Being told by employer you need to go to court

AquaGirl

Hi. Sorry i'm not really sure if this is better suited here or the motoring forum so as i think it's more to do with employment i will try here.
You're involved in an incident/accident on the road whereby the other driver ignores road markings and you have a collision. Fast forward months and your employer is telling you you need to go to court over this matter.

I don't know the answer obviously which is why i am here but can they make you attend court for this? Without being facetious obviously nobody can make anyone go. If you decided to not leave your bed then nobody is going to come and physically remove you. That's not what i'm asking. Is it likely that you would be required to attend court though in such a situation? Say the incident happened on a non-work day with a non-work vehicle then yes i can see how you may be required in court. I didn't know if it involving work vehicles and work time changed anything & whether the employee or employer would be required in court.

I know it'll all seem like really simple stuff to others & it probably will to me when the replies come in but i just wanted to ask.

oldernonethewiser

Is there a court hearing for this incident then?

jonnygee2

You should explain your own situation in as much detail as possible, preferably using a clear time line, to get advice. Your post now is too hypothetical to respond to

ohreally

Did police attend? Has anyone been charged?

Savvy_Sue

If you were driving a work vehicle, and there's a court case, I'd say your employer can very much require you to attend.

if you weren't driving a work vehicle, not so much.

But if you DON'T attend, the court is likely to find against you. So why would you NOT go?

Marcon

How about posting the facts rather than this vague collection of hypotheses, which nobody can respond to with any degree of helpfulness or accuracy?

tealady

I do hope you have worked there for more than 2 years.

steampowered

It is impossible to comment as you have only told a half story.

It sounds like you may have been involved in an accident which was claimed under your employer's insurance policy?

If so, failing to attend the court could invalidate the insurance, which would absolutely justify dismissing you and potentially claiming from you the losses incurred.

TELLIT01

If a court case has arisen from the accident, you may be required to attend as a witness. I don't understand what the problem is.

SueC_2

Going to court, even as a witness, is not pleasant. I speak from experience, so can understand why the OP is reluctant to go. However, it would be a foolish person who didn't go if summonsed.

OP- depending on the circumstances it may or may not be possible for you not to attend, but without further details no one here can be sure.

AquaGirl

jonnygee2 wrote: »

You should explain your own situation in as much detail as possible,

What information would be required to give a better response and i'll let you know if it's possible to give it bearing in mind that i'm very mindful of management being on these forums so if i feel that it will identify myself too much regardless of anyone on here saying it certainly wont then i'm afraid i'll be unable to give the information out.
But if i feel it wont identify me or clue anyone as to who i am then by all means i'll provide it.


* The police were not involved.
* Regards the half a story, i suppose i've only told a third of a story but then you're not going to hear the other thirds from the third party and my employer so a third is all that you'll be able to get.
* Yes i've worked there for more than 2 years
* I have been told by my employer that "it's going to be going to court" and that i should "make myself available" for later in the year.

I've had no letter myself. Would it be unreasonable to ask for a/the letter/paperwork which states that i must attend?
It wouldn't be the first time my employer has said i've had to do something when it actually turns out that no legally i do not & they're just lying. In the past i've found this out for myself but this is an area i'm really not sure about.

They have also asked me to lie to the third party solicitor to really milk the situation. When the solicitor called i was asked if i said what i'd been told to. When i said no they got very upset with me and wanted to know why - to which i replied because that didn't happen. The incident itself should be clear cut as the rules of the road were blatantly ignored and that's as much as i'll say on the incident itself.