Car accident advice.

[T16GEM]

Hi everyone, I’m after a bit of advice from anyone who might be a bit of a legal eagle!

My mother in-law was knocked over by a car yesterday, basically what happened was that she was standing behind her car and a van that was parked behind her car reversed in to her car knocking her down and then her car ran over her. She was trapped under her car and when she got out was unable to move.

The delivery driver who had caused it didn’t call an ambulance obviously because he didn’t want the police involved. Any way DH went to the scene and called an ambulance and with any RTA the police come as a standard thing. They said that because the incident had happened in a car park (Mary was delivering news papers to a care home) that they cannot legally take a report of the incident. Do any of you know if this is correct. There were no witnesses other than Mary and the other driver and the other guy had taken photos of the road even though it was completely dry when the incident happened. He took the pictures in the middle of the snow blizzard yesterday afternoon. I think so that he can try and say that Mary slipped and wasn’t pushed.

Mary is ok, she is having trouble walking and we had to bring her bed and stuff downstairs last night for her but hopefully once she gets moving again everything will be ok, and no lasting damaged.

If any of you guys know where we would stand on this with the Police and insurance claims etc I would be grateful of any advice.

Thanks
Gems

 

[WDWfan uk]

Your poor MIL - what a horrible thing to happen.

I don't know the legal ramifications and I think I'd give the Citizen's Advice Bureau a call - whoever you speak to may not be qualified to give legal advice but they would give you an appt to speak to someone who is ........ since it is free advice it is well worth trying.

Thank goodness your MIL wasn't badly hurt - but I'll bet it must have upset her, poor lady.

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

I agree I would give your local citizens advice a ring and see what they recommend.

I'm glad your M-I-L is fine, what a terrible thing to happen

 

[Mpet]

How terrible.

It may be worth giving her own car insurance company a call. They usually have a legal department and I'm sure personal injury would not be something new to them.

I know my own policy covers legal advice - not sure if this is because I have fully comp insurenace though.

I suppose as a last resort one or those 'claims direct' type companies may help


Maxine

 

[signtalker]

Contact a solicitor, I think you'll find the first half an hour is free as you are covered under the green form.

Do you not have any accounts/insurances, where you can get free legal advice.

I have this with Barclays Bank because we have an addtions account.

Jules

 

[Enright78]

Green form legal advice no longer exists in the old form, but Jules is right in saying many solicitors will give a free first 20 minute interview to assess the case.
Your insurers may also be able to help and the CAB are a great body to contact.
I would however steer well clear of the Claims Direct type of organisation, nothing is really free and a couple have gone under recently thanks to some shady dealings.
However I am sure some of the other bodies mentioned might help.
Best wishes to your MIL, it is a terrible shock to have something like this happen.

 

[athurstance]

She should speak to her car insurance company. I had an accident a couple of years back - I told them I'd been injured and they had their solicitor call me and we took it from there. It was all paid for by the insurance company.
I know there are wierd rules concerning accidents on private property like car parks as someone I know had problems with a claim against another driver on a private road. A solicitor is the best person to advise.

Angela

 

[daipp]

I cannot believe the Police said this!!!
Just because a car park is usually private ground does not mean that a driver can do what he wants. The Police still have to consider whether or not an offence has been commited.
Speak to the Police again and if you don't get any help, ask to speak to the Senior Officer available.

 

[Pappy]

FIRST LET ME STATE I AM A POLICE OFFICER...
THINGS TO CONSIDER..
1.WAS THE INCIDENT DELIBERATE IF SO ITS ASSAULT
IF NOT THEN IT IS AN ACCIDENT
2. WAS THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT ON PUBLIC ROAD OR IN A PRIVATE CAR PARK..IF ON A ROAD IT COMES UNDER THE **ROAD TRAFFIC ACT** AND IS REPORTABLE.. IF NOT THEN IT DOES NOT AND AS SUCH THE POLICE HAVE NO POWERS TO GET INVOLVED UNDER THAT ACT.

ADVICE.. SEE A SOLICITOR AND SUE THE DRIVE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH YOUR INSURANCE.. THATS WHY YOU PAY IT, THEY SHOULD TAKE IT ON BOARD WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM AT ALL..

IT MAY SEEM STRANGE BUT THE POLICE CAN ONLY ACT UNDER THE LAW AND IF YOU SAY IT WAS AN ASSAULT ,BUT A PURE ACCIDENT THEN IF ITS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THEY CAN DO LITTLE TO HELP ..SORRY