A mobility scooter crashed into me

[Invalidusername88]

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 😂

Just because someone is disabled, , doesn’t give them a get out clause to be stupid or reckless (thinking of a mobility scooter who pulled out from the pavement onto the road in front if me years ago)

It really winds me up when they are on the road tbh. Trying to overtake etc and holding everyone up veering all over the road! They can be quite dangerous IMO

Of course it’s not assault. Unless you know that the driver of the scooter did it with the intent of causing injury?

This is reminding me of the time we were having lunch in a garden centre cafe. There was a couple eating their lunch, the man had a mobility scooter. When they went to leave, his mobility scooter was facing away from the exit. Rather than go all the way around the cafe, he decided he would do a 50-point turn. Except he clearly couldn't drive the thing. His wife just stood and akwardly watched as he repeatedly reversed and drove into the furniture, knocking chairs and tables over, crashing into people sitting eating... The staff did attempt to direct him/move things out of his way without much success. Thankfully nobody got hurt!

I think the speed they go up to is too high. My mum used to use the Shopmobility ones and they used to go up to 10mph. No one walks at that speed. I mean they're generally a lot bigger and heavier than a bike. I'm surprised there isn't some legislation. Canal boats in canals can only go at 3mph but mobility scooters can plough through a crowded shopping centre at 10!

I have had to use a mobility scooter but consider myself a good driver!
I couldn't have got round the shops without it and also needed it to take one of the DCs to a booked activity over a very large area that would have been very mean to miss out on. Both were obviously quite crowded and when I wasn't really used to it I did bump into things (not people) but people also seem to be very good at looking at their phones while walking, or only looking at adult head height.

Wrong legal test.

The scooter driver was obviously reckless as she didn’t stop as soon as she hit the table, so yes she clearly assaulted the OP with the buggy as the weapon.

Definitely report the incident to the police and consider taking action against the scooter driver privately too.

@SisterMichaelsHabit the clue there is "up to". They are variable speed and nobody should be going 10mph unless on a completely clear pavement.

They should be limited in speed to that of a brisk walk. There is no need for them to go any faster.

My mum hired one once, at Gardener’s World Live. Bloody hell - I think I aged a decade that day.

Despite being a good car driver, by that time she’d lost the ability to learn new things and the controls were very counterintuitive. To accelerate, there was what looked exactly like a bike brake to squeeze. To brake, it was necessary to let go of the “brake”. It’s not difficult to see how that’s an error waiting to happen…

I know you probably didn't mean any harm but it is really dehumanising to be referred to by your mobility aid. It's really common for people to call us "the wheelchair" or "the scooter" as if we aren't people. And many wheelchair users especially experience becoming non-humans when we're in a chair - nobody looks at you or makes eye contact. People will ask the person with us questions as if we aren't there ("Does she want a menu?")

As I said I don't think you did it on purpose but if anyone reading can try to avoid this language it would really be appreciated.

It scares me when I see them on main roads instead of using the pavement.
They could get killed if hit by a car

The user should have insurance. Most reputable dealers will encourage their customers to take this out when they purchase the scooter.

I witnessed an older man, not 100% compos mentis, ( drink and/or drugs and/or dementia) run down a child at the tills in B+M bargains. Father, understandably furious and wanted the store manager.

The assistant was a bit like a rabbit trapped in headlights.

Whilst this was going on the man in the scooter, whilst apologetic, was trying to manoeuvre it to a better position. He did this with full speed forward, full speed backwards movements. They can crawl but he seemed unaware of this fine level of control.

This was in the confined area round the tills and others were having to jump out of his way.

I switched it off, took the key out and gave it to the manager.

Fortunately the child wasn’t injured and after a minute had stopped screaming.

With no further help needed I left.

This reminded me of a late acquaintance. Well into his 90s. He’d only drink at one pub in town because he could drive his scooter in. And out after he’s sunk several pints.

I can see a need for some sort of control of users? But how it would be administered???

