What is a Fatal Accident Claim?
A fatal accident is an accident that results in a person’s death. If someone dies in an accident caused by another person’s carelessness, the victim’s family can make a claim.
We call this a fatal accident claim. This will help a family get compensation for losing a loved one. It will also hold those responsible accountable for their carelessness.
A fatal accident claim will aim to:
- Identify who is responsible for the accident.
- Claim for financial losses from the fatal accident. This includes lost earnings, funeral costs, and support for those who depended on the deceased.
- Compensate the family for the trauma suffered because of the fatal accident.
If you believe you have a claim, we want to hear from you. You can fill out an assessment form or call us at 0114 2496 611. Book your free appointment today.
What Are the Types of Fatal Accident Claims?
Fatal accident claims can happen from various situations. Such as:
- Fatal car accident claims.
- Traffic accident deaths.
- Accidental death at work claims.
- Fatal accidents in a public place.
- Fatal injuries caused by medical negligence.
We can also help families with inquest hearings when someone else’s negligence caused a death.
Free Personal Injury Claim Assessment
Our personal injury team provides a free, confidential assessment to help you understand whether you may have a personal injury claim. During this initial review, a specialist considers your account, relevant paperwork, and how the situation has affected you. This assessment is not legal advice and does not involve opening a claim unless your case is suitable to proceed. You’ll receive a clear outcome, an explanation of what could happen next, and information about funding options, including No Win No Fee*.
If your case requires further investigation, we will explain the process, costs, and timescales before any further work begins. We offer flexible appointments by phone, secure online meetings, or in person at our Sheffield, Barnsley, or Rotherham offices, ensuring expert legal support that fits around you.
Find out more Free Personal Injury Claim Assessment
How the Free Assessment Works
Step 1 – Check if you may have a personal injury claim. Contact our medical negligence team by completing our online form or calling 0114 2496 611. We will gather some initial information to understand your situation.
Step 2 – Share Your Information. You provide a summary of what happened and any relevant paperwork you already have. This helps us understand the background to your concerns.
Step 3 – Initial Review. A personal injury specialist will review the information against the compensation claim criteria.
Step 4 – Outcome Explained. We will let you know whether:
- We may be able to help and take the matter further, or
- We are unable to assist and should signpost you elsewhere If the case is suitable, we will explain the process, timescales, and funding options before any appointment or further work is arranged.
No Win No Fee Injury Claim
We believe that everyone deserves access to justice, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our no win no fee agreement, also known as a conditional fee agreement (CFA), helps you take legal action. You don’t have to worry about upfront costs.*
In most cases, if accepted on a no win, no fee basis, you won’t pay a penny upfront for our legal services*. The basis of a CFA is that you will not be required to pay our legal fees if the compensation claim is unsuccessful. Meaning, you will not pay any fees to us unless we win your case for you*.
You can find more information on our no win no fee personal injury claim page. It includes a full list of terms and conditions.
*There are circumstances where you would be asked to pay any outstanding costs even if you don’t win your case.
You may need to pay for services from Howells Solicitors in certain situations. These include being dishonest, not giving your solicitor instructions, or rejecting an offer against their advice. Other examples are the death of the claimant, cancelling your claim, and moving without telling your solicitor.
In these cases, you might also have to cover the defendant’s costs. Client’s may be asked to pay disbursements up front or must stand to the cost of a medical report if a second opinion is obtained. In some instances, you may need to pay for medical reports or other third-party payments upfront. We would discuss this with you before making any decision.
Flexible Appointments
We understand that dealing with personal injury matters can be stressful, and finding time to attend in-person appointments isn’t always easy. That’s why we offer our full range of personal injury services remotely, offering a more efficient and convenient service. We can offer our personal injury legal support via telephone or secure remote online meetings.
This approach allows you to access expert legal advice from the comfort of your home, without the need to travel or rearrange your schedule. If your case requires a court hearing, many procedural matters are now handled remotely too, ensuring your legal journey is as smooth and accessible as possible.
Our remote services are designed to be just as personal and confidential as in-person consultations, with clear communication and full transparency every step of the way. Remote appointments are offered throughout the case, and most correspondence can be handled by email and Howells secure Client Portal.
Whether you’re dealing with sensitive personal injury matters or simply seeking guidance, we ensure a smooth, stress-free experience that puts your needs first. Whilst we appreciate that remote services offer convenience, they may not be suitable for everyone. If you do wish to meet us face to face, you can book an appointment at one of our offices in Sheffield, Barnsley or Rotherham.
Our Fatal Accident Solicitors
Our personal injury solicitors cover the entirety of England and Wales, and have physical offices in:
– Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham
– We also cover other areas of the UK, such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds and Nottingham.
You can arrange appointments face to face, or we offer telephone or video call options available. If you can’t make it to our office, we could arrange for a member of the team to visit you at home. We can also arrange flexible appointments to fit around lunch breaks or work commitments.
Fill out an assessment form or call us on 0114 2496 611 to book your free appointment today.
What is Considered in a Fatal Accident Compensation Claim?
The laws about fatal injury claims are complicated. The amount of compensation for a fatal accident depends on many factors. Working with a solicitor who specialises in fatal accidents will help you get the most compensation possible.
Factors that affect a compensation claim are:
- The type of fatal accident.
- The financial impact the accident has had on your family. This can include expenses.
- The pain and suffering caused.
- The emotional distress caused.
If you believe you have a claim, we want to hear from you. You can fill out an assessment form or call us at 0114 2496 611. Book your free appointment today.
Who Can Make a Fatal Accident Claim?
You will make a fatal accident claim under one of the following two claim types:
Dependant’s claim
The Fatal Accidents Act 1976 allows family members to receive money. This is for cases where someone dies in an accident caused by another person. If the deceased financially supported you, you may be able to make a dependents claim.
Victim’s claim
A family member can also make a compensation claim on behalf of the deceased. A victim can make a claim for any losses they suffered between the accident and their death. This helps you to reclaim costs.
A statutory bereavement award may be available to some families. This award is compensation for losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence.
The statutory bereavement award is available to:
- Spouses or civil partners.
- Cohabiting partners.
- Parents of a child who died under the age of 18.
- Mothers of a child who died under the age of 18.
How Long Do You Have to Make a Fatal Accident Claim?
Claimants must make fatal accident compensation claims within three years. If the person who died was already making a personal injury claim, the three-year limit restarts from the date of death.
Inquests for Fatal Accidents
If someone in a family dies in strange or unclear ways, someone may report their death to a Coroner. The Coroner can then decide to hold an inquest.
At the conclusion of the Inquest, the Coroner will provide a verdict on the cause of death. This conclusion can be important for any later fatal accident claim for compensation. Especially if there are criticisms aimed at the individual or organisation believed to be responsible for the death.
Our inquest solicitors can help you with representation and preparation for an inquest hearing caused by a fatal accident. This can include:
Personal Injury
Children Law
Civil Liberties & Inquests
Claims and Complaints Against the Police
Criminal Defence
Family Law
Medical Negligence
Motoring Offences
Conveyancing
Wills, Trust & Probate
