Family of dead cyclist sued by driver that killed him.
- Thread starter MikeG
- Start date
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Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
This is wrong on every level, but if you're that way inclined...
What I think is just as bad is that there is a lawyer who is prepared to stick their
name to it.
What I think is just as bad is that there is a lawyer who is prepared to stick their
name to it.
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
There is merit in her case. Cyclist with no lights during the night and she hit and killed one of them. She has to live with that.
While the amount is insane and fact of the case is out of taste it has merit.
While the amount is insane and fact of the case is out of taste it has merit.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
I can only hope we don't follow the USA on this type of thing! Poor parents, to loose two children and then be sued by someone who killed your son. Words fail me.
jefmcg
Guru
Someone in Canada does something creepy: do we really have to get upset about it?
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
They made a mistake, so did she, but in her case she was an adult and driving a lump of metal, which means looking out for things that may be on the road, without reflectors etc such as animals and trees.
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
i was hit by a car when i was 15 the police watched the whole accident and there was no doubt it was the car drivers fault yet he still tried to sue me for £8000 damages to his car that my body had done when he hit me there just no sense in the law at times
Presumably he failed, and therefore the law was utterly blameless. His understanding of it may have been in error, but the law was OK.
sidevalve
Über Member
Interesting. Much as I feel sorry for the parents it seems this is another case of "it's not up to me to do anything to protect myself - it's always somebody elses fault" and that includes when I'm breaking the law and riding without lights. Yes I have seen the effects killing someone by accident can produce and it can be pretty devastating. If the story had been the other way around and it had been another car there would have been NO sympathy for the driver of an unlit car. Or is it that as cyclists arn't forced to have any [even 3rd party] insurance anyone else injured or with any losses due to a cyclist just has to put up with it ? As an adult [and yes he was old enough to be responsible] if you cause another person damage [and carrying death on your concience for life is just that] through your own recklesness or stupidity then you should expect to pay a price.
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
I'm not making excuses for her but the case does have merit.
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
yea he did fail it was more that his solicitor and even the court took it so far i just couldn't understand it even with 8 witnesses 2 of which were traffic cops and the driver pleading guilty it still went all the way to court
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Not enough to sue them!
Well, like the process or not, the system actually worked for you. You won the case, or at least, you didn't lose it. Fine to criticise the law when it's an ass (as it often is), but this time it seems the law was not only right, but it was interpreted correctly. Unpleasant for you being in the middle of it all, but nonetheless, the right result was achieved.
It could and should be messy ... the equally valid counter argument is that she should have seen them and been able to stop.
What if it had been a pedestrian, a car with an electrics failure..........
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
It depends on the case.
A cyclist without lights can be invisible depending on the lighting and you may only see them once they hit the top of your beam or bonnet.
Varies of factors but it is America after all. You can sue for anything
