Families need not face Inquests alone

Posted 27/07/2011

The death of a family member is usually an emotional and potentially difficult time. If the death occurs in unusual or unexplained circumstances and an Inquest is required this can make it more stressful. Ashtons Legal personal injury specialist Hannah Rutterford believes many members of the general public are not aware that they can appoint solicitors to represent them at an inquest and help get answers as to how their loved one died.

She explains: “An Inquest can be extremely daunting for family members and all too often if they don’t have professional representation their questions go unanswered. A Coroner’s duty is to investigate the circumstances of someone’s death, not to apportion blame. However an Inquest is often a valuable opportunity to put forward recommendations which might help prevent someone else dying in similar circumstances in the future. If there is any possibility that someone else is in any way to blame for the person’s death then it is also an opportunity to obtain evidence and question witnesses which may be crucial to any compensation claim that is brought later on.

Any ‘interested party’