Inquest support for a
death in military service

When your loved one dies in military service it can lead to a lot of unanswered questions. We can help answer them.

Contact us to find out more about our inquest support

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Here to help you get answers after a death in military service

When your loved one dies in military service it can lead to a lot of unanswered questions. We're here to help get answers.

Your questions might be about how, when and where they died, as well as the circumstances surrounding their death. In the military, specialist terminology and additional ‘red tape’ can make it even more difficult for the family to get to the bottom of exactly what happened. Typically, a military inquest may be related to a death in combat, a death during a training exercise, or a death due to inadequate medical treatment when a member of the forces has fallen ill or suffered an injury.

We work with you and your family to prepare for the inquest and ensure that your concerns surrounding your loved one’s death are properly addressed. We will work with you to establish the key questions that need answering and will provide specialist representation for you at any hearing to ensure that your loved one’s death is sufficiently investigated.

Following an inquest, or if an inquest didn’t take place at all, then we can also assist you with bringing a claim for compensation arising out of a military death.

Do you need a solicitor for an inquest?

There’s no obligation to instruct a solicitor for an inquest; you can represent yourself if you wish. However, there are many benefits to having a solicitor represent you, particularly where the hospital/treatment provider is likely to have legal representation.

We strongly urge people to consider specialist legal representation for an inquest in all but the most straightforward and uncontroversial deaths.

The formalities and procedure of an inquest hearing are likely to be a daunting prospect for the family of the deceased, particularly whilst grieving for the loss of their loved on;  having your own lawyer fighting your corner will ease the burden.

Furthermore, the other Interested Parties are likely to be far more familiar with the process outlined above and will also have their own legal teams acting for them. This can mean that family members who represent themselves feel intimidated and ill-prepared when faced with experienced advocates.

Will I have to pay legal costs?

Often representation can be provided at no direct cost to you. We recommend you get in touch with our specialist team so we can advise you on the options available for you and which may best suit your particular case.

Is this just about money?

Where negligence has caused your loved one’s death, we can help secure financial compensation for you and your family. This can help you with expenses directly related to the death, such as funeral costs, as well as providing you with compensation for financial and practical support that your loved one used to provide to you or to others, such as compensation for the loss of their salary into the household, the pension they would have been entitled to, or for additional childcare you now require as a result of their death.

However, we also understand that families may not have financial compensation as their main goal. Wherever possible we strive to fully investigate what happened, seek an apology, and work to bring about changes to ensure that no other family has to suffer the loss of a loved one in similar circumstances.

We can also put you in touch with charities and organisations that support bereaved family members, and we work with a network of specialist experts who can assist in your case.

How can RWK Goodman help you?

Our dedicated inquest team will fight on your behalf and guide you through the process, making it less daunting and ensuring that you get the best possible outcome.

Even if no inquest takes place, you may be able to bring a claim for compensation where negligence has caused or contributed to the death of your loved one. See our fatal claims page for more information.

If you want to proceed with an inquest, and need legal support, please contact us through our website or freephone number and one of our experienced staff members will discuss your case with you and let you know how we can help. There is no charge and no obligation to proceed with us.

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