Accident or not?

[codprawn]

Bound to cause controversy but here goes....

Most people on Ribnet commented on the tragic accident in Barmouth harbour where 2 men died laying moorings.

The inquest seemed pretty fair

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4327707.stm
"The court was told the two experienced lifeboatmen, from Barmouth, were out in a vessel unsuitable for the weather.
The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure on both men"

Now it seems the family are to start civil proceedings against the harbour authority.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4355911.stm

Basically they are claiming they were expected to lay moorings when they shouldn't have so they are now suing their employers.

Why can't they see this was an accident? The 2 poor men were "experienced lifeboatmen" - surely they wouldn't have done anything they thought was too risky?

Suing people will NOT bring these men back.

Modern society needs to stop finding fault all the time - accidents can and will happen.

[King_C]

I think the main thing with all compensation cases is that they feel they can atleast help themselves and therefore make the best of the terrible situation....I figure they think suing the habour will atleast bring them sum easy money which altho will not compensate for the loss of a family member will make them feel a bit better!?

I havnt yet looked at the links you posted tho!

[codprawn]

One half of me thinks

"Good luck to them - they need all the money they can get to help them through this and to compensate for the loss of a breadwinner"

the other thinks

"It was an ACCIDENT - other people have lost loved ones and breadwinners for other reasons and yet they get nothing"

Don't get me wrong - if an employer does something wrong and deliberately puts people's lives at risk etc then they SHOULD come down on them like a ton of bricks.

I doubt for a minute that anyone FORCED those men out in those conditions. I am also certain that people who worked with them were also devastated by their loss.

I have lost almost everyone in my life I have ever cared about - money does NOT help - even 20 yrs on the hurt is still there!!!

[Scott2]

other way to think about it...

it could prevent similar thing happening again as barmouth harbour people. will think no its not wise for them to be out in this.

[codprawn]

Maybe I shouldn't have posted this but the current "blame" society saddens me and hurts us all.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Scott2

other way to think about it...

it could prevent similar thing happening again as barmouth harbour people. will think no its not wise for them to be out in this.

But he was the harbour MASTER.

I see you are in the RNLI - what would happen if people started to sue the RNLI when a crewman is lost?

[King_C]

Yeh i do think its far to easy for people to 'blame' others and get compensation these days....i once saw a tv add for compo where a guy explained how he was fitting a new fire alarm and they gave him the rong ladder? Surely if thats part of his Job description he should supply his own ladder or atleast know what type of ladder hes sposed 2be using?!

[Jklingel]

Sorry to hear about the lost boaters, out doing their job, or whatever. For that, it is a bad day, for sure. For the survivors... I thought the US was the only country that was sue-happy. It seems that is the first reaction by too many people over here, too. "Blame society" is a good term. Best to the survivors, but suing ain't gonna help Jack Diddley. j

[Nick Hearne]

Cod I have to agree with you on this one!
The more we sue over things like this, the more we will pay in insurance, the less freedom to do such things as say boating, diving, climbing, skiing the list goes on & on!

Nick

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Scott2

other way to think about it...

it could prevent similar thing happening again as barmouth harbour people. will think no its not wise for them to be out in this.

Don't you think 2 dead people is enough of a lesson? The harbour authority paying compensation won't teach anyone feck all!