What Is A Fatal Accident?

Fatal accidents are severe accidents that lead to victims, unfortunately, losing their lives.

Fatal accidents can occur in many different situations. The majority of fatal accidents are due to unforeseen or unexpected events, such as road accidents, accidents at work or medical care.

If the deceased person’s death was caused due to the negligence of someone else, then the deceased’s Estate and dependants may be able to make fatal accident claims for compensation.

Common Accidents That Lead To Fatal Injuries 

Unfortunately, fatal accidents are common in many different circumstances. Many types of accidents can lead to severe injuries, which can ultimately lead to death. Even in environments that seem reasonably safe, such as the workplace, you may still be at risk of suffering a fatal injury.

At Beacon Law, we have dealt with numerous Fatal Accidents Act claims. In our experience, the most common types of accidents that have led to fatal accidents are:

• Road Traffic Accidents- Many road traffic accidents, including car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and cyclist accidents, can lead to fatal injuries. If someone, such as a close relative or dependant, has sustained fatal injuries from a road traffic accident, you could be entitled to compensation. You can find out more about claiming a road traffic accident by checking our Road Traffic Accidents page.
•  Accidents At Work: Your employer has a duty of care to ensure that your workplace is as safe as possible. Your employer must provide the correct training, such as training their staff to lift and carry heavy objects in work safely; and make sure protection measures are put in place to protect you against accidents at work. Employers should provide proper training for using dangerous machinery and providing sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) such as goggles and helmets. However, sometimes accidents at work do happen. If the proper training or protection measures were not in place and your dependant suffers fatal injuries at work or any other type of injury, then you could be eligible to claim against their employer. Your compensation claim will be made against the employer’s Employers’ Liability Insurance, which is compulsory for all employers.
•  Slips, Trips And Falls In Public Places-  People slip, trip and fall in public places every day, and while it may be embarrassing, many falling accidents can cause serious injuries. Depending on the height and impact in which your fall and hit the ground can cause multiple other injuries in different parts of the body. Severe injuries can lead to severe and fatal injuries. In most cases, these accidents could have been avoided if safety procedures and regulations were followed correctly. If you knew someone who has passed away due to fatal accidents from slipping, tripping or falling, then you may be able to claim compensation. Check out our article on Claiming for an Accident in a Public Place to find out more information.
• Sports accidents: Many accidents that happen at sporting events can lead to fatal or severe injuries. The victim may have been involved in an inappropriate tackle, which caused them to fall over and damage and injure their head, or they may have even sustained an injury because of faulty equipment or poorly maintained fields or courts. You may be able to claim compensation if your relative has suffered a fatal injury during a sporting activity or whilst watching a sporting event. Check out our Sports Injury Claims For Compensation article for more information.
• Medical Accidents: Fatal accidents are commonly caused by medical negligence. If a loved one has passed away due to the negligence of a medical practitioner, you could be eligible for making a Fatal Accidents Act claim. 

These are just some examples of accidents that can lead to fatal injuries. If you know someone who has had a fatal injury from an accident that is not listed above, and the accident was due to the consequence of a third party, then it is worth enquiring about a compensation claim. Contact us today to speak to one of our specialist personal injury lawyers.

What happens After A Fatal Accident?

After the date of death, a Judicial Inquiry is heard before a Coroner to investigate the details of death following the accident. Once this is done, the Coroner will provide a conclusion about the cause of death. Finding out the reason for death will help you make a Fatal Accident Act claim for compensation, especially if it has been concluded that a third party may be responsible for the death.

Fatal Accident Act 1976

The Fatal Accident Act 1976 states that the Dependants of the deceased are entitled to file a compensation claim if the accident of the deceased was due to somebody else’s negligence.

There are different types of compensation that can be sought under the Fatal Accidents Act:

• Loss of Consortium (also known as loss of a special person);
• Loss of Past And Future Services Dependency On The Deceased’s Services;
• Loss of Past And Future Financial dependency on The deceased’s income(loss of earnings);
• Statutory Bereavement Award;

Who Can Make A Dependency Claim?

A Dependant can be:

• A husband, wife or civil partner of the deceased for a least two years before the deceased death.
• Parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and those who were treated by the deceased as a parent.
• A spouse or ex-spouse.
• Blood-related children, adopted children, stepchildren.
• Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces.
• Living with the deceased

Beacon Law have dealt with many different family setups. We will work with any setup and help you get the financial dependency your family need.

What Is The Law Reform ( Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1934) Act?

The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1934) Act enables the ability to make a separate claim for compensation to be brought on by the deceased’s legal Estate if their death was caused by negligence. The Estate will act on behalf of the deceased person to pursue a claim for them (in their absence). Any compensation amount received will be distributed through their Estate to the beneficiaries.

If the deceased had a Will, a Grant of Probate would be required. If the deceased did not have a Will, Letters of Administration would need to pursue this type of claim. Our personal injury solicitors will either help you get this for you or help you obtain it yourself.

The Estate will look into general damages and special damages to calculate your compensation amount. They are split up into:

Fatal Accident Act Claims: General Damages

General Damages refer to the amount of compensation you will receive for the death of the deceased person.

Fatal Accident Act Claims: Special Damages

Special Damages refer to any additional financial losses you may have sustained as a direct result of the fatal accident and can include: 

• Loss of Income
• Gratuitous Care & Support
• Financial Expenses  
• Funeral Expenses
• Probate Costs

Why Choose Beacon Law?

Beacon Law is a leading personal injury law firm that offers a range of personal injury claim services to our clients, including claims for fatal accidents compensation. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure they receive the appropriate treatment and highest level of compensation for their injuries.

We work closely with all clients, following their instructions whilst providing specialist legal advice on each case. We aim to support all our clients throughout a time that is already difficult and give the best case management possible throughout all legal proceedings.

If you require advice on a potential case or assistance, please contact us on 0330 1332 857. Alternatively, please complete our online form, and a Personal Injury expert will contact you to help you start your claim.

Beacon Law are a Solicitors registered in England and Wales with our registered office based in Manchester. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.