Coroners and Inquests

Although stressful, an inquest should provide grieving families with important information about how someone died. In summing up, the coroner may highlight failings to prevent future deaths and make recommendations to parties involved which must be addressed.

We can help you contribute to the inquest to best support your interests and, where appropriate, to call those responsible to account. The outcome of an inquest often benefits any ongoing civil claim for compensation.

What we do

We will visit you at home and ensure your case is investigated thoroughly and professionally. We will explain each step of the inquest process as part of our work on your claim.
Please read our guide to inquests brochure for more information on what to expect from an inquest and how to achieve the best outcome.  

Our solicitors specialise in fatal accident claims

If you have suffered a bereavement as a result of some medical negligence, for example a road collision or at work, the deceased's financial dependents may be able to claim for the subsequent loss of financial support.

We pride ourselves on doing everything possible to make a claim as straightforward and stress free as possible.
We specialise in complex and high-value claims, quantifying financial dependency and the loss of services the deceased would have given the family.

We may also be able to arrange for you to be represented at inquest.

Who can claim?

A dependent is defined as:

• A wife, husband, ex-wife or ex-husband of the deceased

• A civil partner or former civil partner of the deceased (living with the deceased for at least two years)
• A child of the deceased
• Any person (not being a child of the deceased) who was treated by the deceased as a child of the family
• A parent of the deceased
• A sibling, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew or cousin of the deceased
• A cohabitee may also be able to claim

What can you claim?

You can claim damages under 2 separate Acts:

Under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, you can claim:

• Pain, suffering and loss of amenity (from the date of injury to the date of death)
• Special damages (from the date of injury up to the date of death) including loss or earnings, medical expenses and treatment, damage to clothing and property, care (professional or gratuitous) and travel expenses.
• Funeral expenses
• Probate fees
• One-off expenses and losses

Under the Fatal Accidents Act, you can claim:

• A statutory bereavement award
• A dependency claim for the financial losses suffered by the dependents of the deceased
• A claim for the funeral expenses, if paid by the dependents

Statutory bereavement award

If the deceased was your wife, husband, civil partner or child (under the age of 18) at the date of death, you are eligible for a fixed sum of £12,980. This is paid in addition to any dependency claim.

The Government is currently considering proposals to bring the rights of cohabitees in line with those who are married, under the Human Rights Act 1998. Currently, a long-term partner can claim many of the same items under the Fatal Accident Act as a bereaved spouse, but not the Statutory Bereavement Award – i.e. would receive £12,980 less than a married person in a successful civil claim.