Serious Injury · Fatal Accident Claims
Fatal Accident Solicitors — Compassionate Support for Bereaved Families
Compassionate, expert advice for families who have lost a loved one in a fatal accident.
Part of our wider Serious Injury Claims services
No obligation — speak to us first. Costs explained clearly.
Losing a loved one in a fatal accident is devastating. At PDA Law, we understand the profound grief and practical difficulties that families face in the aftermath of a fatal accident.
Our serious injury lawyers provide compassionate, expert advice to families who have lost a loved one as a result of someone else's negligence. We handle fatal accident claims with the sensitivity and professionalism that families deserve.
Who Can Make a Fatal Accident Claim?
Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, certain family members and dependants may be entitled to bring a claim. These include:
- Spouses, civil partners and cohabitees
- Children and stepchildren of the deceased
- Parents and grandparents
- Siblings and other dependants
- The estate of the deceased (under the Law Reform Act 1934)
What Compensation Covers
Fatal accident claims can include a range of heads of loss. The value of a claim depends on the circumstances of the deceased and the family's dependency on them.
Bereavement & Estate Claims
- Statutory bereavement award (qualifying relatives)
- Pain and suffering of the deceased before death
- Estate claims for losses suffered by the deceased
- Funeral expenses
Dependency Claims
- Loss of financial dependency — income and pension
- Loss of services — household and childcare contributions
- Loss of parental guidance and support
- Future dependency losses for children
Where the deceased was the primary earner, dependency claims can be substantial — particularly where there are young children or a surviving spouse with limited earning capacity. We ensure every head of loss is properly identified and quantified.
Interim Payments — Immediate Financial Support
Families are often in immediate financial difficulty following a fatal accident — particularly where the deceased was the primary earner. Where liability is admitted or likely to be established, we can apply for an interim payment to provide immediate financial support while the claim is resolved.
- Immediate financial support for the family
- Funeral expenses
- Mortgage or rent payments
- Childcare costs
We understand that financial pressure adds to the distress of bereavement. We pursue interim payments as a priority to provide families with immediate support.
How Fatal Accidents Arise
Fatal accident claims most commonly arise from:
How Our Serious Injury Lawyers Work with Bereaved Families
We understand that pursuing a legal claim is the last thing many families want to think about in the immediate aftermath of a fatal accident. We work at your pace, with sensitivity and discretion. There is no pressure to make decisions quickly.
Fatal accident claims require expert evidence on the circumstances of the accident, the deceased's earnings and career prospects, and the family's dependency. We instruct leading accident reconstruction experts, forensic accountants and employment experts to ensure every aspect of the claim is properly evidenced.
Where children are among the dependants, their future dependency losses require careful calculation — particularly where they are young and the deceased had significant earning potential. We ensure these losses are fully and accurately quantified.
We'll explain costs clearly before any work begins.
Judicial College Guidelines
What You May Be Entitled To
We understand that at this stage, understanding the potential value of your claim is important — both for peace of mind and for planning ahead. The figures below are general damages guidelines from the Judicial College Guidelines (16th Edition), the reference used by courts and insurers across England and Wales.
These figures cover pain, suffering and loss of amenity only. In serious injury cases, the total value of a claim is often substantially higher once special damages are included — past and future care costs, loss of earnings, rehabilitation, specialist equipment and home adaptations.
Every case is different. Jonathan Cloudsdale will give you a realistic, honest assessment of what your specific claim may be worth — at no cost and with no obligation.
Fatal Accidents
Statutory bereavement award (qualifying relatives)
£15,120
Fixed statutory award under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 for qualifying dependants
Pain and suffering before death (full awareness, weeks to 3 months)
£15,300 – £29,060
General damages for the deceased's pain and suffering between injury and death
Financial dependency claim
Calculated individually
Based on lost income, pension contributions and financial support provided by the deceased
Services dependency claim
Calculated individually
Value of household, childcare and other services the deceased provided
Funeral expenses
Actual cost
Reasonable funeral expenses are recoverable as a head of loss
| Injury Type | Guideline Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory bereavement award (qualifying relatives) | £15,120 | Fixed statutory award under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 for qualifying dependants |
| Pain and suffering before death (full awareness, weeks to 3 months) | £15,300 – £29,060 | General damages for the deceased's pain and suffering between injury and death |
| Financial dependency claim | Calculated individually | Based on lost income, pension contributions and financial support provided by the deceased |
| Services dependency claim | Calculated individually | Value of household, childcare and other services the deceased provided |
| Funeral expenses | Actual cost | Reasonable funeral expenses are recoverable as a head of loss |
Your claim may be worth significantly more than the figures above.
Special damages — care costs, loss of earnings, rehabilitation, equipment and home adaptations — are calculated individually and often substantially exceed the general damages figure. Speak to Jonathan Cloudsdale for a realistic, confidential assessment.
Source: Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 16th Edition. Figures are for general damages only and are subject to judicial discretion. Correct as at publication date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Compensation
Client Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
“Losing my husband was devastating. PDA Law handled our fatal accident claim with the utmost sensitivity — they understood this was about justice for our family, not just compensation.”
Anne W.
Widow, fatal accident claim, Chester
Testimonials reflect individual client experiences. Results may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can make a fatal accident claim?
Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, certain family members and dependants may bring a claim — including spouses, civil partners, cohabitees, children, parents and other dependants. The estate of the deceased may also bring a claim under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934.
How long do we have to make a fatal accident claim?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of death to bring a claim. We strongly recommend seeking advice from our serious injury lawyers as early as possible.
What is a dependency claim?
A dependency claim compensates family members for the financial and practical support they have lost as a result of the death — including lost income, pension contributions, and the value of services the deceased provided.
What is the bereavement award?
The statutory bereavement award is a fixed sum payable to qualifying relatives — currently spouses, civil partners, and parents of unmarried children under 18. It is in addition to any dependency claim.
Can we claim on a no win no fee basis?
Yes. Our serious injury lawyers handle fatal accident claims on a Conditional Fee Agreement (no win no fee) basis. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if the claim is unsuccessful.
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Overview of all serious injury claims we handle — brain, spinal, amputation, fatal accidents and more.
Claims for families following a fatal accident — bereavement, dependency and funeral expenses.
Your Specialist Solicitor
Jonathan Cloudsdale
Head of Military Claims & Personal Injury
Jonathan has over 10 years' specialist experience in complex personal injury, military claims, industrial disease and catastrophic injuries. He has achieved multiple six-figure settlements in high-value cases.
Speak to a Fatal Accident Solicitor
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal accident, our specialist team is here to help.
No obligation — speak to us first. We work at your pace, with sensitivity.
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