For Families

St. Louis Wrongful Death Lawyer

No legal result can undo the loss of a husband, wife, parent, or child. What a wrongful death case can do is secure your family's future, get honest answers about what happened, and make it harder for it to happen to someone else.

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What a wrongful death claim is

When a death is caused by another's negligence — a highway or truck crash, a railroad or river accident, a defective product, or an unsafe workplace — Missouri and Illinois law allow specified family members to bring a wrongful death claim. Recoverable damages can include:

The income, benefits, and services your loved one would have provided over a lifetime
Medical and funeral expenses
The loss of companionship, comfort, guidance, and support
In appropriate cases, damages for the suffering the person endured before death, and aggravating-circumstance (punitive-type) damages

Experience with the hardest cases

Schneller Law Group brings Gerry Schneller's 35 years of experience handling catastrophic injury and death cases against railroads, barge lines, trucking companies, and manufacturers — defendants with experienced counsel and every incentive to minimize what they pay. The firm's experience includes the additional federal remedies that may apply in railroad (FELA) and maritime death cases.

Just as important: how the case is handled. The firm explains each step in plain language and takes the legal burden off families so they can focus on each other.

Deadlines in death cases are strict — generally three years in Missouri and two years in Illinois, with shorter periods in some circumstances. A free, confidential conversation will tell you exactly where your family stands.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can bring a wrongful death claim?

In Missouri, the statute sets out classes of family members — starting with the spouse, children, and parents. Illinois claims are brought by the personal representative of the estate for the benefit of the surviving spouse and next of kin. The firm can help determine who has the right to file in your situation.

How long does a wrongful death case take?

It varies with the complexity of the case and the defendant's willingness to be reasonable. Schneller Law Group prepares each accepted case with trial in mind from the beginning.

What does it cost the family?

Nothing up front. Wrongful death cases are handled on a contingency fee — no attorney's fee unless there is a recovery.

What if my loved one was a railroad or river worker?

Federal law applies — FELA for railroaders and the Jones Act/general maritime law for crew members — with their own damages and procedures. These are signature practice areas for Schneller Law Group, led by Gerry Schneller.

Injured? Start with a free case review.

The call is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation. If the firm accepts your case, you pay nothing unless there is a recovery.

(314) 202-6070 Request a Free Case Review