Fatal Accidents

Instructing a solicitor to pursue compensation following the death of a loved one is not a situation anybody wants to be in.

We have represented many clients following fatal accidents and we understand that overwhelmingly the motivation of people pursuing such claims is to achieve a sense of justice – compensation is rarely the primary goal.  That said, compensation is a key means of achieving justice within our legal system and financial compensation can be vital, particularly when a deceased person was the primary wage-earner in a family.

Our approach to fatal accident claims is to allow you to set the pace, whilst we advise and support you throughout the process.

How much compensation am I entitled to?

There are two routes to compensation following a fatal accident.  The first is via the Law Reform Act 1934, which allows for a claim for the benefit of a deceased person’s estate.  The level of compensation for such claims is fixed with reference to national guidelines and is much lower than people often realise and at first sight can even appear offensively low.  For example, when a person is killed almost instantly the range of awards is between £1,290 to £2,620, or in circumstances where death is not instant, the damages can be up to £22,350.00.  These are meagre sums to compensate for a life lost, but they are not necessarily the whole claim.  

In addition to the above, you may be able to make a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 for Bereavement Damages.  Bereavement Damages are fixed by the government (they increased from £12,980.00 to £15,210 from the 1st May 2020). You may also be entitled to bring a dependency claim if you were dependent on the deceased for family income or support and you can also claim for financial support with funeral costs.  It is important to instruct an experienced solicitor to ensure that you recover all that you are entitled to.

Read our case study here:  £300,000.00 for Stockport family.

Can you also help with Probate?

Yes. In order to pursue a Fatal Accident Claim there must be a grant of Probate. We do not ordinarily deal with Probate but when it is necessary for a Fatal Accident Claim we will manage the process for you. If necessary, we will work with other lawyers to ensure you are well-advised and often we can re-claim the Probate fees as part of the compensation claim.

How do you charge?

We offer ‘No win, no fee’ terms for fatal accident claims. See Our Fees for more information.  If you have any questions, please contact us directly.