Saw this article passing by: Man uit Overijse moet 190.000 euro schadevergoeding betalen na dodelijk fietsongeval in Leuven
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/03/07/fietser-student-vrijgesproken-slachtoffer-oudere-man-schadevergo/

This seems like a reaally extreme punishment, right?

The outcome was clearly very unfortunate, but people shouldn't be given their punishment based on outcome but rather on the action. It's not like driving 200km/h while drunk is suddenly fine cause you didn't cause an accident, so the unfortunate fact an elderly man took a bad fall and eventually died shouldn't impact (too much) the punishment.

190k for passing a pedestrian who happens to step out unexpectedly seems very, very harsh.

What do you think?

by CookieHael

8 comments

  2. I know nothing so take this with a grain of salt.

    But if I understand correctly the €190k are damages and not a fine? So it’s not really a punishment. Like if you accidentally break someone’s television, you need to pay for a new tv. It’s just that people are expensive.

    And as such I would expect the insurance to pay for this? That’s why you need to have a “familiale verzekering”.

  3. If you take part in traffic, you are supposed to be able to handle unexpected events. That is why the concept of “appropriate speed” exists: to give you time to react. This applies especially to roads of mixt use. Failing to do so is not something that “happens to be unfortunate”, it is a dangerously irresponsible choice, as the facts have shown. Getting knocked down by a speeding cyclist is not “taking a bad fall” and the man’s age doesn’t enter into it.

    That said, if 190K is too much, how much would you say “an elderly man” ‘s life is worth?

  4. Schadevergoeding…

    Let me paraphrase your words:
    An insurance should pay the same amount for a damage to a car independently from what car it is, be it 2025 Bentley or 1995 Corolla. A scratch on a door is a scratch on a door, a bumper is a bumper.

  5. This proves once again that many people who use a ‘fast bike’ do not realize what they are doing in traffic. Slowing down and/or using a bicycle bell is not in their vocabulary, and they are far too seldom fined or reprimanded for their behavior.

    PS: To all cyclists who do ride according to the rules of the art. THANK YOU (a pedestrian)

  7. of course driving 200 km/h while drunk is better then killing someone while driving whatever speed you drove while killing someone, one has done actual damage, that person should give all his possessions to the the deceased family before he should work himself to death 24/7 in a vain attempt to repay what he did

    speeding is not even a real crime, somewhere someone is now driving 300km/h how is that hurting someone? is someone that dies when driven at 30km/h less dead then being driven at 300km/h?

  8. If anything €190k is grossly undervaluing a human life. Damages in Belgium are pathetically low, if you get maimed and paralyzed by a reckless driver you can expect maybe 1-2 years salary as compensation, if anything, for what will be a lifetime of poverty and suffering.

    You lose 1,5 million euros in lifetime wages, and they pay 40k in compensation, make it make sense!

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