First 'incident'

Lbaguley

First things first - I'm relatively unscathed, just a couple of scrapes

Was turning right onto a major road. Went to the middle of the road (cross-hatched area) to wait for the traffic coming from the left. Guy in car behind assumed I had kept going and was watching said traffic approaching from left and rolled into me at walking speed. He was (rightly) very apologetic and more concerned about me and how I was going to get to work than his BMW. Actually I don't ever recall him looking to see if there was any damage to his car at all.

Anyway, the damage - rear wheel's a write off, the front's off true - not sure how bad yet. Looks like the rear mech's out of kilter. Pedal is mullered. Crank arm is scraped - don't know if damage is serious.

The frame (alu) around the rear stays I'm not sure about - that's the bit I'm most worried about - how do I tell if that's damaged. Can the LBS tell by looking, or will I have to pay for them to carry out a lengthy and technical inspection. It doesn't look right at the moment, but I guess it doesn't help that the rear wheel is all but folded around it.

I'm not out to unduly punish the guy (or his insurance co) with any undue claims - I just want to get me bike sorted asap.

Your advice on the logistics of getting all this sorted will be most appreciated. Also advice on the shop to take it (which was, when it was new, a top-end hybrid) would be useful - I live in Blackheath in SE London - normally I would use Cycle Surgery as I work nr Liverpool St, but getting there could be a bit of an issue.

Hope everyone else had a more succesful ride in this morning!

spasypaddy

glad to hear you are alright, i took my bike into a shop when i had an accident and they checked it out by using a long piece of metal (obviously some sort of a tool) that checks for bentness between the fork and the rear stays. Took about 5minutes, thankfully my bike was ok just needed a new front end!

misterben

Assuming you got the guys details, I would get a quote for the repair, and then ask him to cover the bill, either on his insurance, or settle it himself. If you want to be fair, just make sure he's only paying for the bits he damaged, and maybe get quotes from a couple of different places.

Gussio

misterben wrote:

Assuming you got the guys details, I would get a quote for the repair, and then ask him to cover the bill, either on his insurance, or settle it himself. If you want to be fair, just make sure he's only paying for the bits he damaged, and maybe get quotes from a couple of different places.

I did exactly this when a tit ran me over on the wrong side of the road. He got a bit funny when presented with the bill (that included £15 for a damage inspection) and claimed that the work could be done for £20 rather than the £85 that it actually cost. I went back to the LBS and they called him direct, told him how it was and then he paid up.

Good luck.

alan_sherman

Hail a black cab to take you to your prefered LBS - they (when they want to) take bikes in the back. You could claim this journey off the insurance too so get a receipt

phil s

And claim all your travel expenses while you are without bike.

BentMikey

Glad you're OK mate!! Keep a diary, and keep all receipts, and see a lawyer. The chances are that the driver's insurance co will try to shaft you, that's their job after all, avoiding paying out claims.

Lbaguley

Thanks for the responses guys. Yours comments echo those of the few other cyclists I have spoken to (and the sensible people, who don't immediately say "why don't you claim for whiplash?").

Will phone the guy to see if he's amenable to getting it sorted without the insurance co getting involved.

Does anyone have any idea how long the process might take if it went through the insurance co? Obviously I want to get it sorted asap and so would prefer that it does not go through the insurance co - partially because I had one of the most hellish public transport commutes this morning - an hour and a quarter for something that would have taken me 30mins to cycle, grrr.

jel

Why don't you claim for whiplash?

Random Vince

jel wrote:

Why don't you claim for whiplash?

because, while he does have a penis, he isnt one.

Lbaguley

I'm assuming that was a joke jel?? Thanks for the support tho Vince

Thought I'd drop by with a quick update. Had a closer look at the bike last night. The nearside rear stay is no longer straight, but concave, so it's looking like a new bike for me . Was starting to think about getting a road bike anyway, just have an excuse now, but looking into options I can get a better specced hybrid for the money I (will) have if I go new. But this is a touch OT.

The driver has already reported the accident to his insurer and wants to go down that route. Tried to speak to them this morning and they told me they would get back to me within the week. Looks like it could take some time to get sorted.

graeme_s-2

If you're not already a member, it might be worth joining the CTC, as I believe their legal team will represent you and deal with the driver's insurance company on your behalf. I think you're more likely to get a result faster that way rather than having to deal with them yourself.

phil_ss1

Sorry to hear about the accident, glad you are ok.

Can you arrange with the LBS to hire a bike whilst they sort out the insurance?

Talk to the third party's insurers first to see if they will pick up the tab, this also may focus them into settling quicker to reduce the time they are hiring the bike for you. You should be entitled to one.

Unfortunately you will incurr out of pocket expenses (even if not your fault) like hire costs, even may need to buy your new bike and then wait to get the monies back, and as one previous poster said claim for the journies by taxi/bus etc and save receipts and log them, if his insurance is paying then claim for all you sensibly can.

Good luck

Phil
(currently awaiting payment of my policy excess when a numpty ran into the back of my car, now +3 weeks - delayed as he thought by not reporting it he could deny it!!!! :twisted:

Brains

1 - The best of our local bike shops is Discount Cycles down on Trafalgar Road, bottom of Vanbrugh Hill. Otherwise if you can get it to the train to work, On Yer Bike under London Bridge Station is very good, they also rent bikes.

2 - Join the CTC, they will reccomend specalist bike lawyers if you need one, and also specialist bike insurance companies.

3 - If it his fault, then he (or his insurance company) pays for everything, your time, all your travel expenses, bike hire, and of course the new bike to the value of the old one.