Super Bowl champion quarterback knocked off his 'busa

[imdying]

Like Mark Inglis who climbed Mt Everest recently, knew the risks, got frostbite and came back to NZ to have priority surgery at the taxpayers expense.
No insurance cover???

Yes exactly... no ACC for him. He's a fricken retard that out of anyone in the world should know better. Dumb fucks like him should carry the can for themselves. (I'm assuming that in fact ACC did pay for his latest amputations?)

[Lou Girardin]

Being a dip and not wearing a helmet doesn't seem to benefit anyone though...

Apart from those who believe adults should make their own decisions, not made for them by sheltered academics living in Governmental cocoons in Wellington.

[onearmedbandit]

How about this then. Now most of the people here talking 'individual-choice' are experienced riders, some with many miles and years under their belts. Shit some of these guys might not have had an 'off' for many years as well. So from their perspective, I can see why they feel that way.

But stop to think of other riders for a minute, especially those who are maybe considering their first bike. Now as we all know, image is a part of motorcycling. Whether you want one or not, you've got one. So young newbie wanting to look as cool as possible, takes advantage of the no hemlet law and rides the streets for the first time. Ever. I'm not saying he's destined to come off, but his chances are higher than most. I not arguing that this is the sole reason we should have helmet laws, but I feel it is an important one.

New riders and those with little experience are the ones we need to be thinking of here, not only ourselves.

[Toast]

Apart from those who believe adults should make their own decisions, not made for them by sheltered academics living in Governmental cocoons in Wellington.

But the issue here is not merely about him being able to make decisions that affect only him, it's about the fact that his decision not to wear a helmet costs the rest of us financially, in ACC...and is that fair?

The difference in arguments here is similar to the different sides during debate about the no smoking in public bars law...smokers claimed that it was merely the government infringing on their personal freedoms...which is bullshit. They can kill themselves with ciggies, but their decision to smoke costs me, in terms of my health, so it's not merely about them being able to make decisions for themselves.

Back to the helmet case...

In a country like the US though, where there's no ACC act or equivalent (to my knowledge), give the freedom to be a dickhead, since that soft little head is unlikely to cause me more harm than a helmeted one.

[pritch]

it's about the fact that his decision not to wear a helmet costs the rest of us financially, in ACC...and is that fair?

Compared to what we used to have, it most certainly is. We used to have to sue somebody, to do that successfully you needed to prove blame. If the Police were to busy to attend the accident you were shit out of luck right there. (That happened to my brother.)

If you had an accident at work you had to sue your employer to get compensation. Since we tend to get exactly the justice we can afford this didn't always end well.

ACC was supposed to be a no fault, no liability, system. If a guy broke his leg jumping over a prison wall he got ACC. That's OK, that's a small price to pay.

Over the years ACC has been watered down and the "social contract" the populace entrered into when they gave up the right to sue has been corrupted. As corrupted as it has become though, ACC is still just possibly more fair than what existed previously.

I would suspect, however, that all prudent travellers would have insurance. Unless we *know* that Ingles didn't have insurance we can't even comment.

[Colapop]

Seven hours in surgery.... 1/2 hour to fix the injuries, 6 1/2 hours plastic surgery to save the face sponsors want!

[Lou Girardin]

So the pro-helmet law brigade would be happy to see bikes banned?
They also are a great cost to the tax-payer.
Be careful what you wish for.