Narrative verdict in Roger Hamer Inquest

August 14, 2017

Sara Sutherland from Exchange Chambers has represented the family of an 83-year-old man at the Inquest into his death.

Roger Hamer, died a month after crashing his bike on Bury New Road, Ramsbottom, in March 2016, the Inquest heard. He had suffered several skull fractures having been flung 20m (65 ft).

A jury at North Manchester Coroner’s Court returned a conclusion that it was probable Mr Hamer had hit a pothole and this had contributed to the accident.

The pothole Mr Hamer probably hit was reported to Bury Council in January 2016 and defects in the road at the site of the crash could be seen on Google Street View in October 2015. The accident happened on March 5, 2016.

The Coroner’s Court jury’s narrative verdict found “inconsistencies” in the way Bury Council dealt with some road repairs.

The authority said it had learned lessons and was improving its training. It added that Bury New Road would be fully resurfaced by next March.

The coroner is writing to both the Department of Transport and Bury Council highlighting a number of concerns raised during the inquest.

Sara Sutherland was instructed by Irwin Mitchell.

Catherine James from Irwin Mitchell said legal action had started by Mr Hamer’s family against the council.

Mr Hamer’s daughter Ruth Topping said: “I hope the authorities will learn lessons as I do not want my father to have died in vain.

“I do not want any other family to suffer like we have suffered or like my father suffered – he had an horrific death.”