what are the legal implications of car sharing?

[samuel23]

for instance,
If I were to make someone late would they be able to claim from me?
If I didn't turn up or kept turning up late and caused someone to get a verbal, written or final warning would they be able to take any legal action against me?
If I take money from them, to help pay for the petrol, or extra costs if I have to go out of my way to get them, am I now liable for 'hire and reward' insurance, like a minicab or taxi
If I had an accident and they were injured and I only had normal insurance would they be able to sue me?
Would they be able to force me to have my holiday break at the same time as them? (thinking behind this Q? is if I am taking money to get them there, they may have rights I don't know about, such as the right to expect me to get them there)

[Pea Pod]

Never mind the legal implications,car sharing is a pain in the bum. You will be in the health questions next asking about stress due to car sharing. Avoid at all costs.

[samuel23]

lol @ Pea Pod. Yeah I can empathise with that statement. I haven't even begun to do it yet, and already I'm getting stressed.
We are being 'encouraged' by our company to car share, with incentives for those that do (parking spaces right by the entrance especially reserved for the sharers, offers of flexitime working, free xmas dinner etc).
My view is that although I wouldn't mind sharing, I don't want to
a. incur extra costs
b. be held accountable for someone if they are late
c. be responsible for them when I'm not scheduled to work
d. have to change my working hours just because they want to go early / stay late /

The other thing is that in the summer I like to use my Motorbike, so if it was only one person they would have to agree to ride pillion, and if there were a couple they would have to make other arrangements.
I just don't want to be having the responsibility for ohers, after all I'm not a bus driver or a taxi firm.

[almcd007]

http://www.liftsharesolutions.com/?gclid=CMmM5 6Oh2IgCFRpGVgodXknBhA

Have a look at the above sitet it may give you more information.

Or this one

http://www.nationalcarshare.co.uk/

Google "Car sharing" is the best thing to do. I couldn't do it - I'm not at my best in the morning and having to make conversation or listen to other peoples music and hang around or risk being late because they are - would do my head in !

[Gmcd01]

As there is no contract between you and your sharers, then it is doubtful there would lie any legal actions. You have no contract as the courts do not prima facie agree that social arrangements are intended to create a legal relationships. If they give you money, you may do as you wish with this as this still does not form contractual status...and equally, you have no legal claim to continued payment. Thus, you are still only carrying passengers and do not require any extra insurance. A passenger could sue you anyway in the event of an accident, but only if your driving is negligent would you be blameworty. Plus, the courts have taken a dim view of claims where a person enters the danger willingly, but then cries fould when harm occurs.
I don't know about holiday breaks, sorry, and this answer assumes that this arrangement is only semi-formal i.e you do it as a matter of courtesy and may withdraw if inappropriate. Hope this helps.

[CSG2306]

Hi samuel,

Stay well clear it is not worth the hassle. I did it to help a goog friend out for a few months and ended up hating the guy.

Be warned.

Regards

[samuel23]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I guess this highlights the differece between wanting to be greener and the reality of actually doing it.