This happens quite frequently because hospitals tend to fear repercussions.
First, they fear the overzealous police who might ask for bribes because they admitted an accident victim.
Second, they fear mob violence. If even a small thing goes wrong people tend to go on a rampage - breaking stuff and harassing people.
Third, lack of awareness and general apathy of law. Most cases in India tend to run for years altogether. So, while there is a legal framework for such cases many hospitals are not aware of it or they just want to avoid making court trips for years.
Once an accident victim is taken to the hospital a legal case has to be made. It is called medico legal case. And the hospital needs to inform the nearest police station. This to ensure that no accident gets brushed under the rug. Police then has to do an investigation into the matter and find out the exact details.
if the hospital doesn't draw up a mlc document then they can be sued for malpractice. But if they do and these things go to court they have to make multiple appearances to provide details of the case.
This fact is used by the police to pick up bribes.
The interesting thing is that even hospitals are not above trying to extort people. MLC filings are supposed to be free but hospitals like Apollo etc charge extra 2-5k to admit a MLC case.
First, they fear the overzealous police who might ask for bribes because they admitted an accident victim.
Second, they fear mob violence. If even a small thing goes wrong people tend to go on a rampage - breaking stuff and harassing people.
Third, lack of awareness and general apathy of law. Most cases in India tend to run for years altogether. So, while there is a legal framework for such cases many hospitals are not aware of it or they just want to avoid making court trips for years.