The Fatal Accidents Act, 1855
The objective of this act is to provide compensation to families for loss occasioned by the death of a person caused by actionable wrong.
If death of a person is caused by wrongful act, neglect or default of another person, the executor, administrator, or representative of the deceased person has the right to file a suit for compensation for the benefit of the wife, husband, parent (including grand father and grand mother) and child (including grand son, grand daughter, step son, step daughter) of the deceased. Even though the death might have been caused as a result of a crime, the suit is maintainable against the person who caused the death.
In every such suit, the court may give such damages as it may think proportional to the loss resulting from such death to the parties for whom and for whose benefit such suit is filed. The amount so recovered, after deducting all costs and expenses, including the costs not recovered from the defendant, shall be divided amongst the beneficiaries, in such shares as the Court by its judgment or decree shall direct. The persons aggrieved have right to seek for remedy by filing suit in the appropriate civil Court having jurisdiction over the matter. It is further provided that not more than one suit shall be brought for in respect of the same subject matter of the complaint.