Hello Rider17 and All,
The case (in London) being discussed may not get the detailed investigation required to arrive at a fair judgment for the involved parties and remedial facility/equipment/policies recommendations.
With scant information as to the circumstances of this case I think we are speaking of hypothetical solutions/judgments.
However the case may highlight the increased positive separation required for pedestrians … cyclists … and motorists … noting that some pedestrians are getting more distracted than motorists these days and pedestrian casualties are on the increase.
Pedestrians may need more overpasses and barriers to protect them from themselves and from motorists and cyclists.
Also any vehicle operator needs to be fully in control of their lawfully equipped vehicle … and my preference would be strict liability for vehicle operators … similar to the Netherlands.
In the sense that many pedestrians are being killed and even more seriously injured … I would argue that this is not a freak accident.
http://gothamist.com/2011/09/19/pedestrians_are_hit_by_more_bicycli.php
Excerpt:
“Earlier research, based on a sample of hospitals nationwide, estimated that there were approximately 1,000 pedestrians hit by a cyclist each year in the United States who needed to obtain medical treatment at a hospital. This present study, based on every hospital in New York State, has found that in New York State alone, there were approximately 1000 pedestrians struck by cyclists each year necessitating medical treatment at a hospital.”
http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/data/factsheet_crash.cfm
Excerpts:
"In 2015, 5,376 pedestrians and 818 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts). These two modes accounted for 17.7 percent of the 35,092 total U.S. fatalities that year.
“In 2015, 5,376 people were killed in pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes, nearly 15 people every day of the year (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts). This represents the highest number of pedestrians killed in one year since 1996. Though total traffic fatalities in the US fell by nearly 18 percent from 2006 to 2015, pedestrian fatalities rose by 12 percent during the same ten year period.”
“According to the 2012 National Survey on Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors, poor quality facilities are the leading cause of pedestrian injury.”
The case being discussed may not get the detailed investigation required to arrive at a fair judgment for the involved parties and remedial facility/equipment/policies recommendations … but on a more positive note … it may highlight the need for improved pedestrian separation from vehicles.