Inquest Solicitors in Bristol

The death of a loved one is always devastating, but when there is the possibility that their death was preventable, it makes the situation even more upsetting. In such cases, a coroner’s inquest is often the first step to getting answers.

To make sure you have the best chance of getting those answers, it is advisable to seek the support of a lawyer with experience of coroner’s inquests. They can be highly complicated and daunting procedures, so having an expert to support you can make the process much easier on you while helping to ensure nothing is missed. If you want to know more about inquests, read our Inquest page.

At Novum Law Bristol, we offer specialist coroner’s inquest representation and advice, with particular expertise in inquests after fatal medical negligence, deaths of mental health patients and deaths following fatal road and workplace accidents.

You are at the heart of our service. We will work closely with you to understand what questions you want answered and any specific concerns you have. Our team can then liaise with the coroner, hospitals, police and other appropriate bodies on your behalf and provide legal representation at the inquest.

Novum Law inquest solicitor in Bristol will be happy to assist you with:

• Preparing for an inquest
• Coroner’s inquest representation
• Reviewing the outcome of a coroner’s inquest
• Challenging the outcome of an inquest if required

Where an inquest finds that your loved one’s death was due to an accident or medical negligence, we can advise on your options for taking the matter further, including claiming compensation where appropriate.

Client testimonials

“I know words can only do so much and I doubt there are enough words in existence that could even begin to express our appreciation. However, this is a start. We are forever in your debt and on behalf of my family, my mum and I – we are so grateful for everything you have done and continue to do for us. My mum would never have had a shot at justice without you and because of your hard work and continuous efforts, it means her death was not in vain. Here’s to invoking real change and hopefully preventing something like this from ever happening again. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

“Receiving the Prevention of Future Death reports last week we felt that we could finally draw a line under the inquest process and it felt like a weight had been lifted from us. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to you and your team in helping guide us through this process over such a long time.”

Speak to Our Inquest Solicitors in Bristol for a Free Consultation

If you need advice or representation for a coroner’s inquest, our solicitors in Bristol are here for you. We offer free initial advice and No Win No Fee funding if you wish to make a compensation claim for the death of your loved one.

We have local offices in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Southampton and Swindon allowing us to offer a convenient local service to clients further afield.

To speak to a member of our team, please contact us on 01179 309 599 or online for a free, no obligation chat.

Legal Support With a Coroner’s Inquest

Preparing for an inquest

The family and other interested parties can ask questions (or have them asked on their behalf) during a coroner’s inquest. It is important to spend some time before the inquest considering what you want to know and making sure your questions are as clear and comprehensive as possible. This will increase your chances of getting the answers you need.

Our inquest lawyers can help you to prepare, advising you on exactly what to expect at the inquest and helping you to put together your questions. If you wish, we can then represent you at the inquest, asking your questions on your behalf.

Coroner’s inquest representation

Coroner’s inquests can be upsetting and daunting for families, so it is often in your best interests to have someone represent you during proceedings. This can make things easier on you as well as avoiding the risk of you becoming overwhelmed and not being able to ask your questions effectively.

Our inquest solicitors in Bristol regularly provide inquest representation, making sure families’ questions are answered. We will make sure all of your concerns are addressed, while providing our personal support for you if you wish to attend the hearing.

Reviewing the outcome of a coroner’s inquest

Understanding the coroner’s verdict and what it means is not always straightforward. In many cases, it simply raises more questions, especially where you believe someone else may be to blame for the death of your loved one.

Our inquest solicitors in Bristol can review the outcome of a coroner’s inquest with you, discuss the implications of the conclusion the coroner has reached and advise you on your next steps.

Where the death involves a fatal injury or suspected medical negligence, we can discuss your right to make a compensation claim, which is often the only way to establish who was to blame for the death.

Challenging the outcome of an inquest

If you are unhappy with the conclusion a coroner has reached, it may be possible to challenge their decision. While there is no standard right of appeal, a challenge can sometimes be made under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 or by applying for a judicial review.

However, it is important to understand that such challenges are rare and strong grounds are required for one to be accepted. It is therefore essential to get specialist legal advice, which our team will be happy to provide.

Coroner’s Inquests Frequently Asked Questions

When will a coroner’s inquest be held?

A coroner is required to hold an inquest to determine the cause of death where:

• The cause of death is unknown
• The deceased may have died a violent or unnatural death
• The deceased died in prison or police custody
• The person died while detained under the Mental Health Act
• The identity of the deceased is uncertain or unknown

What are the possible outcomes of a coroner’s inquest?

At the conclusion of a coroner’s inquest, the coroner will either provide their conclusions about the cause of death or they will record an ‘open verdict’. An open verdict is where the coroner feels there is insufficient evidence to definitively say what the cause of death was.

A coroner can either return a straightforward verdict that simply states the cause of death or a ‘narrative conclusion’ that goes into more detail about the facts surrounding the death. If the coroner decides to return a narrative conclusion, they will normally cover the main issues involving in the circumstances surrounding the death.

Will a coroner decide who is to blame for a death?

No, the coroner will not assign blame for a death. They will simply record their conclusion about the cause of death. If you wish to establish blame, you will likely need to pursue a medical negligence claim or personal injury claim to achieve this.

Speak to our Inquest Solicitors in Bristol for a Free Consultation

If you need advice or representation for a coroner’s inquest, our solicitors in Bristol are here for you. We offer free initial advice and No Win No Fee funding if you wish to make a compensation claim for the death of your loved one.

We have local offices in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Southampton and Swindon allowing us to offer a convenient local service to clients further afield.

To speak to a member of our Bristol Inquest team, please contact us on 01179 309 599 or online for a free, no obligation chat.