Car charging cable trip hazard and liability?

Snuggles

We live in a new build end terraced house. Directly in front of the house is our tarmac drive which is the width of the house, but very short (one car length) and where we park both our cars side by side. Ever since we moved here it's always been a minor irritation that visitors to the adjoining neighbour regularly park up alongside the gable end of our house, then instead of walking around the length of our cars to walk up the neighbours path they cut across our property, walking in between the front of our house and our cars. This means they walk directly in front of our window (literally brushing past it) which I find intrusive and rude. We tried parking the cars as close as we could to the house wall, but it made no difference - people just contort themselves to shimmy sideways in-between our cars and house! I wouldn't dream of doing it myself but so many people just have no manners. Anyway, irritating as it is, it's one of those things that's never been worth making a fuss about.

However, OH is soon taking delivery of a plug in hybrid and we will be getting a charging point installed, which will be fitted on the front wall of the house. This means that when the car is charging overnight there will be a cable trailing in between our house wall and the car. I'm concerned that if people continue to cut across our property to get to next door they could possibly trip on the cable, and I'm wondering if we would be in any way liable if anyone injured themselves.

To be clear, it is our property that people are cutting across, it's not a pathway, and there is no right of way across it for the neighbour or anyone else - it's just lazy people not bothering to walk around our drive (which takes all of about 5 seconds). Does anyone think we'd have any liability in these circumstances?

Snuggles

Mickey666 said:

Does anyone think we'd have any liability in these circumstances?

Who really knows in these days of ambulance-chasing scumbags no-win-no-fee lawyers?

It sounds as if there is no fence extending from your house to the end of your drive.  Is it not possible to erect one?  That would surely prevent people from next door cutting aross in front of your window.

Thanks for the suggestion, but no that wouldn't work. We wouldn't be able to open our car doors if there was a fence along the drive. I think the only thing we could do to try to deter people is put a big potted plant or something in the way. However i have no doubt that some people would just squeeze themselves around it. Honestly, it must take more effort to shimmy past our cars than it would to just walk around them, but people can't help themselves...

fenwick458

Pics would help, could try and suggest ways to stop the through traffic without impeding on your car doors.
I think if you were worried about being sued for someone tripping over your cable, a warning sign would probably cover you.
but then again that may not even be required, if it's on your property surely you can have whatever you want?
for example as I'm typing this message the hose is strewn accross my back yard, if someone enters and trips up, theres no way I'm liable for it??

pramsay13

No, you wouldn't be liable for anything that happens on your private property. 

Snuggles

fenwick458 said:

Pics would help, could try and suggest ways to stop the through traffic without impeding on your car doors.
I think if you were worried about being sued for someone tripping over your cable, a warning sign would probably cover you.
but then again that may not even be required, if it's on your property surely you can have whatever you want?
for example as I'm typing this message the hose is strewn accross my back yard, if someone enters and trips up, theres no way I'm liable for it??

That's a very good point thank you, I suppose this isn't really any different.
I'll try and post a pic.

Jeepers_Creepers

pramsay13 said:

No, you wouldn't be liable for anything that happens on your private property. 

I suspect that's not the case. And what about someone with a legitimate reason for crossing your path - the postie, for example?

Snugs, could you erect a short fence, pretty much the length of your car bonnet so it stops just where your door would swing open? Aren't folk squeezing in between the parked front of your car and the house, the part that would be effectively screened off by this short fence? It might be all that's needed to deter them - it would take a serious lack of self awareness to walk up the metre-and-a-half of this fence, go through, and then double-back down between it and your car to go around the front!

Coupled with some strategically-positioned plant pots, I think you could construct a 'virtual' fence to indicate the boundary line.

Also temporarily attach some air horns to your house soffit in front of the car - anyone trying to squeeze past could literally be given an earful... Have a camera recording, and earn £250.

daveyjp

pramsay13 said:

No, you wouldn't be liable for anything that happens on your private property. 

How do you come to that conclusion?  Property owners owe a duty of care to everyone, including trespassers.

Nearlyold

A long plastic plant trough or two up against the wall might do it, if you could get one low enough to go under the front of your car, but wide enough to bump against the tyres before the occasional misjudgement might otherwise mean you hit the wall with the front of your car, fill it with earth and plant it out. It would both block the "shortcut" and keep you a safe distance from the wall.

Raggie

I would probably buy one of these.. place it near the charging point.

Jeepers_Creepers

I suspect the trouble with a low trough is that the Snugs themselves would need to be able to step over them when they enter?exit their car - a pain. But I guess could be positioned where it doesn't interfere with their car doors.

Again, tho' - would it be a trip hazard for others?

Jeepers_Creepers

Another solution would be to dress up as the grim reaper, and stand right in front of the window and crook your finger when folk pass (out).