On that basis the insurance company could refuse to pay up for bad weather, riding with a cold, not having glasses under a year old, going out in the rush hour on the day the clocks change to summer time and a host of other risk based assesments. They'll try all the above, but if filtering/lane splitting is legal you are covered to the minimum degree required. After that you have to enter the shark tank and fight for your cash just like any other claim involving the in-sewer-ants.

What I think the magistrates have failed to express in a clear way is that they believe the motorcyclist was partially at fault due to their lane position and that the car driver couldn't reasonably be expected to react in a way that would have avoided this. They are saying it was an accident to which no blame could be levelled, which I guess although unlikely could be true. You will always get this sort of perverse judgement unless there is forensic evidence. The women judges have basically accepted that a no doubt well dressed and polite young women who's lawyer will have stressed that she really isn't a bad person didn't mean any harm. If that's all they'd said we wouldn't be having this discussion.

I'd wonder if the magistrates actually drive? In the UK a magistrate who's only ever been on the train can sit in judgement on traffic offences and the same applies to juries.

UK magistrates and Juries come up with this sort of rubbish all the time. Look at the number of nasty street thugs who turn up to court with a suit, a shave, a puppy dog expression and a crucifix instead of their usual gang signs and hoodies and get off because all the old dears on the jury think he's a nice young man and the young girls fancy him. The good news is that the badly worded comments will probably be grounds to dispute the judgement in a higher court.

Andy

Of course its ok for cars to whack motos. You all know this from the first day you rode a bike. So dont be surprised at this story

Sorry, there's no such thing as a UK magistrate. You can have an English magistrate, or in Scotland, a Sheriff. Its different. There is no UK legal system, only the different legislatures and courts of Scotland and England.

OK, the pedant wins. I'll go back and correct the whole post to "magistrates, Sheriffs, associated other legal persons and anyone acting in a similar legally recognised capacity in the UK, it's dominions or overseas territories" if you like

I bet your a *****y lawyer aren't you



Andy

Sorry Andy, for being accurate - and polite. If I'm wrong in what I say just tell me, but without abuse.Dont be so bitter when you find you're wrong.

No I'm not a " *****y lawyer" , I'm just tired of cramped views which exclude a part of the UK as if it didnt exist. It's a democratic thing - you wouldn't understand. The Anglocentric view of the UK really is oldhat and done, though not everyone realises it. The "pedant " jibe is the usual response from those who are unaware that the UK has existed since 1603- right up to today with the current Elizabeth I.

The original United Kingdom was formed not 1603 ,but in 1801 by the merging of the Kingdom of Ireland with the Kingdom of Great Britain [England and Scotland ] .
1603 was the date of the Union of Crowns ,when James ruled over two seperate monarchies .Wales was considered a part of England in those days .
The Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707 by the union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England.
The present United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland emerged in 1927 .

I disagree that the term UK magistrate is incorrect .
An English or Northern Irish magistrate residing within the UK might be a better description ,but as the hypothetical magistrate in question is presumed to be a citizen of the United Kingdom , his/her title and nationality are not in doubt .
The term "Scottish magistrate", would indeed be incorrect .
However ,a Scottish born person could become a magistrate in England or Nothern Ireland and one hopes that an English or Northen Irish born person could become a Sherrif within Scotland .
So I believe one could become a sherrif or a magistrate and all within the boundaries of the UK .

You have ignored the great contribution that the Northern Irish have made to the nation and I am perplexed by your blatant Caledonian bias that you should abuse them so .
Furthermore the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the result of many centuries of invasion ,intertribal punch ups ,political underhandedness and subjugation of weaker populations ,hardly democracy , perhaps you meant demography ?

I did not detect an ounce of bitterness or abuse in Andy's post ,but being a Yorkshireman he is well versed in the arts of tact and diplomacy ,hence his use of ROFL.His means of transport is a sidecar ,which proves beyond all doubt that he has a balanced viewpoint and a sense of humour .
It has not yet been established whether or not Yorkshire is part of the United Kingdom though .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Unfortunately, which part of the world isn't?

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

There are many uninhabited islands ,but I believe that even plants compete for dominance .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Depends who's asking. Those Lancastrians.......

Andy

Oo-er! trooble at t'mill!!!

Thanks for the long post Dodger, despite its many mistakes, especially on my country of origin. In fact I spent a lot of time helping Yorkshiremen at Eggborough and Drax. I admit I was worried to hear men referring to each other as "Love". Is this why you used the word "abuse" ?

You say you are "perplexed" - so what's new? Like many expats, you believe you know a lot about the country you were unsuccessful in. Unfortunately I fell asleep before reading all of your post, so maybe it got better near the end. Hope so!Write another long post if you've time - I might get back to you one day on it; but not right away!

Good on yer

Don't let long words and historical facts trouble you Cammi .You'll get the hang of it one day .
How's teaching ? The kids still giving you problems ?
You should see a doctor about your narcolepsy ,we wouldn't want you falling asleep on the bike now would we ?

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Dodger, love,
My narcolepsy is only a problem when I have to read anal posts. But it's kind of you to think of my welfare. Ta!

Teaching? Uh-Uh! You follow my posts closely enough to know that I'm in engineering - you'll remember I gave you tips on how to weld when you couldnt get the hang of it. You were grateful when I suggested that you first use the screen to stop UV burn and to prevent you getting a flash all the time. I helped you people in the Socialist Republic of Yorkshire at Drax power station etc, and I continue to do that with you. It's a pleasure to help . I'm coded to ASME IX (still with me?)if you need advanced help.

I'm thinking of going to the Le Mans 24hr soon - I've stopped racing there because of narcolepsy of course but I like the atmosphere. So no need to reply- I'm kinda busy.

Love
C

Ah Cammi , another change of career ,engineering now is it ?
I thought you were a welder before you discovered education .
Never mind one day you'll find something you're good at .

The words that strike fear into any tradesman are ; "Hello I'm an engineer ,I'm here to help ".
Tread carefully Cammi ,you may get welded inside a large diameter pipe one day by a disgruntled journeyman .

Narcolepsy and 24 hour racing go hand in hand ,so I can understand the attraction .But during your wakeful moments you can enjoy the rides at the funfair .[Don't eat too much candy floss or you might throw up ] .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Maybe I'm missing the joke? After all I'm pretty new here, but this seems headed off in the wrong direction, eh?

What was the question, again? Something about cars running down motorcyclists?



..........shu

Ay lad, funny lot out there it's almost SOUTH Yorkshire

Shu, don't worry about the question we're unlikley to get to the answer so sit sit back and enjoy the ride (or better yet save the electric and go for a ride, which is exactly what I'm going to do as soon as I've had this cuppa and bacon butty).

Andy