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Fatal injury claims

Compassionate fatal injury solicitors supporting you at the hardest time

If you have lost a loved one in an accident that someone else may be at least partly to blame for or because of a medical mistake, our dedicated personal injury solicitors can help you seek fatal injury compensation.

We understand that coming to terms with your loss while also dealing deal with financial and practical matters, and potentially a formal investigation, can be overwhelming. So our experienced personal injury solicitors will support you at every step and devote their legal expertise to seeking the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

Speak to a fatal injury claims solicitor today

If you’ve lost a loved one through someone else’s negligence and believe you might be entitled to fatal accident compensation please,

Call 0800 316 8892 Send us an enquiry

to discuss your situation with one of our serious injury or medical negligence solicitors, we can let you know if you have grounds to make a claim and talk you through your funding options.

 

Types of fatal injury claims

Sadly, some incidents do result in fatalities, some of which may have been prevented were it not for someone else’s actions or inaction. We have represented the loved ones of accident victims who died as a result of:

What can be included in a fatal injury compensation claim

The sudden and unexpected death of a loved one can carry significant financial implications for you and any dependents left behind. The law about what can be claimed is complex, but our specialist solicitors will advise you fully on your entitlement to compensation with sensitivity and understanding.

What can be included in a fatal injury claim often depends on the age of the person who died, whether they had children, the family relationships they had and the level of financial dependency on them.

Here are examples of what can be considered in a fatal injury claim:

  • Compensation for pain and suffering – if the death was not instantaneous.
  • Loss of income dependency – dependency upon lost income of the deceased, including wages, salary, loss of pension provision and employment benefits (including bonuses and healthcare benefits).
  • Loss of dependency on services – to replace childcare, DIY, gardening and other services provided by the deceased.
  • Medical fees, costs of care, loss of earnings – and other reasonable expenses where the death was not instant.
  • Bereavement award – (under the Fatal Accident Act 1976) for the spouse or parent of the deceased, which is currently £15,120.
  • Funeral expenses – to cover the cost of the funeral and other reasonable expenses.

Why choose our fatal injury solicitors?

  • Our specialist solicitors are highly experienced in fatal injury claims and will approach your case with both sensitivity and determination.
  • Our lawyers operate across the country and, where possible, can visit you at home, or meet you at any of our offices, to discuss your claim.
  • We have individual lawyers and teams who are recognised for their excellence by being ranked in Band 1 in independent guides to the legal profession.
  • We will seek early interim payments of compensation whenever possible, to alleviate financial pressure on you.
  • We can work closely with our expert private client colleagues to help you with any probate and estate 
  • Where appropriate, we can represent you at the inquest should the matter be referred to the Coroner.

Our specialist fatal injury solicitors understand that one of the first things you might want are answers to how and why this happened.

There will often be a police investigation and possibly a criminal prosecution of those responsible. If an accident happened at work, there may also be a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. A coroner’s investigation will follow most unnatural deaths, which might lead to an Inquest. While these investigations can feel impersonal and unfamiliar, your dedicated personal injury solicitor will be there to support and guide you through each step.

Examples of successful fatal injury compensation claims

  • We represented the family of one of the victims who tragically died in a collision near junction 25 of the M5 on the night of 4 November 2011, involving 34 vehicles and causing seven fatalities and many more serious injuries – one of the largest road traffic accidents ever seen in Great Britain.
  • We acted for the family of a man killed in an accident on a motorway when a lorry collided with his stationary vehicle whilst the lanes were set up as a “smart motorway”. The lorry driver was prosecuted and we supported the family through the criminal procedure. The lorry driver was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to a period of imprisonment.
  • We acted for the family of an elderly person who was killed following a collision with a van at a traffic light-controlled crossing. We represented the family at pre-inquest hearings and offered support through the criminal process, where there was a conviction for causing death by careless driving.

Contact a fatal injury solicitor

Our specialist solicitors are experienced in dealing with fatal injury claims and will approach your claim with sensitivity and determination. To discuss your fatal accident or injury compensation claim, call us now on 0800 316 8892 or contact us online.

Fatal injury claim FAQs

Will my fatal injury claim be ‘no win, no fee’?

Most fatal injury claims we deal with fall under ‘no win, no fee’ agreements – otherwise known as Conditional Fee Agreements.

We will advise you on all your funding options at the outset so you can make an informed decision as to which you prefer.

In most successful claims, the majority of our costs can be recovered from the insurer of the person or organisation liable for the fatal injury.

What is the time limit for making a fatal injury claim?

The usual rule is that Court proceedings must be started within 3 years from the date of the incident/accident or sometimes from the date of death. Where a claim is brought by a child, court proceedings must be started by the child’s 21st birthday. This is often referred to as a limitation period.

However, limitation periods for fatal injury claims are a complex area, so if you think you might have a claim, please get in touch with our expert solicitors as quickly as possible, so they can advise you on the time limit that applies to your situation.

Who can claim fatal accident compensation?

Fatal accident compensation claims can be brought by the deceased’s:

  • Husband or wife (including an ex-spouse following a divorce or annulled marriage)
  • Partner who had cohabited for at least 2 years at the time of the incident
  • Civil partner or former civil partner
  • Children or stepchildren
  • Brother, sister or someone who the deceased treated as a parent
  • Grandparents

Start your fatal injury compensation claim today

If you’ve lost a loved one in an accident that wasn’t their fault and believe you could have a claim, please call 0800 316 8892 or get in touch online to speak to a specialist fatal injury solicitor.

Useful organisations providing bereavement support

Coping with bereavement 

Cruse Bereavement Support

Dying matters

Macmillan

Recommendations

‘Really knowledgeable and efficient – brilliant to work with and instil confidence in what is a difficult and emotive legal field.’

Legal 500 2025

The team at Clarke Willmott are extremely well placed to deal with all complex, sophisticated and technically difficult matters.

Chambers 2025

Your key contacts

Marguarita Tyne

Head of Personal Injury & Medical Negligence

Bristol
Marguarita Tyne is a claimant clinical negligence solicitor who investigates and brings claims on behalf of patients who have been injured during the course of their medical treatment, acting mainly (but not exclusively) for brain injury claimants in high value and often complex litigation.
View profile for Marguarita Tyne >

Kerry Fifield

Partner and Clinical Negligence Team Manager

Bristol
Kerry’s primary focus is the needs of the client and their family when pursuing a claim, taking into account that each client is an individual with specific requirements who needs to be supported in addition to the legal investigation.
View profile for Kerry Fifield >

Lee Hart

Personal Injury Team Manager

Taunton
Lee works closely with severely injured people and their families, leading them through the claims process and ensuring they get the best treatment, rehabilitation and care so that they can get their lives back on track as quickly as possible.
View profile for Lee Hart >

Meet our personal injury and medical negligence team

With seven offices throughout England and Wales, Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with a local presence. Click to learn more about our wider team of legal professionals and how they can support you.

Meet the team

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