Another SMIDSY statistic (non fatal)

[flake99please]

Well its only taken me 42 and a bit years for my first SMIDSY. Driver decides to perform a U-turn maneuver about 20 metres beyond a roundabout. Traffic ahead was crawling, so I can only assume the driver was looking to take another route to his destination.

He accepted full responsibility, and apart from a slightly sore hand and thigh Im relatively unscathed. My bike has taken damage though. I managed to walk into a local Evans shop about half a mile from the incident where they gave it a 'once over for damage'. I have been advised to take the bike somewhere quiet tomorrow and ride the bike 'listening for any frame sounds'. Best case scenario is £250 worth of replacements/repairs, worst is a new bike.

Is the advice offered from the guy at Evans sound, or should I assume that the impact has already damaged the carbon frame?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Hiya Flake,

Sorry to hear about this. pretty much the same thing happened to me. I thought it was just a prang on the wheel (which buckled) but I took her to LBS and they said that they couldn't vouch for the structural integrity of the frame and wrote it off. (Devastated) And mine was not a carbon bike, so yours is probably more delicate. I would certainly test it off road (if at all -it will still hurt if the frame cracks when you are on it!)

I would be tempted to take it to LBS and have a proper insurance report done on it.

Fingers crossed your beloved is fine xxx

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Sorry to hear that @flake99please
Just yesterday I got bumped into by a car on an asl.
Some people are just muppets!

 

[classic33]

Consider contacting the manufacturer, for their view on it.

 

[Saluki]

So glad that you told us that your SMIDSY incident wasn't fatal
At least the driver took responsibility. I'd get a check over by your GP, just to be on the safe side and +1 on contacting the manufacturer.
Evans are generally pretty sound in their advice, in my experience.

 

[classic33]

@flake99please. Search the tags, for accident advice.


And don't let it put you off cycling!

 

[flake99please]

My left hand is a bit sore, and there's a bit of a bruise showing on my thigh (where the drop bars spun around from the impact and my leg hit them), but otherwise Im unscathed. If the brake rotors hadnt taken any damage at the time, then Im in no doubt I would have tried to continue cycling on from the incident. With hindsight it was perhaps best that I didnt, as the frame may have been damaged. I may have cycled off down somewhere, and have the frame fail on a busy road perhaps resulting in another RTA.

Driver was incredibly apologetic, got a photo of his driving license, phone number (which I verified straight away), plus details (name/number) of 2 witnesses. I didnt bother with the police at the time, although the driver asked whether I would like them there on a couple of occasions. I did call 101 for an incident number though.

I still plan on going out with a local group on a 30 miler on Saturday, but with another of my bikes instead.

My biggest concern is that there may be unseen damage to the frame, where the drop bars spun and hit the top tube. There's chipped paintwork, but it look like superficial damage only. I will take it down a quiet path later on and see how it feels/sounds.

 

[Globalti]

Just take the wheels off and give the frame a really good coat of looking over; pull the forks around and squeeze the rear stays together while listening for creaks. Check all the tubes by squeezing them hard. Typically impact damage will show as cracks where the brittle frame material has broken but unless the crash was catastrophic the tube will retain its shape as the carbon fibres will hold it together. If nothing creaks or crushes or moves, you're fine. Bear in mind that a carbon frame is simply a hard plastic shape reinforced with carbon threads and any damage will show when that hard plastic breaks. Don't let anybody tell you any bollocks about getting it x-rayed; this wouldn't show anything your hands and ears can't detect and anyway nobody would allow you to use their expensive equipment to x-ray a bicycle.

This was the right hand chainstay of my pal's carbon bike after he collided with a car: the impact was enough to bend his RH crank, punch the FD right into his calf muscle and throw the bike ten feet over my head onto a hedge. The only damage is this crushed chainstay, which retained its shape but went squashy:

 

[Easytigers]

Glad you're ok! Hope the frame is also in good shape!

 

[flake99please]

Just under 3 months for the insurers to make an offer.

 

[si_c]

Just under 3 months for the insurers to make an offer.

Damn. Was the offer any good, or do you have to go back to them?

 

[oldroadman]

Just take the wheels off and give the frame a really good coat of looking over; pull the forks around and squeeze the rear stays together while listening for creaks. Check all the tubes by squeezing them hard. Typically impact damage will show as cracks where the brittle frame material has broken but unless the crash was catastrophic the tube will retain its shape as the carbon fibres will hold it together. If nothing creaks or crushes or moves, you're fine. Bear in mind that a carbon frame is simply a hard plastic shape reinforced with carbon threads and any damage will show when that hard plastic breaks. Don't let anybody tell you any bollocks about getting it x-rayed; this wouldn't show anything your hands and ears can't detect and anyway nobody would allow you to use their expensive equipment to x-ray a bicycle.

This was the right hand chainstay of my pal's carbon bike after he collided with a car: the impact was enough to bend his RH crank, punch the FD right into his calf muscle and throw the bike ten feet over my head onto a hedge. The only damage is this crushed chainstay, which retained its shape but went squashy:

Pictures of a write off, any carbon frame that has been heavily bashed has got to be suspect. Looks like the driver who turned without looking is in for a bit of a big insurance claim. Replace anything slightly suspect. You should be able to claim such that you are in the same position you were before the accident, health and equipment wise. Consider that physio may be needed. keep every bill. Lucky for the driver you didn't call police, with witnesses and you being injured, that would be a nice easy careless driving ticket for someone in blue (they may need it as month end is approaching!). Apologies and remorse won't pay to get you or the bike better, afraid it's all about hard cash.

 

[flake99please]

They've offered full replacement cost for bike, volt700 light (broke off at time of incident, but unaware until following morning), and replacement helmet.

In spite of my statement of the event, the eyewitness statement confirming my version, and the other party admitting liability in their statement. The insurance company requested another statement from me stating why I believed the driver to be negligent/liable. Not sure if this is commonplace, or whether it was just the insurance company stalling on settlement?

I'm happy with the outcome, but a little frustrated at the insurance company having all the information available to them since mid November that it has taken so long to reach their settlement offer.

 

[glenn forger]

That poor rider who lost her leg is still waiting for a payout from Aviva although liability's admitted, that's two years I think.

 

[flake99please]

That poor rider who lost her leg is still waiting for a payout from Aviva although liability's admitted, that's two years I think.

I don't know the full story behind that but I'm assuming that the original rehabilitation fees for the lady you mention are still being calculated/agreed, plus any ongoing and future medical requirements that would need considered. Some sort of interim payment(s) should have been made though.