High-value claims. High-risk litigation. Get it right.
Fatal accident claims are some of the most difficult, and most challenging, cases a claimant lawyer can run. They are not simply personal injury claims where the claimant has died. The law is different, the evidence is different, and the risks of undervaluation or professional negligence are real.
The recent High Court decision in Denning v Stone [2025] EWHC 3517 (KB) is a powerful reminder. Although the deceased’s farm was not making a profit, the court awarded £377,577 to the widow for the cost of employing a farm manager to replace her husband’s services. A claim that could easily have been missed — but which fundamentally changed the value of the case.
This APIL webinar series is designed specifically for claimant lawyers handling fatal accident litigation. It focuses on maximising damages, identifying non-obvious claims, and avoiding the pitfalls that most often lead to professional negligence claims.
Each webinar is supported by practical checklists and questionnaires that can be used immediately in live cases.
Sessions in the series include:
Understanding the Law Relating to Fatal Accidents: The Essential Points
Preparing a Schedule and Providing Evidence in a Fatal Claim
Fatal Accident Claims: Ensuring Everything Goes Right
The Key Cases in Fatal Accident Damages
Children and Fatal Accident Litigation
Damages in Anticipation of Death and Losses Prior to Death
An Introduction to the Coroner’s Court for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Lawyers
Barrister
Kings Chambers, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham and 4-5 Gray's Inn Square, London
Gordon was called to the Bar in 1991 having originally qualified and practised as a solicitor. He practices from Kings Chambers, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham and 4-5 Gray's Inn Square, London. He works in the area of personal injury litigation and in the law relating to civil procedure, limitation and costs. He has a particular interest in issues relating to damages, evidence, costs and procedure.
Gordon is a former executive committee member of APIL and has lectured widely for APIL and CPIL on personal injury and procedure topics. Gordon is the author of Personal Injury Practice Notes (Cavendish); The APIL Guide to Fatal Accidents (now in its 4th edition); the 14th edition of Munkman and Exall on Damages for Personal Injury Death and Periodical Payments the New Law. He also wrote the section on limitation for the APIL loose-leaf and contributes two chapters to Munkman on Employer’s Liability... view full biography