Fatal Accidents Act 1976
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| Long title | An Act to consolidate the Fatal Accidents Acts. |
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| Citation | 1976 c 30 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 22 July 1976 |
| Commencement | 1 September 1976 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Administration of Justice Act 1982, ss. 3(1), 73(1) |
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Status: Current legislation
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
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.
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 The 1976 Act modernised the process and repealed earlier legislation.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 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).
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