Fatal Accidents

About fatal accidents

When a loved one dies unexpectedly due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another, the impact is devastating. Whilst dealing with grief, families are also left facing challenging emotional and financial issues.

You may be entitled to take legal action.

At Bond Turner our specialist team will support you through every step of the process with sensitivity, care and experience following the death of a family member or partner.

The Bond Turner approach

We can help you with claiming for the loss of a loved one following a fatal accident, medical negligence or a crime of violence / act of terror.

You can be assured of our empathetic approach and sensitivity in all our communications with you, putting the needs of you and your family at the forefront.

Our immediate priority from the outset is to support you and ease the strain following the loss of your loved one and allow you to focus on the grieving process.

We will provide you with practical support to help you liaise with:

• The Police
• Coroner’s Office
• Investigating Regulatory bodies

We will also support and advise you through the inquest process, investigations by regulatory bodies and Public Inquiries.

We also offer media support and advice to protect you from the sometimes high profile nature of events.

What is a Fatal Accident Claim?

A fatal accident claim allows close family members and dependants to seek compensation when a person dies due to negligence, error, or unlawful behaviour. UK law provides two primary routes for claiming:

• Dependency claim (under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976)
• Estate claim (under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934)

You may also be entitled to a statutory bereavement award.

The law in England relating to fatal accidents is, in our view complex and outdated asd the level of award for bereavement damages and the personal injury element for injury causing death is unfortunately insulting.

Which is why it is highly recommended that you instruct a solicitor specialising in this area of law to help you navigate the process.

No amount of compensation can ever compensate you fully for the loss of your loved one however pursing a claim for compensation following the death of a loved one / family member can go some way to helping to ease any financial pressures following the death.

Who Can Make a Claim?

Eligible claimants to bring a fatal accident claim include:

• Spouse or civil partner
• Long-term cohabiting partner (minimum 2 years)
• Children and stepchildren
• Parents or legal guardians
• Other close relatives (if financially dependent)

Bereavement award eligibility (limited to):

• Spouse or civil partner
• Parents of a deceased child under 18 (if not married)
• Long-term cohabiting partner (minimum 2 years)

What Can You Claim For?

Bereavement Award
A fixed statutory payment is currently set at £15,120.

Financial Dependency
Compensation for lost income, pension contributions, and financial support the deceased would have provided.

Loss of Services
Includes household contributions such as childcare, cooking, cleaning, or DIY.

Funeral Expenses
Recovery of reasonable funeral and memorial-related costs.

Pain & Suffering (Estate Claim)
If the deceased or in the case of a young child, their parents, experienced pain or suffering prior to death, the estate may claim compensation on their behalf.

Compensation for the injury resulting in death
Where the deceased survived for a period of time following the accident / negligent event ranging from a few days to longer periods of time.

Secondary victim claim
In some circumstances if you witnessed and were present at the death of your loved one in traumatic circumstances or you were there in the immediate aftermath it might be possible to make a claim for your own psychological suffering for what you witnessed

Types of Fatal Accidents and Injuries

Our specialist team have expertise in dealing with fatal accidents and fatal injuries including :-

• Road traffic accidents (car, motorbike, cycling, pedestrian)
• Workplace accidents
• Medical negligence
• Criminal acts of violence or terrorism
• Public liability incidents
• Defective products
• Sporting accidents

Why Choose Bond Turner?

• Trusted fatal accident solicitors with decades of experience
• No win, no fee representation
• Clear, compassionate legal advice
• Proven results in complex cases
• Nationwide service — we’re here to help wherever you are

We know no amount of money can replace your loss, but we can help ease the financial impact and go some way to ensuring justice is achieved.