Fatal Accident Claims: Fatal Accident & Injury Compensation Solicitors & Inquest Advocacy.

If a third party was at least partially to blame for the accident, then the dependants of the victim are eligible to claim compensation. Under UK law, dependants include:

• Children (biological children, adopted children, children through marriage or civil partnership)
• Spouses (or ex-spouses)
• Civil partners
• Partners who have been cohabiting for two or more years
• Parents and certain other relatives (including grandparents, great grandparents and those treated by the deceased as a parent. Brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews

Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, dependants can claim for the loss of financial support, and supplementary benefits such as pensions, bereavement compensation for the pain and suffering of the deceased and their family (certain dependants only), funeral expenses and loss of help with domestic tasks such as childcare.

Financial losses for dependency contribute most towards Fatal Accident Compensation settlements. This applies where the deceased leaves family members who have historically depended on their income. Generally applying to children of the deceased or a spouse, the compensation calculation will be commensurate with the income level of the deceased and may also consider other aspects of income and financial welfare such as pensions, healthcare plans, bonuses, company cars etc.

Fatal Accident compensation claims can also be made on behalf of the victim. In some cases, your loved one may have had a period of incapacity or illness before death as a result of the accident or incidence of medical negligence. This may have incurred costs associated with medical treatment and is certain to have led to the victim being unable to work and earn.

You could be entitled to claim compensation for the suffering they experienced at the time of their accident.

To get the very best advice at this challenging time, call one of our trained and qualified serious injury claims solicitors, they will listen carefully and compassionately to your questions and take time to discuss your options.

In addition to what Fatal Accident Compensation provides through general and special damages, a Statutory Award for Bereavement can also de made. This is separate from the amount that can be claimed as a dependent of the deceased.

Where a fatality has occurred through the fault or negligence of another party, the statutory award for bereavement is payable by the third-party even where there is no loss of income or other benefits by the dependants.

This award is only payable to parents of a deceased child or the spouse of the victim.

The Fatal Accident Act 1976 makes no specific reference to funeral expenses, but it is universally recognised that dependents can make a claim for costs incurred surrounding funeral services following the death of a loved one following a fatal accident.

While such an award will be limited and may not cover all costs associated with the ceremony, it will at least make provision for financial support in what are difficult times. The minimum award in such a circumstance is £3,000 with the maximum being £10,000.

If the fatal accident in question was sudden, violent or unexplained, the State may decide to launch an inquest. The specialists here at Lanyon Bowdler are able to guide you through the process from start to finish, contacting all relevant authorities, from HM Coroner to an NHS Trust, and will attend the inquest on your behalf if you would like support or do not wish to be present.

An inquest is intended to establish the circumstances leading up to the fatal accident and determine the cause of death. Although the proceedings may provide answers to many of your questions about why the accident happened, it will not assign blame to any individual, company or public body.