Can I claim for my bike after collision with car?
Discussion
If it was my car I'd know the answer. On a push bike I'm not too sure.
I was cycling home. And a car pulled out of a side road and then stopped. I couldn't stop soon enough and went into the side of it. I ended up going over the top and rolling over the car bonnet. Fortunately I'm not too badly hurt. Some Doctor at the time stopped and insisted an ambulance was called. Girl was very apologetic and I have no problem with her.
She said she didn't see me. Which is fair enough. Accidents happen. She admitted she was in the wrong as did the police. I was a bit too dazed at the time to really think about that.
The problem is my bikes front fork is bent. Her car was pretty badly smashed in as well. Also my wheel is damaged. I said I didn't want to go to hospital and carried bike home. Police and ambulance people were very good. Even offered me a lift home.
Anyway - can I claim for my bike repair on her insurance? I don't want to claim for injuries - as apart from a sore knee and head and a few grazes I'm fine. It was daft not to wear a helmet and got away very lightly.
I was cycling home. And a car pulled out of a side road and then stopped. I couldn't stop soon enough and went into the side of it. I ended up going over the top and rolling over the car bonnet. Fortunately I'm not too badly hurt. Some Doctor at the time stopped and insisted an ambulance was called. Girl was very apologetic and I have no problem with her.
She said she didn't see me. Which is fair enough. Accidents happen. She admitted she was in the wrong as did the police. I was a bit too dazed at the time to really think about that.
The problem is my bikes front fork is bent. Her car was pretty badly smashed in as well. Also my wheel is damaged. I said I didn't want to go to hospital and carried bike home. Police and ambulance people were very good. Even offered me a lift home.
Anyway - can I claim for my bike repair on her insurance? I don't want to claim for injuries - as apart from a sore knee and head and a few grazes I'm fine. It was daft not to wear a helmet and got away very lightly.
milkround said:
Anyway - can I claim for my bike repair on her insurance?
Yes.Got her details? Go to them direct.
Not got her insurance details, but got her plate? http://askmid.com/ from a mobile or tablet.
TooMany2cvs said:
Yes.
Got her details? Go to them direct.
Not got her insurance details, but got her plate? http://askmid.com/ from a mobile or tablet.
I have her mobile number and all those details. Got her details? Go to them direct.
Not got her insurance details, but got her plate? http://askmid.com/ from a mobile or tablet.
Tbh I just want to get the bike fixed and sold. I won't be cycling again. Scared the life out of me and I'm still a bit spinny and quite sore.
Worst part is that I could literally see it happening and had the 'oh s
t' moment - in a car or a truck I'd have a metal shell around me. I just remember the smashed and felt myself rolling. I went across the windscreen and she seemed more shocked/upset than me. She was only a young girl bless her. Once I get the insurance company details do I just call them and ask for them to pay to fix my bike? I have had a couple of accidents years ago and they were always sorted by my car insurance company.
The thing I'm most annoyed about apart from the bike is missing work tomorrow. But my head is sore, and my knee and wrist are sore. So I've called and said I'm not going in. I've no interest in asking them to pay for this - as at a push I could drive if I had too. I just don't feel like sitting there uncomfortable and in pain.
Of course you can, her 3rd party insurance covers her risk to basically anyone - like if she knocked down a wall or something - not just other cars.
If the cost of the damage is worth the hassle then you can claim.
If you don't know (or she won't tell you) who her insurer is, there's a section on the askmid website that will tell you, but you do have to pay, though I don't think it's much
Hope you have a quick recovery!
If the cost of the damage is worth the hassle then you can claim.
If you don't know (or she won't tell you) who her insurer is, there's a section on the askmid website that will tell you, but you do have to pay, though I don't think it's much
Hope you have a quick recovery!
Glad you are relatively ok. You’re likely to be a bit more sore in the morning.
I’d be inclined to use a claims company with experience of bike accidents rather than going through her insurer who have their own self interests.
Try someone like bikeline. Your helmet will also need replacing.
I’d be inclined to use a claims company with experience of bike accidents rather than going through her insurer who have their own self interests.
Try someone like bikeline. Your helmet will also need replacing.
Take the bike to a reputable bike shop and ask for an accident report - you'll have to pay for this, but add that to the insurance claim.
The bike shop will inevitably write the frame off, alongside the fork - a hard frontal impact will almost certainly have compromised it, and it should be destroyed when after the insurance company tell you that they won't need access to it.
The shop will give you the value of an equivalent bike, on the report, submit that with the receipt for the report, alongside any other reasonable costs.
The bike shop will inevitably write the frame off, alongside the fork - a hard frontal impact will almost certainly have compromised it, and it should be destroyed when after the insurance company tell you that they won't need access to it.
The shop will give you the value of an equivalent bike, on the report, submit that with the receipt for the report, alongside any other reasonable costs.
After rolling over the bonnet, I am surprised you are not more hurt than this. I believe you should have gone to hospital for a check over, there may be strained or torn ligaments, which, in my experience, have a longer-lasting effect than broken bones.
