This page refers to the 2024-2025 edition of When someone dies in a road crash: Information and advice for bereaved families and friends following death on the road in Scotland.

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.