Claims for Wrongful Death

Current project status

• Initiation: Could include discussing scope and terms of reference with lead Government Department
• Pre-consultation: Could include approaching interest groups and specialists, producing scoping and issues papers, finalising terms of project
• Consultation: Likely to include consultation events and paper, making provisional proposals for comment
• Policy development: Will include analysis of consultation responses. Could include further issues papers and consultation on draft Bill
• Reported: Usually recommendations for law reform but can be advice to government, scoping report or other recommendations

This project is complete. We await the Government's response to our recommendations

When a person is killed through the fault of another, family members and some other persons are able to claim compensation under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 for losses they suffer as a result of the death. This project reviewed the availability of compensation in such cases. Our aim was to bring this area of the law into line with the values of modern society and make the law fairer and more certain.