Proposed Changes to Law

[securespark]

See last weeks Auto Express, if you can get your hands on it:

The Govt are considering changes to the law that will allow parents of any child run over to claim from the motorist.........EVEN IF THE CHILD WAS NOT LOOKING WHEN CROSSING THE ROAD AND THE DRIVER WAS WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT.......

Have they gone ^&^%&*(&£""^% MAD???????

 

[AdamW]

Having a child run over must be an absolutely dreadful thing to happen to a parent.

Thing is, if you run over a child you will suffer great mental anguish for the rest of your life... train drivers almost always quit after they run someone over due to the shock.

So, if they encourage parents to sue the driver, the driver will have no choice but to countersue... Why wasn't the parent looking after the child etc?

And how can you put a price on life?!

 

[2scoops0406]

That is absolutely crazy. I know a mate of mine very sadly hit a pedestrian on his motorbike. She died. He was not speeding, not drunk, the motorbike was perfectly roadworthy. He was on Anti Ds for a while. He was completely exonerated, but now carries a life sentence around with him, it shows as well, he is a different peron now, it's subtle but if you knew him, you'd see. I'm sorry if it upsets, but pedestrians do have a responsibility as well. As Adam said, if you kill someone on the road, the driver can suffer terribly as well.

 

[securespark]

My thoughts exactly. If the pedestrian is adult, they should take responsibility for getting themseleves safely across the road. However, if the pedestrian is a minor, there should be a responsible person with them if they cannot be deemed old enough to cross alone.

Trouble is, at what age do set this?

I knocked an 11 year old boy over in 1991, and he didn't look where he was going. At all. Luckily, I did, and managed to slow to around 10 mph at the point of impact. He suffered a bruised thigh and hip, but nothing more. The police arrived in 38 seconds (bet they wouldn't do that for a burglary), looked for marks on the road, said "I can see you've not been drinking and the marks on the road do not indicate excessive speed, off you go, but get your headlamp fixed asap."

I rang the hospital to see how he was. The nurse said he was "OK, no thanks to you."

Great! So now it's my fault that a pedestrian failed to look where he was going. All the responsibility was put on my shoulders - it's not right that car drivers have to look out for everyone else. I mean, of course we should be vigilant of what is happening around us, but ultimately we cannot take the blame for a negligent act like that.

The insurance company suspended my NCB pending a possible claim from the boy (who in 1991 had 10 years to make one, until the age of 21)and reinstated it 5 years later with NCB accrued in the meantime added on.

And all this hassle when I was deemed innocent of any motoring offences by the police, and several witnesses including a Rev. said there was nothing I could do. God help me if were breaking the law. Unless I'm an illegal immigrant DUI without any paperwork who kills a pedestrian, then I would all but get away with it.

As many have said before me, it's a MAD world.

PS The boy's mother was a PS teacher. Guess what she said when she saw her son writhing around in agony on the grass verge?

"Oh my darling, are you alright?"

NO.

She said, (bearing in mind it happened in a rough area of Manchester)



























"What the F*CK have I told you about the Green Cross Code, you useless piece of SH*T???"

Hmmm. Nice.

 

[2scoops0406]

I feel for you. You were "lucky" that he was OK. I know the anger you feel, but think if you'd really hurt the stupid s0d. I know its not your fault, but I've seen the results, really really not worth it. We move on.

 

[2scoops0406]

And how can you put a price on life?!

It's about a million quid I'm informed. (well in this country anyway)

 

[AdamW]

I remember back when I was a kid me, my big brother and my dad were walking from a friend's house to Ally Pally in North London. My brother was in a very happy mood and talking excitedly, he was probably 11 at the time. He just started to cross the road without looking, there was a screech of tyres, my dad grabbed him back just in time. There was a very shocked looking driver sitting there, gripping the wheel tight, with that "Those weren't the only skidmarks I just made" look on his face, that he had just peeled off the inside of the windscreen.

My dad shouted something such as "You bl**dy idiot!" at my brother, the poor s*d in the car thought he was shouting at him at first, but my dad profusely apologised and the guy drove off.

Anyway, in the situation where the child is OK you would probably prefer to see them getting ticked off (perhaps not being called useless as your lovely Mank lady did) than patted on the head and given a lollypop. Most parents wouldn't know what to think after a near-death situation for their kids, the old shouting whilst cuddling them confusion may kick in. But ignoring they just did it won't help matters.

I know of a tragic incident, the worst I can imagine in such a situation. My ex was showing me some photos of a family holiday from years back. Mum, dad, two girls. I pointed to the younger of the two girls and said "Hey, you used to be a blondie!" She said "No, that is my sister". I pointed to the older girl and said "Then who's that?" That's Lorraine. I was puzzled... as far as I knew she only had one sister, Lorraine. She explained that she was actually the youngest of 3 daughters. When the middle daughter was 8 or 9, she ran out into the road and was killed outright by a car. What makes it so horrific is that the driver of the car was none other than her dad. Must be a terrible burden to bear.

Do they still teach the Green Cross Code (or it's descendent) in primary schools?

 

[oilman]

I used to offer a dramatic demonstration to children who thought they would be ok if hit by a car. If they would like to put their hand on the ground, I could hit it with a hammer. "NO!!!!" was the reply, I pointed out the hammer weighed a lot less than a car and was moving a lot slower. I think they understood. (Still doesn't cope with absent mindedness though)

 

[AdamW]

Never thought of it like that, makes the point! Perhaps it is because a car isn't usually associated with pain and injury, but then I've never been run over.

 

[securespark]

Do they still teach the Green Cross Code (or it's descendent) in primary schools?

Will came home from his reception class today clutching a leaflet telling him how to use a pelican crossing, and he will be doing GCC or equivalent in the playground this week (they have a "road" marked on the tarmac).


Good points, mate. Sad story about the sisters.

 

[kendor]

Talking of the Green Cross Code, who remembers the Tufty Club?

 

[pipme]

But if you are rich enough to challenge the law through the courts, you may get justice ... if it looks like it will be too expensive for prosecution to persist .... No one's getting fat 'cept lawyers !!

 

[securespark]

I weighed up the p's and c's and decided I could do with the spondoolies.

 

[pipme]

Hey ! Come to chilly UK .. chuck yer kid under a car for the beeeg payout !!
Money for nothing .... accomodation for free !!

 

[masona]

A mate of mine in the 70's run over a five old girl and broke her leg. Cut a long story short, the young girl can claim for damaged from the driver insurance until she 18 yrs old if she suffer from long term problem. The insurance company have to keep the case open, not sure if this still the case today.