Coach crash in French Alps

Following a recent coach crash in the French Alps in which a number of British tourists were injured, Clive Garner, a leading travel injuries specialist has called for improved safety standards to protect passengers on coaches travelling abroad.

Clive Garner, head of International Travel Litigation at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors said:

This is an example of yet another in a long line of tragic coach accidents as a result of which British tourists have suffered serious injuries.

In recent years, my colleagues and I have acted for several hundred English coach passengers killed or seriously injured in accidents overseas. Most of these accidents were caused by driver error and clearly investigations will now need to be carried out to establish the cause of this accident. It is regrettable that this crash occurred despite all the publicity following the previous accidents and our repeated calls for heightened coach safety standards.

The accident happened in the early hours of Friday 5th January, in the Isere region of south-east France. A British man is being treated for serious injuries in hospital after the crash, it is believed the coach was carrying 45 Britons.

The man, who has not been named, was thrown through the front windscreen of the coach.

Two other British tourists and the French driver were treated for less serious injuries in the accident which occurred near the city of Grenoble in the southeast of the country.

The coach reportedly hit a rock in the road and skidded on the ice when travelling between La Grave and Mizoens in the early hours of this morning.

The Foreign Office said the crash happened at around 5.30am on the border of the Isere and Hautes-Alpes departments as the coach headed towards the airport in Grenoble.

The injured passengers - who were travelling with Brighton-based tour operator SkiPlan - were treated in Grenoble and nearby Briancon while the remainder were taken to the airport in two other coaches.

The road from Grenoble, following the Romanche valley, gives access to some of France's best-known skiing resorts, including Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez. Nearby, the road crosses the Col du Lautaret, at 6,752ft (2,058m).

Irwin Mitchell has acted for passengers injured in coach accidents in the USA, Austria, France, Spain, Germany, South Africa, and Bulgaria.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a coach crash abroad or in the UK, our experts can help. Fill in our online claims form for free legal advice.