Losing a loved one to a fatal accident can be devastating. Dealing with the emotional side of your loss is likely to be very difficult and looking beyond that to dealing with practical issues may well seem overwhelming.
However, if the accident was not their fault but was caused by the negligence or error of a third party, you may be entitled to bring a claim for compensation to help you and your family deal financially with the future.
At David W Harris, our fatal accident lawyers are sensitive and understanding and can step in to help you deal with the aftermath of the incident. We can help you represent the estate of the person you have lost during any investigation and we will put together a strong claim on your behalf for any compensation you may be owed.
Get expert help to claim fatal accident compensation
Our specialist personal injury solicitors in South Wales have extensive experience in bringing successful claims in respect of a wide range of accidents and injuries, including in the case of fatalities. We will do all we can to make the process of claiming as stress-free as possible for you while working to achieve the best compensation possible.
Our experience with fatal accidents
We can represent you in respect of fatal accidents arising from a range of incidents, including the following:
- Road traffic accidents, including involving a driver, pedestrian, motorcyclist or cyclist;
- Industrial accident at work;
- Industrial illness, such as mesothelioma or other asbestos-related condition;
- Medical negligence.
Our team have a strong track record of success in obtaining substantial compensation payments for our clients. We regularly achieve several hundred thousand pounds in compensation and recently secured £14 million for a client following a personal injury.
Get a free first consultation with our fatal accident solicitors in South Wales
We know you probably have lots of questions about bringing a fatal accident compensation claim so we offer a free initial consultation so that you can ask us whatever you want to know and decide whether you wish to pursue a claim.
Please use our online enquiry form to book a free initial chat with our team. There is no obligation to take things further unless you wish to do so.
Why use David W Harris & Co for your fatal accident claim?
There are several reasons why our clients choose us over other fatal injury claims solicitors, including the following:
- No win no fee funding for fatal accident claims
- Millions of pounds of compensation won for our clients over the past 35 years
- Our solicitors are recommended by the industry’s leading bodies:
- Personal Injury Partner Robert Thomas is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
- We are on Headway’s approved list of specialist brain injury solicitors
- We cover the whole of South Wales with offices in Pontypridd, Talbot Green and Swansea – home visits can also be arranged where needed
- We are often able to settle claims out of court, meaning there is no need for a hearing. This is generally faster, more cost-effective and less stressful than litigation
- Our record of obtaining maximum fatal accident compensation for our clients is excellent
Find out more about our personal injury claims expertise.
Fatal accident claims fees and funding
Fixed fee fatal accident claims
Our fatal accident solicitors can take cases on a fixed fee basis where necessary, with costs based on a sliding scale. We will be happy to talk through the basis of this with you at an initial consultation.
No win no fee fatal accident claims
Many of our clients choose to work with us on a no win no fee basis for fatal accident claims, also referred to as a ‘Conditional Fee Agreement’.
The benefits of a no win no fee fatal accident claim include:
- No initial charges to start a claim
- No fees are payable until and unless you are awarded compensation
- If we cannot secure compensation for you, you will not owe us anything
- There is therefore no financial risk to you
There may be other options available for covering the cost of fatal accident compensation claims, such as legal expenses insurance that has been included in car insurance or home insurance. We can discuss the possible ways of funding a claim with you to ensure you have the most appropriate source for your claim.
Find out more about no win no fee personal injury claims funding.
Common questions about fatal accident claims
Can I claim compensation for someone who died in an accident?
A fatal accident dependency claim is generally brought by the executors of the person who has died, as named in their Will, or if they do not have a Will, by those who will be acting as their estate administrators.
The executors or administrators can bring a claim on behalf of the dependants of the deceased, although the dependants themselves can bring a claim if the executors or administrators do not.
The Fatal Accidents Act lists those who are classed as a dependant and therefore entitled to claim:
- A spouse or civil partner
- Anyone living with the deceased for two years prior to their death
- A biological or adopted child of the deceased
- A child treated as their own by the deceased
- A parent or grandparent of the deceased
- The deceased’s siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins
What compensation can you claim for a fatal accident?
Compensation for a fatal accident includes the following:
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Costs of care and other expenses
- Loss of earnings
- A bereavement award in the sum of £15,210 payable under the Fatal Accident Act to a spouse, cohabiting partner, or child aged under 18
- Dependency claim, to include loss of future earnings, pension provision, benefits and to cover work that the deceased would have carried out such as home maintenance, housework and gardening
- Funeral costs
Is there a time limit for claiming fatal accident compensation?
A fatal accident compensation claim should be started within three years of the date of the incident, with some small exceptions, such as where the case involves a child, in which case they have three years from the date they turn 18, or where the claimant lacks mental capacity. In the case of medical negligence cases or cases involving industrial disease, the three-year period runs from the date on which the cause of death was known.
What to do next about starting a fatal accident claim
To book your free initial consultation with one of our specialist fatal accident solicitors in Pontypridd, Talbot Green or Swansea, please get in touch.
Simply use our short online enquiry form to tell us you would like to speak to a member of our personal injury team about a fatal accident claim and we will contact you promptly.