Representing bereaved fiancée of hit and run victim

Our team recently settled a claim for Elizabeth Boyd in relation to the loss of her fiancé, Trevor Bird, who was killed in November 2008 by a hit and run driver who fled the scene.

Mr Bird was walking home through a residential area with his son, Peter, when he was hit twice by a vehicle driven by Jason Doyle who drove away from the scene leaving him fatally injured.

After a lengthy police investigation, Jason Doyle was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and pleaded guilty. He admitted driving in excess of the speed limit and leaving the scene of the accident. The police also investigated Mr Doyle in relation to mobile phone, alcohol and drug use at the time of the accident. He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and a seven year driving ban, a short sentence given the nature of the offence.

Elizabeth Boyd, who was engaged to Trevor Bird, her long term partner, brought a claim against Mr Doyle and his insurers in relation to the death of Mr Bird. Whilst liability for the accident and his death was admitted relatively quickly, Ms Boyd was devastated to find that the insurers tried to argue that her relationship with Mr Bird was not sufficient to meet the criteria to bring a claim.

As a result of the insurers’ stance, the litigation was long running and only settled in November 2012.

Return to case studies