First big accident

[4F]

I thought you were in Scunthorpe colours, Tynan.
Sheff U fan here - I'd rather this whole Tevez/illegal rubbish was put to rest. We were too crap to stay in the top league. Struggling in the championship now!

Sheffield Utd eh, or as we say down here, Norwich of the North.

 

[Tynan]

we're away to Fulham tomorrow, apparently SU are away to QPR, some speculation on friction apparently

 

[Tynan]

erm right

first offer from the other side's insurance regarding goods and stuff

utter black and white their fault and full admission from them remember

claim totaled £1,300, essentially the bike and bits on it, the gear I was wearing and travel costs for the first few weeks until i felt well enough to ride my old knackered bike again, bike smashed and everything else damaged in some way, clothes and kits all scuffed, torn, blood stained etc etc

20% wear and tear knocked off the bike, it was three months old after all
they won't accept the debit card receipts from LBS I presented for the shoes, and shirt and mudguards as a proof of purchase, so offered me half on all of those

turned down some of the claim for scooter petrol and mileage as 'I should have bought another bike', erm, I'd have loved to if you'd paid for the old one, and I was physically capable of riding it, and this on top of being told I couldn't claim the cost of a new BB, new hub and trued wheel on the old bike to get it back on the road

refused to pay for SPD pedals as the new replacement bike will have pedals on it, erm yeah, right

and refused to pay for a new rack as they don't understand what that is and what it has to do with the accident

sigh, long letter writing exercise for the weekend

think their offer came to £899 rather than the £1300 ish I claimed for

I was hopping mad last night when I opened and read that, after rather naively expecting to find a cheque inside

insurance companies eh?

 

[spindrift]

Cocks.

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I would refuse to accept that. What about compensation for personal injury as well? I say screw the little cu*t for as much as you can. Maybe then Mummy will think before letting the little scroat out in her tank.

If you'd been in a car I'm sure insurance companies pay for hire cars, don't they. I don't think a cager would accept being told "you should have bought another car" if there perfectly good car had been written off by someone who is admitting they were at fault!!!!!

I'd get some legal advice ASAP.

 

[BentMikey]

Oooh, my sympathy, that sucks. I think they're trying it on, personally.

 

[domtyler]

The agent will be paid to minimise the amount they give to you, it is their job to try and get you to accept the least amount possible. That makes it your job to fight it until you get what you want/deserve unfortunately.

 

[spindrift]

The letter's from someone who's never been on a bike, what's with the pedals garbage?

 

[fossyant]

Keep at it - you may have a few of these until a reasonable offer is made...best explaining everything in simple terms - most people can't understand how any bike can cost over £1000, and like..oh yeh I'll go and buy another ?

I had a house insurance person trying to sell insurance---first question from me - what value do you cover bikes to..... erm £1000, ah well two of my bikes are worth more than that each..... "Her response...what are they made of....gold ?"

 

[Tynan]

The CTC legal lot are handling it, no fear, Robinson something and somebody

And I promise I'm fully aware of what the other side's job is is, it certainly doesn't mean that I accept it or think it's fair play

Quite the opposite

Frankly for a no fault claim I think they should foot a new bike the second you put a bill in for it

The injury claim is running separately, this bit is an interim (five months later) claim

Waiting to get an appointment to see a specialist regarding the injuries, after thinking I'd fully recovered I have had some trouble with stiff neck/back/pains on the right side and was rather horrified to have the bloke at Condor Cycles spot that I had an injured shoulder during the fit, lower and putting strain onto my right arm while riding, he put his finger exactly on the bone I'd broken, said it was obvious (to him anyway)

bollocks to that, that one is going to run and run I think, not happy about the idea of frankly being disfigured, even if only to the eye of a professional

and all the time the money rests in their account while I go without

anyhow, I'm going to pursue almost the entire claim, certainly the full cost of the bike and clothing and cost to me while injured, thankfully I can just about afford to do without the money in the short term

yes, pedals did make me do a deal more than roll my eyes, what on earth did they think I was claiming for, you have to suspect they're doing it on purpose to drag things out

and the rack, sigh

 

[BentMikey]

From what I've read, the full claim can take up to three years to settle completely. 5 months is pretty quick compared with that. Doesn't make it right though.

 

[wafflycat]

It's things like this that really bring home the benefits of belonging to a cycling organisation such as CTC or British Cycling. For those on the forum who aren't members of one or other: JOIN ONE OR THE OTHER NOW!

Remember that you don't have to be a cycle tourist to be in the CTC and you don't have to be a competitive cyclist to be in British Cycling.

Costs:-

British Cycling Silver Membership: £35pa
CTC membership: £35pa
(both adult membership prices)

Benefits include (there are others but I'll just list the relevant to this thread):-

British Cycling:-

Personal Accident Insurance
Covers you whilst riding your bike anytime in the UK.
Provides hospital, disability and death cover for members aged 5-75.

Third Party Public Liability Insurance
Provides up to £10 million cover for cycling accidents worldwide. (NB - need additional travel insurance cover in USA and Canada). Covers racing, legal liability and legal costs and expenses in the event of negligence (exclusions apply). No excess is payable by you on claims and Professional Indemnity Insurance is also provided to licensed British Cycling Coaches.

Legal Advice & Support
Managed by a dedicated team of professional personal injury lawyers experienced in handling thousands of 'cycling accident' claims. £4.8 million has been recovered in damages for members in the past two years, at no cost to them.

(taken straight from BC web site)

CTC:-

Cycle-related legal advice
£10m third party insurance

(taken straight from CTC web site)

I never leave home on my bike without my membership (in my case, British Cycling)

 

[Tynan]

Indeed although I will say I joined after the accident to get the benefit of the legal service

Suppose they might not have been so flexible if was the 3rd party insurance I was after, not really sure what you need that for if you;e not obliged to have insurance in the first place

suppose someone might look at your bling bike and decide you're worth suing personally

if you had a bling bike anyway

 

[Nigeyy]

Not strictly cycling related, but many years ago I had a motorbike nicked. At the time I was a student, so I had time, but no money. I refused the first and second offers from the insurance company and eventually settled on an amount close to 70% higher than their original offer (and I have to say even then it wasn't that good). I was furious -they were plainly trying to play for time and in the hope that I would just accept any old offer and get worn down by attrition -they were wrong. I believe their behaviour was just terrible ethically as their first offer was so far from fair or equitable it was laughable. I'm not sure your situation is applicable, but perhaps writing back to them and explaining costs may help (or better, get someone who knows insurance company dealings to give you advice).

 

[fossyant]

Stick with it especially if a body problem has been diagnosed by a cycle mechanic - what have the doc's said. Good on Condor I say.