Pages On: Wrongful & Accidental Death

Fatal Accident Compensation Claims in Sheffield

Posted in: Personal Injury, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Losing a loved one is hard enough, but when it’s at the hands of a negligent party, grief turns to anger, confusion, and stress. When people important to you suffer a Fatal Accident, the consequences don’t end with them, they ripple across the whole family. Accidental deaths put a significant strain on the emotional and financial health of the entire family. Trying to hold those responsible to account can be almost impossible while trying to cope with losing another breadwinner, and/or suffering psychiatric distress from the death. This is where…

Man dies in hospital after defibrillator set at incorrect level

Posted: 7 March 2016

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

At a hearing that took place in Ruthin on Tuesday, a panel heard that 78-year-old John Rogers lost his life in March of last year due to a defibrillator being set at the wrong power level. Mr Rogers, from Denbigh, died in a coronary care ward in the Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan. The event triggered a serious case review by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which runs the hospital. Mr Rogers’ daughter, Melissa, told the inquest on the first day that she and her mother had been requested to meet a heart consultant…

Three companies charged after four men crushed to death on building site

Posted: 31 January 2016

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Following the death of four men on a building site five years ago, charges were pressed against three companies and a company director for breaches of safety regulations. The defendants, Claxton Engineering Services Ltd of Norwich, Encompass Project Management Ltd of Thetford, Hazegood Construction Ltd of Stowmarket and David Groucott, Director of Encompass Project Management Ltd were all charged under different sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974. The four who perished in the accident were Daniel Hazelton aged 30, his brother 26-year-old Thomas Hazelton, Adam Taylor, 28…

Suggested Scrapping of NHS 111 after baby sepsis death

Posted: 30 January 2016

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

It has been suggested that scrapping the NHS 111 health helpline should be considered, according to an organisation representing local GPs. This is following the shortcomings leading to the death of one-year-old William Mead, who died from undiagnosed blood poisoning (sepsis) in December 2014. After visiting her GP several times, who also did not recognise the seriousness of William’s condition, William’s mother, Melissa Mead, called the NHS 111 helpline during the weekend.  His life could have been saved The call handler, who does not necessarily have any medical training, input a series…

Crane hire firm fined £700,000 after employee death

Posted: 28 December 2015

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Baldwins Crane Hire has been fined £700,000 after health and safety failings led to the death of one of its employees. 49-year-old Lindsay Easton, from Sowerby Bridge in Yorkshire, was killed while driving a crane at Scout Moor quarry in Lancashire. It was heard that the brakes failed on the 130-tonne vehicle while Mr Easton was driving the crane on a steep slope. He lost control of the vehicle and it crashed into an earth bank. The crash left him with such severe injuries that he subsequently died. The accident…

NHS mental health death reviews announced

Posted: 20 December 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has recently announced that a review is to be carried out of the way deaths are investigated throughout the NHS. This follows the publication of a report by one of the country’s biggest mental health trusts, the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. The report uncovered a “lack of leadership, focus and sufficient time spent” investigating deaths. Mr Hunt has decided to roll out a new review system across the entire NHS, determined that lessons will be learned from the report. The report of Southern Health, which…

Spike in excess winter deaths linked to low efficiency flu vaccine

Posted: 29 November 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics have revealed that there has been a considerable spike in excess winter deaths in 2014/15. It is estimated that the death rate in England and Wales was 27% higher during the months of December and March compared to the previous and following three months. It is estimated that there was an excess of 43,900 deaths, the highest number since 1999. The report also suggests that the majority of deaths involved the over 75 year-olds and that there were more deaths in women…

Hospital mental healthcare failings after preventable suicide in A&E ward

Posted: 29 October 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Royal Blackburn Hospital has been found to have been not “appropriately managed” following an investigation carried out by coroner Michael Singleton into the suicide of 42 year old Jackie Williams in January of this year. Mrs Williams was admitted to the hospital on the 27th of January where she was later found hanged in a closed room in the Accident and Emergency ward.  Mrs Williams had been found unconscious and intoxicated on a tow path of a canal in Burnley on the 26th of January.  It is claimed that the…

