Fatal Accident Claims

For free legal advice call our Personal Injury Solicitors and we will help you. Ask if we can deal with your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.

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We know that losing a loved one in a fatal accident can be extremely devastating and you may feel like your life has been put on hold. You might find you don’t have much headspace to think about your finances or the legal side of things – if you were partly dependent on your loved one’s income or you’re struggling to carry on after your loss, you might not know where to start.

That’s why our specialist Personal Injury solicitors are here to help you. We are only excellent listeners but leading experts in our field, and we can help you access the compensation and support you need to move forward.

When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen. We offer a free consultation and could help you make a compensation claim on a No Win, No Fee basis. This can ease your financial stress, as you won’t have to pay anything upfront, and won’t pay us a penny unless we secure you compensation. To find out more, simply get in touch with us today or request a callback, and we’ll talk you through your options.

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Can I Make a Compensation Claim After the Death of a Loved One?

If your loved one has passed away as a result of another person's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim for compensation under the Fatal Accidents Act. We have helped thousands of people make a claim after the death of their loved one following:

Those who are entitled to make a claim include spouses, civil partners, cohabiting partners, parents, children and siblings.

However the law on this is very complex, so it can be confusing to figure out whether you’re eligible to make a claim, and what compensation you’re entitled to. We highly recommend that you speak to one of our fatal accident compensation lawyers, who can advise you and your family on the next steps.

Some deaths following fatal accidents are reported to a coroner, who may decide to hold on inquest. The coroner’s job it is to establish the facts surrounding your loved one’s death and this is completely separate from any criminal investigation or compensation claim. We can liaise with the coroner on your behalf and if there is an inquest hearing, we can provide representation for you.

Compensation can help you cover costs in the long and short term, and can help you find closure after your loved one’s accident. In the short term, compensation can help you recuperate funeral costs and in the long term, it can provide ongoing financial support and help you live the most fulfilling life you can, knowing that it’s what your loved one would have wanted.

What Type of Financial Support Could I Be Entitled to?

We know that losing a loved one to a fatal accident is one of the most devastating things that can happen to you, and no amount of money can account for the loss you have experienced. However, we can help you take steps to ensure you don’t suffer any additional financial losses by falling on hard times after your loved one has passed away.

There are some statutory awards and other state benefits that we can advise you on, but it’s important to note the most significant sum of money you may be entitled to will be personal injury compensation. Our lawyers will take into account your exact circumstances as we know no accident or death is the same – everyone copes and grieves differently and needs various types of emotional and practical support.

You can get in touch with our dedicated team, and we’ll talk you through your options at your pace to make sure you can get the compensation and closure you deserve.

A Bereavement Award

Families who have lost a loved one as a result of a negligent act or omission, including a fatal accident, can make a bereavement claim for statutory bereavement damages.

The statutory bereavement award is currently fixed at £ 15,120, if your loved one died after on or after 1st May 2020.

If your loved one died before 1st May 2020, the award is fixed at £ 12,980.

While this sum will not compensate for the fact that you have lost your loved one in such tragic circumstances, it is – by its nature – designed to consider the emotional trauma following a fatal accident or violent crime.

Currently, the people who can claim for a bereavement damages award are:

  • Husbands, wives and civil partners of the person who passed away;
  • The unmarried partner who had been co-habiting with their partner who passed away, for 2 years or more;
  • The parents, if the child was under the age of 18 and born/conceived at a time when the parents were legally married to each other (the award is divided equally amongst both parents);
  • If the child was born when the parents were not married, unfortunately only the mother can claim;

We support organisations like the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) in their campaign to make the law fairer on bereavement damages, as we believe a major reform of this system is overdue. In the meantime, we are here to make sure your personal injury compensation can reflect the support you and your family truly need and we can take your individual situation into account, doing our utmost to ensure you are not negatively impacted financially following your loved one’s death.

How Does the Fatal Accidents Claims Process Work?

    1

    A free initial consultation and/or home visit

    This is an informal conversation where you’ll have no obligation to move forward with a claim. You can meet and get to know one of our specialist solicitors and we can start to find out how your loved one died, and the kind of support you would benefit from.

    2

    Providing network support

    Our team will make sure you get the right emotional and practical support, by directing you to counselling, advice services and the some of the excellent charities we are paired with.

    3

    Applying for early payments

    If the person or business who was responsible for the death of your loved one accepts liability (or partial liability) we can apply for interim payments of compensation to help you recover any urgent costs, before your case is settled.

    4

    We’ll negotiate your compensation

    In most fatal accident cases, a compensation settlement will be offered by the responsible party without the need to go to Court. We will negotiate with the responsible party to ensure you receive a fair amount, and we will get your compensation to you as soon as possible when it has been agreed.

Get in touch, today!

Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0808 239 3227

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