Well, someone ought to be sued. In Germany, being the victim of an accident caused by a child below seven years of age may lead to a situation in which there is no one to sue and the victim may have to pay themselves for the damage the child has done. If the child was allowed by a parent or caretaker to act alone (you don't lead 4 year old by the hand all the time, do you?) in a way which could be considered safe for a child of this age under normal circumstances and by some mishap (unforseeable distraction, e.g.) the child causes an accident no one will pay the damages of the victim. Allowing a race on bicycles like in the case above would of couse not be considered a case in which the parent was acting responsibly. But a child who can under normal circumstances cycle safely and for instance hits a car when distracted and intimidated by a wasp would be a case in which the car owner has to pay for the damage himself. Neither the child (too young) not the parent (acting responsibly enough) could be sued with success. It would be considered just bad luck. BTW, in Germany children up to the age of 8 have to cycle on the sidewalk and up to the age of 10 may cycle on it. That can lead to a difficult decision for parents. If they cycle with their kid they have to use the street and the kid has to use the sidewalk. But in some situations (two rows of parking cars and a hedge, e.g.), the consequence is the the kid is beyond control for too long. When my daughter was young I have done what nearly all parents do, I have used the sidewalk as well. This is one of the situations where the cops look the other way because violating the law is the safer action. Wolfgang
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