Mother charged following fatal dog attack

Posted: 30 August 2015

Posted in: Animal Attacks, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A mother and grandmother of a toddler that was killed following a dog attack have been charged in connection with her death. 6-year-old Molly-Mae Wotherspoon was attacked in her home by her mother’s dog, an American pit bull, on 3 October last year. 23-year-old Claire Riley, Molly-Mae’s mother, was accused of owning a dangerously out of control dog that caused fatal injury in court. Her mother, 54-year-old Susan Aucott, Molly-Mae’s grandmother, was charged with the same offence. It was heard in court that the toddler died as a result of…

Mother who's baby died in hospital gives evidence against midwife

Posted: 2 May 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The mother of a baby who died shortly after birth at Barrow’s Furness General Hospital in 2004 has described how the treatment she received by midwife, Marie Ratcliffe, was one of the “most heartbreaking” ordeals she ever had to deal with.  Lesley Bennett, whose baby Elleanor died 27 hours after being born, informed the hearing that she instinctively knew that there was something wrong with her baby, but that the necessary steps were not taken by Ms Ratcliffe to deal with the emergency. Mrs Bennett was giving evidence at a Nursing…

Safety fence put up after drowning death

Posted: 19 March 2015

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A safety fence has been put in place along part of the River Ouse following yet another fatality. 20-year-old Megan Roberts, a York St John University student from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, went missing after a night out in 2014. She and two other students died in York’s rivers last year. Megan went missing on a Saturday night out in January, and was discovered dead on Sunday near the Ship Inn at Acaster Malbis. At the time, North Yorkshire Police thought that she had attempted to go home alone after being separated…

Firm liable over helicopter death

Posted: 20 January 2015

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The widow of a recently deceased businessman has won a High Court claim against his employers following a helicopter crash that cost him his life. 37-year-old Tomas Dusek, from Buckinghamshire, worked for StormHarbour Securities when the accident happened. He had been placed on duty for the independent global markets and financial advice service firm when the helicopter crashed. The Sikorsky helicopter firm leased a helicopter for the trip in the Andes Mountains in Peru in June 2012. All fourteen members of crew were killed in the accident. Mr Justice Hamblen ruled at the…

Medics charged with manslaughter of 6 year old disabled boy

Posted: 17 December 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Three members of staff from the Leicester Royal Infirmary have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a six-year-old boy. Two nurses and one doctor from the hospital admitted to gross negligence that caused the boy’s death in 2011. An inquest into what actually caused his death was adjourned in 2013. Jack Adcock, who suffered with Down’s syndrome, was admitted to the hospital in February 2011 because of severe vomiting. While in hospital, he suffered a heart attack but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba and…

Father sues hospital over baby death

Posted: 30 November 2014

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The father of a baby who died during childbirth is suing the NHS for damages. Five years after Ian Wild’s son was delivered stillborn due to medical failings, Mr Wild says he now suffers from a “psychiatric injury” because of the trauma. He and his wife, Lisa, went to Southend Hospital in March 2009 when Lisa went into labour. Nurses, however, were unable to find a heartbeat for the baby and he was later delivered stillborn. Southend Hospital bosses have admitted liability for the baby’s death. It was heard in court that…

Doctors' licence renewals deferred after review of midwifery service

Posted: 2 November 2014

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Guernsey doctors have had their licence renewals deferred following a critical review into the island’s midwifery services. The review was sparked by a number of deaths that happened in the maternity department, but especially the death of a newborn baby earlier this year. Many of the Health and Social Services Department’s board members resigned following the tragic death. The doctor’s licences have been deferred for six months, and they will be expected to prove their ability to practice on a regular basis in order for the renewal to be granted.…

Mother awaits answers from abulance service following asthma death

Posted: 29 October 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The mother of an 11-year-old boy who died after being treated for his asthma in an ambulance says that she is still waiting for answers over a year after her son’s death. Jack Gray suffered a severe asthma attack at his home last year, and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Ambulance paramedics treated Jack both at his home and on his way to the hospital. The attack happened on the 30th June 2013 and an ambulance arrived within minutes of his mum, Barbara Gray, phoning emergency services. While paramedics attempted to…

