Hi all,
I got knocked off my bike this morning on a mini roundabout. (I was already going straight on, and a driver on the road to my left carried straight onto the roundabout.)
They stopped & were v helpful. Calling the authorities (ambulance & police), and providing all their details.
I have a couple of bruised/grazed limbs & a very sore shoulder. After x-raying it, A&E said I need to go back to the fracture clinic for further treatment/diagnosis tomorrow.
I have had a call from the driver's insurers. The insurers have admitted their client was at fault. They wanted to know about what I need now (physio, bike repair, new bike etc.)
Is it easiest to deal with their insurers directly in this way? Should I get my own solicitor or use one of those online ones (e.g. wiggle).
Also what should i do now. Do I need to photograph my injuries or anything like that?
Does anyone anyone have any experience with this?
Photo's and document everything you have just in case and to make things easier, will leave the legal bits to those who have been scraped off the tarmac
Not much actual advice I can offer, but sorry to hear that, you must be pretty shaken up. Hope the injuries heal ok.
Worth getting in touch with a LBS to get them to quote for assessing the bike for damage and any repairs (or replacement) necessary. And I'd bide your time a little bit (before agreeing a final settlement) until your medical assessments have shown the extent of the damage.
Shame you were riding your Carbon Santa Cruz nomad.
Been in this situation far too often.
Yes photo all damage, bike, kit, you ! Make a note of time, weather, what was said etc. Fortunately the insurer has admitted liability.
Now await your fracture appointment. I've usually gone through Leigh Day (British Cycling's solicitors) as my injuries have been bad - one smashed up shoulder requiring surgery eventually, and the latest was a badly fractured spine (almost paraplegic - lucky).
I would advise to wait and not accept as shoulders are buggers to get right. My issues went on for 3-4 years and only improved after surgery. You can, however, expect payment for your losses - bike, clothing, taxi, transport and of course medical expenses. This is called an 'interim payment'.
The law has changed in that there are new guidelines about getting treatment to someone quickly - this reduces claim values, and of course, your injury.
With my spine, I ended up with an independent assessor who came to see me at home to advise about 'adaptions' I needed - this was funded by the driver's insurer and approved by my Solicitor.
Hold fire, but you could always contact Leigh Day as they will take on people not with BC as they have a big Cycling Claims Department.
My spinal case is still going on - 2 1/2 years, and my shoulder case took 3 1/2 years to sort.
If the insurers have admitted their client's responsible and are going to pay up, why do you need to involve solicitors? Genuine question.
Get bike assessed by bike shop, unless you know what you need. My bike just suffered a scratch to the carbon forks, no other damage - that polished out with G3 scratch remover. It was me that broke. You should be recompensed for all the damage. I was told if I was going to write my bike off, I'd only get 2nd hand value, so watch what they say. It didn't matter about the bike in my case.
If you don't have any fractures, take up the offer of physio - it's expensive to lay out for yourself - I got about half mine paid for, then the rest has gone into the 'claim'. You'll be in a fair amount of pain in the next couple of days.
Do ask away as there will be a few of us that have gone through this.
I've had to give up road riding as I couldn't put my family and me through what happened - again 6 1/2 weeks in hospital (over Christmas and New Year) then 4 months in a TLSO spinal body brace and 7 months off work. Plus on-going pain. I'd rather risk rocks and trees.
The OP needs to wait to see how his injuries are, so I'd say hold off until he knows. If it's more serious then a solicitor will ensure you are recompensed properly - if the OP is OK and it's just cuts and bruises, and can be put right by some physio, then great, no need for a solicitor.
Document everything.
Get your bike appraised by your LBS, send that to the insurers along with details and backup for any other damaged ‘stuff’. They’ll settle that pretty quickly.
The insurer will also be keen to settle for any injuries. When I was in a similar situation last year (literally the very same accident!) the I nsurer was very prompt with sorting out physio etc, I was fortunate not to have any lasting damage so British Cycling just advised to settle as their compensation offer was most reasonable.
Hope you’re healed up and riding again soon.
When herself was T-boned by a car she took photos of the front of his car which was crumpled, and him and the location. she just went through his insurers and they paid out for injuries and then eventually paid up for the written off bike. No solicitors needed.
Keep a diary.
Keep any receipts for ANYTHING that you wouldn't have had to pay out for were it not the accident. Clothes, bags, travel.
Get a full medical assesment and see what the fracture clinic say.
Get your bike FULLY inspected by a bike shop you trust and would use.
Don't be in a rush to accept any settlements from the insurers.
As long as you're not out of pocket thats the main thing. Whether you want to be compensated for the hassle and injury, only you can say.
Like others have said, don't be rushed into settling a figure with the insurers, they'd like to settle before any further medical complications. My brother-in-law had a serious car smash and I think it was 12 or 18 months before they finally settled as his injuries were severe and he was told to wait until he was well on the road to recovery.
Solicitor will help for compensation for injuries though, whereas I'd imagine the insurance want to settle costs. A friend came off his bike, after hitting a pothole. His solicitor ended up getting him £14k in compensation from the council for his injuries.