Big crash

noodleman

Hi all. Not really sure what section to post this in so forgive me if this should be somewhere else.
I was riding home yesterday on my road bike, down a hill when a kid on a bmx shot out of a field straight into my path. I hit him very fast and the rest is a blur really.
I head butted him on impact and fractured my cheekbone which needs plating plus broke two teeth, smashed my heels, tore my lip and got concussion. He broke a wrist and got some other grazes.
I was saved serious injury by my helmet, which needless to say is knackered, as are my sidis gloves and clothing. The bike faired pretty well but I'm wondering if anyone knows if my house contents insurance would cover any of the damage? Thanks guys.

jimmypippa

I had a crash, at the beginning of February, nobody else was involved thankfully - I guess there might have been a small pothole, but nothing that I could see in retrospect.

My bike was named on the household cover, and Nationwide paid up with no problems, once I sent in a quote and photographic evidence of the damage.

jeepie1999

Hmmm, My guess is your insurance company would want to recover their loss from the child or his family.

Hope you get well enough to get back on your bike soon

jeremyrundle

Doubt it very much, perhaps just bike theft.

No doubt you have a helmet cam and therefore can CCS the family :?:

This is why I carry TWO on my helmet one front one back and two spare in a bag, total £30 for four cams.

See them here

http://sirpatrickmooresales.co.uk/Ourpage.aspx

Zachariah

Edited to add: Sorry to hear about your smash Noodleman - Hope you get back everything broken!

Just had my first off this morning on a solo run near Otley. My own stupid fault, wasn't paying attention to the road and missed an upcoming bend. Bit of road rash on the hip and a scraped elbow but nothing else damaged apart from pride. Embarrasingly, this was on a country road, early in the morning and I had been on my own for miles, but within 30secs of falling over two drivers passed and asked if I was OK.

Pufftmw

You should claim off the lad's parents who are will more than likely have house insurance which will cover you for this circumstance.

Sounds painful, hope you make a full recovery soon.

noodleman

Thanks guys. I will phone the insurance bods in the morning and see what they say.
If it's good news I will let you know.

Mr Plum

Have you considered claiming for PI on top of the clothing/bike damage? Sounds like you received some horrible injuries...

fungus_the_muffin_man

I was hit by a car the other weekend. I phoned Marks and Spencer Insurance who I have as my provider and was told that My bike isn't covered for damage outside of the house. Even though I have accidental damage ( which is only for in the house as well I was told)

It did make me wonder what I would do if I did have an accident causing damage and that I would have to source new insurance to cover me for this.

So I'm using their legal cover to claim against the car driver.

rjsterry

Nobody seems to have directed you to the 'What to do in case of an accident' thread over in Commuting General, so if you haven't already, have a read of that. It does sound as though you need some proper legal advice on what your options are.

Hope you heal up alright.

El Gordo

I had a very similar crash a few years ago when a kid (wearing a halloween mask just to add comic effect) turned across my path and I hit him at 20mph or so. Neither of us were badly hurt but the downtube of my bike buckled.

I told my house insurance company about it and a day later a guy from a bike shop rang me to ask what new bike I'd like. Not bad considering the bike wasn't listed on the insurance - it was just a general accidental damage clause.

daviesee

Okay. I will be the bad guy here.

No report on how the kid faired in all this. His fault undoubtably but is he still alive?

Compassion fail.

Wrath Rob

noodleman wrote:

He broke a wrist and got some other grazes.

What more did you want? Medical records from the hospital

Seriously, I hope the kid is OK and learn's a good lesson. Noodleman, I hope you heal quickly and painlessly, though that's likely not to be the case , and get back on a new bike soon.

daviesee

Okay. Reading fail on my part :oops:

I was speed reading and read those injuries as part of the OP's injuries. Apologies.

To the OP:- You will only find out by contacting your insurer. Check all documents before phoning to see if you have a case. If you do have a case, have the documents to hand when phoning and don't back down. You will find out how good your insurer is when you make this call. I hope it all goes smoothly but my experiences tell me that insurers will do everything they can to avoid paying out.

PS:- Fungus, out of house insurance is an optional extra with M&S.

Blacktemplar

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

I was hit by a car the other weekend. I phoned Marks and Spencer Insurance who I have as my provider and was told that My bike isn't covered for damage outside of the house. Even though I have accidental damage ( which is only for in the house as well I was told)

Zoiks!! I have M&S insurance as well, and just presumed that the bike would be covered away from home, in the same way a valuable watch or ring is.......

Do you have the "unlimited" option?

daviesee

Blacktemplar wrote:

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

I was hit by a car the other weekend. I phoned Marks and Spencer Insurance who I have as my provider and was told that My bike isn't covered for damage outside of the house. Even though I have accidental damage ( which is only for in the house as well I was told)

Zoiks!! I have M&S insurance as well, and just presumed that the bike would be covered away from home, in the same way a valuable watch or ring is.......

Do you have the "unlimited" option?

