Pissed off is what I am more than anything. Broad daylight. Had right of way, signalled to turn right, car pulled out from right-hand turning, din’t see me, bosh. Bit of shouting, fortunately the police were 30 yards away and saw everything. Bloke’s admitted liability and agreed to pay for any damage.

So, how do I go about sorting it? Take the whole bike into a bike shop? I’m not looking to ‘milk it’ (as suggested by some tosser of a bystander), just want me bike sorted. Trek hybrid alloy frame, steel fork, Mavic MA2 rim, 105 hub, DB spokes. Should the frame be written off? Doesn’t look damaged, but I don’t want to chance it. Any thoughts on this?

At minimum, it’s a new front wheel. Thankfully I’m uninjured, just a bit shaken up. Bloke did apologise properly, ended up shaking his hand. He was concerned that I was ok. Even gave me a ciggie!

Pfft.

Get straight back out on a bike (I have others of course!)? Leave it for today? Gah. Got stuff to do.

Any advice appreciated. Be careful out there.

Unlucky, mate. I often wonder how I’d react to this, sounds like you did well.
In answer to your question “Milk it”!
signed, Tosser 🙂

http://www.bikeline.co.uk

Police within 30 yards, you must be a labour party member in Manchester then 😆

Shaking like a **** leaf now I’m safe at home! Feel a bit sick actually. Was all a bit quick. My anger subsided pretty quickly; I’m pleased about that. In the past I’ve not reacted with quite as much ‘restraint’…

Funny how the first thought was ‘oh bollocks I’ll have to get me **** bike sorted out now’!

Bloke’s car had the tiniest scuff mark on the bumper! 2 tonnes of metal suddenly piling into you is a bit disturbing…

In answer to your question “Milk it”!
signed, Tosser

Heh! Had this ‘upstanding citizen’ walking along with me as I trudged home having to lift the front end up, banging on abut his brother getting two grand for being hit by some car. Wanted to tell him to **** off really. Din’t really need his bullshit right at that moment.

Exact same happened to me a few months back. He took me to LBS, they quoted for the repair (new rim and new spokes), he paid up there and then. Only bummer was the two week wait for a new rim. If he’s admitted liability just get a shop to send him the bill.

Get the frame checked out, you’ll feel sicker then you do now, in a few weeks time after the claim is settled if a crack develops down the head tube?

Bad news. Pop along to your LBS and get them to check it out. it may be just a wheel needed, but I’d want the forks checked at the very least as well.

Glad your OK

Loads of info here, you should be able to pick some useful bits out:

http://www.lfgss.com/thread4213.html

Take bike to trusted LBS get them to carry out full assesment and also get them to price up any damaged clothing / shoes / helmet.
Perhaps pop over to A&E to make sure theres no hidden damage to you?

Probbly a good job you didn’t have any Bombers to hand eh? 😈

Just spoken to Evans CW, which is my LBS! Probbly just take it into them get them to sort it. Shop wallah suggested the bike might need replacing; a front wheel is gonna cost more than the bike did! (£50 skip rescue jobby) 😆

Ho hum.

Shonky old Bitsa Trek 7300 = Brand new Serotta Ti frame with full XTR, surely? No?

EDIT: Closer inspection reveals the fork was hit from the side (paint transfer from car). Will this have placed too much stress on the headtube of the frame?

Not too full of confidence about the frame now. 🙁

if the frame is damaged it will be obvious. The idea that it must be replaced after a crash is nonsense.

Al; as I said I’m not looking to milk it, but I want to be sure the bike is safe to ride. So what sort of signs/damage should I be looking for? Can’t see anything visible, but then paint can mask any hairline cracks, no?

I’m not riding the bike again until it’s been fully assessed by a mechanic as roadworthy. I think bike shops recommend replacement to avoid liability for any unseen damage/potential future failure. When I worked in bike shops, we’d advise on replacement of a frame if it had had a sideways impact. If we’d signed a bike off as ok, then it later developed a fault as a result of any crash, then the shop would be liable and could get sued for silly money had any injury resulted from it. I can understand shops covering their arses. I want to cover mine too; the bloke wasn’t paying attention and caused an avoidable accident. I’m not too concerned with his insurance premiums right now. Anyway, we’re only talking £3-400 for like-for-like replacement. Not thousands. He’s expecting to at least pay out for a new wheel; that’ll cost him a few quid anyway.

Right now I’m thinking wheel and fork as a minimum. I don’t really want to find out the hard way why replacement is the best option.

If it was my road bike, he’d be replacing the frame as a matter of course. No way would I risk a super-lightweight alloy frame that’s been in a shunt. Would you?

