Real Wrongful Death Cases. Real Results.
$2.25 Million
Fatal Motorcycle Collision
Madison County, IL
Our client’s son was killed when a distracted driver turned left into his motorcycle. We proved negligence and uncovered critical black box data the insurer hoped we’d miss.
$1.9 Million
Delivery Truck Incident
St. Louis County, MO
An elderly pedestrian was struck by a commercial vehicle in a parking lot. The defense argued shared fault, but we showed their driver’s training and supervision failures.
$1.4 Million
Highway Crash
St. Charles County, MO
A father of three died in a multi-vehicle pile-up. We worked with experts to establish liability and held multiple insurers accountable.
“The insurance company stalled for months until Sotiriou Wilmowski got involved. Within weeks, they were taking our case seriously.”
Why Choose Sotiriou Wilmowski for Your Wrongful Death Case?
The Sotiriou Wilmowski Insider Advantage™
Before we represented grieving families, we defended insurance companies in wrongful death cases. We’ve seen how these claims are valued — and devalued — behind closed doors. Now, we use that insight to help families like yours fight for justice.
Real Legal Experience
You won’t be handed off to a junior associate. You’ll work directly with seasoned attorneys who’ve litigated wrongful death cases involving car accidents, workplace tragedies, medical negligence, and more. We know how to build strong cases from the start.
Personalized Support
We take time to learn who your loved one was — and what this loss means for your family. We explain your rights clearly, keep you updated, and provide the guidance you need to move forward with confidence.
No Fee Unless We Win
We advance all case costs and only get paid if we recover compensation for your family. You never pay out of pocket.
We Know How Insurers Fight These Claims
Insurance companies often question the value of a life. We push back with evidence, experts, and legal strategy — not guesswork. You deserve more than condolences. You deserve accountability.
What Our Clients Say
The Sotiriou Wilmowski Insider Advantage™
We know how insurance companies think—because we used to work for them.
Deme Sotiriou spent years defending wrongful death claims for one of the largest insurance companies in the nation.
She knows exactly how insurers evaluate these heartbreaking cases, question the cause of death, minimize the value of life, and try to avoid responsibility. Now, she uses that experience to fight for families — building stronger claims and exposing the tactics insurers don’t want you to see.
Tom Wilmowski used to defend insurance companies in wrongful death lawsuits across Missouri and Illinois.
He understands how insurers try to deflect blame and delay payouts, even when negligence is clear. Today, Tom turns that insider knowledge against them — holding wrongdoers accountable and fighting for justice on behalf of grieving families.
Why Our Experience Gives You the Edge
We spent years defending major auto and commercial insurers in wrongful death claims. We sat in the war rooms. We wrote the denials. Now we use that insight to break through their defenses.
We’ve handled cases involving crashes on I-70, I-64, I-44, and I-270 — and across Missouri and Illinois. We understand how local law enforcement investigates these tragedies and what documentation insurers use to limit their exposure.
We work with top experts in accident reconstruction, economics, and forensic pathology to build cases that insurers can’t ignore.
We’ve Been in Their War Room — Now We’re in Yours
Our insider knowledge gives you a powerful edge at every stage of the process.
Put Our Experience to Work for You
This isn’t guesswork. It’s targeted legal strategy built on deep industry insight.
If you’ve lost a loved one due to negligence, don’t face the insurance company alone. Get a team that’s been on the inside.
That’s the Sotiriou Wilmowski Insider Advantage™
Grieving a Loss Caused by Negligence?
Let us help you find answers. We’ll handle the legal fight so your family can focus on healing.
Questions Families Ask Us After a Wrongful Death
What Missouri and Illinois Families Need to Know
Types of Wrongful Death Cases We Handle
We represent families in a wide range of wrongful death claims, including:
Fatal car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
Losing a loved one in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident is devastating, especially when the crash was caused by another driver’s negligence. These collisions often result from speeding, distracted driving, or reckless behavior, leaving families with emotional grief and financial hardship. Wrongful death claims can help recover compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, and lost income. Having once defended insurance companies, we know the tactics they use to minimize payouts. Our firm builds strong cases that prove liability, hold negligent drivers accountable, and provide surviving families with the justice and financial security they deserve during an incredibly difficult time.
Dangerous property conditions (slip/trip and fall deaths)
Falls caused by unsafe property conditions can be deadly, particularly for elderly victims or those with health vulnerabilities. Property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions by fixing hazards like broken stairs, uneven sidewalks, poor lighting, or wet floors. When they fail in this duty and a fatal accident occurs, surviving families deserve justice. These cases are often complex, as insurers try to argue that the hazard was “open and obvious” or that the victim was at fault. Our firm knows how to counter these defenses and build strong claims that hold negligent property owners fully accountable.
