If you’ve unfortunately lost a loved one to someone else’s negligent actions or inactions, you might be able to make a fatal accident claim. No amount of compensation can undo the pain of losing someone close to you, but it can provide much-needed financial relief during possibly the most difficult time of your family’s life.
Claims can be made by both the estate and the dependents of the deceased. However, what each of these parties can claim for and when differs.
Read on to learn how to claim the Bereavement Award and how it could help you and your family, or alternatively, use our contact details below to get in touch.
Contact Us
- Call us on 0800 408 7825
- Fill out our online claim form
- Use our live chat
Jump To A Section
- What Is The Bereavement Award?
- Who Can The Bereavement Award Be Claimed By?
- How Much Will I Be Given Through The Bereavement Award?
- Is There A Way To Be Awarded More Money After A Bereavement?
- How Can Public Interest Lawyers Help Me After The Loss Of A Loved One?
- Learn More
What Is The Bereavement Award?
Under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (FAA), specific relatives of the deceased could qualify to receive the Bereavement Award. This compensates a limited number of close relatives for the non-economic impact of experiencing a loved one’s death, such as the pain and suffering they have experienced.
It is key to note here that the deceased must have suffered their fatal injury due to the negligent actions of another in order to be eligible to claim this award.
To learn more about the Bereavement Award and whether you might be eligible to claim this, contact our team today.
Who Can The Bereavement Award Be Claimed By?
Under the FAA, the bereavement award can be awarded to:
- The wife, civil partner, or husband of the deceased
- Someone who cohabited with the deceased as spouses for 2 years prior to death
- The parent of the deceased if they were a minor and unmarried
- The mother of the deceased if they were minor and unmarried
If you have any questions about claiming fatal accident compensation, you can contact our advisors.
How Much Will I Be Given Through The Bereavement Award?
From 1st May 2020, the Bereavement Award was revised under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (Remedial) Order 2020, which increased this award from £12,980 to £15,120.
If multiple eligible claimants apply for this award, this amount will be split between them.
This award can, in some circumstances, seem like a ‘token payment’; in its nature, the award is a set figure established under law, but it cannot possibly appreciate the case details of every bereaved family.
Often, bereaved families can ultimately feel as though the award might fail to reflect the emotional burden felt after losing a loved one; the award arguably doesn’t provide any real sense of closure or justice.
In our section below, we explore how you could be eligible for further payments after experiencing the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligent actions.
Is There A Way To Be Awarded More Money After A Bereavement?
Yes, after experiencing a bereavement, you could be eligible for different types of compensation. These payments might include:
- Funeral expenses – these costs can be considered and form part of the bereavement damages
- Loss of consortium – this payment can consider things like the impact of the death on the familial relationship, as well as losses that cannot otherwise be quantified.
- Dependency – this payment could encompass the deceased’s past and future loss of earnings, as this would have had a huge impact on the family income.
- Loss of services – if the deceased helped with childcare or DIY around the harm, this labour could be financially quantified by a solicitor.
The solicitors on our panel could help you apply for these payments, so please get in touch with us today.
How Can Public Interest Lawyers Help Me After The Loss Of A Loved One?
The solicitors from our panel understand that experiencing a loss of a loved one can be one of the most emotionally difficult periods of your life.
We also appreciate that no amount of compensation or award can undo the damage felt after losing a loved one. However, by working with us at Public Interest Lawyers, you can rest assured that your claim will be in expert hands.
The expert fatal accident solicitors on our panel work on a No Win No Fee basis, utilising a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). What this means is that you would have no upfront payment for a solicitor to begin work on your case. It also means that you’d have no payments to make to continue your claim, and no payments for their work if your claim were to fail.
On the other hand, if your claim were successful, then a small percentage would be payable from your compensation. This is a legally capped percentage in line with the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, to ensure that claimants receive the majority of their compensation.
In addition to the benefits of using a CFA, by choosing to instruct a solicitor from our panel, you could expect:
- Support through the bereavement, such as arranging appointments with psychiatrists or therapists
- Clear and concise updates about the progress of the fatal accident claim
- Making sure your claim is started within the permitted time limit
- Explaining complex legal language and the claims process
- Support with applying for other payments you might be eligible for
Contact Our Team Of Advisors
If you have any questions about claiming a bereavement award, you can contact our advisors:
- Call us on 0800 408 7825
- Fill out our online claim form
- Use our live chat
Learn More
Why not read our other guides about:
- How to make fatal accident claims in Scotland
- Fatal road traffic accidents and how to claim.
- How to make a fatal accident at work claim
Useful External Resources
- Advice for those needing time off to grieve from GOV.UK
- NHS guidance on grief and loss
- How to claim benefits after the loss of a spouse
Thank you for reading our guide about the bereavement award.