Fatal Accident Claims
No amount of money can ever compensate for the loss of a loved one. It is an event that changes the lives of the victim’s families forever. As well as the emotional consequences for those close to the victim there will often be a considerable change in financial circumstances, which can result in financial hardship.
Ashton Lake Solicitors specialise in claiming compensation in the civil court for fatal accidents where death has been caused by the negligence of another. We make it a priority to be sympathetic at all times to our client’s needs and to obtain a just and fair settlement for the claim.
Who can make a claim following a fatal accident?
Any person that can show that they were a ‘dependant’ of the deceased can bring a claim for compensation. This means that at the time when fatal accident occurred, the ‘dependant’ must have depended to some degree on the deceased income.
Definitions of dependants are:
- Surviving spouses or co-habitees of the opposite sex who have lived with the victim for more than 2 years
- Children or parents
- Persons treated as children or parents
- Grandchildren or grandparents.
What can be claimed for?
A fatal accident claim will comprise of two aspects:
The victims claim:
This part of the claim is the recovery of compensation for pain suffering and any distress suffered by the victim. A claim can also be made for the victim’s financial losses between the date of the accident and the date of the death.
The ‘dependant’s claim:
- Compensation for the loss of financial support to the dependant since the victim’s death. This is quantified by assessing the amount of the contribution to the family earnings made by the victim (that would not have been spent by the victim for his/herself).
- Additional compensation can be recovered for any of the tasks that the victim performed regularly within the family unit such as gardening, DIY, domestic assistance.
- Bereavement compensation can be claimed if the dependant is man, wife or parents (if the child is under 18) of the deceased including the cost of funeral expenses.
I have a claim. Where do I go from here?
Fatal accident claims can be complex and it is advised that you speak to a specialist solicitor. We are experts in bringing claims of this nature. Our aim is to get to the truth of why the accident occurred and to obtain the maximum compensation possible. We pride ourselves in high levels of client care and will always progress your claim with sensitivity at every stage of the process.
If you wish to make an enquiry, then please complete the online enquiry form or call 01509 262621 to speak to a specialist solicitor. We offer a wide choice of funding arrangements including a no win no fee agreement in which you keep 100% of your compensation with no deductions of any kind.
