No matter what the circumstances, losing a loved one unexpectedly in an accident is terribly traumatic.

If a member of your family has passed away due to an accident at work, instructing solicitors to help you claim compensation may not be at the top of your priority list and whilst compensation for a fatal accident will not relieve any grief, it can help to lessen any financial burdens which you may be facing.

Our specialist solicitors can help support you and advise you on a bereavement claim and a financial compensation claim.

Most common work related accident fatalities

There were a total of 147 work related fatalities between April 2018 and March 2019, according to the latest data published by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

The industry sectors that recorded the most amount of fatal accidents at work were:

• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (32, with an annual average of 36 deaths per year between 2014/15 and 2018/19);
• Construction (30, with an annual average of 36 deaths per year between 2014/15 and 2018/19); and
• Manufacturing (26, with an annual average of 21 deaths per year between 2014/15 and 2018/19).

Another way that the data can be interpreted is by looking at the fatal injury rate in terms of the number of fatalities per 100,000 workers. Adopting this approach, the sectors where the risk of fatal injury is greatest are:

• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (9.21 deaths per 1,000 workers);
• Waste and recycling (6.05 deaths per 1,000 workers); and
• Construction (1.31 deaths per 1,000 workers).

Types of compensation available to you

Our experienced fatal injury solicitors can advise you on your options for compensation for:

• The pain & suffering of the deceased
• Loss of income to dependents
• Funeral expenses
• Probate costs

Who qualifies as a dependent?

A dependent can be either a spouse or ex-spouse, a person who was living with the deceased for at least the last 2 years, a child or a parent of the deceased or another close family member.

Statutory bereavement award

In addition to making a claim for compensation, there is also the potential for recovering a nominal amount of £12,980 in the form of a Statutory Award for Bereavement. This award is separate from the amount you are entitled to claim as dependant compensation.

In a successful fatal accident claim the bereavement award is payable by the negligent party even if there is no loss of income or benefits for the dependants. However this is only payable to the spouse of the deceased or the parents of a deceased minor.

Contact Nigel Askew Solicitors today

For expert advice relating to a fatal accident at work claim, please call us on 01507 609027 or submit an online enquiry using the form on this page and indicate the most convenient time for us to reach you.

We offer all new enquiries a free and no obligation initial consultation.

For more information about fatal work accidents, click here.