Two things are said to be certain in life: death, and taxes. Taxes can, to a certain extent, be avoided if one has the means to do so. And those with infinite resources can also attempt to avoid death through cryogenics, cellular replacement, and other sci-fi technologies currently being explored.
As average human beings of limited resources, the rest of us can attempt to prolong our time on this planet through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, and by avoiding those activities which we know to be potentially perilous: sky-diving, for example, or deep water free-diving. But even the cleanest-living knitting enthusiast can be run over by a bus, or caught in a riptide on a deceptively calm sea.
News broke in Monaco that the Bianchi family will be pursuing legal action against the FIA, the Formula One Group, and the Marussia F1 team on the grounds that Jules Bianchi's accident at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix could have been avoided.
"Jules Bianchi's death was avoidable," said Julian Chamberlayne, a partner at Stewarts Law which is handling the suit. "The FIA Panel Inquiry Report into this accident made numerous recommendations to improve safety in Formula One but failed to identify where errors had been made which led to Jules' death.
"It was surprising and distressing to the Bianchi family that the FIA panel in its conclusions, whilst noting a number of contributing factors, blamed Jules. The Bianchi family are determined that this legal process should require those involved to provide answers and to take responsibility for any failings.
"This is important if current and future drivers are to have confidence that safety in the sport will be put first. If this had been the case in Suzuka, Jules Bianchi would most likely still be alive and competing in the sport he loved today."
Jules' accident was shocking, and a life cut short is always poignant. But could it not be argued that the best way to avoid dying in a motor race is to pursue a different career?
There are certain jobs that come with elevated degrees of risk. War correspondents often find new jobs when they have had children, as the notion of a life spent dodging bullets becomes less appealing when there's a new generation to live for. Multiple Italian journalists, lawyers, prosecutors, and government officials who have attempted to fight the Cosa Nostra have been subject to death threats and assassination attempts -- both successful and otherwise -- yet continue their pursuit because they believe the object of their goal to be worthy of the potential dangers.
While one cannot step into the head of another and see their thoughts, enough racing drivers have spoken out about the risk vs reward of their jobs that it is hard to argue that there is anyone currently racing at an international level -- in any category -- who is ignorant of the fact that motorsport continues to be a dangerous activity even with continual improvements to safety standards.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of Bianchi's 2014 accident, his colleagues reflected on the realities of risk in racing.
"You think about [the risk], but it doesn't mean that's the right thing to do," Felipe Massa said. "What I love to do is to race. What I love to do is to be competing. That's where I feel happiness. That's where I feel pleasure. We know that in what we're doing we have a risk in this sport, but I think it's what I like to do. It's where I really feel happy, it gives me motivations and gives me some happiness. Sometimes you think about it but then you're thinking more and you understand that this is my world, this is what I like to do."
Sebastian Vettel echoed his colleague's sentiments: "We all share a common passion for racing; we all share a passion for competing. Obviously we are all very fortunate to find ourselves in Formula One racing the best and quickest cars in the world, which give the best excitement and probably the best satisfaction. But there is always some risk involved, which is, I think, always a part, or a great part, of the feeling why you feel so alive. I think if you have to make the decision, I'm fairly confident for us you'd always prefer to go racing."
More than a year before his accident, speaking at the drivers' press conference at the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix, Jules spoke of his hopes for rain that weekend, championing "crazy races" as one of his team's opportunities to take advantage of unusual circumstances. "When it's raining I think it's better for us," he said. "We have more chance to finish in the front, but it's also a chance for us to be out of the track, so it's not easy."
The official FIA investigation into Bianchi's accident concluded that it was a 'perfect storm' of circumstances, stating that "a number of key issues occurred, which may have contributed to the accident, though none alone caused it". The next step is for the English courts to determine whether they agree with the findings of the accident panel, or if they agree with the Bianchi family that more could have been done to prevent the accident. Previously unreleased team and FIA radio may end up in the public sphere and is likely to influence the verdict.
But irrespective of the result of the Bianchi family's legal action, nothing will change the fact that Jules is not coming back. His was a tragic and untimely death, but one that followed a full and bright life worthy of celebration. Jules was able to travel the world in pursuit of his passion, making people happy along the way. Let his legacy be one of quality as it can't be one of quantity. Sometimes, bad things just happen to good people, no matter what precautions are taken.