Eau Claire Wrongful Death Attorneys
Someone you love should still be here. When their life is cut short by someone’s carelessness, it can feel like everything has been flipped upside down. The Eau Claire wrongful death attorneys at Bye, Goff & Rohde can help. We have assisted families all over Wisconsin since 1974.
Our lawyers, paralegals, and support staff have over 400 years of combined trial and litigation experience. We handle fatal car accidents, nursing home abuse, defective products, and other tragic incidents that lead to the loss of life. When you are ready to talk about what happened and learn what options may be available, contact our law firm for a free consultation.
What Makes a Wrongful Death Claim Different from a Personal Injury Case
Losing someone because of another person’s actions is not the same as dealing with an injury. The person who should be at the center of the claim is no longer here, which changes how the litigation process works. A wrongful death case is about what your family has lost and what it will take to move forward.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, certain people are allowed to file a wrongful death claim when a loved one’s life is cut short. That usually means a spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent. Under Wisconsin Statutes § 895.04(2), the personal representative of the decedent’s estate may also bring the claim if immediate family members are minors, not available, or choose not to file.
If you are unsure whether you are the right person to bring the case, that is okay. You are not expected to have every answer. Our wrongful death attorneys in Eau Claire, WI will walk you through the process and help you understand what makes sense based on your situation.
How Compensation Is Structured in a Wrongful Death Case?
The goal in a wrongful death case is to recognize what your family has lost and provide support through financial compensation. That can include funeral costs, lost income, and the emotional toll of living without someone who mattered deeply. Every family is different, and these cases are built to reflect that.
Wisconsin law does have some rules about what can be recovered. For example, section four of Wisconsin’s wrongful death law places a limit on the amount that can be awarded for loss of companionship. Your wrongful death attorney knows how to build a claim that gives your family room to breathe again.
Common Accidents That Lead to Fatal Injuries
When someone loses their life in a preventable accident, it shakes everything around them. Families are left with grief, bills, and questions that deserve answers. At Bye, Goff & Rohde, our partners are board certified through the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), and we have spent decades handling wrongful death claims linked to accidents like these:
- Car accidents on Highway 53 or Interstate 94
- Pedestrian crashes near school zones and intersections
- Trucking accidents involving out-of-state commercial drivers
- Falls in nursing homes or assisted living facilities
- Dangerous or defective household products
- Unsafe machinery in construction or factory jobs
These kinds of accidents happen in places you pass every day. When safety is ignored, the impact ripples through families, schools, and workplaces across Eau Claire. Our firm uses Wisconsin’s wrongful death statute to help families bring legal claims when someone’s actions take away a loved one before their time.
Fatal Product-Related Accidents and Manufacturer Liability in Wisconsin
When a product fails, the results can be devastating. In some cases, that failure leads to a fatal outcome that leaves families asking how something so preventable could happen. From everyday appliances to auto parts and medical devices, product-related deaths are often traced back to a design flaw, manufacturing error, or missing safety warnings.
When a Defective Product Leads to a Deadly Outcome
Most people expect the items they use to be tested, safe, and properly labeled. Whether it is a faulty airbag, a recalled pressure cooker, or an over-the-counter medication that should not have been on store shelves, these failures can take lives without warning. When that happens, the law allows your family to bring a wrongful death claim tied to the defective product.
Under Wisconsin Statutes § 895.047, manufacturers and sellers can be held responsible if their product caused someone’s death because it was defective or unreasonably dangerous. These cases often come down to what the company knew, what they failed to do, and whether a safer version was available. Our wrongful death lawyers walk through all of those factors with you and help build a clear picture of what went wrong.
What Families Should Know About Product Recalls and Warnings
When a product causes harm, families often want to know if it has already been recalled or flagged as dangerous. Sometimes a warning is issued after the damage has already been done. In other cases, the manufacturer or seller knew there was a risk but failed to take proper action or provide sufficient warning. This timeline matters, especially when it shows that a company had a chance to protect people and did not.
Even if the product your loved one used was not recalled, you may still have a case. A recall is not required to bring a wrongful death claim involving a defective or unsafe item. What matters is whether the product was unreasonably dangerous or failed to include the warnings a person would need to use it safely. These details are often what turn a tragic accident into a powerful case of accountability.
Holding Manufacturers, Designers, and Retailers Accountable
Wrongful death claims involving products often name more than one responsible party. The company that made the item might be at fault, but the business that sold it or the distributor that ignored a recall could also share responsibility. It takes a team that knows how these cases work to identify everyone who played a part in what happened.
We work with investigators, product experts, and engineers to review what was sold, how it was used, and what warning signs were missed. These cases matter because they protect other families and send a message that the safety of people cannot come second to profit. If someone you love died because a product failed, your wrongful death lawyer is here to help you understand your options and what may come next.
