Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Advocacy & Safety
Reload this Page >

Insurer Blames Elite Cyclist for His Own Death

Notices
Advocacy & Safety Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every public road, just as do all other users. Discuss your bicycle advocacy and safety concerns here.

Insurer Blames Elite Cyclist for His Own Death

Old 10-30-15, 02:31 PM
  #26  
Senior Member
 
joeyduck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Nanaimo, BC
Posts: 2,014

Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo

Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The biggest issues here is we do not have options for insurance, it is a single government provided insurer. They fight for both sides and it makes things drag out. I have had a friend who had spent years litigating, in the process racking up debt for treatments and lawyers, before it gets settled.

Also no competition makes insurance expensive, no matter what they say we pay higher rates. I pay about triple than what I paid in ON or NY for equivalent coverage; that's with a 43% good driver discount.
joeyduck is offline  
Old 10-30-15, 04:24 PM
  #27  
pan y agua
 
merlinextraligh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,275

Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1428 Post(s)
Liked 697 Times in 353 Posts
Originally Posted by Rowan
Always an interesting juxtaposition when someone posts something like ColaJacket did under a real lawyer's post.

What's your moral compass like, merlin??


Based on the facts of the case, assuming they're as represented in the article, if I'm representing the defendant, we're going to do everything you can to settle before there's even a case filed.

It's called the empathetic approach. You take responsibility for the loss, admit liability, sincerely apologize, take care of the family's needs, funeral expenses, etc. Then at a respectful time you make a settlement offer.

It's a very effective approach. It has the benefit of being the right thing to do. And because it decreases transaction costs, and avoids the possibility of runaway verdicts, it decreases the total cost of the claim while still fairly compensating the family.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
merlinextraligh is offline  
Old 10-30-15, 06:41 PM
  #28  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Leeds UK
Posts: 2,085
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by CliffordK
I think it is a valid point that the rider was probably not hugging the shoulder.
Valid, how, exactly? Is there a Canadian requirement to "hug the shoulder"? If not, the point is utterly invalid, considering that, according to the reports, the drunk driver was on the wrong side of the road.
atbman is offline  
Old 10-30-15, 07:23 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
 
CliffordK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,600
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 4,489 Times in 3,338 Posts
Originally Posted by atbman
Valid, how, exactly? Is there a Canadian requirement to "hug the shoulder"? If not, the point is utterly invalid, considering that, according to the reports, the drunk driver was on the wrong side of the road.
If I see a car coming towards me... I won't hold a line straight in front of it. And I naturally pull right, whether a car is coming towards me from the front or rear.

It is not uncommon to have a car passing another car wholly in my lane coming towards me. Perhaps if I was in the middle of the lane, they wouldn't do it as frequently, but I'm not going to play chicken with a speeding car.

Details of the accident reconstruction would be interesting. Where were the cyclists? Where was the car? Uphill? Downhill? Curves? Sounds? Etc. And, yes, closing speeds of two fast moving vehicles going in opposite directions can be fast and reaction times can be short.

One can blame the car driver all one wants... but as a cyclist, when you're on the road, you also have to take charge of your own life.
CliffordK is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1nterceptor
Advocacy & Safety
281
05-06-17 06:03 AM
Old Sarge
Advocacy & Safety
15
12-26-14 08:14 PM
Mr. Hairy Legs
Advocacy & Safety
12
06-18-13 05:24 AM
Aushiker
Touring
0
07-28-12 12:47 AM
The Human Car
Advocacy & Safety
27
04-26-10 03:36 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.