Fatal Accident Compensation Claim Solicitors

The Fatal Accidents Act: Who can claim?

If you relied on the person who passed away in any form, you could make a dependant's claim. The rules for this are laid out by the Fatal Accidents Act (1976). 

Relatives eligible to make a fatal accident claim include: 

• A child, or person treated as a child

• Parent or guardian

• Grandchild

• Grandparent

• Brother or sister

• Aunt or uncle

• Child of brother, sister, aunt or uncle

• Husband or wife

• Former husband or wife

• Cohabiting couples living together for two years or more

You may also be able to claim for fatal accident compensation on behalf of the person that has died. This may help to cover costs incurred before their passing or as recompense for their pain and suffering.

For more advice on the different types of fatal injury compensation claims, get in touch with us today.

How is death compensation calculated?

Dependants and victims' claims are calculated as special and general damages - similar to most other kinds of compensation claims. This applies to how much compensation you get for medical negligence resulting in death as well as things like industrial accidents and road traffic accidents.

Factors such as pain and suffering, any injuries sustained, and costs incurred as a result of injuries or the passing will be taken into account when calculating amounts.

Also, you may be able to receive a statutory award for bereavement. This amount of compensation is set at £15,120 in the Fatal Accidents Act. This will be paid on top of any other damages you receive.

What is the accidental death claim process?

If you contact us for a fast claims assessment and we believe you could win compensation under the Fatal Accidents Act, the process will follow these stages:

• Gather evidence: A fatal injury claim could rely on a lot of evidence. Your lawyer will help with this but providing as much evidence as possible will help move things along.
• Making contact: Once the evidence has been gathered, your lawyer will contact the party at fault. If they accept blame, they will begin negotiating fatal accident claim damages. 
• Settlement: Your lawyer will seek a settlement out of court, wherever possible, and the vast majority of cases end this way. If the other side does not accept fault, however, you may need to go to court.
• Compensation paid: Whether in or out of court, your lawyer will work hard to secure you the maximum fatal accident compensation possible. If you don't get compensation, you won't pay your lawyer a penny as part of a no win no fee agreement.

How do no win no fee fatal accident claims work?

A no win no fee arrangement allows you to pursue accidental death compensation knowing that you won't pay anything if the claim is unsuccessful. 

People who can't afford legal representation have the chance to get the justice they are entitled to thanks to no win no fee deals, which are also known as Conditional Fee Agreements. 

Fatal injury solicitors that work with ClaimsPeople pay for absolutely everything upfront involved in your case. This includes all the costs and expenses associated with your claim. 

You don't have to worry about the cost and you won't pay a thing if the case isn't successful.

How do I start a fatal injury compensation claim?

You have three options when it comes to starting your claim with us.

1. Call our personal injury advisors on 0800 587 0344. Our lines are open seven days a week until late. Get a fast and free fatal accident compensation claim assessment.
2. Fill in our callback form. Let us know what happened to your loved one and leave your contact details. We'll call back at a suitable time to talk through your options.
3. Use the compensation calculator. You can get an instant estimate of what your accidental death claim is worth. You may also be able to continue your claim online immediately.

What is the limitation in fatal accident claims?

There is a three-year time limit from the date of the fatal accident to make a compensation claim. 

The limit starts from the date of death. If your loved one was in the process of claiming compensation - for example in a medical negligence or personal injury case - then the three-year period would start again from the date they passed away.

Can I claim for fatal accident compensation online?

You can with ClaimsPeople. Our compensation calculator gives you an estimate of what your claim is worth and will let you know if you can go ahead with your case online.

How long do fatal accident claims take?

When you contact us, we will let you know immediately if you could make a fatality claim.

The timeframes involved in wrongful death compensation cases can vary and depend on many things, including the nature of the accident, how much evidence is gathered and available, and whether the other side accepts fault for what happened.

How much will I pay my fatal accident solicitor?

You won't have to pay your fatal accident solicitor a thing if you don't secure compensation as part of a no win no fee agreement.

If you win your case, depending on your claim type and value, your opponent (the person or parties held responsible) may be required to contribute towards your legal costs. In most cases this contribution will only cover part of your legal costs and your solicitor will make a deduction from your fatal accident compensation amount to cover costs such as:

• The cost of any insurance policy required to make your claim risk free
• Any legal costs, including fixed fees which are not recovered from the other side
• Where applicable a “success fee” which takes account of the fact if the claim is unsuccessful the solicitors won't get paid at all

Your solicitor will discuss this with you in advance, so you'll know what to expect when your claim settles. There are no hidden costs or surprises.

If your claim is unsuccessful you have nothing to pay.

It really is that straightforward. When we take on your case on a no win no fee basis, we work hard to make sure that claiming is risk free.

Do I need insurance to claim fatal accident compensation?

We usually recommend that insurance is put in place to ensure your claim is completely risk-free. Provided you stick to the terms of your agreement, ‘After The Event' insurance policies give you this protection.

ATE insurance covers expenses paid out on your behalf, including expert reports, barristers' fees and court fees. If you lose your fatal injury claim, your insurance takes care of these charges, so you don't have to. 

The important thing to note is that we organise all this for you and there are no upfront costs for this cover. The insurance premium is only paid if you win your claim and the costs of this are included in our overall cap on charges, so there are no surprises.

Will my fatal accident claim go to court?

The vast majority of fatal injury claims are settled out of court and your solicitor will always attempt to make sure that you do not have to appear in front of a judge.

If the other side does not accept fault, you may need to go to court. Your fatal accident lawyer will be by your side the whole time if this happens.

What happens if I lose my fatal injury claim?

If your case fails for any reason and you do not win compensation, we won't take a penny from you as part of a no win no fee agreement.