Fatalities and inquests claims

This refers to situations in which a person has died under what appear to be unexplained circumstances.

If your partner, close member of your family or a friend has died but you suspect that this could have been prevented then you may wish to pursue a claim for negligence.

Examples of this include a death in a hospital or nursing home.

A fatalities and inquest claim will investigate the reasons behind the death; what may have caused it and why; and whether it could have been prevented or not. This claim may also include an application for compensation.

Unexplained death and inquests

Any death which occurs without good reason is referred to a coroner for an inquest. This is an official procedure in which the coroner carries out an investigation into the causes of death and conducts a hearing.

A hearing is a legal term for an event or ‘court proceeding’ to verify the facts surrounding the death. This is carried out in cases where the death occurred in suspicious circumstances, e.g. a crime or in an unusual manner.

Evidence is presented during the hearing which either substantiates or contradicts the facts of the case. If there is a suspicion that the death has occurred due to neglect or medical negligence then there may be grounds for compensation.

A death of a relative or someone close to you is a traumatic affair which can be made even worse if it happened unexpectedly. The shock can be far worse on learning that the person you love has died but this needn’t have been the case.

No amount of money will bring someone back but it may help to ease some of the financial worry and stress caused by their death. If that person’s death has resulted in financial hardship for you then compensation may help to ease that worry.

Making a claim for compensation for an unexplained death

A claim for a fatality or unexplained death can be a complex affair but a good personal injury lawyer or solicitor with expertise in these cases will advise you accordingly.

They will guide you through the compensation process which includes the inquest, the coroner’s role and what you can expect to happen.

It is important that you find a law firm or solicitors before the date of the inquest. This allows them time to gather any necessary documentation and evidence which will help with your case. This includes documentation from the coroner.

If you have any evidence which you feel will help your case then give this to your lawyer or solicitor as it may prove to be vital.

The aim is to discover the real reason for your loved one’s death, whether medical negligence played a part and if there is a case for compensation.

The claims process is discussed in detail within this guide. Visit our making a claim for compensation section.