The loss of a loved one to suicide is devastating. When that loss was preventable—and someone in a position of responsibility failed to act—it becomes even more painful. You can be left struggling with overwhelming questions. Why did no one intervene? Could this have been stopped? In some cases, those responsible for a person’s care or custody—whether in a hospital, jail, school, or treatment facility—can be legally liable for failing to prevent a suicide.
A skilled Chicago failure to prevent suicide lawyer at our firm can help your family find answers and explore whether a legal claim is appropriate. At Kaveny + Kroll, we understand that you are not simply looking for compensation. You are looking for accountability, truth, and change. Our compassionate personal injury attorneys can help you navigate this complex and emotional legal process with empathy and strength.
Under Illinois law, institutions and individuals in certain positions must protect vulnerable people in their care. This is especially true in settings such as:
When someone is a known suicide risk and appropriate safeguards are not put in place, the result can be catastrophic.
However, for there to be liability issues, the person in charge must be aware that a person is potentially suicidal—and in a position to prevent that suicide. Often, that translates into that person having some type of power over the at-risk person. In many instances, the victims are children, but they can include anyone in a vulnerable position.
In these cases, liability can arise under a theory of medical malpractice, negligence, or wrongful death. Hospitals can fail to conduct proper suicide risk assessments, correctional officers can ignore clear warning signs, and mental health providers can discharge a patient prematurely or neglect to monitor them. Each case must be carefully investigated to determine who knew what—and when—and whether that knowledge triggered a legal obligation to act. Our knowledgeable and experienced Chicago attorneys can investigate whether such a lapse prevented a suicide intervention.
Failure to prevent suicide cases are uniquely complex. These claims often involve multiple parties, overlapping systems of care, and deeply personal subject matter. They require attorneys with both technical knowledge and a deep understanding of mental health law, institutional protocols, and standards of care.
At Kaveny + Kroll, our attorneys work with leading psychiatric professionals, review facility records, and examine systemic failures that possibly contributed to your loved one’s death. We understand the sensitivities involved in bringing these claims and approach every case with the compassion it deserves. Our attorneys’ goals are not only to help your family find a measure of justice but also to push for institutional changes that can prevent system failures and future suicide tragedies in Chicago.
Choosing to pursue a legal claim after a suicide is never easy. Many families worry about judgment, stigma, or the emotional toll of litigation. At Kaveny + Kroll, we take the time to listen. We offer clear guidance on whether you have a case, what the legal process involves, and what outcomes are possible. We handle each step with care, discretion, and an unwavering commitment to your family’s dignity and healing.
If you believe a hospital, facility, or other party failed to prevent your loved one’s suicide in Chicago, our lawyers are ready to help you explore your legal options.
You do not have to face this alone. A Chicago failure to prevent suicide lawyer at Kaveny + Kroll can offer the clarity and support you need. While no lawsuit can bring your loved one back, legal action can help you uncover the truth, seek accountability, and potentially protect others from a similar fate.
Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Let us help you find the path forward.
Recovery for an 8-year-old girl whose four-limbs were amputated after a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of an infection, leading to severe septic shock.
Recovery for wrongful death of a husband and father of three due to undiagnosed aortic dissection in emergency department 2 days earlier.
Recovery for a 37-year-old man who suffered the partial amputation of both of his legs and one of his arms after a hospital failed to give him antibiotics for a serious infection (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).
Recovery for a brain-injured newborn after doctors failed to timely deliver the baby by cesarean section.
Verdict for the wrongful death of a 40-year-old wife and mother of six children and her unborn seventh child after she suffered respiratory arrest due to pneumonia while in the hospital.
Recovery for an infant who suffered brain damage and developed cerebral palsy due to a delayed cesarean section after indications that the baby was not tolerating the labor well.
Recovery for the wrongful death of a 64-year-old man and the debilitating injuries of a 62-year-old woman—both from southern Illinois—arising from a multi-vehicle pile-up on a highway in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Verdict for the wrongful death of a 25-year-old helmet-wearing cyclist who was struck and killed by a truck.
