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Says Dan Walker.
Apologies if it's been posted already
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-64722710
Confident I was saved from serious injury any way
Saw this on my news feed earlier and for some reason my immediate thought was...
2 packs of custard creams, a large pot of tea, a flounce, a ban and a thread lock.
I'm very much pro helmet (rarely ride anywhere without) but given that the crash testing and standards are not designed around collisions with vehicles I'm still in the camp of questioning why the actual flip we are not sending a "driver nearly killed me" message on these stories instead of "wear a polystyrene hat that's not designed for vehicle collisions" message.
‘Hit by a car’ in breach of the guidance on how traffic collisions should be reported.
The Guardian article is an absolute shocker that doesn’t appear to have been written by an actual reporter.
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Bless, it's probably the blokes first fall/crash.
Totally angled wrong and something should have been said about the driver (although do we know whose fault). It's all media crap as he's there posing with the paramedics, having left the dried blood on his face for effect - bump your nose and it will bleed.
Sipping soup through a sraw, FFS, it's a bit of bruising and gravel rash. Certainly been handled wrongly, with the wrong angle being publicised.
His helmet has most likely saved him some nasty gravel rash on his scalp and a bit of concussion.
He's obviously face planted.
‘Hit by a car’ in breach of the guidance on how traffic collisions should be reported.
What is the correct terminology?
We don't know the circumstances, though it may have been the drivers fault. Either way, cars don't hit cyclists, cyclists and drivers hit each other, which is where the wording needs changing.
For balance, a club mate said something similar about helmets last week after coming off on some diesel. Rode home, got in the shower, passed out, fell, broke his jaw in two places and lost some teeth. Despite the helmet, he had concussion.
I wish I had the photoshop skills to get a pic of a full face shower cap for him.
I wish I had the photoshop skills to get a pic of a full face shower cap for him.
I can sort that. 😂
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I can sort that. 😂
Ping it over if you can!
Much debate about whether he will qualify for the crash of the year trophy at the next awards night, given that the injuries were sustained in the shower.
Being picky, I was hoping for a proper chin bar on the shower cap.
Unless someone has a removable one they no longer need, I could actually make him one! 🤣
Being picky, I was hoping for a proper chin bar on the shower cap.
Unless someone has a removable one they no longer need, I could actually make him one! 🤣
LEt me do an actual PS. I'll send it once I'm done.
@hardtailonly Here you go:
Key recommendation is no. 3 If you’re talking about a driver, say a driver, not their vehicle.
Also because of the HC changes and hierarchy of responsibility, it’s likely (but not a given) that the driver was at fault here.
LEt me do an actual PS. I’ll send it once I’m done.
That would be superb. Though I'm now quite keen on the idea of also making him a real one....
I can vouch for this, an hour ago I hit concrete going down a hill at 30mph (according to strava) head definitely hit the floor hard at some point
Currently being ferried to A&E with a (probably) broken thumb and a fair few grazes cuts and gashes
Fun times!
No tuck n roll there, he must have gone down like a sack of shitake mushrooms, OTB straight on his face.
‘Hit by a car’ in breach of the guidance on how traffic collisions should be reported.
I'm not sure 'breach' is the right word. I'm sure there may be all sorts of guidelines for writing all sorts of things but very few of them will be ruies that have to be complied with. Writers may or may not be aware of them even though its nice that there are people putting thought and effort into how information can be represented more fairly and accurately than it currently is. That PDF is full of well thought out advice but thats all it ... but it has no authority and theres no reason to believe any writer would be aware of it. A journalist isn't going to get penalty points on their writing license because they are in contravention of that code. The Active Travel Academy has no remit to prosecute.
So really the article has been written in ignorance of quite a good document someone wrote.
It’s all media crap as he’s there posing with the paramedics, having left the dried blood on his face for effect – bump your nose and it will bleed.
Why would they clean it off?
Sipping soup through a sraw, FFS, it’s a bit of bruising and gravel rash. Certainly been handled wrongly, with the wrong angle being publicised.
There are other photos where it shows how swollen his face was, it would be painful to open his jaw fully and chew.
It is NUJ guidance to be fair, but you’re right, it’s got no enforceable power.
When I was 14 (long time ago) I went onto and over the bonnet of a car that pulled out from a T-junction in front of me, between parked cars. I was very lucky and only damaged the car and my tennis racket. About 2 weeks later, my mate, who was a full-on jnr roadie went into the back of a van cos he could not stop in time. Copper and ambulance said he only survived thanks to his lid. I've worn one ever since, and I have a habit of hitting the deck as evidenced on Sunday gone, and ****ting my head off tree branches. YMMV and I make no judgement.
That would be superb. Though I’m now quite keen on the idea of also making him a real one….
Done! Check your DM's.
I’m very much pro helmet (rarely ride anywhere without) but given that the crash testing and standards are not designed around collisions with vehicles I’m still in the camp of questioning why the actual flip we are not sending a “driver nearly killed me” message on these stories instead of “wear a polystyrene hat that’s not designed for vehicle collisions” message.
I am just off the phone with an old friend. He was flattened by a car while stationary at a t-junction. He will not work again at age 55. He's lost his driving license. He's going to require care and therapy ongoing, although lives independently currently.
His financial settlement has come through after nearly 3 years of arguing. It's reduced by 15% as he was not wearing a helmet.
Apparently there's precedent for settlements being reduced by even more if protested, so he was told to take what was on offer.
