All You Should Know About Fatal Accident Claims
Loss of a loved one can shatter you completely, and the trauma is magnified if death is caused due to someone else’s negligence. While there’s nothing in the world that can fill the void left by a loved one, getting compensated with a fatal accident claim can at the very least put off your financial burden and assist you in carrying out all the necessary tasks.
Laws In Place For Fatal Accident Claims
The fatal accident act in 1976 had put forth simple and straight rules mentioning that the dependents and loved ones of the deceased person have the right to claim for compensation if the mishap occurred because of someone else. The dependents entitled to the claim are:
- Spouse or partner of the deceased
- Any person who remained in close contact with the dead person. Either as a husband, wife, or civil partner.
- Biological children and other family members, which include adopted children and children born through civil partnerships.
- Biological parents, grandparents, and any other elderly figure who was treated as parents by the deceased.
- Siblings, cousins, and other relatives like uncles, aunties, nephews, and nieces.
What Can You Claim For In Case Of Fatal Accidents?
The monetary compensation you may get depends on the case. Since each case is different, the compensation money you will receive mostly depends on the factors that are surrounding the incident. Generally, you can claim compensation for the following things in case of fatal accidents:
- Pain and Loss of Assets– if a person died because of a disease, or the deceased person got bed-ridden due to the negligence shown by medical professionals, the claim will be for the pain and suffering of the dead person which happened when they were alive.
- Actual Losses – this type of compensation is given for real expenditures that were borne while taking care of a pain inflicted person. Moreover, any other admin expenses incurred while dealing with death are also included. All the expenses that were incurred in the hospital, the nursing process, medicines, cost of home care, all the costs of commutation for medical treatment, and the funeral expenses come under this compensation component.
- Loss Of Income And Wealth – if the death didn’t come instantly, and the deceased person had to suffer from a great loss of earnings while they were alive because of the inability to work, will also be considered.
- Loss For Dependents and The Family Members Left Behind – one of the most claimed compensation component is the losses for dependency. This is applicable when the dead person leaves behind people who relied on them and their income. These people include; spouses, children under the age of 18, and elderly parents.
Time Period For Reporting A Fatal Accident Claim
The government has announced a 3 year limit for filing a compensation claim for fatal accidents. This commences from the day the person dies. The good thing is if the dead person had already claimed compensation for their injury when they were alive, the 3 year period will start all over again from the date of their death.
Whatever be the circumstance; death of a loved one, injury caused by someone else’s negligence, or an illness resulting from medical negligence demonstrated by medical professionals, you can always get in touch with Hamilton Douglas Legal and get the best personal injury lawyers in Glasgow and surrounding regions to represent you in these hard times. Our professional lawyers have great experience in this field of work, and they will work with you throughout the claim process to ensure that you receive your deserved compensation amount without any hassle.