US biker's family awarded $8.4 million in damages for fatal crash

Mr Harvey should have had a custodial sentence for man slaughter, use of a deadly weapon and just for being a c0ck and owning Hummer.

Posted: 10/12/2010 at 13:04

I feel bad for the guy that was killed, actually I don't - i just feel for his family. 

This guy fits the profile of FLorida bikers to a tee. Likely he is a born-again, American versions of which are much more dangerous than Brit versions. Further, he probably has had little training and isn't a very observant rider, and lastly he wasn't wearing a lid. I'm no helmet-Nazi but if you're not wearing one you owe it to your family to make DAMN sure you know what you're doing when you ride.

Before riding through a green I always check to make sure there are no cars coming from the other side.  

Posted: 10/12/2010 at 16:29

Posted: 10/12/2010 at 18:33

Posted: 10/12/2010 at 18:49

Posted: 10/12/2010 at 19:03

Posted: 10/12/2010 at 19:04

helmet on....no helmet ? discuss

Posted: 10/12/2010 at 20:45

Posted: 11/12/2010 at 12:20

his actions caused the death of another person surely it should be irrelvent how that person was killed just the intention of the person that should be made to be on trial.

i dont remember siging any clause stating that when i got my driving licence the laws that cover the rest of the land would be of a lesser value if it was on a public road?

Even though it was in the states and he was not wearing a helmet the actions of the driver was to ignore a law and pass through the red light resulting in the death of the man on the bike, so he should be tried for manslaughter. 

On the hot topic of lids, i have had 3 biggies in my past 15 years on the roads of england and europe and i would not be here if it was not for my Arai.

All were due to unobservant drivers and i was within the speed limit of the road. 

Posted: 11/12/2010 at 13:25

Posted: 11/12/2010 at 20:55

Yo Jim Philpott (and anybody else who thinks that way): 

Of course you've never accidentally run a red (or accidentally committed some other transgression that under some circumstance could cause a fatality)...nor is it ever possible that you might, because you are a "serious bikers who is never wrong". Typically, you were "within the speed limit and the other driver never saw me".

Well, how's that philosophy going for you?

 Just asking...

Posted: 12/12/2010 at 21:19

Posted: 12/12/2010 at 21:23

Having spent time in Florida for five months, you have to understand the laws that are in place.

 Here in UK you have to wear a helmet, and rightly so.  In Florida, on a motorcycle its optional.  By law you have to wear eye protection, due to flies.

If you ride a bicycle, you have to wear a helmet.

 Anyone with an ounce of common sense would wear a helmet, but try telling that to a SPAM.

Posted: 13/12/2010 at 08:18

Living in the US for the past 9 years, I can tell you that red light running is endemic to the traffic system here. Ally that to some of the worst drivers in the western hemisphere and their addiction to every type of in-car distraction and this type of accident becomes common place.

The helmet argument is a distraction. He was not breaking the law by riding without one, regardless of whether it is a sensible thing to do or not. The law breaker was the Hummer driver and I strongly suspect it was far from his first offence.

Posted: 13/12/2010 at 18:44