Serious Injury Experts Call For Investigation To Determine Why The Tram Was Travelling Too Fast

Now serious injury experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell are urging the investigators to continue their swift and thorough investigation to determine why the tram was travelling at such a speed so that the risk of future incidents can be reduced.

A report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said the tram was travelling at 43.5mph as it turned a corner in the early hours of Wednesday 9 November at 6:07am. The speed limit for the bend is 12.5mph. 

The data content from a “black box” on the tram was downloaded by investigators with their latest report concluding that there was no track failure and “no malfunctioning of the braking system.” 

Six men and a woman died from the crash, and 51 people were injured – some of which were suffering life-changing injuries – when the two-carriage tram flipped onto its side as it approached the Sandilands Junction.

The tram was driven by Alfred Dorris who has been working for the tram operator for eight years, and was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released on bail until next May. 

The victims were Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Logan, 52, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, and Robert Huxley, 63, all from New Addington, and Mark Smith, 35 and Donald Collett, 62, both from Croydon.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell regularly work on behalf of victims who have been involved in passenger transport crashes and can guide and support them through the difficult and traumatic experience. 

Irwin Mitchell has championed many group claims over the years which have required highly specialised expertise; including the Hatfield train crash and Shoreham airshow disaster.

Colin Ettinger, an expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s London office who has represented many victims of disasters and accidents, said: