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Original poster

A mobility scooter crashed into me

156 replies

Invalidusername88 · 05/10/2023 12:36

Sitting in a cafe nearly finished eating and this mobility scooter tries to get through the gap between my table and the wall. The frame of the scooter hit my table, she carried on going, the table spun round and sandwiched me against the wall, the table digging into my stomach with her still going. I was genuinely worried it wasn't going to stop but eventually it did, a few people including security came running. I was ok apart from a swollen arm and bruises. My memory is a bit blurry now but I think she took out the table and chairs behind me too.

Not sure what I'm looking for here apart from other people's opinions - has anything like this ever happened to you? If this had been a small child they would have been seriously injured. Similarly if I was pregnant this wouldn't have been good. Nothing against mobility scooters previously although a lot more wary now 😂

OP posts:

Thread gallery

strawberrysea · 05/10/2023 12:42

I was walking along the pavement once in a city centre and a man on a mobility scooter came absolutely flying out of a shop entrance. He missed running me over by probably about an inch.

Rather than apologise, he began shouting and gesturing at me that I need to be more careful and told me I needed to be more aware of my surroundings and 'look both ways (?!)' when I'm walking.

I was a young, shy student at the time so I just walked off embarrassed but if that happened to me now I would give an earful back.

Pigeonqueen · 05/10/2023 12:49

I have had my ankle broken by someone running over my leg in a mobility scooter - she crossed over in front of me as I was crossing the road and knocked me over and then ran my leg. I had Ds in a buggy at the time and I only just managed to push him out of the way onto the pavement.

I think you should have to pass some sort of test to have a mobility scooter; they can be so dangerous if someone can’t steer properly or doesn’t have good reaction times. I’ve posted about this before and received a lot of backlash from people saying I am being ableist but I am disabled myself (on highest rates of PIP long term, have a blue badge and mobility car etc- ironically I am one of the people who could apply for a mobility scooter through motability!) and I still think they should be regulated more, for everyone’s safety, including the users themselves.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 05/10/2023 12:51

Surely it’s assault?

Ask for CCTV and report to the police.

Take photos of your injuries.

Original poster

Invalidusername88 · 05/10/2023 12:53

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 05/10/2023 12:51

Surely it’s assault?

Ask for CCTV and report to the police.

Take photos of your injuries.

I don't know :( I got witnesses and stuff. Technically I think you're right but she was an older lady and it was an accident even though it was really stupid and reckless.

OP posts:

Scampuss · 05/10/2023 12:53

Was there a person using the mobility scooter?

Your post reads as if the mobility scooter did this all by itself.

Want2breakfree · 05/10/2023 12:54

That sounds awful, did they apologise?

I've found some people are very entitled on them and expect you to run out of the way as they fly through. It's like they forget all manners as soon as they sit on the scooter.

Original poster

Invalidusername88 · 05/10/2023 12:56

Scampuss · 05/10/2023 12:53

Was there a person using the mobility scooter?

Your post reads as if the mobility scooter did this all by itself.

😂well I did gender the mobility scooter.

OP posts:

MrsMontyDon2020 · 05/10/2023 12:57

We had an awful time last week - a woman on a mobility scooter in Aldi who wasn't a confident driver nearly ran over my 3 year old. Just wasn't looking where she was going and pressed "go" without seeing my DD in front of her. Terrifying. I can't believe they let the scooters in the shop!

RampantIvy · 05/10/2023 12:57

I think you should have to pass some sort of test to have a mobility scooter; they can be so dangerous if someone can’t steer properly or doesn’t have good reaction times.

While I have every sympathy for anyone who requires the use of one, I agree that all mobility scooter drivers need some kind of training.

Original poster

Invalidusername88 · 05/10/2023 12:57

Want2breakfree · 05/10/2023 12:54

That sounds awful, did they apologise?

I've found some people are very entitled on them and expect you to run out of the way as they fly through. It's like they forget all manners as soon as they sit on the scooter.

Yeah they apologized and asked if I was pregnant.

OP posts:

menopausalmare · 05/10/2023 12:59

I'm going to upset a few people here and suggest that not everyone who has a mobility scooter has the full set of faculties needed to operate one safely.

Original poster

Invalidusername88 · 05/10/2023 13:01

@menopausalmare you're completely right. But what's the solution? I think they should make them go slower. They go too effing quick!

OP posts:

twobluechickens · 05/10/2023 13:01

I'm amazed that they can be driven on the road without a test. I recall driving over the brow of a hill to find a chap in a mobility scooter coming towards me on my side of the road. People drive them on the road at night, the lights are hopeless, they're practically invisible.

I can appreciate that they are essential for some folks but they really do need some sort of training before they're allowed out on them.