If in doubt replace, as the next accident may be the frame or forks giving way.

If the frame is damaged there will be visible evidence such as it being out of alignment, dents, paint flaking off over welds, cracks, that sort of thing

Project – do you replace you frame every time you crash?

good to know you’ve survived wee man, I for one will not be employing a “hitman” from gumtree again!

and yes, its new bike time you scrote! 🙂

TandemJeremy – Member
If the frame is damaged there will be visible evidence such as it being out of alignment, dents, paint flaking off over welds, cracks, that sort of thing

Project – do you replace you frame every time you crash?

Posted 33 minutes ago # Report-Post

YES, especially when hit by a a large vehicle, when the vehicle driver is insuredand admits laibility, whats to lose, as opposed to not claiming and the frame is damaged or theforks, and you have a serious off.

Always best to fail safe, than to fall injured.

(£50 skip rescue jobby)

replace the front wheel & forks – if all you have is a bit of paint transfer from the car to the forks the amount of energy dissipated into the frame is going to be minimal ffs & if it was a skip find how do you know what it has been though in the past anyway

the more people who claim for everything they can get the more everyone’s insurance costs go up, it’s not just a bottomless pit you know

project – it must get expensive for you replacing your frame at every tumble.

Ok so. I will take it to Evans, and leave it in their hands and go along with their recomendations. As for

the more people who claim for everything they can get the more everyone’s insurance costs go up,

I don’t really give a flying **** for the insurance companies. They’re not exactly skint, are they???I don’t drive so I can be absolutely selfish on this one. My bike is damaged. I’ve had a bit of a fright. Could’ve been much worse. I want my bike to work as it did before. If that means I get a new bike, so be it. Drivers need to be more careful and aware of cyclists. If it takes their insurance premiums going up, then tough. I just find it sad that people seem to be more concerned with money than the safety of other road users. So **** it; I’ll turn that selfishness round for my own benefit.

What I’m realistically expecting is a new wheel as minimum. I’m not going to go and lie that I’ve received whiplash or anything underhand. I’m not after anything more than what I’m legally and morally entitled to. As it is, I’m going to have to get the bike to the bike shop, which will be a pain, and use public transport until it’s sorted, at my own expense. Should I claim for that too?

I get the feeling the bloke will probably want to settle this without involving his insurance. Ok with me, as long as he pays whatever is sufficient to compensate me for the damage he caused.

It’s upset me, this. 🙁

Yes you should claim for the public transport as well – its a pittance to the insurance co. You should claim for all costs to you.

Glad you are ok Elf, not surprised you are a bit shaken!

As you say let Evans deal with it, it cant be an uncommon thing for them to deal with.

if it was a skip find how do you know what it has been though in the past anyway

Good point. However, a further shunt won’t help matters, will it?

Doesn’t matter how much it cost me. The money it’s saved me on fares is many times whatever I’ve spent. The value of the bike is far more than the expenditure on it.

I’m being taken for dinner tomorrow evening by a lovely young lady as a result of this! 😀 Nowt wrong with milking it for a bit of sympathy, is there?

Good to hear no serious damage.
Claim whatever you can, basically you shouldn’t be out of pocket.

I damaged a road frame a couple of years ago, the head tube split as the forks tried to leave! The forks look fine but I’ll never use them again. Let the bike shop decide the damage.

Also if you think you’ve hurt yourself, get to the doctor, just to be sure.

Have a fag and chill! 😀

They’re not exactly skint, are they???

Actually yes.

No they’re bloody not!

Not as skint as me. Which makes it ok for me to screw them for whatever I can, in my book.

Within the letter of the Law, of course. Oh yes. I don’t make the Laws, but I’ll bloody use them in my favour if I can. Don’t the banks etc do that??

Not as skint as me. Which makes it ok for me to screw them for whatever I can, in my book.

So honesty is conditional, is it?

If the impact was hard enough to do that to the wheel I’d be worried about the forks too even if they had no visible damage. I’d probably be looking to get new forks too. It would be bad to find they were broken in the future.

Molgrips; I’m talking about what is legally and morally my right. When I say ‘screw’, what I mean is getting the maximum I’m entitled to. Not using deceit to profit unfairly. If it transpires that a reputable bike shop recommends the bike be replaced on safety grounds, I won’t argue. I’m not going to think ‘oh, the poor insurance company’. I’m not interested in anything other than what I’m entitled to.

What can compensate for half my day being screwed up? TBH I din’t expect to be affected as much as I have been by this; I’ve had worse offs and not been that bothered. Quite surprised at how shaken I was actually. I’ve not felt ‘right’ since the incident. I went for a swim because I felt it would help me feel a bit calmer, and it has helped.