If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
Pica-Pica said:
After rolling over the bonnet, I am surprised you are not more hurt than this. I believe you should have gone to hospital for a check over, there may be strained or torn ligaments, which, in my experience, have a longer-lasting effect than broken bones.
If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
I was very lucky. I think being 30 and relatively fit helped. I'm sore. And in a bit of pain. But I wasn't going to waste the ambulances time. If I feel bad tomorrow I'll go to my GP or the minor injuries clinic. If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
I'm my own employed. And I get nothing - nada if I don't work. So if I don't go into work I don't get paid. So my employer is annoyed - but it's me.
The police came and said as it was minor they would be not taking it further. Which I'm glad about. A young girl made a mistake. We have all made mistakes. Admittedly we usually get away with them. I don't wish her any ill will. She was distraught.
Do be careful of internal injuries. I'd suggest getting checked out by a GP at least. And as others have mentioned, you will want to replace the helmet. Depending on your bike (I'm assuming a fairly low end bike like mine, adjust as necessary), it's going to be several hundred to get fixed up. Depending on how young she is, her excess may still be more than that, so you may be able to get an upfront payment without the hastle of insurance, and she doesn't get screwed over come renewal.
Do remember that what insurance covers is legal liability. You have police backup on that, and it covers time off work due to injury etc.
Do remember that what insurance covers is legal liability. You have police backup on that, and it covers time off work due to injury etc.
Solocle said:
Do be careful of internal injuries. I'd suggest getting checked out by a GP at least. And as others have mentioned, you will want to replace the helmet. Depending on your bike (I'm assuming a fairly low end bike like mine, adjust as necessary), it's going to be several hundred to get fixed up. Depending on how young she is, her excess may still be more than that, so you may be able to get an upfront payment without the hastle of insurance, and she doesn't get screwed over come renewal.
Do remember that what insurance covers is legal liability. You have police backup on that, and it covers time off work due to injury etc.
Cheers. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. Got a nice bruise on my face and my head. Looks like I've been out drinking and fighting. If I don't feel good tomorrow I'll go and get looked at. Do remember that what insurance covers is legal liability. You have police backup on that, and it covers time off work due to injury etc.
The thing is - I could work if I really wanted. I just don't want t face 12/13 hours sitting in a lorry feeling in pain with my knee and being uncomfortable. So I'm having tomorrow off and will see how I feel on monday. If it's only one day I'm only about £130 down so it's not the end of the world.
Bike is only worth about £400 but it looks like it's just the forks and the front wheel. So I reckon it could be repaired easily enough. Front forks are totally bent - and he car looked awful. I was lucky to go over the top rather than absorb all that energy. Feeling really really lucky tonight - as daft as that sounds.
Feel free to ignore this advice, but that bike frame should not be used again- the risk is that it fails when you are riding it, likely at the head tube junction. This would be bad news.
More importantly you can’t sell it- risking yourself is one thing, risking someone else’s health is very different.
More importantly you can’t sell it- risking yourself is one thing, risking someone else’s health is very different.
milkround said:
Cheers. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. Got a nice bruise on my face and my head. Looks like I've been out drinking and fighting. If I don't feel good tomorrow I'll go and get looked at.
The thing is - I could work if I really wanted. I just don't want t face 12/13 hours sitting in a lorry feeling in pain with my knee and being uncomfortable. So I'm having tomorrow off and will see how I feel on monday. If it's only one day I'm only about £130 down so it's not the end of the world.
Bike is only worth about £400 but it looks like it's just the forks and the front wheel. So I reckon it could be repaired easily enough. Front forks are totally bent - and he car looked awful. I was lucky to go over the top rather than absorb all that energy. Feeling really really lucky tonight - as daft as that sounds.
You can claim for loss of earnings. I'm not sure how it works with being self employed (I've had to send in payslips for the last four months). The thing is - I could work if I really wanted. I just don't want t face 12/13 hours sitting in a lorry feeling in pain with my knee and being uncomfortable. So I'm having tomorrow off and will see how I feel on monday. If it's only one day I'm only about £130 down so it's not the end of the world.
Bike is only worth about £400 but it looks like it's just the forks and the front wheel. So I reckon it could be repaired easily enough. Front forks are totally bent - and he car looked awful. I was lucky to go over the top rather than absorb all that energy. Feeling really really lucky tonight - as daft as that sounds.
Make sure you take it easy. The next day was the worst for me, I ached like hell!
Pica-Pica said:
After rolling over the bonnet, I am surprised you are not more hurt than this. I believe you should have gone to hospital for a check over, there may be strained or torn ligaments, which, in my experience, have a longer-lasting effect than broken bones.
If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
Not this again. Of course it was an accident. If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
It might still be careless driving, but if it wasn't an accident it would be deliberate which would have made it an assault, or attempted
murder, or something of that sort.
OP- try not to let it put you off cycling for ever. Contrary to what some people seem to believe- this does not happen all the time! Hope you get better soon.
mac96 said:
Pica-Pica said:
After rolling over the bonnet, I am surprised you are not more hurt than this. I believe you should have gone to hospital for a check over, there may be strained or torn ligaments, which, in my experience, have a longer-lasting effect than broken bones.