Worker's crushing death ruled as ‘accidental’

Posted: 14 October 2014

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An inquest jury has deemed the death of a labourer ‘accidental’ following this week’s hearing. 24-year-old Callum Osborne had been working as a pipe layer on a building site in Whitstable, Kent, when the trench he was working in collapsed and subsequently buried him alive. The father-to-be had only been working on the site for two days when the accident happened in April 2011.  It was heard that Mr Osborne had been continuously contacting the building firm Cooper Services Ltd for work for weeks prior to the accident. They had eventually agreed to…

Over 1000 children injured every month during school runs

Posted: 27 September 2014

Posted in: Pedestrian Injuries, Public Place Accidents, Road Traffic Accidents, School Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

New figures have revealed that every month around 1,100 children suffer serious and fatal injuries on their way to and from school. Road Safety Analysis carried out the research, with figures showing that one third of all child deaths and serious injury happens during the school run times. These times cover between 7:30am and 9:00am, and between 3:00pm and 4:30pm from Monday to Friday. The figures from 2011/12 found there to have been more than 800 serious and fatal injuries suffered by children during the ‘school run’ times. It is believed…

Partner blames doctors for death from untreated head injuries

Posted: 30 August 2014

Posted in: Car Accidents, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A woman has blamed doctors for the death of her partner after they allowed him to leave hospital with head injuries that later killed him. Darren Roberts had been in a serious car accident, but was allowed to leave hospital only one hour after he was submitted. The father-of-one died the following day (6th of December). Mr Roberts had been involved in a two-car collision on the A541 at Afonwen, Wales, when he suffered the fatal head injury. It was heard that impact with the windscreen and rear view mirror…

999 error costs life of an 8 year old

Posted: 27 August 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An eight-year-old boy died of an asthma attack earlier this year as a result of an emergency call handler’s error. Clayton Barker suffered a serious asthma attack in March last year while visiting his grandmother in Oldham. She immediately contacted the emergency services, yet the operator sent the only available ambulance to another patient. Eventually, an ambulance arrived 23 minutes after the call had been made, yet the young boy died on his way to the hospital.   The inquest at Heywood found that the operator had asked Ms Barker if her…

Newborn died unnecessarily after medical staff missed opportunities to save him

Posted: 1 March 2014

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The parents of a newborn baby that died only nine days after birth feel “let down” by the maternity staff at Furness General Hospital. Joshua Titcombe died in 2008 due to natural causes, but an inquest found that medical staff missed multiple opportunities to save his life. Following the baby’s death, the family said that they have suffered “unnecessary distress” as a result of how the hospital dealt with the incident. A lack of openness and honesty on the hospital’s part made the loss of the baby far worse. A watchdog attained…

Firm fined for 19-year-old who died from being crushed at work

Posted: 22 January 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A firm has been fined £75,000 after an apprentice was crushed to death while working with machinery weighing almost a tonne. 19-year-old Jason Burden from South Shields was killed while reassembling the machine on a workbench when it fell onto his torso and left leg, causing his subsequent death. Mr Burden had been working at Tyne Slipway & Engineering Co Ltd (TSECL) at South Dock in Sunderland when the 970kg (150 stone) ship tunnel thruster landed on him. The accident occurred in December 2011, with his father Trevor Burden saying: “His…

Industrial ‘Oven death’ ruled accidental

Posted: 15 December 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After the body of a man was found in an industrial oven at a tyre factory in Cumbria, the inquest jury found the death to be an accident. 48-year-old George Falder died at the Pirelli site in Carlisle in September of last year, having worked at the factory for many years. The machine in which he was killed could reach staggering temperatures of 145C (293F).  The family of Mr Falder said that if someone had properly checked the oven with a torch before closing the door, his death could have…

