Crash victims line up at Collins

A firm of solicitors situated next to the site of last month's Watford Junction train crash has landed a new round of business from injury victims seeking compensation.

Collins solicitors, specialists in personal injury and medical negligence, prompted around 20 victims to pursue compensation claims through the firm after 22 turned up to a seminar it held on the implications of the crash earlier this month.

One woman died and more than 60 people were injured when two trains collided head on near Watford Junction in August.

According to assistant solicitor Karen Darbyshire, who organised the seminar, most of the claimants have suffered a combination of whip lash and stress.

The immediate issue, she said, was for the internal inquiry to work out who is liable for compensation and to get people referred to the relevant medical specialists.

She denied that her firm had been 'ambulance chasing': "We were very sensitive about it. We didn't advertise, but used the public notice section of the local paper to invite people to attend."