I find it amazing that a court thinks that a helmet could have done much - he bounced off car and hit road head first.
Any legal folk able to give insight?
Copper and ambulance said he only survived thanks to his lid.
Not that I don't wear a lid myself but what made you think these people were at all qualified to make such a definitive statement?
The discussions have been had over and over but suffice to say cycling (with or without a lid) isn't half as dangerous as it's presented by our wonderful press, at the same time helmets are not shields of invulnerability...
Helmet wearer here but one of the funniest/saddest/wierdest/enraging things i've ever heard was a colleague, a very senior safety professional, chartered fellow and phd, opine on one of the deaths of a cyclist in london where they were left hooked by a 32 tonne tipper "she wasn't even wearing a helmet..."
It’s reduced by 15% as he was not wearing a helmet.
They tried to do that to my claim when I was taken out by a taxi, also tried to reduce it due to me not having lights even though it was broad daylight. The fact I had both and was claiming for their replacement cost managed to pass them by!
Another one here in Aus...
Hit by a truck, helmet saved his life.
Dashcam footage is brutal:
I've got a couple of very borked helmets in the shed, once landscape, once when head hit road courtesy of driver in mini taking me out.
All I can say is that, on both occasions, I'd rather not think about the outcomes if I hadn't been wearing them.
And as for getting cleaned up, I came out of A&E after 23 hours, with my face still bloodied. They were so busy they weren't fretting about superficials, just making sure my neck was in good shape, and splinting my borked knee
It’s reduced by 15% as he was not wearing a helmet.
Surely he should have argued this? Giro are on record stating their helmets aren't designed for impacts with cars. Why not reduce it 50% for not wearing a full face? If your friend was stationary at a T-junction he technically wasn't even cycling! Or does just being in the road mean you have to wear a helmet? Do we need them for crossing the road now?
I share similar questions.
But his legal team advised he took it - and shared with him some precedent cases why the reduction could be more if he argued it.
His final settlement is still mid 6-figures, and he already had interim payment made to his costs.
I’m pretty sure I’ve been saved from serious injury several times by wearing a helmet and have a collection of cracked and broken helmets to show for it!
Apparent footage of Dan Walkers accident
Driver changes lanes, doesn't look.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/21466140/moment-dan-walker-hit-by-car-bike-knocked-out/
Yeah. Saw that footage. I do a lot of urban cycling in Glasgow. I choose my battles though. A fast busy three lane roundabout? I'd take the underpass even if it cost me 30 seconds or a minute.
I can confidently predict my unhelmted ride through the underpass would be safer than his helmeted ride through the roundabout.
Just watched the video footage. Lucky the driver was at least awake enough to slam the anchors on after knocking him off. Used to commute to sheffield on the bike before COVID. Know the roundabout and I'd personally use the underpass.
Obviously he has every legal right to use the roundabout but being legally in the right doesn't help if you're dead 🙁
Shocking what other people are saying about compensation payouts being lower if people don't wear helmets or have lights on in the day, when neither are a legal requirement.
Just another example of cyclists being treated as second class road users 😡
This is of course in a city that’s delayed building adequate infra because the council leader thinks cycling is ‘too middle class’ https://road.cc/content/news/council-leader-thinks-cycling-too-middle-class-299443?amp
Probably worth thinking joining your local active travel group?
The time I didn't wear a helmet and didn't die
And that was the end of my career as a model
I'd still definitely advocate wearing a helmet, (even whilst riding back from the local curry house with a takeaway)
Regarding reduction of compensation. Complicated. There is a long piece by a lawyer, a KC, - who is also a cyclist and cycle campaigner here.
His blog is at
http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/
When I had my big road crash- car pulled out at a junction, I hit it flat out, went over the car and most of the way through the back window of a parked car- I was told at least twice that my helmet saved my life when I was in the hospital. Wasn't wearing one...
You probably wouldn't have even been in hospital if you'd been wearing one :p
If you fall off a lot or have a good chance of falling off then wear a helmet if it makes you feel better. Do the same if you tend to trip over a lot, fall when running etc,.
If you think you are going to get hit by cars then maybe wear a motorbike helmet which will be much more effective.
Don't know why the helmet discussion keeps getting brought up as I ride my bike a lot and see a lot of other cyclists when I am riding/driving/walkingand would guess that well over 90% of cyclists have a helmet on and I am very much in the minority by not wearing one.
but what made you think these people were at all qualified to make such a definitive statement?
I was 14 FFS. What would I know? Perhaps the fact there was a head-shaped large dent in the vans rear door, along with an obliterated helmet, and my mate didn't die/serious head injury. I don't know. I'm not an expert. Are you? The debate can go on all it likes, but from my own perspective I'll wear a lid thanks. At the risk of repeating myself, YMMV I make no judgement.
Don’t know why the helmet discussion keeps getting brought up as I ride my bike a lot and see a lot of other cyclists when I am riding/driving/walkingand would guess that well over 90% of cyclists have a helmet on and I am very much in the minority by not wearing one.
No interest in the general debate, live and let live etc, but last time it came up on here I did a count on my cycle commute home on cs7 in London and the no helmet riders edged it, some thing like 30/25 iirc.
Trying to work out which roundabout that is- bottom of Ecclesall Road?
Dan Walker did nothing wrong in the vid imo. Driver was in Wrong lane then changed lane and hit Walker. Driver totally at fault imo.