Bereavement damages award to increase on 1st May
The Damages for Bereavement (Variation of Sum) (England and Wales) Order, which was put before Parliament on 19th March 2020, is due to come into force on 1st May.
What’s changed?
Under The Fatal Accidents Act 1976, the statutory bereavement award is currently capped at £12,980.
It can only be awarded following deaths in very limited circumstances. The award can be claimed if the person who has died was either:
- your child who was under 18
- your spouse or civil partner
- your partner with whom you must have lived for at least two consecutive years
On 1st May, the statutory bereavement award will increase to £15,120 for dependents who meet the criteria above. However, it will only be awarded for matters arising after 1st May 2020. If the death has occurred before this date, the current award of £12,980 will still apply.
Who is eligible for bereavement damages?
The award of bereavement damages can be given in cases where the Claimant has died as a result of a breach of duty. For example, fatal road traffic accidents or accidents in the workplace.
The award will only apply to causes of action in England and Wales which occur after 1st May 2020.
Further information
Our personal injury solicitors have extensive experience of dealing with fatal claims. If you’ve lost a loved one as a result of an accident that wasn’t your fault, our expert team can help you with making a fatal accident claim. Call us on 0117 325 2929 or fill out our online enquiry form to get started.