To not want to be a witness in court?

[Cantbloodyrememberthenameonthread]

Second aibu in 24 hours. It’s all going on 🫠

I’ve had a letter through advising I’ve been called as a witness in October. Basically, last year I witnessed somebody be hit by a Tesco delivery van, the van drove off and the person is now sueing Tesco. I helped at the time, called the police, managed to get a pic of the (speeding off in panic) van to get a reg plate, gave first aid to the guy.

since then, I’ve provided written statements, over the phone statements, police statements, given more information than I can recall if I’m being honest. The details they’ve asked for are crazy. Now I’ve had a letter through basically saying they need me to be a witness in court or the case may fall through. I feel bad for the guy but is this just a bit much to ask? FWIW I’m self employed and a single parent. This is taking up much more of my time than I’d ever contemplated (I was just doing a natural human thing stopping to help someone). The guy has my phone number and has chased me if I’ve taken a while to respond to solicitors with my statement.

wwyd? AIBU to want to block everything to do with it?

Don't do it then.

Did the CPS take action against the driver for hitting a pedestrian and then driving off ?

if not, then I would be wondering why I would be volunteering my time.

There may be a good argument, but it seems like the solicitors are just trying to guilt trip you to make life easier for themselves.

Full disclosure: I am not a lawyer and probably a bad human too.

Could you attend via video call? Would that make it easier?

It’s highly likely they will plead before the day in court - say yes and hope for that

on the headline I was going to say YABU but having read the details I’ve changed my mind. If it’s a civil case he stands to gain financially if he wins and it’s costing you money. I’m surprised the police didn’t pursue it as he left the scene of an accident.

I think I’d be talking to his solicitors about them requesting permission for a written statement only due to the financial and personal impact these prolonged proceedings are taking on you. Point out you’re self employed all the time you spend on something like this is time you could be working and that unlike you they aren’t working for him for free and you need to draw the line somewhere.

It’s probably too late to back out now but in future never, ever be a witness.

Usually there is a statement to agree to when you submit evidence to an insurer confirming that you are prepared to be a witness should the case go to court. So you must have agreed to this at some point.

I have been a witness in a court case, @Cantbloodyrememberthenameonthread - honestly it is not scary at all - it involved a lot of sitting around and waiting, a few minutes of questions, and that was it.

You will be helping the victim of a hit and run, which is a really important thing to do, for the sake of the victim.

I always think of things like this as how I would feel if the roles were reversed and I would be pretty fed up if a witness refused to give evidence because they couldn't be bothered. what if that was your child/mum/spouse?

I'd do it on principle for the justice, as he left the scene.

Chances are, Tesco will settle before the hearing anyway, especially if not really serious injury. Unless they're suspecting that the guy is bluffing and won't pursue it to hearing.

Alternatively, when his solicitors contact you, ask them to make an application to the court for you to appear remotely by video link.

This but I get it’s a pain in the arse. You may have no choice if you receive a summons but in terms of the other contacts I’d block the guy and if you’ve already replied giving them all the information you have don’t reply to the solicitors either. it may be once Tesco have his disclosure they will admit liability so you may not even be needed any more.

Exactly this. Its the driving off that would piss me off. If it was a genuine accident and the driver did everything he could to help and the victim was barely injured then I think i would agree with you. But its not ok to drive off he obviously had something to hide whether he was drunk or on drugs.

I can understand its tedious and feels a lot but you could be summonsed to attend court.
I think id want someone who witnessed me being knocked down to be willing to stand up in court as speak the truth about what happened. If it were you surely you'd want that?

I’m shocked what you’re disclosing on this thread. For anyone who works in Tesco legal/senior management or in the court, this is going to be easily recognisable and could threaten the court case. You shouldn’t be using the company name or be saying you’ve said more than you witnessed, or that he wasn’t injured much. It’s all very inappropriate.

I hope you’ve changed some details here!

It would be very unreasonable to pull out. Do the right thing. He is required to pay for your travel expenses, reasonable expenses such as lunch and lost income from assisting so make sure you have that clearly confirmed by his lawyers. Doing the moral thing for no personal benefit is what I value from our society and it is sad that many people are selfish these days.

You can still be summonsed for a civil case...

You could try dancing in a water fall to classical music when the court is in session?

I understand you are annoyed.

I don't understand the details of the law/procedure here, but it seems they use you as a resource in their thing without consideration for you and your time.

Written statement or witnessing online would cost you much less and I'd like to know that they considered it and why are they sure that your attendance in person is so important.

Don't be a dick.

I’d do it. I’d enjoy every minute.

If your OP is factual you could land yourself in real hot water here. You should ask mumsnet for your post to be removed.

I wound just do it - he may well not be able to prove his case without you there if the Tesco driver is denying hitting him or similar.

It’s annoying but you would hope a stranger would support your claim if you ever found yourself injured by someone and unable to prove it alone

Difficult to vote, as obviously YANBU to not want to have to spend more time on this, but morally I'd think very poorly of you if you just gave up on the victim now.

As others have said, what would you want people to do if you had been the victim ?

I think you should do it.

Injuries might have been minor but, as I know to my cost, being involved in even a very teeny accident with no resulting lasting injury can mentally affect someone (my car has been hit twice when parked in different car parks and it's made me VERY twitchy about parking anywhere now). And the Tesco driver was very much at fault for driving off.

I also suspect that Tesco will settle before the case ever comes to court. But being prepared to stand up as a witness is something any of us ought to do, regardless of the severity of what we witness.

Ah, no good deed goes unpunished.