RTA Advice please!!

[shippers]

Hi,

Lucky escape today- woman pulled across in front of me, and I ploughed into the side of her, going over the car and landing quite badly. After a couple of hours in A&E I've been given the all clear. Mainly cuts and bruises.

Anyway, does anyone have advice about what to do about claiming for the remains of my lovely bike? From what I remember, the forks pretty much snapped, handle bars badly bent, police say the wheel is similarly knackered.
Is it resonable to claim for a new bike? Would the frame be compromised? (Giant defy 4, aluminium.)

Also, always wear a helmet! I landed on the side of my head and my shoulder- body parts that aren't supposed to take the impact of 17 stone. Finally, the back of her car is also knackered!

Oh, 2 witnesses, I have names and phone numbers, both happy to say it was her fault, as did she at the time...

Anyway, point of the post- what do i do? Call her insurance company?

I'm not going to be around for an hour or so- got to collect the remains of the bike from the pub in Leeds!

 

[skudupnorth]

Did you report it to the Police ?? An incident number will help the case.The fact you had to go to hospital also helps.This is still fresh in my mind after my accident last year.

 

[gaz]

I had a similar RTA last year, went over the car and landed on the ground.

I took my bike to my local bike shop, they gave it good check over and quoted me for repairs, i got it repaired and fixed.

I then sent a copy of the quote, along with a copy of the receipt, also claimed for a new helmet and all my travel expenses to and from work.

Although it was fracking hard to get the money out of the insurance company, as soon as i threatened to take them to court they coughed up the next day!

Good luck with your recovery, and lets hope the miles keep rolling for you in the future.

 

[BentMikey]

Snapped forks? Don't think I would like to ride that frame again, it'd be likely to be a write-off IMO.

Go via lawyers - CTC Russell J & Walker, or Bikeline - Alyson France are two that get recommended a lot.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

As Lee has said, contact a Solicitor (CTC or, if you aren't a member and they won't take it on, go direct to the firm that they use - Russell, Jones and Walker) and give them the details.

Report it officially to the Police, although from reading your account is looks like the Polce have already been involved.

Take photos of your injuries and how they progress from day to day - keep a diary if you must to log pain / loss or limitation of movement etc.

Get your bike to the LBS for a check over to get a quote for repair - remember that this needs to be back to the condition to which it was in before the RTC. If shifter hoods are scuffed then get quoted for their replacement, even if this doesn't *need* to be done to make the bike rideable. You shouldn't be out of pocket or with a lesser machine due to the driver's carelessness.

Lastly, be prepared for a long wait for money. They may make an interim payment to cover the bike/clothing etc. but any money for injuries etc. will be a longer process. Your Solicitor whould deal with all this - no need for you to contact their Insurance company at any stage.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[fossyant]

+ all the above.

Write it all down, what happened, pains/aches......I've come to rely upon my notes from immediately after my accident....pains etc.

If not in CTC or BC, go to a cycling solicitor mentioned above.

Keep an eye on injuries, as I walked away from my incident and cycled home, then into work and back next day..... couple of weeks off (Christmas) then realised my shoulder was goosed.....despite the third party admitting liability, I reccon it will be 2 years before settled......now up to 14 months...still getting 'medical' investigations....down side of being a 'fit' cyclist, not a sofa spud........

Get on the phone to a solicitor.

 

[beanzontoast]

+1 to Sharkey and Fossy's advice. I'm also on the 'recovering' list. Only been a month since the smash in my case. Watch out for injuries that appear after the event and get to see your gp if in doubt.

 

[classic33]

As fossyant has said regarding the notes. Rough copy to start with, what you were doing what the car was doing. Match it if possble to pictures of where it happenned. When your satisfied you have everything down, get it done on a computer & print a copy(keeping that copy safe) I was accussed of altering my story & had this to fall back on.

Also get photos of all injuries as they are now. If anything should come up later, get another taken for comparison.

 

[classic33]

Get copies made of statements made by the two witnesses & work from the copy. Keep all origional paperwork safe.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Also make a note of the conditions at the time (street lighting on? Dry, good visibility, light traffic etc.)

 

[shippers]

Much obliged to all for the advice. I filled in the form on the cyclist solicitor website, so they'll ring back soon. Is there anyone out there who hasn't been knocked off..?

Can anyone give me a clue about timescales? I guess I'm missing the ride a week on sunday, but the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride in June..?

 

[Arch]

Much obliged to all for the advice. I filled in the form on the cyclist solicitor website, so they'll ring back soon. Is there anyone out there who hasn't been knocked off..?

If there is, we they aren't going to be daft enough to jinx themselves saying so...

Can anyone give me a clue about timescales? I guess I'm missing the ride a week on sunday, but the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride in June..?

Do you mean medically, or having a bike? If it is just cuts and bruises, then medically you should be fine by June. I've no idea how long any insurance takes to come through though for a new bike.

Anyway, I hope you heal up quickly and it all gets sorted with minimum fuss.

 

[shippers]

Medically, I'll be fine. I could be wobbling about quite soon- it's buying a new bike that's the issue!

 

[2Loose]

Sheesh, sorry to hear about this.
All good advice above, especially about keeping track of your injuries as they develop.

Glad you are in one piece.

 

[Armegatron]

Can anyone give me a clue about timescales? I guess I'm missing the ride a week on sunday, but the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride in June..?

I was thinking of signing up for the GYBR- now I definatly am if there might be a potential CC'er to bump into
Have you booked a place?