If you have lost a loved one in a fatal accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the specialist personal injury solicitors at LMK Law can assist you in holding those responsible to account and securing compensation to ease the practical and financial burden of your loss. With more than 30 years of experience supporting bereaved families across Northern Ireland with fatal accidents claims, we are here to help you understand your options. If you decide to proceed, we will guide you through the process with care and empathy.
To speak to our experts please call us on 028 2766 6698 or Make An Online Enquiry.
WHO CAN BRING A CLAIM?
A fatal accident claim in Northern Ireland can be brought by those who relied financially on the deceased including the deceased’s spouse, civil partner, children, as well as parents, and anyone treated as a parent or child by the deceased.
The claim is ordinarily brought by the executor or administrator of the deceased’s estate. If no action has been issued within six months of the grant of representation, any dependant may bring proceedings themselves. There is a three-year limitation period running from the date of death, and we strongly recommend seeking legal advice as early as possible. We can advise you on exactly who can bring a claim and in what capacity, as well as on any time pressures specific to your circumstances.
CAN I MAKE A CLAIM?
A fatal accident claim requires proof that the death was caused by the negligence or wrongful act of another party. That could include a road traffic accident caused by a negligent driver, a fatality arising from an unsafe workplace, a death resulting from a defective product, or a failure in the provision of medical care. We handle complex, high-value fatal accident claims and regularly act for families where the circumstances of the death are disputed or where liability is not immediately clear.
We will assess the merits of your case honestly and at no charge, and we will advise you frankly on the prospects of a successful outcome before any decision is made on how to proceed.
HOW MUCH COMPENSATION WILL I RECEIVE?
Losing someone you love to a preventable accident is a grief that no sum of money can address. However, compensation can help address the financial burden your loss brings, enabling you to concentrate on coming to terms with the situation.
Fatal accident claims are composed of several distinct heads of loss, and the overall value of a claim can be substantial, particularly where the deceased was of working age with a family to support. The types of losses you may be able to include in your claim are:
Bereavement Damages
Bereavement damages are a fixed statutory sum available to a surviving spouse, civil partner, certain cohabitees, or the parents of an unmarried minor.
Loss Of Financial Dependency
A loss of financial dependency award is compensation for the income and financial support the deceased would have provided to dependants over their lifetime.
Loss Of Services Dependency
Loss of services dependency is compensation for the practical contributions the deceased made, such as childcare, household tasks, DIY, and care provided to family members.
Funeral Expenses
Funeral expenses can be recovered where dependants have met those costs.
Pain, Suffering And Loss Of Amenity
This is compensation for any conscious suffering endured by the deceased between the date of the accident and the date of death.
Special Damages
Special damages cover any financial losses incurred by the deceased between the date of the accident and the date of death, including care costs, medical expenses, and travel.
Compensation For Psychiatric Illness
A surviving relative who has suffered a recognised psychiatric illness as a result of witnessing the death or its immediate aftermath may bring a separate claim as a secondary victim. This runs alongside the fatal accident claim but is a distinct cause of action in negligence.
WHY CHOOSE LMK LAW?
Instructing the right solicitor in a fatal accident case is one of the most important decisions a bereaved family can make. The complexity and value of these claims, and the emotional weight that surrounds them, demand a legal team that combines technical expertise with genuine care for the people they represent.
When you choose us to support you, you can expect:
Specialist Expertise Built Over Three Decades
We are specialist personal injury solicitors. Fatal accident law sits at the most serious end of what we do, and we bring the full depth of our experience to every case we accept. Over more than 30 years of practice in Northern Ireland, we have built a reputation for straightforward advice and outcomes that reflect the true extent of our clients’ losses. We do not take on fatal accident cases unless we are satisfied that the prospects of success are genuine, and we do not settle claims for less than they are worth.
A Rigorous, Evidence-Led Approach
We work with a team of highly respected medical consultants and leading barristers who bring specialist clinical and legal expertise to the assessment and conduct of fatal accident claims. Establishing the full value of a dependency claim requires a detailed analysis of the deceased’s earnings, career trajectory, pension, and the services they provided to their family. We leave no element of your claim unexamined.
Support And Reassurance Throughout
A fatal accident claim can take time to resolve, and for families navigating the early stages of grief, the legal process can feel remote and difficult to engage with. We take a careful, considered approach, explaining each stage clearly and keeping you properly informed as the case develops. We communicate in plain terms, and you will always know where you stand, what is coming next, and what you can reasonably expect at the end of the process.
We also offer full multilingual support in both English and Polish. If Polish is your first language, you can discuss every aspect of your case with us in the language you are most comfortable with.
Expert Mental Health Support
The psychological impact of losing a family member to a fatal accident can be severe and enduring. Acute grief, post-traumatic stress disorder, debilitating anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and recurring nightmares are all recognised clinical consequences of traumatic bereavement, and they form part of any secondary victim claim you make.
We refer clients who are experiencing mental health difficulties to a trusted and highly regarded psychotherapist for private treatment, at no cost to them. Through our referral network, clients can access evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Exposure Therapy, typically within weeks rather than the two years or more that NHS waiting lists can involve. Early intervention makes a significant clinical difference, and the cost of that treatment is recovered as part of the overall secondary victim claim.
100% OF YOUR COMPENSATION
When your claim succeeds, your legal costs are recovered from the party responsible for your loved one’s death. Your compensation comes to you in full. We work alongside leading barristers to build the strongest possible case on your behalf, and our aim in every case is the same: to recover every pound your family is entitled to.
SPEAK TO OUR FATAL ACCIDENT SOLICITORS TODAY
We offer all clients a free initial consultation. During that consultation, one of our specialist fatal accidents solicitors will assess the merits of your case, explain the claims process in plain terms, and give you a clear and honest view of your position. There is no pressure and no obligation. You leave that conversation better informed than when you arrived, regardless of what you choose to do next.
Start Your Personal Injury Claim Today
To speak to our experts please call us on 028 2766 6698 or Make An Online Enquiry.