DUI and reckless driving deaths
Drunk and reckless drivers endanger everyone on the road, and too often their choices result in fatal accidents. Families who lose loved ones in these preventable crashes are left with unimaginable grief and financial burdens. While the criminal system may punish the driver, it does not provide compensation for survivors. That’s where a wrongful death claim becomes critical. Our firm knows how to pursue civil damages against reckless drivers and their insurers, ensuring families receive financial support for medical bills, lost income, and future stability. We fight tirelessly to hold dangerous drivers fully accountable for their devastating actions.
Commercial vehicle and delivery truck crashes
Commercial vehicle and delivery truck accidents are often catastrophic, given the size and weight of the vehicles involved. When negligence by a company driver or poor fleet management causes a fatal crash, the consequences for surviving families are overwhelming. Trucking and delivery companies typically have powerful insurers who fight hard to avoid responsibility. With our experience defending businesses in these cases, we know the strategies they use to deny liability. Our firm investigates thoroughly, examining driver records, company policies, and vehicle maintenance to build a compelling wrongful death claim that holds negligent companies accountable and delivers justice for grieving families.
Construction and workplace fatalities
Construction sites and other workplaces can be dangerous when safety regulations are ignored. Fatal workplace accidents often result from falls, defective equipment, lack of protective gear, or unsafe practices. Families left behind not only lose a loved one but may also struggle with financial instability. Workers’ compensation benefits may not cover the full loss, making third-party wrongful death claims critical. With our background in defending these cases, we know how companies and insurers attempt to minimize payouts. We pursue every available avenue to ensure families receive the justice and compensation they deserve after a preventable workplace tragedy.
Medical negligence resulting in death
When medical professionals fail to provide proper care, the consequences can be tragic. Fatal medical negligence may involve surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, or failure to monitor patients correctly. Hospitals and providers often have strong legal teams working to avoid liability, leaving families struggling for answers. With our knowledge of how insurers and defense attorneys approach these cases, we build detailed wrongful death claims backed by expert testimony. Our firm fights to hold negligent medical providers accountable, helping families find justice and financial security after the devastating and preventable loss of a loved one due to medical malpractice.
Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities
Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable in collisions with motor vehicles, and these accidents are often fatal. Whether caused by distracted drivers, speeding, or failure to yield, these crashes leave families reeling from preventable loss. Insurance companies frequently attempt to shift blame to the victim, arguing that they were inattentive or outside a crosswalk. We know how to counter those arguments and prove negligence through evidence like surveillance footage, accident reconstruction, and witness statements. Our firm fights tirelessly to hold reckless drivers accountable and to secure the compensation families need after losing a loved one in a pedestrian or bicycle accident.
Nursing home neglect or abuse
Families place immense trust in nursing homes to care for their loved ones. When that trust is broken and a resident dies due to neglect or abuse, the pain is immeasurable. Fatalities in nursing homes may result from falls, untreated infections, medication errors, or outright abuse. Facilities often deny wrongdoing and attempt to shift blame onto residents. Our firm knows how to uncover evidence of neglect and hold nursing homes accountable. We fight for justice for families and dignity for victims, ensuring that negligent facilities are exposed and that survivors receive compensation for their heartbreaking and preventable loss.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist death claims
When a loved one is killed by an uninsured or underinsured driver, the path to justice often depends on UM/UIM coverage. These claims can provide critical compensation for funeral expenses, medical bills, and loss of financial support. Unfortunately, insurers often delay or dispute payment, arguing that coverage doesn’t apply or minimizing the value of the claim. With our experience defending insurance companies, we know their tactics and how to counter them. Our firm builds strong UM/UIM wrongful death cases, ensuring grieving families receive the compensation they deserve when a negligent, uninsured, or underinsured driver causes a fatal crash.
Fatal injuries from defective products
Defective products—from unsafe machinery to faulty medical devices—can cause fatal injuries when manufacturers fail to prioritize consumer safety. These wrongful death cases often involve complex evidence, technical testimony, and powerful corporations fighting to avoid liability. Survivors are left grieving and searching for accountability. Our firm investigates design flaws, manufacturing errors, and failures to warn consumers of risks, building strong claims against negligent manufacturers. With our background in defending companies, we know how they approach these cases—and how to beat them. We fight to hold corporations accountable when defective products cause fatal injuries, securing justice for grieving families.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Wrongful death compensation can include:
We Handle Wrongful Death Cases Across Missouri and Illinois
We proudly represent families throughout both states. Here are just some of the counties we serve.