Insurers of driver who badly injured Paralympic cycling champion Simon Richardson refuse to pay for operation

This case just unfortunately reminds me that us cyclists always come off worst in a collision, even if we have the best legal representation. It really is quite depressing. The insurance company should be financially penalised by the courts for refusing to pay for the operation. I can't think of any other legal situation where this wouldn't be the case?

Just what I was about to say Ragtag. Years ago I was involved in a hit and run. We got the registration and when the police called at his door he had a skinful. Also had a witness who saw him stagger from the pub and into the car and followed him until he hit me and took off. The insurers paid up.

In this case they are banking that the alternative is 'free' as it is a procedure provided by the NHS. What goes in Simon's favour is he is a professional athlete and needs this treatment now rather than later to allow him to be pain free and ultimately compete again.

But why stop at 'voiding' your policy for DUI. Why not void it for speeding, rlj, use of phone etc. All those things that contribute to collisions? Insurance is primarily to protect the third party, not to make it easier for the individual to repair their vehicle.

I wonder, does Simon Richardson earn a living from cycling at all?
If so can't it be argued that if he is going to be unable to race at the next games he's going to loose 4 years or more of earnings when all his sponsors give up?

Name and shame this Isurance Provider who-ever they are.

As a farmer, there is a very high chance that his insurers are the NFU Mutual...in my experience not known for their (voluntary) generosity.

Of course it may not be them but they do insure a substantial proportion of the farmers in the UK.

Edward Adams should be forced to sell his home to pay for the operation as he was the idiot that caused Simon's injuries.
Then he can argue with his insurers!!!

I'm disgusted by this, but it's made me think of something that perhaps we should all be thinking of when we're out on the bike...

Had we better have pur own insurance?? Not something i've really considered before, but the thought of being left high and dry by some drunk and his neglegent insurance company is frankly a bit scary!!

Not saying it's right that we should have to, but i guess this is the next step from thinking a helmet is required!!

My experience of Leigh Day is that they are excellent. I was dealing with a taxi insurer that was refusing to settle. They claimed that he had a pregnant passenger (I never saw her) and that he'd driven off to drop her at the hospital. When asked to name the passenger, they settled! (with the name of the passenger I could have found out the name of the child via the registrar and traced the witness, if there ever was one).

Leigh Day are British Cycling's insurer and if you aren't a British Cycling member - why not? It's worth it just for the insurance alone.

I presume that Simon is being advised not to name them so as not to prejudice any out of court settlement. However, once proceedings are issued it's no longer a private matter (pedants will say that until it's listed for a hearing it's not public however you've already involved court staff before that point)

If you think this is bad, I understand that the compensation from the MIB for a fatality caused by someone uninsured is £7,000. On the roads life is cheap.

It's a crappy situation but I don't think all the vitriol aimed at the insurer is justified. The drunk farmer is the cause of all this, it won't happen but it would be nice if all his assets were sold to foot any bills (if he has any, Welsh farmers are generally rich...). As has been speculated above I'm guessing the insurer is refusing to pay out on the grounds the NHS will cover it eventually, whilst that sucks if they did pay out for private healthcare when a free option was available then it's sets a precedent and everyone's premiums will end up rising. They could make a goodwill payment to but then so could all the people ranting about injustice here.

Maybe I've missed something, but if he's going to be in pain and discomfort for a year if he chooses the NHS option, that deserves compensation? I'm not normally in favour of ambulance-chasers, but if the insurers are refusing to pay for the treatment because the alternative is free under the NHS, surely they're liable for the extra pain and inconvenience poor old Simon will suffer?

This sort of thing is happening day in, day out across the UK. It is utterly despicable and this particular example is strong reason to support new legislation to permanently revoke driving privilege (that's right, driving is not actually a right!) where someone proves themselves to be wholly irresponsible behind the wheel. Seriously, hitting is bad enough but then driving off? Automatic life ban not a smack on the wrist and that's not even taking into account he was a drunk.

Would I for example be re-issued a firearms licence if I took my gun out and walked the streets pointing it at people and firing it in the air...not even actually hurting anyone? I would hope not, the local Chief Constable would lose their job for being so reckless. Why then does such common sense not apply to our roads?

I would take this to government directly and demand, with the help of many supporters out there who are fed up of reading about yet another motorist 'accidentally' ruining someone else's life, that something is done immediately.

It is not good enough for the victim to be left exposed whilst the insurers, the driver, the courts, DVLA and anyone else involved in such farces sit back and play the blame game. Get your MP involved, demand change etc.

I believe your solicitors will prevail as this is a pretty distasteful affair however without knowing the legal argument it's hard of course to really comment on likely success.

When will government step up and make some changes to stop such needless carnage? I'd ask the PM for comment and make his response a matter of public record, he does after all 'work for us' and should act in the interests of common decency, stories like this are just disgraceful.