Guide for bereaved families and friends following death on the road in Scotland

Information on practical matters and procedures if someone is killed on a road in Scotland

This guide aims to help you with practical matters and procedures if someone has been killed on a road in Scotland. It can also help if you are caring for someone who has been bereaved by a road crash. You can download the complete guide as a pdf or click on the links below.

This page refers to the 2023 edition of Information and advice for bereaved families and friends following a death on the road in Scotland.

Information and advice for bereaved families and friends following a death on the road in Scotland

Download the guide (2023 edition)

Contents

Introduction

Includes information about how to use this guide and your right to support

Section 1: What happens now?

Things that often happen in the first few days after a fatal crash. Includes information about organ and tissue donation; seeing and identifying a body; post-mortem examinations; return of personal belongings; finding out what happened in the crash.

Section 2: Practical issues

Practical issues that often come up after a road crash. Includes information about informing people; burials or cremations; legal and financial issues; dealing with the media; memorials; what to do if the crash happened abroad.

Section 3: Criminal investigations and charges

Includes information about: the police investigation; the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service; Victim information and advice services; charging someone; criminal offences..

Section 4: Court cases

Includes information about: attending court; being a witness in court; support in court; court procedures; verdicts and sentencing; appeals; prisoner release; Fatal Accident Inquiries.

Section 5: Can I claim compensation?

Includes information about: whether you can claim money for your loss; instructing a solicitor to pursue a claim for compensation; types of compensation; starting and negotiating a claim.

You can also read a short book about coping with grief when someone you love is killed in a road crash.

This book aims to help you cope and protect your mental and physical wellbeing.

It is based on the experiences of many people bereaved in a sudden or shocking way, and what helped them.

Click on the link below to download.

Coping with grief when someone you love is killed in a road crash

Download the book

Brake's National Road Victim Service

Get help

If someone you love has been killed or seriously injured in a road crash, Brake is here to help

Fill out this simple form, call 0808 8000 401 or email help@brake.org.uk

Open Monday to Friday 10am–4pm