Types of fatal injury claims
Sadly, some incidents do result in fatalities, some of which may have been prevented were it not for someone else’s actions or inaction. We have represented the loved ones of accident victims who died as a result of:
What can be included in a fatal injury compensation claim
The sudden and unexpected death of a loved one can carry significant financial implications for you and any dependents left behind. The law about what can be claimed is complex, but our specialist solicitors will advise you fully on your entitlement to compensation with sensitivity and understanding.
What can be included in a fatal injury claim often depends on the age of the person who died, whether they had children, the family relationships they had and the level of financial dependency on them.
Here are examples of what can be considered in a fatal injury claim:
- Compensation for pain and suffering – if the death was not instantaneous.
- Loss of income dependency – dependency upon lost income of the deceased, including wages, salary, loss of pension provision and employment benefits (including bonuses and healthcare benefits).
- Loss of dependency on services – to replace childcare, DIY, gardening and other services provided by the deceased.
- Medical fees, costs of care, loss of earnings – and other reasonable expenses where the death was not instant.
- Bereavement award – (under the Fatal Accident Act 1976) for the spouse or parent of the deceased, which is currently £15,120.
- Funeral expenses – to cover the cost of the funeral and other reasonable expenses.
Why choose our fatal injury solicitors?
- Our specialist solicitors are highly experienced in fatal injury claims and will approach your case with both sensitivity and determination.
- Our lawyers operate across the country and, where possible, can visit you at home, or meet you at any of our offices, to discuss your claim.
- We have individual lawyers and teams who are recognised for their excellence by being ranked in Band 1 in independent guides to the legal profession.
- We will seek early interim payments of compensation whenever possible, to alleviate financial pressure on you.
- We can work closely with our expert private client colleagues to help you with any probate and estate
- Where appropriate, we can represent you at the inquest should the matter be referred to the Coroner.
Our specialist fatal injury solicitors understand that one of the first things you might want are answers to how and why this happened.
There will often be a police investigation and possibly a criminal prosecution of those responsible. If an accident happened at work, there may also be a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. A coroner’s investigation will follow most unnatural deaths, which might lead to an Inquest. While these investigations can feel impersonal and unfamiliar, your dedicated personal injury solicitor will be there to support and guide you through each step.
Examples of successful fatal injury compensation claims
- We represented the family of one of the victims who tragically died in a collision near junction 25 of the M5 on the night of 4 November 2011, involving 34 vehicles and causing seven fatalities and many more serious injuries – one of the largest road traffic accidents ever seen in Great Britain.
- We acted for the family of a man killed in an accident on a motorway when a lorry collided with his stationary vehicle whilst the lanes were set up as a “smart motorway”. The lorry driver was prosecuted and we supported the family through the criminal procedure. The lorry driver was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to a period of imprisonment.
- We acted for the family of an elderly person who was killed following a collision with a van at a traffic light-controlled crossing. We represented the family at pre-inquest hearings and offered support through the criminal process, where there was a conviction for causing death by careless driving.
Contact a fatal injury solicitor
Our specialist solicitors are experienced in dealing with fatal injury claims and will approach your claim with sensitivity and determination. To discuss your fatal accident or injury compensation claim, call us now on 0800 316 8892 or contact us online.