Shit happens. Got to say though, this is the first accident I’ve been on the end of in ages. A small part of me is angry because I din’t take effective avoiding action. I wish I had done; then I’d just be a bit pissed off and not having to get me bike sorted out.

Forgive me for not feeling sympathetic towards the poor insurance company though, eh? 😉

Was the car driver okay? Shock n that. Sumfink to fink about innit.

Hit by car, front wheel kaput; what’s the procedure?

Isn’t the general procedure to fly over the handlebars, roll across the bonnet and then land on the floor in a bloody mess? 😉

“I get the feeling the bloke will probably want to
settle this without involving his insurance . Ok
with me , as long as he pays whatever is
sufficient to compensate me for the damage he
caused.”

why should he get away without increased premiums etc? Surely that would be a good deterent? What about the next guy he mows down?

Oh and you’re not really screwing the guy if you’re just getting what’s due to you.

I have to ask, would you have claimed for personal injury if you had any?

I’m not going to think ‘oh, the poor insurance company

Why should you ? They’ll only pass the expense on to the rest of us.

Personally, I’m glad that you’re not hurt and I’ll be glad that you might get some new shinyness out of it but don’t try and claim any kind of moral high ground over screwing as much as you can out of the insurance or the drivers own pocket. We all play the game, just own up to joining in.

When I say ‘screw’, what I mean is getting the maximum I’m entitled to. Not using deceit to profit unfairly

Right well that’s absolutely fair enough. ‘Screw’ implies taking more than you’re due, I reckon.

Forgive me for not feeling sympathetic towards the poor insurance company though, eh?

If it’s a fair claim, then no need to – it’s exactly what they are for, and why they charge us money 🙂

Remember when I came meet u and Cheesyfeet.I saw car in junction on left, he still pulled out. proper smash. I dusted down and got in ambulance and checked over etc, then came to pub. It wasn’t till a long time afterwards that I thought, hang on, Thatguy was WRONG, even though he gave me £40 or sommat to sort bike and we shook hands. I think you want to get out of a stressful situation as soon as possible, it’s a human instinct. Later on you think about what could’ve been.

Ouch!! Glad you’re OK. Take care Elfin.

Was the car driver okay?

Once we’d both calmed down (I admit a cross word or two was said), I went over and shook his hand to show I had no hate for him. He looked close to tears. Both of us were pretty shaken up. Fair play to the police; they came over and helped calm me down which was good. Dealt with it effectively and din’t make a fuss.

Right now, I’m thinking if the guy comes through with sorting me out properly, I’ll offer to buy him a pint, because then at least there won’t be any lasting animosity. He seemed decent enough, and I think it’s important to show forgiveness. Life’s too short. And fragile. I’ve left a message on his ‘phone anyway.

I have to ask, would you have claimed for personal injury if you had any?

I’d have been checked over by a doctor, then let the relative authorities decide on any compensation, if appropriate, was due.

don’t try and claim any kind of moral high ground over screwing as much as you can out of the insurance or the drivers own pocket. We all play the game, just own up to joining in.

As I’ve said, I’m just interested in getting what I’m entitled to. I have no concern for the insurance company whatsoever; they’re in the business to make money, not be a charity. And if the feller has higher premiums as a result, then maybe that will be a reminder to him to pay more attention when he’s behind the wheel.

Kev; I seem to remember most of that ‘compensation’ went on ‘medicine’ to help you get over the trauma… 😀

Later on you think about what could’ve been.

Quite. But I’m ok and the damage is pretty minor really.

I’d like to say thanks for the kind words on here, and to those who’ve sent me nice texts and emails. Good to know people are caring. X

insurance companies make hideous amounts of profit every year, they will continue to put premiums up whether people are making claims or not
.
glad you’re ok Fred, saw the aftermath of what looked like bus vs cyclist this morning on the south side of Tower Bridge – cyclist didn’t look too clever

From what I’ve read from the CTC and others, it’s a good idea to go through a specialist solicitor like Russell Jones and Walker.

If you just try and sort it out between yourself and the driver, the driver often baulks at the cost when he realises that new bike + new clothes + new helmet + bus fare etc really adds up.

If you try and go through the driver’s insurance then the solicitors are expert at getting the insurance company to actually pay up as opposed their standard “Go away, here’s £5” derisory initial offer.

Disclaimer: fortunately I’ve never had to use any of that advice yet, so I’ve no personal experience.

you’re still a cnu

actually, you’re still a cnu.