If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
Not this again. Of course it was an accident. If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
It might still be careless driving, but if it wasn't an accident it would be deliberate which would have made it an assault, or attempted
murder, or something of that sort.
OP- try not to let it put you off cycling for ever. Contrary to what some people seem to believe- this does not happen all the time! Hope you get better soon.
Pica-Pica said:
mac96 said:
Pica-Pica said:
After rolling over the bonnet, I am surprised you are not more hurt than this. I believe you should have gone to hospital for a check over, there may be strained or torn ligaments, which, in my experience, have a longer-lasting effect than broken bones.
If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
Not this again. Of course it was an accident. If I were your employer, I would not want to pay for your sickness absence through someone else’s fault.
Finally, it was not an ‘accident’ it was careless driving at a minimum.
It might still be careless driving, but if it wasn't an accident it would be deliberate which would have made it an assault, or attempted
murder, or something of that sort.
OP- try not to let it put you off cycling for ever. Contrary to what some people seem to believe- this does not happen all the time! Hope you get better soon.
If you made a conscious choice to drive around deliberately not looking where you were going until you hit something, that is obviously an matter of intent, not accident. But even the most dangerous drivers don't generally do that. Most incidents arise from the sort of mistakes that we all make from time to time, and generally get away with through luck(or skill perhaps).
My argument with this particular issue of definition is that is melodramatic; if you interpret every collision or near miss as criminally bad driving it just helps make the road sound like a dangerous and intimidating place to cycle. Enough potential cyclists already think that. I don't suppose that was your intent though!
Definitely get the whole bike looked at, there is a strong possibility the frame is damaged too and it would be a poor show to change the fork and then sell on a weakened frame. If the whole thing is deemed a write off then claim for it.
No helmet, they might look silly but they might also be the different between having a lift home and one to the ICU.
Defn claim for loss of earning/sick leave whatever, she caused this why should you pay for it directly or indirectly?
Get another bike with disc brakes if you didn't have one before, get and wear a helmet, get really good lights get back on your bike.
No helmet, they might look silly but they might also be the different between having a lift home and one to the ICU.
Defn claim for loss of earning/sick leave whatever, she caused this why should you pay for it directly or indirectly?
Get another bike with disc brakes if you didn't have one before, get and wear a helmet, get really good lights get back on your bike.
eldrich said:
Definitely get the whole bike looked at, there is a strong possibility the frame is damaged too and it would be a poor show to change the fork and then sell on a weakened frame. If the whole thing is deemed a write off then claim for it.
No helmet, they might look silly but they might also be the different between having a lift home and one to the ICU.
Defn claim for loss of earning/sick leave whatever, she caused this why should you pay for it directly or indirectly?
Get another bike with disc brakes if you didn't have one before, get and wear a helmet, get really good lights get back on your bike.
Cheers - I'll have a bike shop have a look at it. I won't be passing off a dangerous bike. If it's fixed it will go in my shed. And if it's replaced I'll ask for a mountain bike rather than a road bike - if I'm allowed. No helmet, they might look silly but they might also be the different between having a lift home and one to the ICU.
Defn claim for loss of earning/sick leave whatever, she caused this why should you pay for it directly or indirectly?
Get another bike with disc brakes if you didn't have one before, get and wear a helmet, get really good lights get back on your bike.
Totally agree about the helmet. I had planned to get one. But didn't want to order it online as I wanted to try the fit. I was too busy - which is daft in hindsight. Ironically that same day I had just recieved some super bright lights front and back. They were in my backpack ready to be installed over a cup of tea at home.
I'll have a think about claiming for loss of earnings. Being totally honest my concern is that it will either be loads of paperwork being self employed - or will lead me down the path of having to use a company who will want me to claim for injuries. I really just want an easy life.
I just got back from minor injuries at the hospital. I couldn't sleep with the pain in my knee. Had a couple of xrays and they think the ligament is damaged and some fluid built up in my knee. So I don't feel so soft about cancelling work tomorrow. Anyway I now have some prescription strength painkillers and they have syringed out the fluid in my knee so I have no excuse not to sleep.
Cheers for all the advice from everyone.
Ligament damage could take weeks to heal properly. I had minor damage from playing footy and was limping for 6 weeks with therapy every 3 days for 4 of those weeks at the local hospital. If you are losing earnings due to her 'mistake' then this is exactly what she pays her insurance for.
I had a similar accident a few years back. They originally wanted to bit go through the I insurers but changed their mind ( I guess when they got quotes for their bonnet). Mean while I realised I'd ripped my jeans as well as broken the saddle which doubled my claim to £50. The insurers just put the cheque in the post.
Have a look at the underside of the frame where the diagonal tube meets the steerer. If the metal is rippled or the paint flaking away then I'd say the frame is toast.
Have a look at the underside of the frame where the diagonal tube meets the steerer. If the metal is rippled or the paint flaking away then I'd say the frame is toast.
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