Fatal Accidents
Fatal accident claims are usually highly complex, involving as they do serious emotional and financial problems for the next of kin and families involved.
Dependants, including husbands or wives and children (adult or minor), of the deceased are fully entitled to claim. There is a fixed statutory sum called bereavement damages that can be claimed, currently £11,800, but of course compensation for dependants will not stop there.
Any person who was and can prove they were financially dependant upon the deceased (or the deceased’s services) can claim for the financial loss incurred as a result of the loss of the dependency.
It is necessary in all fatal accident claims to prove there was a reasonable expectation of financial benefit from the deceased. In most cases, this is not difficult to prove.
Who qualifies as a dependant?
• A wife or husband or former wife or husband
• A civil partner or former civil partner of the deceased
• A person who had been living with the deceased as wife or husband for at least two years prior to the death of the deceased
• A child of the deceased
• A parent or someone else who was financially dependant on the deceased
• Someone who was treated by the deceased as his or her parent
• A brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or cousin of the deceased
• A step child who was treated as the deceased’s child by the deceased
If you feel you may have a claim, or simply require further information, please complete the online questionnaire or alternatively contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us on freephone 08000 815 815.
