Post accident bike inspection - guidance plz

wolfsbane2k

Hi.
I've had the joy of someone cutting across my path tonight at 22mph on a 7 year old hard tail MTB bike and went full on into the side of him. Thankfully I spear to have got away with bruises and scrapes only.
I have his details and those of witnesses, and have given them to the police
From a cursory glance and a 3 mile ride home, the front wheel is slightly out of true, the outer 2 chain ring a are bent in, as is I think the front mech, and I'm not sure of the state of the forks.
Now that bike is old, and was on the border of a full strip down service being booked in.

Do you believe that anybike shop would be able to tell the difference between usual wear and tear, and specific crash damage that would stand up to scrutiny?

Since a teardown and truing is about £160 locally, and adding the 2 xt chainrings, its below his insurance excess, which is why he wants to do it this way. (Not including any personal injury stuff, which at the moment is 2x packs of ibuprofen)

Thanks.

PS, the 'what to do after n accident' doesn't make it clear it is a legal requirement for the police to be informed of any road accident involving any form of injury, even if just scrapes and bruises, as I found out today.

Long_Time_Lurker

Sounds like you and the bike got out of it quite lightly.

Just be honest with the shop - tell them what happened, tell them what you think is wrong and let them give you a written estimate.
(And remember to go like-for-like on the components - coming back to the driver with the bill for a new set of carbon rims won't do you any favours)

Remember to be civil and keep the driver in the loop too - tell him where you are taking the bike and what you think is wrong.

scottishgeek

Take the bike along to your LBS and get them to go over it and quote for damage. This stands up better if the driver starts to get funny about it and you have to go via their insurance.

A half decent mechanic should have no problem spotting the difference between fresh damage and wear-and-tear. The LBS may charge you for doing the quote (Evans Cycles charged me £35 recently) but you will be able to recover that cost.

Hope you're not too sore today!

debeli

All the above advice seems sound to me.

You seem an honest person... not inclined to howl about a real or imagined neck injury. Well done.

I'd be inclined to take it to a trusted LBS. If you don't have one, then just an LBS.

I've been knocked off an older bicycle several times (different bikes, different years) and have never had an issue with the responsible party or their insurer coughing up.

My last claim was for about £500, of which about £200 was for repairs to a fixie worth rather less than that. Nonetheless, the damage was done, the other party was at fault and all I wanted was my bike back as it was - which I got. The rest of the claim was for damage to watch, sunglasses and clothing - it was a bigie and well attended by police, ambulance etc....

When I got my estimate, the owner - known to me for many years - asked whether I wanted him to include scratches on the frame and torn bar tape. I didn't.... It really isn't that sort of bicycle. But I could have.

As can you. There is no need to add to an estimate "But the bearings may have been due for replacement". If they are Donald, they are Donald.

Be honest, be fair and get the right sum. You didn't ask to be knocked off and (I imagine) didn't want to be.

Excellent news that you're unhurt and that the other party is playing a straight bat. Good luck.

wolfsbane2k

Thanks all.

I want to be fair, but its hard to balance 'return to existing standard' when the existing standard was a bit broken against fitting new parts which I was looking to upgrade parts of anyway... Like new, uprated brakes!

I've had a family member take it to a local LBS for a written insurance inspection, and see where we go from there, as he wants to get his LBS to inspect and repair it, and not sure of the level of independence there.

One thing I hadn't taken into account was a helmet, which although I don't recall hitting, I'm not sure about replacing it as a 'just in case'

debeli

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19625389#p19625389]Wolfsbane2k[/url] wrote:

Thanks all.

I want to be fair, but its hard to balance 'return to existing standard' when the existing standard was a bit broken against fitting new parts which I was looking to upgrade parts of anyway... Like new, uprated brakes!

I've had a family member take it to a local LBS for a written insurance inspection, and see where we go from there, as he wants to get his LBS to inspect and repair it, and not sure of the level of independence there.

One thing I hadn't taken into account was a helmet, which although I don't recall hitting, I'm not sure about replacing it as a 'just in case'

He sounds as though he's being decent, which is a major plus...

But would he let you take his car (or helicopter or bicycle) to your local specialist to repair? It seems a most unusual request. Get pictures of the bike in its 'mashed' condition to justify various parts of the cost.

You didn't ask him to biff into you and the bike should be repaired to your satisfaction, not his.

Don't wind the guy up, but insist.

As to the helmet; I don't wear one, but if it hit the deck I'd replace it. If it didn't and you know it didn't, then why bother?

wolfsbane2k

Well, the local LBS has got back to me, and formally written a long list, meaning it might not be worth repairing, and instead putting the insurance money towards a new bike instead.

wolfsbane2k

I highly recommend that people dont' go down the route I did - Get your own LBS to do the job. After being promised that the driver would pay the bill at his LBS, he left the country without paying for it, meaning that I've lost access to my bike for a month - AND it's still not right.

Despite being promised that it was all done properly, the "new" chain ring is bent, the rear derailleur/hanger is still way out, so I'm taking it to my local LBS to get it stripped down again and do all the work they said was needed and claiming it back from the driver's insurer.

Your LBS may over-estimate the work on the basis of that they will get paid for it, but its on the drivers cost, so just let it go.

jamesco

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

I highly recommend that people dont' go down the route I did - Get your own LBS to do the job. After being promised that the driver would pay the bill at his LBS, he left the country without paying for it, meaning that I've lost access to my bike for a month - AND it's still not right.

That's what you get for being reasonable

For my first left-hook (having been left-hooked, since) I contacted a lawyer via LCC and hence didn't deal directly with the driver; the lawyer represented me to the driver's insurer and it worked pretty well. Being two steps removed I didn't care if the driver was a nice guy or not as I wasn't dealing with him.

My LBS gave me a quote for repairs which was the basis for part of the claim. As the shifters (Shimano 105) were damaged and could only be replaced, not repaired, that was about £300. The insurers whined that it was too much but I insisted that since they'd never been damaged (true!) they should be restored to the state that they were in prior to the accident, similar to what Debeli says.

The insurer then claimed to want to inspect the bike; I agreed to this and immediately the insurer didn't want to look any longer - it seemed like a tactic on their part.

Long story short, my lessons were:

• Don't let yourself be a pushover
• The driver's insurance company is looking after their interests, not yours
• Get as much compensation as you legitimately can

Good luck dealing with the insurer!