Wear your lid!

[Gooby]

Not another "my lid saved my life" although I have a couple...

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/20...

[Vipers]

Well a helmet did save me from potential serious injury, and yes I personally think the inusrers are right to reduce compenstion to those who ignore basic safety procedures.

I wonder how an insurer would react to a motorcyclist who had his mandatory helmet on, and flip flops and shorts on who sustained a serious dose of road rash when he came off doesn't even bear thinking of.

[anonymous-user]

Compensation "may" be reduced. If you read the story his payout was reduced by 1/3 because of TWO factors, he rode dangerously AND he chose not to wear a helmet.

Those TWO factors contributed to the reduction in the payout. The cyclist was largely responsible because of his riding.

And wearing a helmet is entirely optional in the UK. I cant see an insurance company who covers a car/van/lorry driver who causes an accident with a bike having the payout reduced because the cyclist not wearing a helmet.

I am still not wearing one.

[Vipers]

sugerbear said:

I am still not wearing one.

Well you wouldn't be sitting at your keyboard

[Mr Will]

sugerbear said:

Compensation "may" be reduced. If you read the story his payout was reduced by 1/3 because of TWO factors, he rode dangerously AND he chose not to wear a helmet.

Those TWO factors contributed to the reduction in the payout. The cyclist was largely responsible because of his riding.

And wearing a helmet is entirely optional in the UK. I cant see an insurance company who covers a car/van/lorry driver who causes an accident with a bike having the payout reduced because the cyclist not wearing a helmet.

I am still not wearing one.

There is a third factor involved too; the helmet would have helped protect against his specific injuries in these specific circumstances. As cycle helmets are not tested in collisions above 12mph, or involving vehicles, a court will have a hard time proving this last factor in your typical road collision scenario.

[Lemans Party]

sugerbear said:

Compensation "may" be reduced. If you read the story his payout was reduced by 1/3 because of TWO factors, he rode dangerously AND he chose not to wear a helmet.

Correction...

story said:

But their liability was reduced by two-thirds

[Kermit power]

Personally, I don't think he should've been able to bring a claim in the first place.

In part because he chose not to wear a helmet, but mainly because he chose to take part in the race and he caused the accident.

[Cupramax]

Gooby said:

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

Perhaps if we went back to a world where peoples first reaction wasn't to sue the whole world would be a better place.

[Gooby]

Guardian Blogger said:

The Reynolds case is the first occasion where the courts have reduced a cyclist's compensation in this way, but it seems to be part of a wider trend in the law's attitude towards helmets. The Cyclists' Defence Fund have suggested that deductions for not wearing a helmet are now common in out-of-court settlements of head injury claims brought by cyclists. And when cases have reached the courts in recent years, the courts have held that cycling without a helmet is negligent (at least for the purposes of contributory negligence), largely because it involves ignoring the Highway Code's recommendation that "you should wear a cycle helmet which conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened". This conclusion was first expressed by Mr Justice Griffith Williams in the 2009 case of Smith v Finch, and has now been adopted by the High Court in its last three decisions on the issue.

[Vipers]

These days everything we do (just about) comes under various safety regulations, things spring to mind like a risk assessment, taking part in a race, with out safety equipment, (although not mandatory) was not worn so seems reasonable to reduce any payout.

See my first post, what if a motorcylists wore his mandatory skid lid, but shorts and flip flops sustained a serious case of road rash when he fell off, I am sure the insurance company would try to reduce any payment to them. (I believe I am correct in thinking that only a skid lid is required under the law), if I am wrong, please put me wrong.

[anonymous-user]

Vipers said:

sugerbear said:

I am still not wearing one.

Well you wouldn't be sitting at your keyboard

No, for that I wear a tin foil hat

[BliarOut]

Gooby said:

Not another "my lid saved my life" although I have a couple...

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/20...

Tell you what, YOU wear a helmet and stop caring what the fk anyone else does

[surfymark]

BliarOut said:

Gooby said:

Not another "my lid saved my life" although I have a couple...

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/20...

Tell you what, YOU wear a helmet and stop caring what the fk anyone else does

Don't want to get into a debate here but are you talking to the Guardian here?

I was very interested in the article but do not frequent the Guardian's website.

M

[BliarOut]

surfymark said:

BliarOut said:

Gooby said:

Not another "my lid saved my life" although I have a couple...

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/20...

Tell you what, YOU wear a helmet and stop caring what the fk anyone else does

Don't want to get into a debate here but are you talking to the Guardian here?

I was very interested in the article but do not frequent the Guardian's website.

M

I'm talking to anyone that thinks they know what's best for me...

That decision is for me and me alone.

[monkey gland]

How are you supposed to tell if an Estate Agent is brain damaged?

[Gooby]

BliarOut said:

Gooby said:

Not another "my lid saved my life" although I have a couple...

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/20...

Tell you what, YOU wear a helmet and stop caring what the fk anyone else does

...you can lead a we to culture...

[BliarOut]

Gooby said:

BliarOut said:

Gooby said:

Not another "my lid saved my life" although I have a couple...

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/20...

Tell you what, YOU wear a helmet and stop caring what the fk anyone else does

...you can lead a we to culture...

I bet your voice has an adenoidal quality to it.

[Gooby]

BliarOut said:

Gooby said:

BliarOut said:

Gooby said:

Not another "my lid saved my life" although I have a couple...

If you dont wear your lid, your compensation will be reduced because of "contributory negligence".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/20...

Tell you what, YOU wear a helmet and stop caring what the fk anyone else does

...you can lead a we to culture...

I bet your voice has an adenoidal quality to it.

I am betting yours is a little more "Joey Deacon"...

[BliarOut]

So why do you think other people should do as you say?

[IroningMan]

BliarOut said:

So why do you think other people should do as you say?

People like you need all the help they can get...