Cyclists family sues for £500,000

[magnatom]

Interesting story (and sad) which should be interesting to follow...

 

[aJohnson]

Just reading through it:

"McTaggart was banned from driving for six months and fined £500 last August.
He had earlier pleaded guilty at Fort William Sheriff Court to a charge of careless driving."

Careless driving which led to a death is only worth a 500 fine and a few months from driving? That just p**s*s me off.

 

[downfader]

Now isnt this the driver who lied to the court during his trial and said he did not see a cyclist? And half an hour later was cross examined where he described the cyclist being in a "hunched down position" I think.

Seems to me he owes that family a lot and hasnt even admitted he was to blame in any other capacity other than to reduce his sentance - which became a flaming joke!

I hope he does lose everything, much as she has already lost everything.

 

[gaz]

Just reading through it:

"McTaggart was banned from driving for six months and fined £500 last August.
He had earlier pleaded guilty at Fort William Sheriff Court to a charge of careless driving."

Careless driving which led to a death is only worth a 500 fine and a few months from driving? That just p**s*s me off.

100% agree, looking at the sentancing that people get for killing cyclists it can be shocking. but so is sentancing for most crimes.

Careless driving is something that really piss's me off.

 

[Archie]

I've been following this case since the accident happened and was disgusted at the sentence. The judge stated he could only sentence based on the quality of the driving, taking no account of the tragedy. For this reason I hope the family have their day in court.

 

[downfader]

100% agree, looking at the sentancing that people get for killing cyclists it can be shocking. but so is sentancing for most crimes.

Careless driving is something that really piss's me off.

I think we should really bare in mind that whilst cyclists do die out there - we are a small part of the tragedy. Many, many more pedestrians die than cyclists. Everyone is a pedestrian so therefore everyone is affected and at risk by these bad drivers.

 

[gavintc]

It will not cost him a penny, the damages (if allocated) will come from the insurance company. I think the extent of his liability will be the small fine.

 

[marinyork]

Seeking damages seems a reasonable enough action to me.

 

[Crankarm]

I hope the jury is made up of cyclists.

A bit of a test case this in terms of the level of damages, but every chance of success as Mrs MacIntyre has both the driver McTaggart and his employer Highland Council as co-defendants to sue. I think £500,000 is rather low as he was expected to reach the heights of cycling turning if as was th eexpectation he turned Pro. A young man with every promise at the start of a successful sporting career could earn millions. In America they would be suing for $25million+.

I hope Mrs MacIntyre wins every penny as she has lost her husband who would have given her and his family so much more than £500,000.

 

[Davidc]

I don't think cyclists are singled out by the courts for only being worth a couple of bob's fine. It seems to me that causing death by dangerous driving is basically seen as perfectly acceptable. Doesn't matter who you kill - pedestrian, cyclist, motor cyclist, driver - a few quid and 3 penalty points and drive yourself home.

Or am I just cynical after having close friends killed on the roads?

 

[wafflycat]

I've been following this case since the accident happened and was disgusted at the sentence. The judge stated he could only sentence based on the quality of the driving, taking no account of the tragedy. For this reason I hope the family have their day in court.

+1

 

[HJ]

I don't think cyclists are singled out by the courts for only being worth a couple of bob's fine. It seems to me that causing death by dangerous driving is basically seen as perfectly acceptable. Doesn't matter who you kill - pedestrian, cyclist, motor cyclist, driver - a few quid and 3 penalty points and drive yourself home.

Or am I just cynical after having close friends killed on the roads?

+1

There is an appalling attitude to death on the roads, I really don't understand why we as a society find it acceptable

 

[downfader]

Over the years a strange thought has come into my mind.... What with over population I often wonder if an evolutionary reflex kicks in psychologically that turns people into this mess on the roads, and this in turn lowers the population.

Its thoroughly cold and cynical of me to think it I know but I often wonder about it.

 

[Norm]

+1

There is an appalling attitude to death on the roads, I really don't understand why we as a society find it acceptable

Because we have allowed rights to take precedence over responsibilities. People feel that they have a right to drive, whilst texting, phoning, eating, drinking, talking, dancing, doing make-up etc

 

[Tynan]

it's car thing, you'd be seriously in trouble if it happened any other way