FATAL ACCIDENTS ACT 1976

1. Right of action for wrongful act causing death.

(1) If death is caused by any wrongful act, neglect or default which is such
as would (if death had not ensued) have entitled the person injured to maintain
an action and recover damages in respect thereof, the person who would have been
liable if death had not ensued shall be liable to an action for damages,
notwithstanding the death of the person injured.

(2) Subject to section 1A(2) below, every such action shall be for the
benefit of the dependents of the person (“the deceased”) whose death
has been so caused.

(3) In this Act “dependent” means-

(a) the wife or husband or former wife or husband of the deceased;
(b) any person who-

(i) was living with the deceased in the same household immediately
before the date of the death; and
(ii) had been living with the deceased in the same household for at
least two years before that date; and
(iii) was living during the whole of that period as the husband or wife
of the deceased;

(c) any parent or other ascendant of the deceased;
(d) any person who was treated by the deceased as his parent;
(e) any child or other descendant of the deceased;
(f) any person (not being a child of the deceased) who, in the case of any
marriage
to which the deceased was at any time a party, was treated by the deceased
as a child of the family in relation to that marriage;
(g) any person who is, or is the issue of, a brother, sister, uncle or aunt
of the deceased.

(4) The reference to the former wife or husband of the deceased in subsection
(3)(a) above includes a reference to a person whose marriage to the deceased has
been annulled or declared void as well as a person whose marriage to the
deceased has been dissolved.

(5) In deducing any relationship for the purposes of subsection (3) above-
(a) any relationship by affinity shall be treated as a relationship of
consanguinity, any relationship of the half blood as a relationship of the whole
blood, and the stepchild of any person as his child, and
(b) an illegitimate person shall be treated as the legitimate child of his
mother and reputed father.

(6) Any reference in this Act to injury includes any disease and any
impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.

1A. Bereavement.

(1) An action under this Act may consist of or include a claim for damages
for bereavement.

(2) A claim for damages for bereavement shall only be for the benefit-

(a) of the wife or husband of the deceased; and
(b) where the deceased was a minor who was never married-
(i) of his parents, if he was legitimate; and
(ii) of his mother, if he was illegitimate.

(3) Subject to subsection (5) below, the sum to be awarded as damages under
this section shall be £7,500.

(4) Where there is a claim for damages under this section for the benefit of
both the parents of the deceased, the sum awarded shall be divided equally
between them (subject to any deduction falling to be made in respect of costs
not recovered from the defendant).

(5) The Lord Chancellor may by order made by statutory instrument, subject to
annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, amend this
section by varying the sum for the time being specified in subsection (3) above.

2. Persons entitled to bring the action.

(1) The action shall be brought by and in the name of the executor or
administrator of the deceased.

(2) If-

(a) there is no executor or administrator of the deceased, or
(b) no action is brought within six months after the death by and in the
name of an executor or administrator of the deceased,

the action may be brought by and in the name of all or any of the persons for
whose benefit an executor or administrator could have brought it.

(3) Not more than one action shall lie for and in respect of the same subject
matter of complaint.

(4) The plaintiff in the action shall be required to deliver to the defendant
or his solicitor full particulars of the persons for whom and on whose behalf
the action is brought and of the nature of the claim in respect of which damages
are sought to be recovered.

3. Assessment of damages.

(1) In the action such damages, other than damages for bereavement, may be
awarded as are proportioned to the injury resulting from the death to the
dependents respectively.

(2) After deducting the costs not recovered from the defendant any amount
recovered otherwise than as damages for bereavement shall be divided among the
dependents in such shares as may be directed.

(3) In an action under this Act where there fall to be assessed damages
payable to a widow in respect of the death of her husband there shall not be
taken into account the re-marriage of the widow or her prospects of re-marriage.

(4) In an action under this Act where there fall to be assessed damages
payable to a person who is a dependent by virtue of section 1(3)(b) above in
respect of the death of the person with whom the dependent was living as husband
or wife there shall be taken into account (together with any other matter that
appears to the court to be relevant to the action) the fact that the dependent
had no enforceable right to financial support by the deceased as a result of
their living together.

(5) If the dependents have incurred funeral expenses in respect of the
deceased, damages may be awarded in respect of those expenses.

(6) Money paid into court in satisfaction of a cause of action under this Act
may be in one sum without specifying any person’s share.

4. Assessment of damages; disregard of benefits.

In assessing damages in respect of a person’s death in an action under this
Act, benefits which have accrued or will or may accrue to any person from his
estate or otherwise as a result of his death shall be disregarded.

5. Contributory negligence.

Where any person dies as the result partly of his own fault and partly of the
fault of any other person or persons, and accordingly if an action were brought
for the benefit of the estate under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Act 1934 the damages recoverable would be reduced under section 1(1) of the Law
Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945, any damages recoverable in an action
under this Act shall be reduced to a proportionate extent.