Bereavement Damages – A Dis-United Kingdom
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has just launched a new research report into Bereavement Damages to extend the eligibility to a wider demographic of dependants and valuation.
Check out APIL’s findings and view the report here
Accredited Occupational Disease and Asbestos Disease specialist with the APIL and GA Partner, James Walsh share his comments on the findings from this report.
“There is a postcode lottery as to whether you will receive statutory bereavement damages from insurers should you lose a family member to a death caused due to the negligence of another, such as a victim of asbestos-related mesothelioma or a fatal car crash. If you live in Scotland you will receive a greater award than in England and Wales. Your eligibility will also be different if you are a cohabitee where you have lived together for less than two years, or a father not married to the mother of his child.
GA Solicitors fully supports the campaign led by APIL to expand the rigid eligibility criteria to allow fairness to the bereaved. These are not token payments as suggested by the Government. They have not kept pace with modern society relationships. The bereaved need compassion and proper financial support as they are in such a vulnerable situation. The current award is a fixed £15,120 which is undervalued and needs to be significantly increased. It does not take into account personal circumstances and relationships unlike the Scottish jurisdiction.”
If you’d like advice on this topic from one of our specialist solicitors, contact us today on 01752 203500.