Scottish Police have paid £ 1 million in compensation to the family of a woman who died after being left in a car accident on the M9 for three days.
The troops have settled a compensation claim brought by Lamara Bell’s family, 25, after they sued for failure to respond to a phone call from a farmer who discovered a crashed car on the hard shoulder in 2015.
When police finally arrived at the scene three days later after a second public call, they found Bell in critical condition and her partner John Yuill, 28, dead next to her. She died in hospital four days later, leaving two children, ages 5 and 10. Record reported that the children now in the care of their grandparents will each receive £ 500,000.
Police have already admitted that there were preventable errors in their call handling system that “contributed significantly” to her death and apologized wholeheartedly. It was found guilty of corporate criminal liability in September.
The family’s lawyer, David Nellaney of Digby Brown, said he welcomed the compensation payment from Police Scotland but criticized police for not settling the case much earlier.
“The Bell family endured things that few people could ever understand, but the patience, resilience and compassion they have shown at all times cannot be underestimated,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that Police Scotland did not admit their mistakes sooner as it might have saved them unnecessary stress, but at least we now have a conclusion and the Bells can rightly focus on themselves and the times ahead.”
In a statement, the Bell family said the settlement marked the end of the “six year hunt for answers, recognition and justice”.
They added, “Our pain and loss will not stop just because the trials are over, but there is at least a sense of peace that comes with their conclusion. But this peace is ephemeral, because in the end we are still without lamara.
“We are without a daughter and sister and their children without a mother – such a result cannot and should not go unnoticed in a just society and we are happy to have finally achieved what we were looking for.”
Assistant Police Chief Fiona Taylor said, “The death of Lamara Bell and John Yuill was a tragedy and our thoughts are with their children, families and friends.
“The Chief Constable has made it very clear that the Police of Scotland will be involved in any legal process that may take place. It would not be appropriate now to comment further. “
