Time to consider Insurance for 3rd party injuries?!

jon1981

Hi,

I've seen alot of threads on insurance for bike theft and personal injury but not so much on the injury to the third party. Having read an article on a guy in London that was knocked over by a cyclist resulting in him being in a coma and needing near 3 months of rehab (being out of work of course) is it time cyclists are asked to take out some sort of liability? I do see challenges to this:

- You can't legally enforce it e.g. you cannot make a 12 yr old on a BMX take out an insurance contract
- How do you cover Dublin bikes and tourists

However, as a cyclist myself, it is unfair that this guy can get no compensation other than suing the cyclist. If he got a smack of a car he would be covered for compensation.

As a cyclist, i'm on the fence but as a pedestrian I'd be not happy.


link:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/city-worker-describes-miraculous-recovery-after-being-left-in-coma-by-cyclist-who-jumped-red-light-211322

Cyclist Reeve Allen, 26, was handed an £850 fine by Hammersmith Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 9, after he jumped a red light and left a city worker in a coma for six days.
Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/city-worker-describes-miraculous-recovery-after-being-left-in-coma-by-cyclist-who-jumped-red-light-211322#7mRCzxqkLXTWseSO.99

Chips Lovell

Compulsory insurance for motorists exists because both the volume and cost of motoring accidents is quite high.

While a cyclist injuring a pedestrian and refusing or being unable to cover their medical bills isn't nice, it is quite rare.

Making people have compulsory insurance for every conceivable accident type doesn't make sense.

Carawaystick

There's also the fact insurance would only cover a small portion of the total costs the injured person incurred, the nhs covered the vastly most expensive part - treating a person in a coma in icu for 6 days.

seamus

As Jep says, you can't compulsorily insure everyone for everything that may possibly happen. Someone could be out for a run, knock someone over causing a traumatic brain injury. Hell, someone could walk into you and knock you over, causing the same.

The need for liability cover should be weighed up against the probability of causing serious* injury and the probable or reasonable cost of that injury to the 3rd party. "Injuries" being actual physical injuries or damage to property.

From that point of view, the risk posed by cycling isn't higher than the risk posed by running or walking. Whereas the risk posed by motorised vehicles is far higher. Even a minor incident with a car will likely cost four figures upwards.

*"Serious" being any injury which involves significant cost, or significant interference with one's day-to-day life, permanently or temporarily.

rollingscone

Household insurance provides 3rd party liability cover for all persons normally resident.

It also covers damage caused by pets.