If someone you love died because of an accident or illness caused by their work, the family may be able to claim compensation. There are no upfront fees.
When someone dies because of an accident or illness caused by their work, their family may be able to claim compensation from the employer. The claim is usually paid by the employer's liability insurer.
Under the Fatal Accidents (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, dependants can claim for the financial support they have lost, and for funeral costs. Dependants include a spouse or civil partner, a partner who lived with them for at least two years, children, parents and some other relatives.
The claim is normally brought by the executor or personal representative, on behalf of all the dependants.
A fixed sum of £19,700 is payable for deaths on or after 1 December 2025. Only a spouse or civil partner can receive it, or the parents of an unmarried child under 18.
The person's estate can also claim for what they went through before they died, such as pain, lost earnings and care, under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1937.
The PSNI usually leads the investigation at first. If there is no evidence of manslaughter, HSENI or the local council takes over the health and safety investigation, and families should be kept informed.
The death is reported to the coroner, who may hold an inquest. An inquest is not a trial. It finds out how the person died, and a claim normally follows it. The Coroners Service gives families a liaison officer.
Usually three years from the date of death, or from when the dependant first knew the death was linked to someone's fault, if that is later. This comes from Article 9 of the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
Workplace fatalities can occur for various reasons, including:
Even if the accident seems straightforward, we are here to help you understand your rights and explain what the family can claim for.
If your loved one has passed away in a workplace accident, you may be entitled to claim for:
You pay nothing to start your claim and nothing while it runs.
We only handle personal injury and clinical negligence claims, from first advice through to court if it comes to that.
If your claim succeeds, the other side pays your legal costs and you keep 100% of your compensation.
Our legal insurance covers the costs if your claim doesn't succeed.
We'll look at what happened and tell you honestly whether you have a claim. There's no pressure to go ahead.
Workplace claims are run by Paul Kearney, a solicitor advocate and former barrister, with trainee solicitor John Deeney.
We help clients across Northern Ireland, in person or by phone, email or video.
It's a claim by the family of someone who died because of an accident or illness caused by their work, where the employer or someone else was at fault.
The amount depends on the financial support the family has lost, funeral costs, bereavement damages where they apply, and what the person went through before they died. We can explain what your family's claim may be worth.
In Northern Ireland, you usually have three years from the date of death, or from when you first knew the death was linked to someone's fault, if that is later. It's best to get advice early, while the evidence is fresh.
You'll need evidence such as medical records, accident reports, police reports, witness statements, funeral expenses, and any relevant documentation.
Yes, funeral and burial costs can be claimed as part of your workplace fatality claim.
If the fatality was caused by unsafe working conditions, we can help you pursue a claim against the employer or responsible authority for negligence.
Yes, but the compensation may be reduced to reflect their share of the blame.
Yes, if you were financially dependent on the deceased, you can claim compensation for lost income, pensions, and other financial support that the deceased would have provided.
Employers in Northern Ireland must hold employer's liability insurance, so the claim is normally paid by the insurer. If there was no insurance, other routes may be possible.
Grief itself is recognised through the fixed bereavement damages, available to a spouse or civil partner, or the parents of an unmarried child under 18. A relative who develops a recognised psychiatric illness may have a separate claim in limited circumstances, for example after witnessing the accident.
Every claim is different. Claims after a death can take longer, especially where there is an inquest or an HSENI or police investigation.
We gather the evidence, including HSENI and police findings and the inquest record. If the employer still denies fault, a court can decide.
If the death was within the last three years, the family can usually still claim. In some cases the time limit runs from a later date.
Funeral costs, the financial support and services the family has lost, bereavement damages where they apply, and the person's own losses before they died.
Most claims settle without going to court. If yours does go to court, we represent you.
Only in limited circumstances. A relative who suffers a recognised psychiatric illness, for example after witnessing the accident or its immediate aftermath, may have a claim of their own. Grief alone is covered by bereavement damages.
Contact us by phone, email, or through our online form. The first conversation is free, and we'll explain your next steps.
We only handle personal injury and clinical negligence claims. There are no upfront fees, our legal insurance covers the costs if your claim doesn't succeed, and if it succeeds you keep 100% of your compensation.
Kearney Law Group Ltd is a solicitors' practice regulated by the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Registered in Northern Ireland, company number NI663222. Registered office: Bishop Street Chambers, 26–28 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6PR.
Kearney Law Group only handles personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
We act for clients across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, Newry, Craigavon and Bangor. See all the areas we cover.
Contact us to arrange your free first conversation.
Belfast: Scottish Provident Building, 7 Donegall Square West, Belfast BT1 6JH
02890 912 938
Derry: Bishop Street Chambers, 26–28 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6PR
02871 362 299
Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday 8am – 8pm
Friday 9am – 5pm
