Lawyers blast level of damages increase for fatal accidents

Personal injury lawyers this week slated the government for increasing bereavement damages by 2,500, branding it an 'insult' to families who have lost a loved one.

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, announced last week that from 1 April, compensation for families that have suffered bereavement as a result of fatal accident cases will rise from 7,500 to 10,000.

He said: 'These awards are not intended to as a reflection of the value of the deceased person's life, or as punishment for a defendant.

Nevertheless, it is important to update the figure from time to time.'

But Mark Harvey, secretary of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, called for damages in fatal accident claims to be in line with those awarded in the worst cases of physical injury.

'At least then the public would be able to see that it is not cheaper to kill someone than to maim them for life,' he argued.

Paula Rohan