NCJ Number
150983
Date Published
1994
Length
83 pages
Annotation
A committee established by Victim support in 1993 examined the services currently available in the Great Britain to meet the emotional and practical needs of family members and others directly or indirectly affected by the death of someone in a traffic accident, to identify examples of good and bad practices, and to recommend ways to fill service gaps.
Abstract
The committee noted that approximately 4,000 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents each year. The analysis revealed that current services are provided by police, coroners, pathologists, registrars of deaths, emergency services, medical staff, community health agencies, the Department of Social Security, funeral directors, insurance companies, banks, the Crown Prosecution Service, attorneys, several voluntary agencies, and self-help and information groups. Families and others have needs for information, emotional support, and practical help immediately following the fatality, as well as in the short term, medium term, and long term. Recommended changes include using the word crash rather than accident, using compassion in tact in giving news of a death, ensuring that families are offered practical assistance such as telephoning relatives or friends, training of emergency personnel and professionals, simplifying administrative procedures, and taking actions that recognize the enormous personal and social costs of traffic crashes. Additional specific actions should be taken by government agencies, the police, emergency agencies, prosecutors, court personnel, coroners, voluntary agencies, and insurance companies. In addition, the bereavement award should be increased. Appended background information, glossary, list of organizations offering information or support, list of organizations and individuals contacted for the study, and related materials