Citation 1976 c 30 Royal assent 22 July 1976 Repealed — | Commencement 1 September 1976 | |
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Long title An Act to consolidate the Fatal Accidents Acts. |
The Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (c 30) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that allows relatives of people killed by the wrongdoing of others to recover damages.
Contents
Background
The Fatal Accidents Act 1846 had allowed claims for damages by the relatives of deceased persons for the first time. The 1976 Act modernised the process and repealed earlier legislation.
The Act
The Act allows claims as stipulated in s. 1(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.
The Act allows claims under three heads:
An award must take account of any social security benefits received (s. 4).