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From: fred@varian.UUCP (Fred Klink)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: USCF HELMET RULE
Message-ID: <557@varian.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 00:39:09 EST
Article-I.D.: varian.557
Posted: Tue Feb 25 00:39:09 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Mar-86 18:56:26 EST
References: <173@oasys.UUCP> <16200138@uiucdcsb>
Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA
Lines: 14

> benefit from. I think the U.S. situation as far as insurance goes is alot
> different than that in Europe where bike racing is an established sport and
> the dangers are readily accepted and/or there is enough participation to offset
> the cost of insurance.
 
 Actually, its the civil court system in the US that awards outrageous
 (flames to net.legal) sums for any unpleasent occurance that a litigant
 cares to take to court.  This system is much more controlled in Europe
 and therefore insurance rates are not out of sight.  Of 37 sports
 governing bodies associated with the US Olympic Committee, 35 were refused
 insurance at the beginning of 1986!  This situation was so out of hand
 that USOC finally stepped in to represent all the governing bodies.
 The situation is still not completely resolved.  My only hope is that,
 like Marcos, lawyers and insurers have finally gone too far this time.