KNOCKED OFF my bike

ashleyyyy2011

hi, i got knocked off my bike monday morning during my commute, and i'm now dealing with the insurance company. but i'm a bit out of my league and was wondering if anybody could recommend a company that has dealt with cyclist accidents before?

The Rookie

Posting the same stuff three times as your first three posts on here won't help your cause at all, for that reason, I'm out.

Simon

bompington

The Beginner wrote:

Posting the same stuff three times as your first three posts on here won't help your cause at all, for that reason, I'm out.

Simon

Yeah, didn't you read the unwritten rules, you hooligan? ;-)

Don't worry, you will find the majority of forum members more welcoming and helpful. If you say where you are you might get a local recommendation, otherwise a lot of people rate the CTC:

CTC website wrote:

Accident Claims Advice
CTC Accident Line, 1st Floor, St James' House, 7 Charlotte Street, Manchester M1 4DZ
Tel: 0844 736 8452 (Direct line 0161 830 4404)

Whatever you do, do get professional help, insurance companies will just roll over you without it.

bails87

Russell Jones and Walker specialise in cycling claims.

Keep a note of all your costs, injuries, damage etc associated with the collision.

and read this: viewtopic.php?f=40052&t=12722930

northstar

http://www.cycleclaims.co.uk/

These people should be able to help, I follow them on twitter, very pro cycling (naturally really as it's their business).

optimisticbiker

bompington wrote:

Whatever you do, do get professional help, insurance companies will just roll over you without it.

My experience, admittedly based on a sample of 1, is that is not the case. It helped that the driver admitted liability straight off (pulled left across a cycle lane without signals or looking) and was more than apologetic but Aviva bent over backwards to make sure I had the right medical advice, insisted I went to my doctor or would pay for a consult if need be, suggested physio at their expense if I wanted it, and advised that they would make an offer that would be the same whether I dealt direct with them or went through a lawyer or a no win-no fee company, but if I wasn't happy with the offer I was free to engage a lawyer/third party later. In the end I was more than happy with their offer of £1,500, after all it was only a graze and a couple of bruises and a torn mitt and I had a safety check done on the bike at Cycle Surgery. I think if the driver had been a prick or had contested it I would probably have felt the need to push for more, but my googling suggested it was a fair offer... My son got knocked off a few years back and ended up with a tiny scar on his cheek... that was £5,000 compensation, paid for a good chunk of his (then) new kitchen.

bails87

OptimisticBiker wrote:

bompington wrote:

Whatever you do, do get professional help, insurance companies will just roll over you without it.

My experience, admittedly based on a sample of 1, is that is not the case. It helped that the driver admitted liability straight off (pulled left across a cycle lane without signals or looking) and was more than apologetic but Aviva bent over backwards to make sure I had the right medical advice, insisted I went to my doctor or would pay for a consult if need be, suggested physio at their expense if I wanted it, and advised that they would make an offer that would be the same whether I dealt direct with them or went through a lawyer or a no win-no fee company, but if I wasn't happy with the offer I was free to engage a lawyer/third party later. In the end I was more than happy with their offer of £1,500, after all it was only a graze and a couple of bruises and a torn mitt and I had a safety check done on the bike at Cycle Surgery. I think if the driver had been a prick or had contested it I would probably have felt the need to push for more, but my googling suggested it was a fair offer... My son got knocked off a few years back and ended up with a tiny scar on his cheek... that was £5,000 compensation, paid for a good chunk of his (then) new kitchen.

I had a very similar experience with Zurich. I'm now a BC member, so have got legal support if I need it.

optimisticbiker

bails87 wrote:

I had a very similar experience with Zurich. I'm now a BC member, so have got legal support if I need it.

Yes, so am I, but not needed them yet... but for £12 this year (special SkyRide offer, now £24) I thought "why not!"

bompington

OptimisticBiker wrote:

bompington wrote:

Whatever you do, do get professional help, insurance companies will just roll over you without it.

My experience, admittedly based on a sample of 1, is that is not the case. It helped that the driver admitted liability straight off (pulled left across a cycle lane without signals or looking) and was more than apologetic but Aviva bent over backwards to make sure I had the right medical advice, insisted I went to my doctor or would pay for a consult if need be, suggested physio at their expense if I wanted it, and advised that they would make an offer that would be the same whether I dealt direct with them or went through a lawyer or a no win-no fee company, but if I wasn't happy with the offer I was free to engage a lawyer/third party later. In the end I was more than happy with their offer of £1,500, after all it was only a graze and a couple of bruises and a torn mitt and I had a safety check done on the bike at Cycle Surgery. I think if the driver had been a prick or had contested it I would probably have felt the need to push for more, but my googling suggested it was a fair offer... My son got knocked off a few years back and ended up with a tiny scar on his cheek... that was £5,000 compensation, paid for a good chunk of his (then) new kitchen.

No wonder you're optimistic :-). It was Aviva I was dealing with, they offered me £3,500 on the basis of a phone interview with a physio, when I insisted on a medical report they refused to let me go to the local shoulder expert but sent me to their guy, who has a reasonably good reputation for amputating smokers' limbs, and then reduced the offer to £3,200 based on his report. That's when I called a lawyer, who eventually won me £12,000.

ashleyyyy2011

thanks for all the advice, it's much appreciated as it's not a situation i've been in before. i have since found a cycle/motorcycle specialist solicitor, as Hastings are refusing to replace my clothing at it's full cost and are only offering 50%.

also sorry to simon if i annoyed him by posting in 3 different forums, but i really needed the advice.

PBo

i can't speak for simon, but a while ago there was a rash of new posters asking if anyone knew of jackets/helmets with built in lights. then they were answered a while later by other new posters who amazingly all recommended the same product!

it is possible he thinks a simlar thing was happening with you.....
......so i hope that another new poster doesn't pop up answering all your posts with "have you tried "Wheeler and Sprocket - they are the dogs when it comes to cycle claims....etc"