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Human cannonball death: could those responsible face a compensation claim?

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The accident that saw 22 year old stuntman Jay Young paralysed whilst rehearsing for a show at Legoland Windsor was widely reported, including in our blog. He’s been in hospital since in Oxford awaiting a transfer to Southampton, nearer to family and friends who are currently travelling long distances to visit him.

This story was shocking enough, and then so soon after, we hear about the 23 year old rookie human cannonball who was launched 40 feet into the air, only to plunge to his death in front of a crowd of 2,000 as his safety net failed in a stunt at Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show at the Kent County Showground.

Onlookers were stunned at what they saw. A full investigation is underway according to media reports.

Who was to blame for the accident? One onlooker, Peter Tupper, said most people thought the fall formed part of the show and demanded their money back. He said: "As soon as he was fired out, the net was coming down. The lorry jerked. The net was attached to the front of the lorry.”

Whoever is found responsible once the police and Health & Safety Executive have completed their investigations is likely to face a claim by the victim’s family.

Fatal accident claims can be complex, because sometimes the defendant denies responsibility or the cause of death isn’t clear. The family will therefore need to carefully select their legal representatives, ensuring they have specific expertise in fighting fatal accident cases, proving liability and achieving maximum compensation.

If you have lost a loved one in an accident due to someone’s negligence, Stephensons can help. Our fatal accident claims specialists have specific experience in pursuing claims against negligent parties. Call us in confidence on 01616 966 229.

By personal injury solicitor, Kate Sweeney

 

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