New Zealand Increase In Accident Claims

Canterbury, New Zealand leads the country in a multimillion-dollar increase in accident claims for sport-cycling and mountainbike accidents, new figures show. The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) paid out $1.81 million for Canterbury sport cyclists and mountainbikers who took a spill in 2006-2007.

This was up from the $370,855 paid to 82 sport cyclists in 2002-2003. Auckland topped Canterbury for overall claims, including ongoing claims, in 2006-2007 with $2.24m, but trailed Canterbury's 254 new claims for the year. Nationally, the ACC paid out $8.31m more in claims for 2006-2007 than it did in 2002-2003.

One Christchurch cycling group is blaming mountainbikers for the increase, but former adventure sport champion Steve Gurney said the numbers were a "fantastic problem to have". Papanui Cycling Club vice-president Bruce Dawe blamed mountainbikers for the rise in the number of accidents.

"It's recognised as the most dangerous sport around because they do crazy things," he said. "They don't race on a road for a start. All their claim accidents the majority of them are just straight-out crashes through the terrain they race on."

Gurney said the ACC data did not break down mountainbikers as opposed to road cyclists, so it was wrong to blame one group.

"Road cycling has doubled, at least more likely five times, I'd say," he said.

There was increasing rage between road cyclists and motorists, he said.

"Every time we go out riding as a bunch we get cars trying to cut us off, we get cars tooting at us and there's a kind of a war going on between motorists and cyclists."

While the increase was a concern, it was a "fantastic problem" because it showed more people were out enjoying the countryside, Gurney said.

Canterbury road policing manager Inspector Derek Erasmus said the blame for cycle accidents was an exact split between cyclists and drivers.

Over the past five years, primary blame for 46 per cent of all cycle crashes in Canterbury lay with the car driver. In another 46 per cent, the cyclist was primarily responsible, and in the remaining 8 per cent responsibility was shared.

"One of the big things is infringement on cycling lanes by drivers," Erasmus said.

"In other words, car drivers think they can use a cycle lane with impunity and it forms part of their road. Cars need to stay out of cycle lanes."

Belfast road cyclist Johnathon Gee, 24, was the victim of a driver cutting into a cycle lane in an accident that left him in a coma six weeks ago.

Gee was yesterday continuing his recovery at Burwood Hospital's brain injury rehabilitation service. He could not remember anything of his accident but said he was eager to get back on his bike when he was fully recovered.

"I don't mind drivers and drivers don't mind me," he said.

"Maybe people that are commuting to get to work or school might have more trouble with drivers, but for someone like me who just trains, it might be slightly different."

Gee's April 18 accident happened when a vehicle swung around in front of him across the cycle lane in Ferry Road. Gee suffered a broken arm, spinal and facial injuries, broken ribs, a broken wrist and collapsed lungs. Gee's father, David Gee, said his son's accident was similar to the one suffered by 16-year-old Christchurch cyclist Harriet Smithies in Taranaki at the weekend.

David Gee said he had briefly met the driver of the vehicle who hit his son. He was "a very nice fellow" who had boys of his own, Gee said. Canterbury cycling group Spokes chairman Matthew Cutler-Welsh said although the ACC statistics might appear alarming

Sofia is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Accident Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.