It might help if scooters had sensors like stairlifts, robotic lawnmowers + floor cleaners etc.

I was stood at the deli counter in Asda once, deciding which ham to buy, when all of a sudden I was almost part of it.
A lady in a mobility scooter had put her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake and run into me, pushing me against the glass cover. Luckily it didn't break.
Nobody was hurt, and the poor lady (and her husband) were mortified.

I got hit by one at a school sports day a few years ago! It was a grandparent driving it and she just came straight at me, hit into and kind of "parked" on my foot but then kept on trying to go forwards! It really bloody hurt. She never even apologised and her daughter came over and tried to take charge of her. I was so shocked I just limped away. There should be some sort of regulation for them really.

Nothing against mobility scooters but as with anything, one in the wrong hands can be disastrous.

In my local town a few days ago, a man disputed a 5 year olds access to the disabled loos (the child was registered disabled so absolutely had the right to access these) and rammed the door in with his scooter. The man in question reportedly has dementia and it begs the question whether his rights to mobility trumps other peoples safety.

I do worry about their potential to cause injury to others. Our nursery held a coffee morning and an elderly couple came into the village hall both on large mobility scooters and both of them would suddenly move without checking their surroundings and we could barely move the children fast enough. They also knocked into chairs and tables.

I'm not sure what the solution is though as they are obviously the only form of outdoor mobility for some.

My DD was almost hit by one a few years ago in a cafe. Luckily a chair stopped her being directly hit. The lady just came out of nowhere on it. Her daughter managed to set her back up again then she went for her a second time. TBH we laughed but if that chair hadn't been there it would have been no match for a 3yo, it was fast!!

I’m a wheelchair user and I use an electric wheelchair.

I was surprised at how tricky it can be to use it indoor, remembering they are nowhere as bulky as a scooter.
There is usually little space to go between tables for example. And yes many times, staff have looked at me sheepishly, tried to help etc… but layout is rarely thought around the needs if people with mobility issues.
That means going round things (table at a cafe, in a bookshop etc…) can be VERY tricky. Even if you go very slowly (I can adjust speed with myEW, no idea how much you can adjust them with a scooter), it can be near impossible to get through (and don’t start on reversing!)

Same with pavements. It seems that you become invisible when in a wheelchair. People move as if you didn’t exist (or didn’t move) and then wonder why they crash into you.

If have no idea what was going on in that person’s head and can only imagine what would be happening in mine.
Concentrating on trying to get through. Being stressed at the lack of space and wondering how on Earth I’m going to get out. Seeing what is in front of me but nowhere near as much as you would being standing and moving (something that really surprised me tbh). And catching the corner of a table but not realising it.

I have a scooter. As ex forces it was bought for me by the RAF Benevolent fund. A lady delivered it and then spent some time showing me how to use it properly. I'm lucky in that my scooter is insured, similar to a car, so 3rd party damage etc.
if I was stopping in a cafe, I would leave the scooter outside and go in on my crutches. It's absolutely ridiculous taking one inside.
Can you find out if this person is insured? Do the cafe have her details?
Even house insurance might cover it, and if you've been injured you deserve compensation.
Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon

My daughter, then very small, was knocked over by one in Superdrug. When I told the driver off and told him to be more careful he said "I'll fucking get off this thing and kick your face in".

There definitely needs to be more legislation as to how they are used by the people who use them.

And no, obviously, needing the use of a mobility scooter doesn't mean you get to be an aggressive twat to other people.

Same with pavements. It seems that you become invisible when in a wheelchair. People move as if you didn’t exist (or didn’t move) and then wonder why they crash into you.
I know many of us have found this to be true when walking with a buggy (no, they cannot nip out of the way like someone on legs) but it's true x1000 with a wheelchair/scooter.
When using one with a DC with me it was quite funny actually how people thought "oh must speak to companion instead of person on scooter... oh hang on companion is a small child... heeelp".