999 errors resulted in baby’s death

Posted: 30 November 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence, School Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After a 999 call-handler made fatal errors when answering a phone-call regarding a choking baby, the nine-month old baby tragically died as a result. Millie Thompson started choking while being fed Shepard’s pie at her nursery in October 2012, after which a nursery-worker phoned for assistance. Instead of categorizing the phone-call as urgent, ambulance worker Aaliyah Ormerod asked the caller the scripted questions and then failed to remain on the line to listen to the baby’s breathing. It was heard at an inquest that Ms Ormerod should have alerted a…

New road safety scheme launched after spree of cyclist deaths

Posted: 26 November 2013

Posted in: Bicycle Accidents, Road Traffic Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A new road safety scheme has been launched following the numerous cyclist deaths that have occurred in London recently. Yesterday – Monday 25th November – saw some 150 road-users being fined for breaking road traffic laws in an attempt to improve the safety on roads. ‘Operation Safeway’ ensures that Met Police officers are deployed at all 166 key junctions in London during rush hour periods to issue fixed penalty notices, warning road users who are breaking the law. 6 cyclists dead in only 2 weeks ‘Operation Safeway’ has been introduced…

Old lights cause child’s death at level crossing

Posted: 26 September 2013

Posted in: Car Accidents, Road Traffic Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

In December of last year, a four-year-old girl was tragically killed after her grandmother failed to see the dim warning lights at a level crossing. The car, in which Emma Lifsey was a passenger, collided with the train at Beech Hill Crossing in Nottinghamshire on the 4th of December. Emma’s 67-year-old grandmother survived the incident, but Emma sadly died the following day in hospital. The car pulled out onto the level crossing despite the fact that the red warning lights – known as ‘wigwags’ – were on at the time. The Rail…

Building company fined after death

Posted: 7 September 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Falls from Heights, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Building company ‘Chestnut Homes’ has been fined a total of £40,000 after Justin Gillman (26) fell from scaffolding in 2010, resulting in his death. The judge described the death of the bricklayer as an “accident waiting to happen” after an HSE investigation found that the scaffolding had been built by two untrained workmen and was considered extremely dangerous. Mr. Gillman fell from the construction while pulling a trolley full of bricks. He stumbled off of the scaffolding, as no guardrail was in place, and was crushed by the trolley’s contents. Sentence is…

Owners of killer dogs now face life sentences

Posted: 6 August 2013

Posted in: Animal Attacks, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After new proposals have been put forward in England and Wales, the owner of a dog, which has attacked and killed, will face a life sentence in prison. This newly suggested sentence will replace the max 2 year imprisonment that dangerous dog owners currently face. The government proposal includes numerous sentencing options for a fatal dog attack, ranging from five years to a life sentence. However, following a recent rise in dog attacks, the RSPCA argue that more should still be done. There have been sixteen dog attack deaths in the UK…

Building firm sentenced after employee falls to death

Posted: 9 April 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Falls from Heights, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A building firm and one of its directors have been sentenced after an employee fell 15 metres to his death in an empty water storage tank in Macclesfield. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 45-year-old from Liverpool and a colleague had started work at the farm three days earlier. They had been constructing brick manhole chambers above the circular tank, approximately 7.5 metres in diameter, which had been installed to collect flood water. An HSE investigation found they had not been given sufficient information or a risk assessment for the…

Reform of the coroner system

Posted: 6 March 2013

Posted in: Personal Injury, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The Ministry of Justice has announced changes to the coroner system to ensure a much strong focus on supporting bereaved families. The changes will mean that coroners will: be subject to stricter time limits for completing an inquest;have to report any cases that last more than a year to the Chief Coroner;be required to release bodies for funerals within 30 days;provide greater access to materials, such as post-mortem reports, before the inquest takes place;be able to make use of new technologies so that vulnerable witnesses can give evidence via video…

School trips are not inherently risky in comparison to schools themselves

Posted: 6 February 2013

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, School Accidents, Sporting Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is encouraging teachers to embrace outdoor activities after discovering that more accidents take place in schools than on trips. Injuries from leisure activities show that children are far more likely to get hurt playing football or rugby at school than going on a school hiking trip, for instance. Statistics also show that accidental deaths are very rare on school trips – with one child dying each year, on average, in the UK. These figures are set against the 7 – 10…