Families of Fatal Accident Victims to Receive Bereavement Compensation Under New Law
Families of people killed in fatal accidents could receive compensation for grief and emotional suffering under new legislation approved by Parliament on Tuesday.
Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin said the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 modernizes a law that has remained largely unchanged for more than a century and introduces bereavement damages for dependents of deceased victims.
Speaking during debate on the measure, Benjamin described bereavement as the pain and suffering experienced by family members following the loss of a loved one.
“One area being introduced for the first time is bereavement,” the attorney general told lawmakers. “That is this pain and suffering endured by dependents when a family member loses his life.”
Benjamin argued that the original amount proposed in the bill was too low and said he intended to seek changes during the committee stage of debate.
“Five thousand dollars clearly cannot be appropriate,” he said, citing the emotional trauma suffered by families after fatal road accidents.
The attorney general referred to a recent fatal crash in which a young man was killed while working along a roadway, saying the tragedy underscored the need for stronger legal protections for surviving relatives.
He said the legislation is intended to ensure that dependents and beneficiaries are better protected when a family member dies as a result of another person’s actions.
The bill also broadens the categories of persons who may be eligible to bring claims, including spouses, children, parents and other dependents.
During the committee stage, Parliament amended the legislation to increase the maximum bereavement award to $20,000 and expanded eligibility to include children.
Benjamin told lawmakers that the measure reflects the government’s concern not only for accident victims but also for the families left behind.
The Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 was subsequently approved by Parliament and will replace provisions contained in a law dating back to 1924.