn’t limited to one kind of mistake—it spans industries, settings, and systems. But what all these cases share is this: the loss was preventable, and someone failed to act.

Fatal Auto and Trucking Accidents

In 2023, Wisconsin saw over 550 fatal traffic crashes, with top causes including speeding, distracted driving, and impairment (WI DOT).

Many crashes involving commercial trucks extend liability beyond the driver to the employer, fleet manager, or maintenance contractor. 

We unravel every layer, from dash cam footage to logbook violations, to hold every party responsible.

Medical Malpractice and Fatal Misdiagnoses

Not every tragic outcome is malpractice, but when a delayed diagnosis, surgical error, or medication mistake causes death, accountability matters.

A 2024 Medscape study ranked missed or delayed diagnosis among the top three causes of fatal malpractice claims nationwide. 

In Wisconsin, non-economic damages in medical cases are capped, but we aggressively pursue maximum allowable recovery under both state and federal law.

Our network includes medical experts who testify on causation, breach of care, and preventability—so the truth can be heard.

Deadly Workplace and Construction Accidents

Workplaces are legally obligated to ensure the safety of their employees. Yet, in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and agriculture, safety violations remain far too common.

From unsecured scaffolding to faulty heavy machinery, wrongful deaths in the workplace often involve OSHA violations, negligent subcontractors, or defective equipment.

Surviving families may be entitled to wrongful death compensation in addition to workers’ comp and third-party lawsuits, especially when the employer wasn’t the only one responsible.

Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

When your loved one enters a care facility, you expect dignity, safety, and compassion. But when facilities cut corners, ignore medical needs, or undertrain staff, the consequences can be fatal.

We’ve represented families after preventable deaths from:

  • Untreated infections
  • Bedsores and sepsis
  • Malnutrition and dehydration
  • Falls and unmonitored wandering

These are never just “old age”—they’re failures in care. We pursue civil claims against both the individuals and institutions responsible for allowing vulnerable residents to die without cause or care.

What Compensation Is Available in a Wisconsin Wrongful Death Case?

You’re not asking for a payout—you’re asking for protection. Legal compensation won’t bring your loved one back, but it can help you stay afloat, rebuild, and prevent future harm. 

Wisconsin law allows for both economic and non-economic recovery in wrongful death cases.

Economic Damages

Financial burdens shouldn’t follow your grief. Wisconsin wrongful death claims allow families to recover for all measurable losses tied to the death, including:

  • Funeral and burial costs, including ceremony, cremation, and travel
  • Medical expenses related to emergency care before passing
  • Lost income, including wages your loved one would have earned
  • Loss of household support, retirement benefits, and long-term care they provided

We calculate not just what’s been lost, but what your family would’ve had for years to come. Our forensic experts handle the numbers. You focus on healing.

Non-Economic Damages

No spreadsheet can measure the hole left behind. But Wisconsin law still acknowledges the deep emotional harm families endure after a wrongful death.

You may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Loss of companionship and guidance, especially for children or spouses
  • Pain and suffering endured by your loved one before passing.

     

  • Mental anguish, anxiety, and trauma experienced by surviving family
  • Grief counseling costs or long-term mental health treatment

These damages recognize what words often can’t: that a human life—your life—has been forever changed.

Punitive Damages (in Limited Cases)

In rare but egregious cases, Wisconsin courts may award punitive damages—not to compensate, but to punish.

Examples include:

  • A fatal DUI caused by a repeat offender
  • A company that falsified safety reports before a worker’s death
  • A facility that knowingly ignored risks to elderly or vulnerable residents

We aggressively pursue punitive claims when the facts justify it because recklessness should never be met with silence.

Your family deserves justice, not just grief. Start your wrongful death claim today with attorneys who care and fight—at no cost unless we win.

How Wisconsin’s Wrongful Death Laws Work—And What You Need to Know

The pain may feel overwhelming. But the law gives you time—and structure—to seek justice. Understanding your rights helps you act before critical windows close or evidence disappears.

Statute of Limitations and Key Deadlines

Wrongful death claims in Wisconsin must typically be filed within three years of the date of death (Wis. Stat. § 893.54). 

However, if the death involved a motor vehicle, the window shortens to just two years under insurance-specific limitations.

Waiting risks losing your right to sue. Evidence degrades. Witnesses disappear. Early legal action preserves your strongest chance for success—and we handle that process discreetly and thoroughly.

Comparative Fault in Fatal Accident Cases

Even if your loved one may have contributed to the accident, you may still have a case.

Wisconsin follows modified comparative negligence rules. As long as the deceased was less than 51% at fault, the family can still recover compensation, though the total may be reduced proportionally.

We gather expert testimony, analyze crash reports, and challenge biased narratives. Insurance companies often try to shift the blame. We don’t let them rewrite the truth.

Insurance Company Tactics to Watch For

After a sudden death, insurers may act fast—but not to help you.

Watch for tactics like:

  • Offering quick settlements far below your actual losses
  • Pressuring you to sign before you’ve consulted legal counsel
  • Denying claims using fine print, policy gaps, or misinterpretation of the law

We’ve seen these tricks hundreds of times—and we know how to beat them. You don’t have to handle negotiation or pressure alone.

The Third Coast Difference in Wrongful Death Representation

This isn’t just legal work. It’s personal. We know how heavy the grief is—and how hard it is to turn that pain into action. But when you’re ready, we’re already prepared.

We Fight for More Than Money—We Fight for Accountability

Our clients don’t come to us seeking revenge. They come because someone refused to take responsibility, and they refuse to let that stand.

We don’t just seek settlements. We demand acknowledgment, answers, and systemic change when needed. 

Whether your case is resolved quietly or goes all the way to trial, our purpose remains the same: truth, accountability, and justice.

Multidisciplinary Legal Teams Built Around Your Needs

One attorney behind a desk doesn’t build wrongful death cases. They require coordinated effort and top-tier professionals, including:

  • Forensic economists to project lost earnings
  • Accident reconstructionists to prove fault
  • Grief counselors to support your healing
  • Medical experts to explain what should have been done differently

You’ll never wonder what’s happening or who’s handling your case—because you’ll always know who’s fighting for you.

Transparent Communication, Survivor-Led Process

Grieving families deserve clarity, not confusion.

That’s why we:

  • Explain every option in plain language
  • Provide regular updates, not just when you call.
  • Give you total control over how your case proceeds.

You decide when to pause, settle, or go to trial. We support, inform, and empower—not pressure.

Time matters in wrongful death cases. Don’t wait while insurance companies prepare their defense. Reach out now and get experienced legal guidance on your side.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What qualifies as a wrongful death in Wisconsin?

A wrongful death occurs when someone is killed due to another person’s or entity’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act, such as in a car crash, medical mistake, or unsafe workplace.

Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Wisconsin?

Spouses, children, parents, or the personal representative of the deceased’s estate may file. If no close relatives survive, the estate can file on behalf of legal heirs.

How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim?

You typically have three years from the date of death, or two years if it involved a motor vehicle. Filing early helps preserve evidence and maximize recovery.

Can I recover emotional damages in a wrongful death case?

Yes. Wisconsin allows compensation for loss of companionship, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering, alongside financial losses like lost income or funeral costs.

What happens if my loved one was partly at fault?

Under Wisconsin law, you can still recover damages if your loved one was less than 51% at fault. Awards are reduced based on their percentage of responsibility.

What does it cost to hire a wrongful death lawyer?

Nothing upfront. Third Coast Lawyers works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.