Fatal Accident Claims

Losing a loved one in a fatal accident is one of the hardest events that anyone has to deal with. The shock, upheaval and loss can seem unbearable and while you may quite naturally look for something or someone to blame, compensation will not be top of your priorities. However, in time, compensation may help to ease some of the financial difficulties that can arise after a fatal accident in the family and help to pave a way forward. If you are in this situation, our personal injury team are experts in fatal accident claims. We can help.

Our team of specialist personal injury solicitors has been winning fatal accident claims and supporting clients across the South West for more than 40 years. We can help you secure the justice and the compensation you deserve, providing expert, jargon-free legal advice that will help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Fatal accident claims

Our personal injury solicitors are APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) accredited specialists and are regularly ranked highly in the Legal 500. We understand that starting a legal claim for a fatal accident can be confusing and unsettling. We’re here to explain your rights and options and to handle every aspect of the claim process so that you can focus on dealing with your loss and, over time, getting your life back on track. We will help you secure the resources you need, from financial compensation to bereavement counselling.

We provide a comprehensive fatal accident claims service, including operating on a no win, no fee basis.

Fatal accident inquests

In cases where the circumstances around a fatal accident are unclear an inquest will be held to establish a better understanding of the accident and its causes. We know that attending an inquest can be daunting, particularly when you are still coming to terms with your loss. Our expert personal injury lawyers can represent you at the inquest and guide you through the process. We will work hard to ensure your voice is heard and will offer you advice on how to proceed once an outcome has been reached.

See our Inquests page for more information.

How much compensation could I receive?

While fatal accident cases are handled on an individual basis, larger sums are often awarded for where the victim has financial dependents, including a spouse or children. In these cases, a fatal accident can have huge financial as well as emotional impact the family. The loss of income and the individual care requirements of any dependents will be taken into consideration when any compensation for a fatal accident is made, so it’s important that you explain your financial and care requirements. We can help you and ensure that you receive the best possible outcome.

Some claimants are eligible for a statutory bereavement award of £15,120 for deaths from 1 May 2020. This includes spouses or civil partners and parents where the deceased was under 18 and unmarried.

No win, no fee

Some fatal accident claims are eligible for a no win, no fee funding agreement, which means:

• If you win your case your opponent will pay the majority of your legal costs. Any legal costs not paid by your opponent and the lawyer’s success fee will be deducted from the compensation that you receive.
• If you lose your case, you will not have to pay any legal costs unless we advise you otherwise.

Find out more about our no win, no fee funding and other ways of funding your potential claim.

How long do I have to make a fatal accident claim?

You usually have up to three years from the date of the accident or knowing about your injury to start a spinal injury claim. There are some exceptions and we will advise you about these when we speak. We recommend that you contact us as soon as possible, so our personal injury lawyers can explain the process of claiming compensation, start your claim and help you access any other support you need.