Your guide to making a claim for a fatal accident at work.
Your guide to making a claim for a fatal accident at work.
I am very happy and satisfied with the settlement you achieved for me and the service was excellent and thank you very much
Mrs E.Swaffield
Loughborough
Thankfully, fatal accidents are rare in the UK and the rate of fatal injury is now the lowest in Europe. However, construction, manufacturing and agriculture continue to produce more fatal accidents than other UK industries.
Finding out what went wrong at work and why a fatal injury happened are almost always the first questions asked by the family of the deceased. Coming to terms with the sudden loss of a loved one is an enormous challenge and there may not be a clear explanation from the employer as to the exact circumstances of the accident. In some instances, a denial of responsibility can add to the harm and stress of a grieving family, who are also likely to have to attend an Inquest to determine how the death occurred.
No amount of compensation can replace the loss of a family member and there can often be an enormous emotional hurdle to overcome before even taking the decision to seek legal advice.
Read moreAt Your Legal Friend, our dedicated team of specialist solicitors has over 30 years of experience in successfully resolving many different types of personal injury and fatal accident cases. Our sensitive approach means we work with you to understand how everyone involved is affected, how we can construct the best possible claim for you and how we can help you secure crucial financial assistance during a most difficult time.
Read lessAlison Saul, Director of Personal Injury leads our Personal Injury and Road Accident teams. A fully qualified solicitor with over 15 years of experience and expertise, Alison is dedicated to achieving the highest levels of compensation for her clients as well as ensuring high-quality client care.
Alison is assisted by her team managers, Philip Waters Lee Quinn, Jenna Hargreaves, and Kathryn Langton. Philip, Lee, and Jenna lead legal teams focussing on Road Traffic Accident cases while Kathyrn leads our Personal Injury team. Together they have a wealth of experience in personal injury compensation.
Read morePhilip, a qualified solicitor, has over 18 years’ experience in personal injury compensation. Having previously worked for a large insurance company, he has extensive insights on how to engage effectively with insurers to achieve the level of compensation our clients deserve. Philip deals with cases of high value, complex cases, and recently secured £1.6 million in compensation for one of his clients who suffered catastrophic injuries in a road accident.
Lee has over 15 years’ specialist experience in Personal Injury claims and also manages a wide variety of high value, complex cases. Lee has extensive experience of working with insurance companies, acting for both claimants and defendants, and so understands how to secure the highest levels of compensation for the victims of road traffic accidents.
Jenna is a qualified solicitor and has studied to become a barrister. Jenna leads the internal reviews of our case management processes to ensure excellent, efficient case handling and high levels of client satisfaction.
Kathryn, also a qualified solicitor, specialises in accidents at work, public liability and accidents abroad. Kathryn deals with a wide variety of cases, often including accidents that involve serious, complex injuries.
Read lessWe'll never sell your data or contact you unnecessarily. Your Legal Friend is a secure and private website.
There are many people injured in accidents each year through no fault of their own and the circumstances will be different in each instance. Our team has extensive experience of successfully managing a wide range of personal injury claims, so we can help you secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
Director of Personal Injury
“I found the staff to be friendly, helpful, courteous and they kept me well informed on a regular basis”
Mrs. Vora,
Loughborough
“They acted in a sympathetic and professional manner and resolved my case very efficiently”
Mr Dowse
Leeds
A compensation claim for a fatal accident at work can be made against the deceased’s employers by any of the following dependents:
The claims process will require you to prove that the accident was caused by another party’s negligence.
The value of the claim will include compensation for the dependents’ loss of dependency upon the deceased. This includes:
Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, a bereavement award of a fixed sum is also made to the dependents of the deceased. In addition, awards of compensation under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1934, include:
Financial assistance can be vital for the widow and dependents immediately following a fatal accident.
Fatal Accidents Act 1976
Bereavement Claim
Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, dependents can bring a claim for a bereavement award which is a fixed sum that can be made only to the dependents of the deceased. In April 2013, this sum was increased to its current rate of £12,980. The claim can also cover funeral expenses if these are paid for by the dependents.
Dependency Claim
In most circumstances, the Estate comprises the dependents in any event and usually (but not always) the surviving spouse and any children. The Estate ordinarily includes:
The purpose of this award is to ensure that the deceased’s dependents will not be financially worse off as a result of the death of their loved one. Therefore the deceased’s income, pension, and any services generally used for the benefit of the spouse or partner and children will be included in the value of the claim.
A claim for dependency can be made:
The calculation for the claim is usually based on the income the deceased would have earned for the rest of their life, including any future promotions and/or pension provision. An assessment is also made on how much of the income would have been spent on providing for the dependents and family of the deceased.
Read lessYes, additional claims for the costs of caring for the injured person may include:
The wife is considered as a second source of income for the family, with her lost income also accompanied by a loss of services to the family.
Following a fatal accident, the calculation made in a husband’s claim for dependency also takes into account:
A compensation claim for a fatal accident at work can be made against the deceased’s employers by any of the following dependents:
The claims process will require you to prove that the accident was caused by another party’s negligence.
The value of the claim will include compensation for the dependents’ loss of dependency upon the deceased. This includes:
Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, a bereavement award of a fixed sum is also made to the dependents of the deceased. In addition, awards of compensation under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1934, include:
Financial assistance can be vital for the widow and dependents immediately following a fatal accident.
Fatal Accidents Act 1976
Bereavement Claim
Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, dependents can bring a claim for a bereavement award which is a fixed sum that can be made only to the dependents of the deceased. In April 2013, this sum was increased to its current rate of £12,980. The claim can also cover funeral expenses if these are paid for by the dependents.
Dependency Claim
In most circumstances, the Estate comprises the dependents in any event and usually (but not always) the surviving spouse and any children. The Estate ordinarily includes:
The purpose of this award is to ensure that the deceased’s dependents will not be financially worse off as a result of the death of their loved one. Therefore the deceased’s income, pension, and any services generally used for the benefit of the spouse or partner and children will be included in the value of the claim.
A claim for dependency can be made:
The calculation for the claim is usually based on the income the deceased would have earned for the rest of their life, including any future promotions and/or pension provision. An assessment is also made on how much of the income would have been spent on providing for the dependents and family of the deceased.
Read lessYes, additional claims for the costs of caring for the injured person may include:
The wife is considered as a second source of income for the family, with her lost income also accompanied by a loss of services to the family.
Following a fatal accident, the calculation made in a husband’s claim for dependency also takes into account:
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