[Travel] Teacher who was staring at her phone and hit by a cyclist win compensation.

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Chicken Run

Member Since Jul 2003
NSC Patron
Jul 17, 2003
19,816
Valley of Hangleton
The only ones likely to come out of this as winners are the lawyers.

The pedestrian will get the damages awarded less the lawyer’s fees - the cyclist will pay the full amount plus court costs.

The judge said the blame was 50/50 - if the cyclist counter claims then presumably he will get damages awarded less the lawyer’s fees - the pedestrian will pay the full amount plus court fees.

Waste of time and money!

It costs less than £2 a week for “third party” insurance for each of our horses, with cover up to £3million - for peace of mind how much would 3rd party insurance for a cyclist or pedestrian cost?

£35.71 pa with a bike value of £400 30 year old rider 3rd party and theft with £5,000,000 third party liability
 






METALMICKY

Well-known member
Jan 30, 2004
6,844
Just ran this one past the Mrs who worked in insurance brokers for 20 years. She was surprised that so many people were surprised that judge found in favour of pedestrian. In her time she had countless incidents where a pedestrian ran out without warning in front of a car. In every incidence the driver's insurance paid out.

Another scenario she dealt with regularly is the scenario whereby somebody emerged from a side road into a main on the basis of a car on the main road signalling to turn off. The car on the main road would then just carry on straight contrary to the indication resulting a collision with the emerging car. On numerous occasions drivers assumed that the car failing to turn as per their signal would be liable. However, the responsibility lies solely with the emerging car to ensure that the way is clear. Unfortunately, it's irrelevant that the little old lady has forgot to turn off her indicator.
 


perseus

Broad Blue & White stripe
Jul 5, 2003
23,461
Sūþseaxna
BIcycle as a lethal weapon

Just ran this one past the Mrs who worked in insurance brokers for 20 years. She was surprised that so many people were surprised that judge found in favour of pedestrian. In her time she had countless incidents where a pedestrian ran out without warning in front of a car. In every incidence the driver's insurance paid out.

Another scenario she dealt with regularly is the scenario whereby somebody emerged from a side road into a main on the basis of a car on the main road signalling to turn off. The car on the main road would then just carry on straight contrary to the indication resulting a collision with the emerging car. On numerous occasions drivers assumed that the car failing to turn as per their signal would be liable. However, the responsibility lies solely with the emerging car to ensure that the way is clear. Unfortunately, it's irrelevant that the little old lady has forgot to turn off her indicator.

https://www.digbybrown.co.uk/solici...ans-are-partly-to-blame-for-the-road-accident
 


Green Cross Code Man

Wunt be druv
Mar 30, 2006
20,756
Eastbourne
Just ran this one past the Mrs who worked in insurance brokers for 20 years. She was surprised that so many people were surprised that judge found in favour of pedestrian. In her time she had countless incidents where a pedestrian ran out without warning in front of a car. In every incidence the driver's insurance paid out.

Another scenario she dealt with regularly is the scenario whereby somebody emerged from a side road into a main on the basis of a car on the main road signalling to turn off. The car on the main road would then just carry on straight contrary to the indication resulting a collision with the emerging car. On numerous occasions drivers assumed that the car failing to turn as per their signal would be liable. However, the responsibility lies solely with the emerging car to ensure that the way is clear. Unfortunately, it's irrelevant that the little old lady has forgot to turn off her indicator.

In the first incident type you cite, I still fail to see why any judge would find in favour of a pedestrian if they step out in front of oncoming traffic without looking. It removes personal responsibility from the pedestrian and places it on a person who is likely to be travelling sensibly. I was once driving at Portmeirion when a woman stepped onto the road, fortunately she hit the side of my car but had she or I been a split second earlier, then she may have ended up badly injured or worse. I was travelling well within the speed limit and in a safe way for the conditions. There was absolutely nothing I could have done to prevent the accident as she just suddenly stepped out from the kerb from a stationary position. Initially her husband was angry with me but quickly calmed down as she admitted to him that the blame lay with her.

On the second point, I was taught not to rely on the fact that someone is indicating when I learned to drive, I think it may be in the Highway Code as well, and that is correct, all of us drivers occassionally knock an indicator so mistakes occur. I think it is a very well known rule.
 






CheeseRolls

Well-known member
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Jan 27, 2009
6,233
Shoreham Beach


wellquickwoody

Many More Voting Years
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Aug 10, 2007
13,915
Melbourne




Creaky

Well-known member
Mar 26, 2013
3,862
Hookwood - Nr Horley
What you don't make clear is the £100K are the legal costs and that the damages were £4k. Where this poor sod has been hit hard, is that he took a moral stance that legal claims are not the right way to proceed. Sadly if he had made a counter claim, this would likely have been settled out of court.

Makes £35 a year for insurance look like incredibly good value!
 




Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,888
West west west Sussex
Do you actually think that the correct overall conclusion was reached? No semantics, if that, but what if, maybe etc etc. Was the judgement correct?

As I have already said on this thread.

The fact that he could sound a warning and change direction gives me pause for thought.
People can't be 'rewarded' for just crossing the road oblivious to their surroundings.
A cyclist shouldn't be riding through a densely populated pedestrian area and not allow for the possibility of nimroditis.


I have no idea how someone can go to court over this accepting the fact they walked out into the road without the right of way staring at their phone.
 






perseus

Broad Blue & White stripe
Jul 5, 2003
23,461
Sūþseaxna
**** it. I’m gonna sell al my bikes, and start walking. There’s money to be made.

Pedestrians should wear crash helmets and have lights at night. Contributory negligence.
 








The Rivet

Well-known member
Aug 9, 2011
4,592
The evidence was that the cyclist responded to the pedestrian who had ALREADY entered the road space with, yelling, horn blowing etc, however it was noticed that no attempt was made to slow down. That is why as cyclists you are buggered if you expect pedestrians to dance out of your path.
 




Super Steve Earle

Well-known member
Feb 23, 2009
8,932
North of Brighton
As I have already said on this thread.

The fact that he could sound a warning and change direction gives me pause for thought.
People can't be 'rewarded' for just crossing the road oblivious to their surroundings.
A cyclist shouldn't be riding through a densely populated pedestrian area and not allow for the possibility of nimroditis.


I have no idea how someone can go to court over this accepting the fact they walked out into the road without the right of way staring at their phone.

She's a teacher - they're experts on everything and always right, so decision to sue straightforward. I have no sympathies with cyclists either, having had a near miss last week on a pedestrian crossing despite green man. However with costs near £100k and probable bankruptcy in this case, I hope the teacher suffers from flashbacks and guilt.
 






vegster

Sanity Clause
May 5, 2008
28,273
She's a teacher - they're experts on everything and always right, so decision to sue straightforward. I have no sympathies with cyclists either, having had a near miss last week on a pedestrian crossing despite green man. However with costs near £100k and probable bankruptcy in this case, I hope the teacher suffers from flashbacks and guilt.

Ah, you must have crossed swords with Hastings gull ( yes capital for Hastings but not Gull ) at some point ?
 


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