Recovery for a 55-year-old Chinese immigrant whose leg was crushed by a Chicago Transit Authority bus making too-tight-a-turn at a downtown intersection. The 55-year-old woman was within the crosswalk at the time of the Chicago accident.
Recovery for a 34-year old property adjuster in Dallas, Texas, left severely burned after being electrocuted by a dangerously-low-hanging electrical wire on a roof, about which the company had received complaints but failed to correct.
Recovery for three college students killed in an apartment fire when one fell asleep smoking. Apartment did not have working smoke detectors at the time.
Recovery for the wrongful death of a 24-year-old truck driver who was killed in an Adams County heptane gas explosion, leaving behind a wife and a 3-year-old daughter.
Recovery for a 29-year-old who suffered skull fractures, a traumatic brain injury, an 18-day coma, and partial quadriplegia after his pickup was broadsided by another vehicle, which was attempting to flee from a reckless and unnecessary police chase involving a minor traffic infraction (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).
Verdict resulting from an improper police chase. Fleeing suspect hit car driving through an intersection with mother in front seat and minor daughter in rear. Mother was killed. Entire accident was caught on a nearby CTA bus videocam (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).
Verdict for a 58-year-old public school principal whose reputation was damaged after she was wrongfully arrested, wrongfully charged, and wrongfully prosecuted following a fight involving six students at her school in which she merely called 9-1-1.
Verdict for a paralyzed 24-year-old female injured at O’Hare International Airport (highest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual in Illinois, and top five in U.S., excluding punitive damages).
Recovery for a 34-year old property adjuster in Dallas, Texas, left severely burned after being electrocuted by a dangerously-low-hanging electrical wire on a roof, about which the company had received complaints but failed to correct.
Recovery for a Rolling Meadows high school football player who became a quadriplegic after he was tackled by a teammate into an unpadded, 25 foot-high steel post located 11.5 feet from the sideline of the school’s practice field.
Verdict for a 33-year-old veteran forced to undergo seven surgeries after his left foot was degloved when it was run over by a forklift while working at an international technology show at McCormick Place.
Recovery for a 34-year old property adjuster in Dallas, Texas, left severely burned after being electrocuted by a dangerously-low-hanging electrical wire on a roof, about which the company had received complaints but failed to correct.
Recovery for a 42-year-old Chicago construction worker whose leg was shattered when he fell 20 feet after the steel beam on which he was working collapsed.
Currently seeking recovery on behalf of clients who have filed lawsuits against Abbott Laboratories, Inc. (“Abbott”), Mead Johnson & Company and Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (“Mead Johnson”). Babies born to these plaintiffs developed necrotizing enterocolitis (“NEC”) after they were fed infant formula manufactured by Abbott or Mead Johnson. NEC is a serious gastrointestinal problem that mostly affects premature babies and can lead to permanent injury or death.
Received financial compensation for the families of plaintiffs who were prescribed the pain medication Vioxx manufactured by Merck. The drug was found to cause heart attacks and strokes and has subsequently been withdrawn from the marketplace.
Verdict obtained on behalf of homeowners who lived near the Sterigenics facility and contracted various forms of cancer as a result of ethylene oxide (“EtO”) emissions into the environment by Sterigenics and its parent company, Sotera Health.
Verdict for a paralyzed 24-year-old female injured at O’Hare International Airport (highest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual in Illinois, and top five in U.S., excluding punitive damages).
Recovery for a 55-year-old Chinese immigrant whose leg was crushed by a Chicago Transit Authority bus making too-tight-a-turn at a downtown intersection. The 55-year-old woman was within the crosswalk at the time of the Chicago accident.
Recovery for a 31-year-old woman who suffered permanent brain damage after she was struck by public transit bus while jogging.
Verdict against school district for sex abuse of two minor children by gym teacher off school grounds.
Kaveny + Kroll has filed suit against Northwestern University due to its failure to protect a student who was knowingly experiencing suicidal ideation and planning. The student jumped from a fourth story window and suffered two punctured lungs, multiple broken ribs, damage to internal organs, and traumatic brain injury. The case remains pending.
