Cycling in Waterloo Region

[danbrotherston]

Whether the helmet affected the injuries is unknown (nobody knows if a head injury was even involved), but it did not affect the collision itself.

Reporting the lack of a helmet absolutely DOES have an effect on readers intrepretation of the story.  So given that the reporter doesn't even know if a helmet is relevant, but reported it knowing it WOULD affect how people interpret the story.

That assumes intent on the part of the reporter to shame the victim. I suspect a more likely scenario is that he or she just incorporated all the information that was included in the police report.

I don't think the intent matters, what matters is the effect.

If the effect is victim blaming, I don't think it matters what the intent was.

And regardless, someone provided that information (the police).