Hi

A couple of weeks ago while riding back from town I got hit by a car on my Spesh Stumpy Pro 08. The front fork and wheel took the brunt of the impact. The driver drove off without stopping and luckily when the police arrived 10 minutes later and I was giving them my details the driver drove past again and got caught. Police have put him at fault in the collision report.

I have given my case to Irwin Mitchell solicitors who are now saying it could take up to 3 months to replace my bike, which is obviously 3 months too long. Basically means my summer is over…

Does anybody know of any specialist companies that can deal with my case as my main priority is having my bike replaced ASAP. Leisure Lakes in Preston have confirmed that my bike is no longer safe to ride on any trail anymore.

Thanks
BrokenCollarBones

You’ll be lucky to wait just 3 months. My case took a year to resolve. That was mostly down to solicitors being shit.

Tell them you need the bike to get to work, in some cases you ca get ‘easements’ to cover the cost of the bike from his motor insurance company before they settle the entire case.

I’ve had irwin mitchell for a car accident (non-fault, other driver admitted fault at the roadside and later on the phone to them). Took them about 3 weeks to pay out for my car which was written off.
Personally if my summer riding was that important I’d buy one on credit and then attempt to claim that back later when the solicitors have talked a lot.

It it’s contested by the driver it could take a long time – there’s no way round that. If not, it might be a bit quicker.

Can you not raise the funds to replace the fork and get the wheel rebuilt?

I got knocked off last November & Police prosecuted the driver for driving without due care, I got my injury compensation payment in March but I’m still waiting for the bike to be paid for (I’m wondering if the solicitors drag it out on purpose to earn more)

Doubt if you will get any further joy with a specialist.

I was knocked off on Dec 1st last year, (broken bones, cracked ribs, trashed shoulder, and bike) the driver admitted liability and I have so far only seen some money for some damaged clothes (took longer than 3 months to get this even). This is with one of the specialists.

Best bet is buy a bike on credit and it sort out when the payment does eventually come through.

The insurers are buggers for dragging their feet.

I think it took about 3 weeks too for them to pay out for my wife’s written off car with the other guy holding his hands up

It may have taken longer if the police patrol car hadn’t been parked 10yds away watching at the time 🙂

Cant you hire a bike in the mean time and put that on the bill ?

Thats what most people would do if it was a car.

Ohh think of the possibilities.

Presumably he came past again because his guilt got the better of him…

“I think it took about 3 weeks too for them to pay out for my wife’s written off car with the other guy holding his hands up”

It really pisses me off that the insurance system works so much better for motor claims.

i only work part time and im a post grad who cant get a full time job… (over 60 apps & no replies) my current pay covers my bills and rent and if i took credit out for another bike i would be shooting myself in the foot. I’ve just managed to pay off my current stumpy pro.

I use my bike for everthing and stressed to my solicitor that i use it to get round everywhere but they keep giving me the worst case scenario.

As i dont have any legal expense cover they have even said tehy may only take on my case on a payment basis. No, no win no fee… Its just keeps getting worse…

Time for a new solicitor? Ask them what they would be doing if it was a written off car that someone needed to get to work?

thats what i did but as there back is not covered by any legal expense cover of my own they say its is risky if the at fault fight it out. I made it aware that teh police have put the driver at fault and i have 1 witness.

Do you have home contents insurance that would cover the cost of a new bike?

recently graduated from uni and live in rented accomadation. cant afford contents insurance.. once i have a full time job will be able to afford al the little luxeries in life. all my mony went on my bike last year

Would it be an idea to find out who the CTC use for their legal work, and then approach them? I’d imagine they’d be pretty much pro-cycling and be able to sort something out…

This kind of thing is the reason I joined the CTC, so that in case of an accident I am covered by their legal cover etc..

thanks for the all the replies so far, looking at that now funkynick

yup, CTC card in my wallet – I commute on the road and wouldn’t really ride without it these days.

Sorry that you’ve had this, and hope you’re able to reslove it soon. Sadly there are certain things worth shelling out for and insurance for this sort of eventuality is one of them. I’m sure with an expensive bike like an SJ Pro that you won’t generally ride on your own, and so I’d imagine one of your riding pals could help you out with a spare bike.

There are plenty of avenues open via the phone / letter / change of solicitor etc if you want to. Sadly, I appear to have lost some cash on here recently, so I’m unable to offer any assistance.

thanks pk-ripper

Have just been on the CTC site and looks quite appealing. I know having insurance is a benefit but you dont realise till the worst actually happens. One of my friends has offered me a spare bike (GT Ruckus), however riding your bike has its own feel and you know how much you can push it…

Im really looking to change to a solicitor who can efficiently deal with my case on a no win no fee basis as i was not at fault, as proven by the police in the collision report.

a bike is a bike
and something is better than nothing ride the bike that your friend is lending you until you can afford to get a new one/get a pay out.

