Welcome to our guide on how you could find the best fatal accident solicitor for you. If a loved one has died in a fatal accident, you could be eligible to claim compensation.
A guide on how a fatal accident solicitor could help you
When a relative dies, it could leave you struggling financially. You may even have lost a service they provided or be concerned about covering the costs of a funeral. This guide can explain how a fatal accident solicitor could help you claim compensation for these losses and more.
You should know that a solicitor does not need to be near you in order to represent you in a claim. The best solicitor for your claim might not be local to you, but for the most part, you won’t even need to meet them in person. They can support you through the fatal accident claims process as long as they have the relevant and requisite experience to help you.
Could A Fatal Accident Solicitor Help You?
Read on to find out more about how a fatal accident solicitor could help you. You may also want to contact us directly about your case. Our team of advisors can offer free legal advice if you call. They could also pass you on to a solicitor from our panel—the solicitors on our panel are trained in personal injury and fatal accident claims. So why not get in touch today?
- Use the live chat below for instant responses
- Submit an online contact form
- Call our number on 0800 408 7825
Select A Section
- Where Could I Find A Fatal Accident Solicitor?
- Can The Right Fatal Accident Solicitor Affect My Claim?
- Should I Choose A Solicitor Specialising In Fatal Accident Claims?
- Do All Solicitors Charge The Same Fees?
- How Much Could The Right Fatal Accident Solicitor Help Me Claim?
- Start A No Win No Fee Claim
Where Could I Find A Fatal Accident Solicitor?
This section will look at the different routes you could take to finding a fatal accident solicitor that works best for you. Luckily, there are many options available to you so you are sure to find an expert fatal accident solicitor quickly.
Finding A Solicitor Online
One of the easiest ways to find a solicitor is online. You can search for the type of solicitor you are looking for and get thousands of results in seconds. But how do you know which solicitors are qualified to help you? And how can you decide who would be best for you?
To check if a solicitor is fully accredited and legitimate, you can search for them on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website. All practising solicitors must be registered here to represent claimants lawfully.
The SRA site is also handy in regards to searching how successful a solicitor has been in their previous cases. You can search for their track record by outcome and date. If the solicitor you are researching has had a higher number of successful fatal accident claims in the past, you may feel more confident with your own chances of success if you hire them.
Contacting Solicitors
Once you have found a solicitor that appeals to you, we recommend that you get in touch with them as soon as possible. The sooner you contact a solicitor, the quicker you can get your claim started and receive compensation for your relative’s fatal accident.
However, it may be a red flag if the solicitor does not respond to you or doesn’t seem very professional in their response. If this occurs, you may want to consider searching for a different solicitor.
Alternatively, if you ring the number at the top and bottom of this article, an advisor could put you directly through to a solicitor from our panel if they think you have a good chance of success. At Public Interest Lawyers, the solicitors on our panel are highly trained, professional, and experienced with claims of all kinds. You could start your fatal accident claim with us today.
Can The Right Fatal Accident Solicitor Affect My Claim?
Having the right fatal accident solicitor for you could really make a difference to your claim. An experienced and qualified solicitor can provide a quality of service that other solicitors may not. They should know the claims process well enough to support you through every step of your case.
If you hire an expert solicitor, you could also potentially be more likely to win your case. They should know what evidence types will make your claim strongest. They should also be able to guide you through claiming for funeral costs and bereavement awards.
Could Some Solicitors Get Me A Higher Payout?
If your solicitor is experienced with fatal accident claims, they should know how to help you get the most from your claim.
There are different forms of compensation for a fatal accident. For example, you could claim for the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before their accidental death if they did not have a chance to complete a personal injury claim before passing away. You can also claim financial support payments as a dependent of the deceased.
The process can be complicated and may be confusing to navigate without a solicitor. If you hire a fatal accident solicitor, they can ensure you apply for the right level of compensation in all areas.
Should I Choose A Solicitor Specialising In Fatal Accident Claims?
There are many benefits to claiming with a solicitor that specialises in fatal accident claims. Fatal accident claims could be complex and may potentially involve different kinds of damages. A fatal accident solicitor will understand how you can claim these damages and get the most out of your claim.
As mentioned, it may also be a good idea to check on the SRA website if a fatal accident solicitor offers their services at that firm. If they do, they could handle your case competently and guide you through the process during a difficult time.
You should know that the solicitors on our panel are experienced and trained in both personal injury and fatal accident claims. This can be beneficial to you if you are claiming both on behalf of the deceased and behalf of yourself. The solicitors on our panel will have knowledge of both processes and would aim to help you get the most compensation possible in your case.