Vinrouge4 · 05/10/2023 13:02

Mobility Scooters are a pain in the backside and people seem to have them for the slightest reason. I never saw one in all the years I lived in France.

MrsMoastyToasty · 05/10/2023 13:03

DH used to work in a supermarket and they had a regular customer who used a mobility scooter and would come into the store at maximum velocity. He and his colleagues were primed to catch her and adjust the speed!

BMW6 · 05/10/2023 13:04

Well I'm glad you got an apology at least.

Years ago my Mum was at a pharmacy counter when a woman on her mobility scooter somehow drove it behind the counter and, panicked, didn't stop. No-one was hurt but she destroyed loads of stock and caused £££££ of damage.

Mum said the woman kept saying Oh Oh as it was happening (and Mum thought it was the funniest thing she'd ever seen)

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 05/10/2023 13:04

menopausalmare · 05/10/2023 12:59

I'm going to upset a few people here and suggest that not everyone who has a mobility scooter has the full set of faculties needed to operate one safely.

In fairness, I think that applies to the whole population, so it's not exactly offensive to say that it applies to mobility scooter users!

Coolblur · 05/10/2023 13:05

A family member was knocked down and run over by someone on a mobility scooter. They were injured as a result and off work for a while. It was reported and the person interviewed but there was no criminal conviction as it was essentially a bad accident. However, on advice, they pursued a civil action against the shopping centre who hired out the scooter as they didn't provide any safety training or briefing to users of the scooters. They were awarded a sum of money (not a huge amount though).
It changed the way the company operated and who they hired the scooters to.

I would start by reporting it to the Police. The person on the scooter may be traceable. If they were trained in how to drive it, or it looked like negligence rather than an accident then they may be at fault.
But this isn't really about money, but safety standards. The driver could benefit from a serious discussion with someone about their actions.

I hope you're not badly injured.

BananaSlug · 05/10/2023 13:05

MrsMontyDon2020 · 05/10/2023 12:57

Let them in? Many shops have them inside already for customers to use instore.

Chersfrozenface · 05/10/2023 13:06

I though all collisions involving wheeled vehicles which cause injury had to be reported to the police.

Eybyegum · 05/10/2023 13:06

DF had a stroke and lost vision to his left side. In hospital he was regularly trialed in a power wheelchair and deemed not safe due to not seeing hazards/people to the left. Once home he went to a centre to look at manual wheelchairs as his NHS one was awful and whilst there the occupational therapist tried him on a mobility scooter and said he was fine to drive one. He wasn’t and luckily DM managed to convince him of that as his vision is nil t’other side.

sadaboutmycat · 05/10/2023 13:07

MrsMontyDon2020 · 05/10/2023 12:57

Well they have to as for some people they would not be able to shop otherwise.
However these things should have to have a licence and a test, as some of the users just don't care who they hit.

MariaAshley · 05/10/2023 13:08

Invalidusername88 · 05/10/2023 12:53

I don't know :( I got witnesses and stuff. Technically I think you're right but she was an older lady and it was an accident even though it was really stupid and reckless.

Show quote history

Don't feel sorry for her she could have seriously injured you. If she is so unaware or so blind she's unable to realise she's crashed into a table and dragging it along with her, she needs to be officially spoken to about it as a minimum and preferably to accept she's not in a fit enough state to use a mobility scooter. Report to police. Too many people have bad attitude problem and when they're riding a motorized vehicles in a public space not really designed for them and where most people are walking, they're a real hazard. People don't suddenly turn nice just because they got old. Quite often seems to be the opposite. Doesn't matter what her problems are, it doesn't give her the right to go through life with zero consideration for others. Imagine if an able bodied person walked through a crowd pushing people out of their way so hard they fell over or knocked into things and got injured, nobody would accept it. We shouldn't accept it from disabled people in mobility scooters either.

SM4713 · 05/10/2023 13:21

I would absolutely report it and ask for CCTV. You might even see the footage on fail army or other comedic shows in the future!

I was in a very packed St Pancras station. Everyone funneling through doors and literally inching forward a bit at a time. Behind me I heard a loud air horn. It was a man in an electric wheelchair blowing the horn for people to move out of the way. He crept up behind me, but I equally had no where to go with people all around and directly infront of me. He kept blowing his horn right near my ear, despite me telling him I couldn't move. He tried to steer around/push past me and knocked me into the people ahead and cut my leg.

He was long gone by the time security found him on the CCTV and there are no number plates on a wheelchairs! I'm the first one to give up a seat on a train/bus, help someone in need, lift a push chair onto a bus etc, but this guy was disgusting example of a human.

Disorganisedmess2023 · 05/10/2023 13:22

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 05/10/2023 12:51

Surely it’s assault?

Ask for CCTV and report to the police.

Take photos of your injuries.

Of course it's not! Is a car accident assault?

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