Wow. I must have been very, very lucky to get my bike replaced within a week when I got cleaned up by a car.
I guess it must have been due to the driver accepting responsibility for the accident there and then to the police, and only living a few doors away from me at the time. After being in hospital overnight, I’d come home to find all the other party’s insurance details sat on my desk, so phoned the insurance company, they had obviously been speaking to the driver soon after the accident, and they had a bike supplier contact me quickly the following day. After sending them an email with a picture of the damage to the bike, I received the new bike 3 days later! The downside was that I was off work and unable to ride for around 4 weeks due to injury, and it took a good 10 months for the insurer to pay out loss of earnings and a compensation amount even though I was constantly phoning them on a weekly basis.

As has been said before. it’ll all be dependent on how the at fault party is actingto how quickly it’ll get finalized

put an claim form into the drivers insurance company. Tell them you want paying now or you will go and see a solicitor. Fees will probably exceed the cost of the bike so if its only the bike you need, the insurance company will be wise to pay up quickly…

wow that is super quick Mtbcol..

XXX.. I called the drivers insurers 4 days after the accident took place, as per the police officers say so, and the driver had not even reported it. I gave the at fault insurers all the details and they said they would call me after they had spoken with their insured. still waiting for their call. its been 8 days now.

I hope it gets resolved ASAP

Yeah – I guess because all the groundwork got sorted out by the at fault party the same day whilst I was in hospital that it was sorted quicker.
Hope you get a good result from this, and quickly too, keep pestering and make doubly sure the insurers are chasing the at fault party to push the claim along.
Good luck, fingers are crossed for you!

How do you feel about compensation for the injuries? YOu may be able to negotiate with the insurers for a quick settlement for “just” a new and very expensive bike, in return for an adjustment/reduction to the total claim?

Just called the at fault insurers (Direct Line) and the driver has still not reported it. Can you beleieve the nerve of the driver!!

However, the said they are putting out a letter to him and if he does not reply within 14 dasy they are going to deal with the case anyway and the claim handsler said as I am a cyclist they want to resolve it quickly and get liability sorted.

Fingers crossed, Im hoping that is a good sign.

Not really bothered about sorting the injury claim at the moment Tom as my bike is my main priority, however an injury cliam later on down the line would be a bonus.

From what i understand, IWH or whatever his name is…his mammy owns irwin Mitchell solicitors…..so you can assume you aint getting a penny, ever!

Just be thankful you’ve got your health and didn’t get injured and sacked as a result.

Ah it seems the drivers name was Lee Anderson….looks like you’ve been done……

IWH or Lee Anderson looks like he cant keep his end of deals from what is being said in other posts. Its funny I have had a car claim going with Irwin Mitchell since Dec 2007 and they still not sorted it. So I guess they are not gonna sort my bike claim any sooner either.

Thats it im cancelling my bike claim with them as im not hearing good things about them. I called the at fault myself today and got more out of them than when Irwin Mitchell tried.

If you want to put in an injury claim do it now – may take some time to get reports together etc, although solicitors should give you a ballpark as to what your injuries are worth (you’ve not said what they are).

The at fault said they are going to get their own PI team to contact me as I am now making my own inquries to speed the claim up. My injuries were sprained right knee , sprained right wrist and soft tissue damage on my right sholuder.

HAPPY DAYS…… At fault have admitted liability today and are happy to deal with me directlty. So Irwin Mitchell are no longer going to benefit from my claim. They have not even contacted the at fault yet.

The at fault have requested a report which details the damage and have asked me to fax it to them asap. Getting onto leisure lakes today to ask them if they can give me an assesment report.

Roll on new bike…..

Buy a bike on 0% finance and use the money if you get money.

The insurance company should pay quite quickly.

Your Solicitor-bug them or claim out of use expenses.

Hey dudes

Finally all sorted and approved by direct line. They passed the case to Wheelies.co.uk. Been in touch with them today and they have said i have £2739.95 to spend on what i like.
Hmmm, might get a custom build which may include a Yeti 575 Frame….

He shoots, He scores, back of the net..lol..

Nice one…. good result 😀

Nice one legspin, after i decided to give the solicitor the boot it just speeded the whole process up to supersonic speed… 😀

Great news! And a nice little sum to boot too!

can you buy your old bike back of the insurers for the bits?
you can with cars and it is dirt cheap to do. Surely most of the parts are ok?

2739, jesus those stumpy pro’s have gone up in price haven’t they…

The price was for the equivelent which was the Spesh Carbon Expert at £2740. Well I’ve ordered my new bits from wheelies and and got:

Black anodozed Yeti frame
Fox Talas RLS QR15
Chris King headset (Black)
Hope Hoops Pro 2, DT Swiss 4.2D
XTR Cables
DMR V12 pedles (black) 8)

All came to just under 3 grand and paid the difference. Cant wait for it to be delivered… Sleepless nights till the parts come. 😉

Wheelies said to just expose of the bike, which i’ve done.