One of the most terrible things a family may go through is losing a loved one due to another person’s negligence. If you are in or have faced such a loss, the emotional toll can be devastating. On top of everything else, dealing with the financial consequences of your loss can seem unattainable.
We know that tragic accidents can lead to unexplainable difficulties. You have lost your loved one, and nothing can compensate for that loss. No amount of money can be enough to get you through the event. Yet, you can claim bereavement, loss of care, companionship, counselling, and funeral expenses from the guilty party through Alberta’s fatal accidents act.
This article will go over the claim procedure in further detail and how the fatal accident act can help you out. Before that, here are small tips to make the process easier for you.
2 Things to Ease Your Pain Acceptance
You have lost your loved one after a fatal crash Alberta. The world has stopped for you, and you don’t know how to continue from here. There is nothing that works for you right now.
But still, you will need to pick yourself up and use different resources to go through the situation.
Seek Help
The best thing to do in this situation is to reach out to friends and other family members. They can provide you with great comfort after your loss. It would help if you did not hesitate to ask for more help whenever you need it.
Reach Out to Professional Support
It is very common to isolate yourself after such a loss. You will need to pick yourself up and reach out to others in this situation. Even if you need professional guidance, do not feel uncomfortable or weak. You can join a community group for counselling. And you can even consult with Alberta Health Services for a Grief Support Program.
Financial Compensation Can Help You Now and in the future
Money cannot replace a person. But you can certainly use the compensation to keep your family afloat, keep your finances on track, send your children to school, and get the support you need to cope with the loss and begin the healing process.
That’s where the fatal accident Alberta act can help you out. The act can help you out through compensation for the following:
- Compensation for the loss of support
- Expenses for the funeral and Burial
- Compensation for the loss of companionship, care, and guidance
- Damages for bereavement through cash
- Compensation for grieving family’s loss of income
- Any cost related to the funeral
- Compensation for therapy and counselling
Amount of Money You Can Get Through the Alberta Fatal Accidents Act
Accidents in Alberta can be extremely dangerous. If it is fatal, someone can lose their life. And this can cause the family members to grieve for the rest of their lives.
In the event of a fatal motor vehicle accident (MVA), the deceased’s family may have access to two insurance policies that give financial aid with expenditures. One coverage is based on the car in which the victim was driving during the accident. And the other is based on the vehicle of the person who may be at fault.
According to Section B Benefits, the maximum insurance coverage for medical expenses is $50,000. This implies that if four passengers are injured in the same car, and the car is insured in Alberta, each person is eligible for up to $50,000 in Section B medical payments.
The first kind of monetary coverage is referred to as a “death benefit.” The death benefit coverage varies depending on the deceased’s age and relationship to the person filing the claim. Funeral expenditures of up to $5,000 per deceased individual and $400 for bereavement can also be claimed. The grief counselling benefit is $400 per family; if more than one family member has died, a bereavement therapy payment can be claimed for each individual who has died.
So, the Fatal Accidents Act of Alberta includes the following compensation for you and your family:
Bereavement
A claim for bereavement, companionship, guidance and loss of care may be made under Section 8 of Alberta’s Fatal Accidents Act (FAA) by a parent, spouse or child.
The payment is firstly divided to the parents who lost their child. This amount is $82,000. The same amount is also distributed to the spouse who lost his or her partner. And the child who lost their parents gets $49,000.
Cremation, Burial, and Funeral Costs
All expenditures associated with the headstone, funeral services, and Burial or cremation are covered by the at-fault party’s insurance company. Given that Section B of the policy only covers $5,000 for total funeral expenditures, this is especially beneficial to the deceased’s family members.
Loss of Dependency and Care
The monetary benefit might be obtained from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier for the financial impact on the deceased’s dependents. For example, A mother with young children, who has recently lost her husband, can get the money.
In addition, families can claim compensation for losing their primary mode of care. This type of compensation amount usually includes housekeeping, childcare, transportation, meal preparation, maintenance, and others.
Identifying Fault and Responsibility
It is common for issues of fault or liability to come later in the difficult conditions surrounding the loss of a loved one after family members have taken some time to grieve and finally start to recover from the shock. We understand that when a family member unexpectedly dies a loved one, taking legal action is usually the last thing on their mind.
However, if you have any doubts regarding who is to blame for an accident, you should consult with a lawyer as quickly as possible. Identifying witnesses and gathering evidence can get more difficult as time passes. Keep in mind, however, that the sooner you contact a Personal Injury lawyer, the better. It’s also fine if you’re reading these several months after a loved one has died. Fatal Accident Lawyers are skilled in gathering evidence after the event, and they can file claims up to two years after the tragic death occurred.
In Alberta, you usually have two years from the date of a fatal accident to press charges, at which point your ability to do so is permanently lost. However, it’s important to move quickly because there can be additional important dates or other factors that could affect the deadline or your claim.
Conclusion
Getting compensation from the at-fault party after a fatal accident can be challenging. You will have to prove the negligence of the other party. And this can go for years.
Nevertheless, Alberta’s fatal accident act ensures that you get compensated for losing your loved one in an accident. If things get complicated along the way, it is always wise to seek legal support. Fatal Accident Lawyers are skilled in collecting evidence after the incident. They can file claims up to two years after the tragic death occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Fatal Accident Mean?
A fatal accident usually involves one or two deaths. When a vehicle collision leads to the death of 1 or 2 persons, that is considered a fatal accident.
What is a Fatal and Non-fatal Accident?
A fatal accident is defined as a road accident resulting in the death of at least one person. It involves personal injury to the level where the injured misses at least 4 days of work. A non-fatal accident does not involve death.
What is a Fatal Casualty?
Fatal casualty means a series of fatal accidents. This ideally leads to the death of one or two persons involved in the incident.
Does Fatality Mean Death?
Yes, fatality means the death of one or two persons from a severe accident or disaster.
What is the Difference Between Casualty and Fatality?
A casualty is the cause of an event that might only lead to a serious injury. It can also lead to death for a designated reason. But fatality means sudden death from negligence. It only includes death from the event.