NEWS RELEASE
25 January 2010
A coroner has recorded a narrative verdict at an inquest into the death of a Filey woman who was killed in a crash while holidaying in Germany.
Gillian Slone, 41, was a pillion passenger on a motorcycle being driven by her husband Paul, near the town of Offenburg, in the west of the country near the French border, when they were involved in a head-on crash with an Astra Opel which was travelling on the wrong side of the road.
Mrs Slone died at the scene of the accident which happened on June 13, 2009. Mr Slone, 44, suffered multiple injuries and was taken to a hospital in Offenburg by helicopter before being transferred to Scarborough Hospital. He is still recovering from his injuries and faces a long period of rehabilitation.
German police have brought criminal charges against the German driver of the car, and the matter is ongoing.
Coroner Michael Oakley gave his verdict at Scarborough County Court on Monday. He described how the Astra veered almost completely on to the wrong side of the road while travelling around a bend, colliding with Mr and Mrs Slone's motorcycle. Mr Oakley said Mr and Mrs Slone were innocent parties in the collision. He said it was not clear why the Astra veered on to the wrong side of the road.
Mr Slone's solicitor, Rebecca Dixon of the Leeds office of Stewarts Law LLP, a firm which specialises in acting for catastrophically injured claimants, is pursuing a claim for compensation against the car driver's insurance company.
Miss Dixon said: "Not only does Mr Slone have to cope with the tragic loss of his wife, the accident has left him with life-changing injuries. Mr Slone faces a period of very difficult rehabilitation and adjustment, and it will be some time before he can know what the future holds. We will be claiming compensation to help him regain as much of his independence as possible, and to cover the substantial costs of care, accommodation, medical treatment and other expenses that he will incur in the years to come."
Mr Slone is still grieving the loss of his wife and said he is finding it difficult to come to terms with his injuries. He said: "Gillian was a loving and caring wife who I miss every single day. We had been enjoying a wonderful holiday together when the accident happened and I feel my life can never be the same again. Today's verdict is another stage in my grieving for Gillian and in coming to terms with her death."
Ends
Issued on behalf of Stewarts Law LLP, www.stewartslaw.com, by Nexnet PR, 8 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DS, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Nexnet on 0113 247 0029 or email paul.newham@nexnet.co.uk or joanne.mead@nexnet.co.uk.