Crikey, haven’t read all the posts but as a “responsible adult” with responsibilities both business and family, I have taken out insurance to make sure that if any misfortune befalls me then I will be ably taken care of, as will my dependants and employees. Given that I enjoy sports like cycling I think its only prudent. Hence, I don’t have as much sympathy for those that cartwheel themselves down a mountain, then claim recompense for pain / suffering et all from whoever is nearby.
What does annoy me though, is that as the owner of a small business I am forced to carry a minimum of 10 million public liability insurance, no doubt for such haphazard people as the claimant in the original case.
So, in answer to the original thread, individuals should take responsibility to provide for themselves, not me !
I do like the NewZealand way of doing things, were a government body “The Accident Compensation Corporation” takes care of all accidental injuries, there is no (well very very little at least) sue them mentality.
Theres basically a shopping list of injuries and subsequent payouts. Only downside is when the economy takes a downturn … theres always a spike in “Damn shot myself in the foot” incidents.