Do All Solicitors Charge The Same Fees?
When making a fatal accident claim, a solicitor could offer you their services on a No Win No Fee basis. This means you don’t need to be worried about upfront or ongoing solicitor fee payments. You also don’t need to pay your solicitor for their work if your claim does not succeed.
However, your solicitor will deduct a success fee from your compensation if your claim is successful. This fee is legally capped under The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 to ensure you get to keep the majority of the compensation you are awarded.
It is important to note that No Win No Fee is generally an umbrella term. This covers damages based agreements and conditional fee agreements.
In a damages based agreement, your solicitor is not allowed to deduct more than 35% of your compensation. For conditional fee agreements, this is set slightly lower at 25%.
It’s important to note that these are the maximum the solicitor would be able to charge: they could charge less. What’s more, this percentage would be discussed with you before you agree to using the services of the solicitor.
How Much Could The Right Fatal Accident Solicitor Help Me Claim?
This section will look at the different payments a fatal accident solicitor could help you claim. Please see below for a table of compensation amounts that may be awarded when there has been an accidental death.
These figures are calculated from past case studies, so they are not guaranteed and are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines. Legal professionals use this document to help value the general damages element of claims. General damages aim to compensate for the pain and suffering a person has experienced due to another party’s negligence.
Injury Severity Amount Notes
Death and losses Over £450,000 Financial losses coupled with compensation for the pain and suffering of the deceased
Death Full Awareness £11,770 to £22,350 Cases of severe burns or lung damage that may have been followed by full awareness for a short time. Consciousness will have fluctuated for 4-5 weeks, accompanied by extensive treatments. Death will have occurred between a couple of weeks and 3 months.
Death Followed by Unconsciousness £9,870 to £10,010 Cases of lung damage or extreme burns that caused serious pain followed by unconsciousness after 3 hours and death 2 weeks later.
Death Immediate Unconcsiousness (i) £3,530 to £4,120 The deceased was unconscious immediately after the accident. Death will have been after 6 weeks.
Death Immediate Unconcsiousness (ii) £1,290 to £2,620 The deceased fell unconscious shortly after the accident and death followed within a week. If they died within the same day, the compensation will be towards the lower end of the bracket.
Death Mental Anguish £4,380 There is a fear of impending death or a reduction in life expectancy. This bracket also covers cases for parent/s where young children may have been suffering mental anguish for around 3 months.
There is also other compensation you could claim for in a fatal accident claim.
Funeral Expenses
If someone has died in an accident, you may be concerned about covering their funeral costs. Funerals can often be expensive, but you could potentially claim back some of the costs incurred as part of the claim.
Bereavement Awards
Bereavement Awards are a set amount of money awarded to relatives of the deceased if they qualify under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. The full amount is currently £15,120.
You could be a qualifying relative under the Act if you are the deceased’s:
- Spouse or civil partner
- Partner that cohabited with the deceased for at least 2 years before their death
- Parents if the deceased was never married and younger than 18
- Mother if the deceased was considered to be not a ‘legitimate’ minor
Get in touch with our advisors today to find out if you could be eligible to claim.
Start A No Win No Fee Claim
We hope that this article has helped you feel more informed on why a fatal accident solicitor could benefit you and how you might afford to hire one. A No Win No Fee agreement could be very beneficial for you.
Under No Win No Fee, you wouldn’t need to pay:
- Any upfront solicitor’s fee at the start of the claim.
- Any ongoing solicitor’s fee.
- A solicitor’s fee all if the claim losses.
You would pay the solicitor a success fee if the claim wins, but this is capped by law.
If you would like to know more about hiring a fatal accident solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis, get in touch with our team of advisors now. They may pass you on to an expert solicitor from our panel who could help you start your fatal accident claim.
- Use the live chat below for instant responses
- Submit an online contact form
- Call our number at 0800 408 7825
Fatal Accident Claim Resources
Manslaughter and Murder Victims Compensation – This article informs you on how you could claim compensation if a relative is a victim of murder or manslaughter.
Mental Health Compensation Calculator – If you want to calculate potential compensation for mental health issues, our article can tell you how.
Personal Injury Fees and Payments – A guide on the fees and payments that could be attached to a claim.
Get Help After Bereavement or Loss – This NHS page could provide support options if you’ve suffered a loss.
Cruse – This registered charity aims to provide bereavement support for those suffering from grief.
Grief Encounter – A registered charity with a mission to support children and young people after the death of a loved one.
Examples Of Fatal Accidents And Compensation Payouts
Thank you for reading our article on finding the best fatal accident solicitor for you.
Article by AO
Publisher UI