Hit by wheelchair on escalator - culprit did a runner

FiremanDave

tommyjj wrote: »

almost exactly the same situation!

I thought in your case a third party let go of the wheel chair?

elsien

Yes, but it wouldn't make the blindest bit of difference if it were a criminal offence given you have no idea who the person was and no means of tracing them. The police wouldn't be spending a huge amount of time trying to track down random wheelchair users/carers . I'd hazard a guess the person is not going to be shopping in that supermarket again any time soon.
Your MIL has my utmost sympathy. And it wasn't just an accident, it was someone being a complete idiot. But unfortunately that still leaves MIL well out of pocket as there just isn't anyone to chase.

halibut2209

Hence "almost"

tommyjj

FiremanDave wrote: »

I thought in your case a third party let go of the wheel chair?

...which is why I said almost

lincroft1710

tommyjj wrote: »

leaving the scene of an accident, even just knocking off someone's wing mirror, is a criminal offence.

No, it isn't.

Failing to inform the owner of the damaged vehicle or property of your name, address and insurance company is an offence as is failing to call the police where personal injury has occurred.

In the latter case, certainly in pre mobile phone days, it may well have been necessary to leave the scene of an accident to get help, especially in remote areas.

tommyjj

elsien wrote: »

Yes, but it wouldn't make the blindest bit of difference if it were a criminal offence given you have no idea who the person was and no means of tracing them.

the means for tracing them are more substantial when it's a criminal offence

FiremanDave

lincroft1710 wrote: »

No, it isn't.

Failing to inform the owner of the damaged vehicle or property of your name, address and insurance company is an offence as is failing to call the police where personal injury has occurred.

In the latter case, certainly in pre mobile phone days, it may well have been necessary to leave the scene of an accident to get help, especially in remote areas.

Being pedantic you're wrong too.

First you must stop.
Give name and address of driver and registered keeper if different plus the registration number.

No need to give insurance details if there is no injury.

FiremanDave

tommyjj wrote: »

the means for tracing them are more substantial when it's a criminal offence

The means are the same so crack on and don't expect the police to do it.

tommyjj

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Failing to inform the owner of the damaged vehicle or property of your name, address and insurance company is an offence

that's what 'leaving the scene' generally entails, as far as I'm aware

lincroft1710 wrote: »

as is failing to call the police where personal injury has occurred.

can you elaborate?

tommyjj

FiremanDave wrote: »

The means are the same so crack on and don't expect the police to do it.

what if, for example, we're able to find the company the carer was working for?

If we call them to find out who was working that week, are they under obligation to tell us? they could just hang up

whereas doing that to a policeman would be classed as obstructing justice