Never be a Witness

[katanaboy]

Last year when I was down in Cornwall I witnessed an accident between a motorcycle and a tractor. Me thinking that I would be a good person went and gave my name and number to the motorbike rider. Bloody stupid thing to have done!

 

Recently I have had to go twice to Exeter Court as witness to the Civil claim by the Insurance company, thought it was for the benefit to the rider. This is a round trip for me of approx 800 miles each time. I got summonsed to appear for the second time because the other witness never turned up for the first. I claimed for the petrol expenses and hotel bill for the first one, which was £150, I got paid that one alright but for the second trial I got £80 all in. My petrol costs alone were more than this! I had taken a day off work for both of these Court dates, luckily I had spare holidays to use. If I hadn't I would have been out of pocket for loss of earnings aswell, the solicitor acting on behalf of the insurance company/rider never asked me about the time off and there wasn't time to mention it before the case due to them not appearing until a few minutes before it started. The witness who never appeared the first time never appeared the second either even though he had been summonsed but his testimony still stood!

 

I bet the solicitors and the Judge weren't out of pocket for their trip to the Court.

 

Morale of the Story. Unless it is someone you know or are very determined to see it through NEVER be a witness because all its going to do is cost you time, hassle and money. Of course there are things that being a witness is paramount no matter how much it costs and inconvenience it causes but think long and hard before doing your civil duty.

p.s Don't ask me to be your witness as I am pathetic at it!

[Noodles]

Hear that! Me and Sarah saw a feneder bender in a car park this doris came up did you see anything I no no for the both of us but sarah said yes luckery nothing became of it.

[FredTransit]

That's not fair, you should get all your expenses, but it's not good to say don't be a witness, you might have an accident one day and need witnesses.

[Vista]

I agree with Fred, I will always offer witness testimony as you never know when you might need someone to do it for you. Have you approached the claimants solicitor to say your costs haven't been covered? They can probably be added to the amount they claim from the other drivers insurance.

 

About 12 years ago I was beaten up by two doormen in a night club when I was unlucky enough to be in the vicinity of a fight going on (it had nothing to do with me). My "friend" decided that as he and his girlfriend liked that particular club, he didn't want to be involved as a witness when I attempted to have them prosecuted.

[Trevmk3]

you should be able to claim it back from the solicitors i would of thought, my brother is going to be putting my fuel expenses down when he has his full loss of earnings paid to him as i will be having to take him to the hospital for his operation ect (he got knocked off his motorbike a couple of weeks back)

[Jubfab]

Due to my job I sometimes have to attend court as a 'expert' witness (whatever that means LOL) I've always got my expenses no problem in fact i've always managed to get a little bit extra on the fuel as the allowance is better for a diesel and my everyday hack does very good MPG... Last court case I had to attend was the top end of Glasgow (I live in West Yorkshire) they put me up in a hotel all expenses inc grub / drink / fuel etc. To be told next day I didn't need to attend !!! oh well... enjoyed the Scottish hospitatlity..

 

But to bring the thread back on track, if it's a civil action you dont need to attend (probably why the other witness never shows) I was told I had to go to a Civil case, attended and was told 'why you here' cause I got this letter - I was advised it didnt mean owt and go home - so i did and never heard anything else about it -- Do a bit of research you might find you dont have to go... Or ask if your evidence can be via a statement (done loads of those) and claim ALL your expenses including lost work etc..

[omj624p]

Solicitors will advise 'ahem' guilty people to keep stalling for an adjournment for this exact reason. To piss off witnesses so much that they eventually wont come back. Therefore the case gets thrown out with lack of evidence.

[Jubfab]

Solicitors will advise 'ahem' guilty people to keep stalling for an adjournment for this exact reason. To piss off witnesses so much that they eventually wont come back. Therefore the case gets thrown out with lack of evidence.

 

Thats why he should be able to do a written statement to prevent this. So that he doen't keep going back. When ever i've gone it's always been a disorganised affair and sat around doing nowt for ages !!! not like what you see on the telly

[caprinerd]

you should get your expenses payed and also loss of learnings if you have proof of how much you earn then it gets payed to you, you have to fill in a form.