Finding support » Practical information for the bereaved » What is an inquest? » Inquest and road death guide
Inquest and road death guide
The inquest provides families with a chance to ask witnesses about the circumstances of their loved one’s death. This is a rare, if not unique, opportunity and families are advised to prepare for it. RoadPeace has produced a guide to road death inquests. A draft was circulated to all coroners and the current version has been updated to reflect their feedback.
Our inquest and road death guide addresses in detail many areas including:
- What is an inquest?
What will happen? How long will it last? Will there be a jury?
- Who can attend? Can families ask the driver questions? Can evidence be seen in advance?
- What if families do not wish to hear the post mortem details or see any crash photos?
- What are the possible verdicts? What other powers do coroners have?
- What happens afterwards? Will families receive anything in writing? Can verdicts be appealed?
- A useful checklist
For more information on Coroner Reform and the key issues for those bereaved by road crashes, please see the Effective Inquests section under the Working for Change section of this website.
