Car and Pedestrian collision

[azif]

Hi

If a driver on purpose gets into his car and reverses into a pedestrian on purpose and sandwiches the person between cars, and there is an injury what kind of action can be taken by the police or courts? For example, how many points will the driver receive/compensation/sentence?

Thanks

[WoWo]

Most likely some thing like ABH/GBH or even in some cases attempted murder.

[Barmaid]

I would imagine that the most appropriate charge would be one of dangerous driving which has a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment. The legal test is whether the driving fell far below that of the ordinary competent driver. In anyone's book, driving your car at someone and sandwiching them between two cars causing an injury I would think falls well below that of the ordinary competent driver.

The criminal courts do have a power to award compensation, but it is entirely discretionary and it would depend on the level of injury and also on the means of the driver - certainly if imprisonment is ordered, there will usually be no compensation. A claim through the civil courts for personal injury is more likely to result in a higher and more appropriate level of compensation.

[azif]

No they have not been in touch - it has been 7 days since the incident. It is currently with the police.

[Grunty]

I have made several arrests in these circumstances. You do say that the driver carried out this action on purpose, and that is the key. If it can be proved that he has deliberately caused injury to another person, he would be charged with the crime as WoWo says. It doesn't matter whether the weapon is a car, a shotgun or a fist. If the intent cannot be proved, it may be necessary to drop the charge to dangerous driving.

[sassenach]

The CICB won't contact the victim, the victim will have to contact it.