Person tripped over my outside cable cover whilst charging car...

Herzlos

joeythepoey said:

However, a couple of days ago someone tripped over it at around 1 in the morning and seemingly hurt themselves quite badly, with a bump on their forehead and a scratched knee.
I was away at work but they rang our door bell the following morning apparently wanting to claim a personal injury

I think you are probably liable in some form, though probably not 100% since it should be pretty hard to trip up over the cover you've shown especially if it's lit. I'd try and find another way to charge the car for now though.

The bigger query is what they are trying to claim for the personal injury? I can't imagine they've suffered any real material loss here given they were back at your door a few hours later. Did they go to hospital for the bump? Are they unable to work due to the injuries?

At most I can see you being liable for a new pair of trousers assuming the scratched knee damaged the material.

DullGreyGuy

Herzlos said:

joeythepoey said:

However, a couple of days ago someone tripped over it at around 1 in the morning and seemingly hurt themselves quite badly, with a bump on their forehead and a scratched knee.
I was away at work but they rang our door bell the following morning apparently wanting to claim a personal injury

I think you are probably liable in some form, though probably not 100% since it should be pretty hard to trip up over the cover you've shown especially if it's lit. I'd try and find another way to charge the car for now though.

The bigger query is what they are trying to claim for the personal injury? I can't imagine they've suffered any real material loss here given they were back at your door a few hours later. Did they go to hospital for the bump? Are they unable to work due to the injuries?

At most I can see you being liable for a new pair of trousers assuming the scratched knee damaged the material.

Personal injury claims are an example of general damages not special damages... you technically claim for pain, suffering and loss of amenities. 

Damaged trousers, loss of earnings etc are special damages, ie an actual financial loss.

Not recommending the firm, or saying their values are anywhere near to reality, but https://www.psrsolicitors.co.uk/personal-injury-claim/claim-process-explained/injury-compensation-chart has some rough ideas of how much general damages you get from various injuries - numbers are naturally inflated as they want to encourage people to sign up to claim. 

Bettie

My window cleaner puts a big sign up when she leaves her hose over the pavement. A few years ago the local postman tripped over a cable  on the pavement that workmen left, this was in broad daylight. He had a scratched knee, small bruise and a limp. Took a few months off work and received just over £4000 compensation. 

molerat

IMO that cable cover is a trip hazard, far to steep a profile to prevent tripping, they are generally advertised as cable protectors and are not in line with government guidance on charging vehicles at the kerbside. You need a channel cut into the pavement and properly covered level with the surface.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles

vacheron

While I appreciate the measures you have gone to to prevent risk, you have placed a trip hazard across a public highway without authorisation, and it could even be argued that the primary purpose of the cover is to protect your cable, not to reduce the risk of tripping. 

Our parent company has recently issued a mandate whereby all company cars must now be electric vehicles. One of our managers was given one as part of her package, but as she had lived in a terraced house with no driveway she asked permission from the council to run the charging cable to her car over the pavement, and was given a flat out "no".

The only suggestion they gave was to apply for a dropped curb so that she could destroy and then tarmac her front garden to drive her car onto that in order to charge it.

If the government really thinks that electric vehicles are the future they really need to consider the millions of people who would work and live in home similar to those of this manager and the OP.  

user1977

vacheron said:

If the government really thinks that electric vehicles are the future they really need to consider the millions of people who would work and live in home similar to those of this manager and the OP.  

Which they are, given the OP even mentions lamppost chargers being available. The OP is just too, er, "money-saving" to want to use them...

MeteredOut

What is the burden of proof on the accuser to show that it was the charging cable that cause their injuries?

(Similar to crash-for-cash, I've heard an increasing number of anecdotes of people going looking for charging cables over public highways).

@joeythepoey What did this person specifically ask for when they came to the door? Did they want something then, did they want insurance details? Did anyone say anything to them that might have admitted liability? Were they saying they were going legal? Have they (or anyone acting on their behalf) been in contact since?  

vacheron

user1977 said:

vacheron said:

If the government really thinks that electric vehicles are the future they really need to consider the millions of people who would work and live in home similar to those of this manager and the OP.  

Which they are, given the OP even mentions lamppost chargers being available. The OP is just too, er, "money-saving" to want to use them...

Ok, "they need to consider the millions of people who don't want to pay triple the price to charge their car just  4-5 meters from their own doorstep".  '

Mildly_Miffed

vacheron said:

If the government really thinks that electric vehicles are the future they really need to consider the millions of people who would work and live in home similar to those of this manager and the OP.

Like this...? https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles

molerat

MeteredOut said:

What is the burden of proof on the accuser to show that it was the charging cable that cause their injuries?

(Similar to crash-for-cash, I've heard an increasing number of anecdotes of people going looking for charging cables over public highways).

@joeythepoey What did this person specifically ask for when they came to the door? Did they want something then, did they want insurance details? Did anyone say anything to them that might have admitted liability? Were they saying they were going legal? Have they (or anyone acting on their behalf) been in contact since?  

I am sure the vulture claims companies will be all over this as a good income stream. In fairness though that's a clear trip hazard so pretty negligent.