Preventable Workplace Deaths and Civil Claims Beyond Workers’ Comp
Work should not be dangerous, but too many families lose loved ones in jobs that could have been made safer. From faulty equipment to missed safety checks, these tragedies often happen because someone looked the other way. Wisconsin law allows families to bring civil claims when another company or person outside the employer was responsible, especially in situations like these:
- Untrained contractors operating heavy equipment
- Malfunctioning safety features on factory or farm machinery
- Construction site falls linked to poor oversight
- Electrical accidents caused by third-party vendors
- Fatal incidents involving delivery trucks or work vehicles
- Unsafe tools provided by outside suppliers
Workers’ compensation is not always the complete answer. It can help with some expenses, but it does not always cover what your family has truly lost. If you have questions about whether a third-party claim might apply, our wrongful death attorneys in Eau Claire, WI can help you review the situation under Wisconsin Statutes § 102.29.
The Impact of Catastrophic Injuries That Later Lead to Death
Some wrongful death cases begin with a serious injury that the victim initially survives. For weeks or even months, your family may be focused on treatment, surgeries, and holding on to hope. When a delayed passing happens, the personal injury claim often becomes part of a new case that focuses on your family’s loss.
Delayed Death Following Brain Injuries or Medical Intervention
Some of the most serious personal injury cases we see are brain injuries. In many situations, the person survives the initial impact but never fully regains awareness or function. Families are left managing hospital visits and difficult decisions while hoping for recovery. When a catastrophic injury becomes fatal, the question becomes whether someone’s actions caused the damage in the first place.
We have worked with Wisconsin families who have faced this exact situation. What begins as a personal injury case may lead to a wrongful death claim if the person does not survive. The deadline for personal injury cases is set by Wisconsin Statutes § 893.54, but a separate timeline can apply if the injured party passes away.
The Painful Reality of Losing a Loved One to Nursing Home Abuse
Not every nursing home death happens right away. Sometimes a resident suffers a serious injury and lives for weeks or months afterward, with their loved ones doing everything possible to help them recover. Families often spend that time making hard decisions, coordinating care, and trying to stay hopeful even when the outcome is unclear.
What Families Go Through When a Loved One’s Injury Becomes Fatal
Some of the most difficult cases we handle begin with a serious brain injury, broken hip, or untreated infection. At first, the focus is on survival: hospital visits, rehab, specialist appointments, but over time, the toll adds up, and the injury becomes too much for the body to withstand. It is heartbreaking, especially when you feel the entire situation could have been prevented.
We have worked with families who carried this weight day by day before finally being forced to say goodbye. Even if a personal injury case had already started, a wrongful death claim may follow.
How the Legal Focus Changes After a Nursing Home Death
When someone passes away after an injury caused by nursing home negligence, the legal case changes direction. The goal is no longer just to recover medical costs or pain and suffering. It becomes about honoring who your loved one was and holding the facility accountable for what happened. That includes funeral costs, lost companionship, and the emotional toll on the family left behind.
Much of the evidence already collected in a personal injury claim, like medical records, staffing logs, and witness statements, can support the wrongful death case, too. If you are already in the middle of a legal process, it helps to understand how those parts all come together and what steps may come next.
Fatal Crashes Involving Commercial Vehicles and Highway Traffic
Highways around Eau Claire are busy with commercial vehicles, especially on routes like I-94 and Highway 53. When something goes wrong at high speeds, the outcome can be devastating. Families are often left with questions after a crash, especially when commercial drivers, trucking companies, or out-of-state carriers are involved. Crashes that often lead to wrongful death claims include:
- Highway collisions involving 18-wheelers
- Speed-related car accidents under Wisconsin Statutes § 346.57
- Motorcycle accidents near exits or on-ramps
- Pileups caused by distracted or drowsy drivers
- Fatal wrecks involving delivery vans or box trucks
- Crashes where driver fatigue played a major part
- Commercial truck accidents during merging or lane changes
- Rear-end crashes caused by sudden braking in congested traffic
- Loss of control from speeding on wet or icy roads
- Multi-vehicle accidents in construction zones with poor signage
Commercial vehicle crashes are investigated differently from standard wrecks. There are often federal regulations, company records, and complex insurance issues involved. At Bye, Goff & Rohde, you are not just hiring a lawyer—you are hiring an army. We have the experience, tools, and team to take on high-impact cases like yours when families need answers the most.
Contact Our Experienced and Compassionate Eau Claire Wrongful Death Attorneys
When someone you love is taken too soon, you deserve answers and support that make sense for your family. Our wrongful death lawyers in Eau Claire, WI have handled some of the most serious cases in the state.
Bye, Goff & Rohde has been recognized as Wisconsin’s personal injury powerhouse for over 50 years. We get results because we take the time to listen to our clients, investigate their injuries, and build strong claims that reflect what families have been through. To request a free consultation to discuss your loss, contact our law firm today.