RTA

[Mepop]

Has anybody been through a bereavement through a RTA?

Can you let me know timescales? For court cases, coroners etc

it is looking like it will be well over a year before my father’s case goes to court. Maybe longer. I am just stunned how long it takes. Coroner case cannot be heard until police case is over. That might be years after his death. I just hate not knowing more about how he died.

I don't know the answers but I'm sorry for your loss and the added trauma of the investigations and being in limbo

We’re 15 months on and still no inquest or sign of resolution. Police informed us last month that they’ve closed their investigation but that this won’t mean the inquest is imminent.

(Disclaimer, I’m in Ireland so timelines and processes will differ assuming you’re in UK).

Hugs for you, @Mepop, it’s so hard.

I worked alongside the serious collision investigation team for many years and a year to get to court is pretty standard. The main issue is that you have a small specialist team that are working on the previous collisions that have occurred and also new ones that are happening and they want to get everything right for your family and the others that they’re investigating collisions for also. A police force will generally have one forensic mechanic to examine the vehicles and the forensic collision report is a very large pack of technical documentation. I’m sorry you’re in limbo but it’s a long process I’m afraid.

I lost a sibling in a single vehicle accident (in Ireland). The inquest was 6 months after the accident. What I found helpful was being able to engage with the family liaison officer. They guided us through the process and timelines. Different scenarios but maybe your equivalent may be able to provide assistance and further information.

I don’t mean to hijack @Mepop’s thread but I’m glad to hear your FLO was good, @GCRyan. Ours has now made appointments with us and not turned up twice. It’s so frustrating.

Thanks for the replies. We met the FLO once. I an happy with them I know they cannot do more right now. And they do reply to messages. Latest is that collision report will be over a year after the death although they don’t know for sure. Then it will be up to CPS to decide charges. In my case my relative was a pedestrian hit by a vehicle. Coroners case is set for a year and a half after death but we have been told it will be delayed. It feels like we are in limbo. Just horrible.

Sorry to hear this op when I was a teenager I lost my bf to an RTA collision with another vehicle. Inquest was done seven months later

I'm sorry for your loss. My 22 year old son died in a RTA on May 31st 2022 and the inquest was a year later on the 12th May. Just reading your post took me back to how I felt not knowing the details and it really does feel like you are stuck in time until everything is over. Sending you love xx

Sorry for your loss. I remember when the woman drove into the school in Wimbledon and the little girls were killed, the family were unhappy with how long the investigation was taking and they said there was a shortage of collision investigators I think.

I'm so sorry @Ihopeithinkiknow, as a mum with a lad similar age, it's my biggest fear, I can only imagine how you feel x

Take care xx