When Do You Need Inquest Solicitors?

Legally reviewed by: LLB (Hons) Nimish Patel Updated: February 8, 2022In: Medical Negligence

When an inquest has been called into the death of a loved one, we understand that it can be an incredibly difficult situation to deal with. Our specialist inquest solicitors can help you and your family members throughout the inquest process and ensure that you get the answers that you need.

 What is an inquest?

Here at AWH Solicitors, we can help with a number of different types of inquest. We can help the families of people who have suffered:

• Death due to road traffic accident
• Death involving hospital care and negligent treatment
• Death involving a barn fire
• Death following terrorist acts
• Death in custody
• Death in state care detention
• Death in care settings
• Death when someone should have been detained under the mental health act
• Death due to medical negligence

Medical inquests are held when the circumstances of the death of someone are violent, unnatural, or unexplained. If it is in any way suspected that the death occurred because the state caused, contributed to or failed to prevent it, then there will be something known as an Article 2 inquest.

What is an Article 2 inquest?

An Article 2 inquest is defined as cases where the state or ‘it’s agents’ have ‘failed to protect the deceased against a human threat or other risk,’ or where there has been a death in police custody. Cases where the deceased has been under the care or responsibility of social services or healthcare providers are often included in this category and will likely mean that there is an inquest into the death.

Article 2(2) of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) – the right to life – states that:

‘Deprivation of life shall not be regarded as inflicted in contravention of this Article when it results from the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary:

1. In defence of any person from unlawful violence;
2. In order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained;
3. In action lawfully taken for the purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection.’

It is in the public interest for all instances where the state has failed to protect someone to be investigated in public inquiries.

Read more on our clinical negligence solicitors page

Our expert inquest solicitors have a great deal of experience with assisting and providing legal representation at inquest. Our inquest team can help you throughout, whether that be with putting together a family statement for the coroner or attending coroner’s court. Post mortem examinations can be difficult when you want closure, but we can help the legal side of things pass as smoothly as possible.

Our Inquests Solicitors are based in Manchester and Blackburn, but we can help you if you are based anywhere in England and Wales. We can attend coroner’s court with you and ensure that you feel supported during the process. You may have questions or concerns about the process, so getting in touch as soon as possible will allow us to put your mind at ease.

Get in touch today for our help and advice.