From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter discussing the civil liability and insurance implications following an accident involving a Phantom III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 113\1\ scan0206 | |
| Date | 23th November 1935 | |
| COPY. Private. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} London. Paris Sr21/Dn.23.11.35. Re: Accident Phantom III I have just left Maitre Marizis and Mr. Parsons who is the Insurance Company's expert over here. To resume rather a long conversation, I would like to state that Maitre Marizis and the Insurance Company both agree that the responsibility of our driver is established 100%. This being the case, as I have already mentioned we must try to obtain the leniency of the court. This brings us to the question of civil liability, to which I have already alluded on the telephone. As the result of a visit to Chateauroux by one of Maitre Marizis' collaborators, it appears quite evident that the judge is anxious for a responsible person to declare himself civilly liable. This being the case, Maitre Marizis considers that the best thing to do, would be to authorise him to write to the judge, stating that although the car belongs to Mr. Hives, seeing that the car was driven by a Rolls-Royce mechanic, Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY, should declare themselves civilly responsible, though they would like him (the judge) to appreciate that, though it is not absolutely necessary for them to do this, they are assuming this civil responsibility in order to dissipate any impression the judge may be under regarding the difficulty of obtaining satisfaction from an "unknown" Mr. Hives. It is of course, quite understood that Messrs. Rolls-Royce will make arrangements both with the English courts and with the Insurance Company, respecting the question of obtaining refund of any sum they may be declared liable for, as a result of their assuming civil responsibility. By this means the whole matter will be cleared up fairly quickly, and we will not be involved in any way as far as the customs are concerned. I will put through a telephone call to you on Monday at 10.15 a.m., as this matter is very important, and Maitre Marizis wishes to write to the judge immediately, in order to avoid the possibility of a court enquiry regarding Mr. Hives, and ascertain all about him, so that they would know whether or not, in the event of him being found civilly responsible, he is in a position to pay. | ||