Biker claims compensation after fatal game of “chicken”

[Bob]

In a landmark case, Anthony Young, 37 a biker from Chipping Sodbury in England is claiming compensation, following the death of a twelve-year-old who ran in front of his bike during a game of “Chicken”. Mr Young suffered six broken ribs, a punctured lung, a bruised heart, a shoulder injury and ongoing psychological trauma as a result of the accident. He spent two weeks in hospital and is still having further surgery.

The claim is for injuries suffered and will be heard by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. If successful, this would make legal history and could open the way for a number of further claims from people who have also been injured in crashes caused in a similar manner.

Personal injury lawyer Andrew Campbell of Withy King will argue that deliberately running in front of the bike constitutes a “violent act”.

At the inquest in August, 2006, at Bristol's coroner's court, the coroner confirmed that no blame could be attributed to Mr Young.

[Steam]

Evolution in action for the 12-year-old.
Yesterday some idiot kid jumped from the wharf not 4 meters behind the boat as we were reversing in to berth, and I screamed to the skipper to cut the engines. He would have been sucked into the propellers had 4 or 5 more seconds gone by with the props in reverse.

What that kid and the kid in this story were thinking is a total mystery to me.
Are kids lacking some vitamin or something these days, which makes them more stupid?

[Edbear]

Are kids lacking some vitamin or something these days, which makes them more stupid?

Mmmm! You could be on to something here... I think it could be the PG vitamin, you know, the 'Parental Guidance' one which teaches kids to think.

We were always trying to teach our kids to think about the consequences of their actions BEFORE they did them! Even so our son seemed to need to learn the hard way... "Don't play behind that shed as there's broken glass there!" (A trip to hospital and surgery for a nearly severed index finger under general anaesthetic...) "Wipe your rear window before you reverse out the driveway". = one broken mailbox. "Don't bounce the basketball against the side of the house, you'll break the window!" ... Sigh! The girls were much more inclined to listen...

[sunhuntin]

saw 3 kids yesterday nearly get collected after running out in front of a truck...cant have been much room between them. the first two continued across in front of me, but there was a good car length or more. good thing the 3rd stopped and waited, cos i would not have swerved.

sounds like this case is just whats needed!

[awesker]

Evolution in action for the 12-year-old.
Yesterday some idiot kid jumped from the wharf not 4 meters behind the boat as we were reversing in to berth, and I screamed to the skipper to cut the engines. He would have been sucked into the propellers had 4 or 5 more seconds gone by with the props in reverse.

What that kid and the kid in this story were thinking is a total mystery to me.
Are kids lacking some vitamin or something these days, which makes them more stupid?

jesus, that would be a bit of a scare..

Not all kids are like that though, just the select few.. I think it comes down to shit parenting..

[Grahameeboy]

Good on the biker.

I may be wrong, but I don't think that he can make a civil claim against the kid cause he is a minor and the parent's Household Insurance would probably not pay because the kid's actions were reckless.

So the biker's only. re-course is throw the Criminal Compensation

[MrMelon]

Evolution in action for the 12-year-old.
Yesterday some idiot kid jumped from the wharf not 4 meters behind the boat as we were reversing in to berth, and I screamed to the skipper to cut the engines. He would have been sucked into the propellers had 4 or 5 more seconds gone by with the props in reverse.

What that kid and the kid in this story were thinking is a total mystery to me.
Are kids lacking some vitamin or something these days, which makes them more stupid?

I'd be more concerned at the fact there are people swimming the in the sea in Wellington!

[Skyryder]

What that kid and the kid in this story were thinking is a total mystery to me.
Are kids lacking some vitamin or something these days, which makes them more stupid?

I came to the conclusion some time ago that the 'me' generation are so occupied with themselves that they are incapable seeing any further than the distance of their own shadow.


Skyryder

[vifferman]

I suspect the rise of SafetyNazism has a lot to do with it. The overhwhelming preponderance of rules and regulations to protect the stupid from themselves is great for "adventure tourism" but crap for the world as a whole.

[mstriumph]

The kid seems to have paid the ultimate penalty for his stupidity

Let's hope the biker concerned can use the system to make the parents pay for theirs

When driving, we are warned not to swerve for dogs that run into the road
Unfortunately, when riding, we are just a vunerable as the obstacle .......

[RantyDave]

Let's hope the biker concerned can use the system to make the parents pay for theirs

Criminal injuries compensation comes from the state. Besides, I think the parents have paid quite enough already.

Dave

[Coyote]

What that kid and the kid in this story were thinking is a total mystery to me.
Are kids lacking some vitamin or something these days, which makes them more stupid?

Darn tootin, hyuk

[mstriumph]

Criminal injuries compensation comes from the state. Besides, I think the parents have paid quite enough already.

Dave

- if they had 'paid quite enough' attention to training their child in the first place we wouldn't be having this conversation

If someone's dog ran into me and damaged my bike i would go after the person who was supposed to be responsible for the animal and expect them to make good the damage; the state of their animal after it had committed its mayhem upon me would have no bearing whatsoever on that.

Mealy-mouthed, politically-correct, bleeding-hearted, sanctimonious platitudes aside i REALLY don't see the difference between an ill-disciplined dog and an ill-disciplined brat in that connection.

Morally the liability is the same - and, if the law doesn't recognise that then, sir, the law is an ass!

[jrandom]

The girls were much more inclined to listen...

TELL me about it.

I mean, my son's great. Etc. I love him dearly.

But sometimes I just wonder, WHY oh WHY did we not manage to have another sweet little girl...

[surfer]

Criminal injuries compensation comes from the state. Besides, I think the parents have paid quite enough already.

Dave

The UK is going the same way as the States with more and more people claiming for not only the damage done to the vehicles but also to themselves. Not the case in NZ as there is ACC which stops this as the state carries the responsibility. When ACC goes there will be similar claims here with big bucks involved, no more she'll be alright. Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.