CHILDREN and teachers injured in a coach crash in France in 2012 have taken a major step forward in their battle for justice after the tour operator which organised the trip has accepted liability for the incident.
The decision by Interschool Travel Limited (trading as “Interski”) will pave the way for fair settlements to be agreed.
Popular teacher Peter Rippington ‘Mr Rip’ aged 59, died in the accident.
The coach carrying children and teachers from Alvechurch Middle School as well as local ski instructors, on their return from a skiing trip, crashed near Chalons-en-Champagne, 90 miles east of Paris on February 19, 2012.
Mr Rippington died in the crash and many passengers were seriously injured.
Irwin Mitchell is representing 25 passengers injured in the incident.
The law firm has already secured settlements for a number of passengers injured in the incident along with vital interim payments of compensation for a number of others.
These payments have funded therapies, aids, appliances and adaptions to housing, as well as other expenses which have been incurred.
A spokesperson for the firm said it was a victory for the Alvechurch schoolchildren but added their disappointment that no-one as yet has accepted liability in respect of the claims of the ski instructors who were also injured in the crash.
Cheryl Palmer-Hughes, a specialist International Serious Injury Lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, added: “We are very pleased that Interski has finally accepted responsibility for this incident, even though it is very disappointing that they have only done so after more than three years and following lengthy legal proceedings against them.”
