Research on Accidental Death

Many people are killed in accidents every year, but hardly any studies have been conducted to determine the effect these deaths have upon the people who cause them. In 2006 Kelly performed her play and ran a workshop at the University of Hertfordshire, and as a direct result a Phd thesis was written by Sara Rassool which aimed to gain an insight into the lived experiences of drivers who have caused an accidental death.

“Accidentally killing or feeling responsible for another person’s death constitutes a traumatic event that is unique from any other traumatic stressor. Considering the frequency of incidents such as deaths resulting from road traffic accidents (RTAs), it is surprising that the academic literature regarding those who have accidentally killed is almost none existent.”

You can read extracted chapters from this thesis by clicking here

Or alternatively view the whole thesis at the University of Hertfordshire website

Another study, by Dr. Judith Guedalia, attempts to provide insight into the psychological trauma experienced by an accidental killer, and also helps provide ideas for a contemporary rehabilitation model.

You can view this paper on Dr. Judith Guedalia's website