From their Policy booklet, available online:-

"Q Are my belongings covered if I take them out of the house?
Yes, if you take out our ‘Contents Cover away from your home’ cover, which is an
optional extra on both Premier and Standard policies. The cover is unlimited and
worldwide and includes your contents when they are temporarily away from your home.
In addition, with our Premier Contents cover, if your children are at university or you
have dependant relatives living in a nursing home, their belongings are covered.
Purchases from M&S stores are also protected while you are taking them home."

So the question is - Did you take out ‘Contents Cover away from your home’ cover?

Headhuunter

Blacktemplar wrote:

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

I was hit by a car the other weekend. I phoned Marks and Spencer Insurance who I have as my provider and was told that My bike isn't covered for damage outside of the house. Even though I have accidental damage ( which is only for in the house as well I was told)

Zoiks!! I have M&S insurance as well, and just presumed that the bike would be covered away from home, in the same way a valuable watch or ring is.......

Do you have the "unlimited" option?

When I took out the M&S cover, they specifically asked me if I wanted away from home cover which immediately ramped up the price, so certainly if you have the standard cover, your bikes are only covered at home...

Mr Sharky

Shouldn't thr claim be against the lad (wel, his Parents' insurance company)? Their house insurance may have, like many do, third party cover which would be for this sort of thing, wouldn't it?

Bad luck and hope you heal soon!

fungus_the_muffin_man

daviesee wrote:

Blacktemplar wrote:

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

I was hit by a car the other weekend. I phoned Marks and Spencer Insurance who I have as my provider and was told that My bike isn't covered for damage outside of the house. Even though I have accidental damage ( which is only for in the house as well I was told)

Zoiks!! I have M&S insurance as well, and just presumed that the bike would be covered away from home, in the same way a valuable watch or ring is.......

Do you have the "unlimited" option?

From their Policy booklet, available online:-

"Q Are my belongings covered if I take them out of the house?
Yes, if you take out our ‘Contents Cover away from your home’ cover, which is an
optional extra on both Premier and Standard policies. The cover is unlimited and
worldwide and includes your contents when they are temporarily away from your home.
In addition, with our Premier Contents cover, if your children are at university or you
have dependant relatives living in a nursing home, their belongings are covered.
Purchases from M&S stores are also protected while you are taking them home."

So the question is - Did you take out ‘Contents Cover away from your home’ cover?

No
When setting it up i was going to have it but my mind sort of focused nursing home/uni bit so thought it wasn't necessary for what I needed.
Ah well nothing I can do about that now except change my policy to ensure I'm covered for in future :roll:

dilemna

Ouch! I thought kids were soft and squidgy ..........

You need to contact a solicitor who specialises in cycling related personal injury claims and basically sue the kid or his parents as he is not yet 18 years old, for the injury he has caused you and damage to your bike. Hopefully they have some form of 3rd party cover, if not, and they have no money, it will be a claim against your own insurance which will cost you big time in the long run as your premium will rise substantially. There has been so soooooo much written on this do a search or use the sticky what to do in case of an accident.

Did the cops get involved?

Be prepared for a counter claim against you from the kid and his parents.

Next time ride more cautiously where kids might be about.

Headhuunter

dilemna wrote:

Ouch! I thought kids were soft and squidgy ..........

You need to contact a solicitor who specialises in cycling related personal injury claims and basically sue the kid or his parents as he is not yet 18 years old, for the injury he has caused you and damage to your bike. Hopefully they have some form of 3rd party cover, if not, and they have no money, it will be a claim against your own insurance which will cost you big time in the long run as your premium will rise substantially. There has been so soooooo much written on this do a search or use the sticky what to do in case of an accident.

Did the cops get involved?

Be prepared for a counter claim against you from the kid and his parents.

Next time ride more cautiously where kids might be about.

Not always possible simply to "ride more cautiously when there are kids about"... I've almost been taken out by kids whizzing out into the road with taking the slightest notice. The other day in New Cross some kid simply ran out in front of me to cross a road at a busy junction in New Cross. I was paying attention to the traffic, kid wasn't there, then suddenly this figure darted out into the road... I screamed/yelled and luckily he heard me and went back, I missed him by a whisker....

noodleman

No police involved as witnesses said is was a clear cut blame on the part of the kid.
Contacted my insurance, and the bad news is, nothing covered outside of my home.
Good news is that specialized do a crash replacement service, so i can change my lid for another s works 2d or new prevail for a great price. Not much consolation though when i cant replace my shoes, gloves and the worry i may have unseen damage to £3500.00 worth of bike.
Live and learn i suppose. Read the fine print on your policy. Damn it.

fungus_the_muffin_man

noodleman wrote:

No police involved as witnesses said is was a clear cut blame on the part of the kid.
Contacted my insurance, and the bad news is, nothing covered outside of my home.
Good news is that specialized do a crash replacement service, so i can change my lid for another s works 2d or new prevail for a great price. Not much consolation though when i cant replace my shoes, gloves and the worry i may have unseen damage to £3500.00 worth of bike.
Live and learn i suppose. Read the fine print on your policy. Damn it.

I would really try and see about claiming against the kid ( well parents) especially as you have an independent witness.

And I feel your pain about the fine print as already discussed as I've done the same with my £2000 bike