Seriously, some people just make my stomach churn.


http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyE...75322420080125

OK...so I read this three times...and, I agree with the thread title...seriously??!??!

We always say that nothing can shock us anymore and then something comes along to make us want to spit again.

Hands up if you've nearly taken out a cyclist with no lights, no reflective gear and no helmet at night in Switzerland... whether or not you were speeding...

Yes. I have seen several times such idiots. Also other cyclists who believe that red traffic lights are of no concern to them, many times. In fact, I think the law is wrong, it is always but always the driver's fault - but when you see these twats with no lights of any sort or when you see them just ignoring red lights then I think the law has to take into account their stupidity as well.

All you can do is slowly shake your head in disbelief. The gentleman in question is not short of a few bob it seems. Why go after the family?

I don't know about the jurisdictional practice in Spain but in Switzerland the car driver is mostly at least partially guilty because the dangerousness of a car requires extra awareness (hence the difference in fines if you cross a red light in a bicycle, car, or walking, for example). However to be ruled fully guilty I assume the bicycle driver must not have broken any rules.

I assume the Spanish judge will base his decision on the distribution of guilt made by his colleagues. Personally I'm not on the side of the car driver here but we lack information about the cyclist's guilt. Helmet and reflective clothing aren't legally required in Spain, I think. But lights and reflectors on the bicycle probably are and we don't know if he had them, and where he drove on the street when he was hit. I don't think the original article mentions these informations but if one of our Spanish speaking forum members wants to read it, it can be found here.

This, I'm sure, will be an example of selective reporting. I'll check on a Spanish news site when I have time but the "guilty" party here will be the drivers Insurance company. They will have agreed the sum of 33,000€ for the death of the boy, paid for repairs on the car and for a hire car for the driver (if he was driving an A8 he will have had comprehensive insurance) as the boy was, almost certainly un-insured.

Now they see a chance of getting some money back because the boy had no lights etc. I doubt that they have even paid out for the boys death yet and are starting this as a way of reducing the payout.

I hate Insurance companies BTW

Judging by the quote from the article, it's the driver making the claim.

True but there is very little detail to this report. there are many reports on the net in Spanish about this and all high in sensation but light in detail. Even El Pais, Spains serious newspaper, does not give much detail. I'm just very cynical about lightweight reporting like this, there is always more to a story.

A friend of mine had an accident in the UK a few years ago when an alloy wheel on her Discovery shattered at 60mph. The car did a few flips, she and her colleague were in hospital for a week or so and really lucky to survive without serious injury. My friend was pretty traumatised by the accident and even more so when she found out her work colleagues' health insurance company were suing her motor insurance for damages.

Although it was insurance companies battling it out both the parties had to be involved personally signing documents and making statements etc.

In the end I think it was Land Rover (or their Insurance Co) who ended up with a very hefty bill because of the faulty wheel.

Updating....the car driver didn't show up at the trial....but he has given some ideas to other people...more drivers (sorry in Spanish) are acting the same way!!