Fatal accident & injury compensation claims solicitors

What are the time limits for making a claim after a fatal accident?

You have 3 years from the date of the accident to bring a claim for a fatal accident. If the injured person dies within 3 years of the accident (due to their accident-related injuries), the limitation clock starts again for his or her family members and they have 3 years from the date of death to bring a claim. If the injured person dies more than 3 years after their accident and has not commenced court proceedings in respect of their claim, their family members are unfortunately out of time to bring a claim. 

There are variations to these time limits in specific circumstances. For example, if the death occurred on a ship or aeroplane, the time limit would be 2 years from the date of the accident. The time limit for applying for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in respect of a fatality is also 2 years. Further, if the injury caused the injured person to lose mental capacity to conduct the claim, the limitation period may not have commenced and it may still be possible to bring a claim after their death.

Is no win no fee funding available for fatal accidents and how does it work?

It possible to fund a fatal accident claim on a no win no fee basis, which means that if the case is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay any legal costs. This ensures that the deceased’s loved ones do not have to be concerned about paying out their own money to pursue the claim and also do not have to worry about losing money from the deceased’s estate.

If the case is successful, there will usually be a deduction from the compensation recovered in order to pay our success fee. This success fee is payable as a reflection of the risk that we have taken in pursuing a case on a no win no fee basis, given that we do not recover our costs if the case is unsuccessful.

What is a statutory bereavement award?

A statutory bereavement award is a sum of money that you are able to claim if you are the wife, husband or civil partner of the deceased or the deceased is your legitimate child and is under 18. It is a fixed sum of £12,980 and is intended to compensate close family members for the loss of their loved one. We strongly believe that the government ought to increase the amount of this award as well as extending the number of relatives who can claim it, as it is presently very restricted and is clearly an insufficient sum to compensate for the loss of a life.

Why choose Stephensons?

Our sensitive and understanding fatal injury solicitors have years of experience in providing legal services to bereaved parties who have lost relatives due to fatal accidents. Since these proceedings are so important to those involved, Stephensons offers specialist legal advice from knowledgeable and compassionate legal professionals. 

Stephensons has represented a wide variety of clients from all over the UK. In addition to the compensation won, the legal action taken has lead to the introduction of improved safety measures within the workplace and beyond in order to ensure that similar accidents to not happen again.

Some cases are more complex than others, including cases of fatal diseases contracted at work, but as one of the largest firms in the UK, we offer expert guidance in every area of the field. 

Our legal advisors can provide advice on a fatal injury claim and ensure that your future is secure in the wake of bereavement. Call 01616 966 229 for more information.

Bereavement services following a fatal accident

If you have lost a loved one due to an avoidable fatal accident, it can be difficult to know who to turn to or where to start. In the midst of grief, it is not easy to have to deal with the administration involved in arranging a funeral and dealing with the deceased’s estate. It can be particularly hard to cope following an accident due to someone else’s negligence which has caused the death of a loved one, as feelings of anger and hurt can be difficult to handle.

As well as helping you with investigating whether claim can be made against the person who caused the death of your loved one, we can help you to access other support services which may make a very difficult time slightly easier to cope with.

You may be entitled to benefits following the death of your spouse and it is important that you contact your local benefits office to enquire as to whether you are entitled to Widowed Parent’s Allowance or Bereavement Allowance. We can assist you with this application process if you are finding it difficult to face.

If you are struggling, you should seek advice from your GP and try to secure a referral for counselling. However, we can also refer you to charities and counselling services for bereaved families, such as Brake, RoadPeace, Child Bereavement UK and Cruse Bereavement Care.

We can also refer to you to other services within our firm, such as our wills and probate department who can help you with the administration of the estate and any issues arising from this. Our firm can also help you with the inquest, including attending and representing you if you so wish. We are happy to and more than capable of helping you seek the answers that you need after the tragic loss of your family member.

If you would like our assistance in accessing any of these services or you simply wish to discuss the services available to you after losing a loved one, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01616 966 229.