The mountain bike skills instructor in the UK who was sued by a paralyzed student has lost the case, with the judge deeming him “80% to blame.”
According to an article in the Eastern Daily Press,
Mr MacLean had given Mr Ahmed false confidence in his abilities despite warning signs that the hill would be too much for him.
Finding the instructor 80pc to blame, the judge said he had “failed to carry out his tuition with reasonable skill and care.”
Having already been slowly down the hill once, Mr Ahmed was sent down again and Mr MacLean “encouraged him to do so at speed.”
Mr Ahmed, the judge ruled, was 20pc responsible for his own misfortune in failing to raise doubts about his own abilities.
As an adult with some biking experience, he had not “abdicated complete responsibility for his own safety” to Mr MacLean.
He may also have felt “peer pressure” from other students to head down the toughest part of the hill, rather than take an easier “chicken route.”
At this time it’s not completely clear how much of the £4 million amount the paralyzed student will receive, although current estimates put the payout amount at over £3 million, or $3,777,750 USD at current exchange rates.
11 Comments
Nov 17, 2016
2. I do feel bad for the paralyzed individual.
3. Hope he has insurance on the business
4. That's what brakes are for.
Nov 17, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
"Mr Ahmed was sent down again" . No. Mr Ahmed as an Adult willingly went down a hill, thinking his $4-6k full squish Specialized made him "Pro".
Most of these instructional groups are full of people trying to skip ahead, and not put in the base miles. No control, no balance, no endurance, yet instead of learning how to walk, they're trying to run down hills as if they've been ridding for 10 years.
Nov 14, 2016
Nov 18, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
Nov 18, 2016
This ruling is insane and the legal system has failed to rule a fair judgement. Undergoing training for mountain biking is by default a person's acknowledgement of their limited skill sets. The person on the bike has to make the right decision, regardless of peer pressure or encouragement of others. The ultimate choice is the rider’s. The court got it wrong - 95% rider error/poor judgement and 5% the instructor, since they can advise but not make the final choice. I hope there was liability insurance in place and thus the insurance will contest and get a lower penalty.
I sincerely wish Mr. Ahmed well. No biking brother or sister deserves such bad luck.
Nov 14, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
Nov 14, 2016