Further advice after accident

[Xiorell]

Right so today I spoke to the LBS on the phone, who have my bie in for acident/damage report.

They gave me an initial estimate -
If I just want the damage fixed it's gonna be about 110quid
If I want the paint putting back right (an why wouldn't I, it was mint before I got run over), be about 285

At this point I still dunno if they frame is in fact bent I will not know till tuesday.

Called the guy who hit me, said I'd be happy to deal at 240 and draw a line under it (I'd just out that toward complete new bike). Which he was alright about.
Then he calls me a couple hours later saying he's not sure about this estimate it seems a lot, "I can buy two bikes for that", to which I explained not to the spec of the one that's damaged, he can't. He basically reckons I'm trying to pull a fast one.
I said we can always go to insurance if it wants to make it more difficult than needs be.

So now I gotta wait till tuesday to get the report in writting, meaning I am without wheels even longer now.

How do you guys think I should go with this now?
Accident HAS been logged with the police and I DO have a witness.

I'm pretty pissed off right now and to my mind, going round there with my 140Ibs Rottweiler and a lump hammer and making his life truely unpleasant seems like a superb idea, however I am of course exercising better judgement.

I've been willing to make this as reasonble and straight forward as possible for all involved but it seems he wants to play silly buggers.

 

[Red Light]

I would tell him the quote from the bike shop to repair the frame and damaged paintwork is £285 and offer to provide him a copy and also the list price of the bike new. Offering to settle for something not referenced to anything does sound like you are trying it on especially for people that are not familiar with the price of bikes.

 

[Mugshot]

Wait until you've got the written quotation before you jump to any conclusions. People will have a perceived value for an object according to their experience. If he goes into Tesco more than the LBS then his assumption that all bikes cost less than £100 is probably fair. So long as he hasn't told you to naff off, I'd hold your horses (and your dog) until you've had a chance to look through the quote together.

 

[gary in derby]

I would wait till you have the full breakdown of costs. Then let him know the full amount with proof. Tell him the original £240. Is no longer on the table and want it paying in full. Failing that you will go through insurance and claim for personal injury, inconvenience and anything else you can. If you need a bike for commute or fun, buy a cheap £100 bike till yours is fixed . Then eBay it.

Gary

 

[Xiorell]

Yesterday wasn't a good day to start making me feel like he's going to mess about. I was about ready to kill someone by mid day to start with.
Yeh I'll hold off till I get it all in writting and go from there, just got a feeling he's gonna piss about a bit.

Gary, I am assembling a BSO at the moment out of old cruddy bits I've got laying about. Had an old Raleigh Tucana frame at the back of the shed and a bunch of old mechs etc from a project a few months ago. Found some black spray and clear coat so I've gone over it all, made it look a bit tidier. Need new cables and brake pads and it's done. It's heavier than a small family car but, never mind.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Don't be daft with the threats. The fact he's offering anything shows he's accepting liability. I think you are being very kind letting him off with 240, I'd be going for the lot.

It's simple really - if he won't pay out, go straight to his insurers, and let him know you'll be doing this. They'll give you the full cost (ensure you keep the receipts from the LBS, and if you can get TWO bike stores to give you a written quote to avoid later accusations that the work was overpriced), and it'll end up costing him at lot more in future premiums.

You'd be surprised as well how quick it will be to go through his insurers for this sort of value, as is peanuts to them and they likely won't even bother arguing it if you have the written quotes and receipts.

 

[the snail]

Wot CopperCyclist said. No reason why you shouldn't claim for all damages, if the paintwork is damaged then it's perfectly reasonable to claim for it. If you're stuck without transport then maybe you should claim for bike hire. You were over-generous in offering to settle imo,if he has quibbled then I would go to his insurers, if he loses his no claims that's his problem, serves him right for causing the accident

 

[Red Light]

You'd be surprised as well how quick it will be to go through his insurers for this sort of value, as is peanuts to them and they likely won't even bother arguing it if you have the written quotes and receipts.

Really? I had to take them to the Small Claims Court, after months of simply ignoring me, for £300. They settled a couple of days before the hearing date but it must have cost them thousands in legal fees. I had witness statements taken by the police on my side plus loads of other evidence.

 

[Titan yer tummy]

Have a word with your LBS and see if they will loan u a bike whilst they are sorting yours out. If they charge you for the hire. Well we know who has to pay!!

 

[Jezston]

Then he calls me a couple hours later saying he's not sure about this estimate it seems a lot, "I can buy two bikes for that"

Every. Single. Time.

And this, boys and girls, is why you NEVER agree to settle such issues privatey, no matter how nice and remorseful the driver is being after they knocked you down. Because that niceness quickly evaporates once they've got away.

 

[fossyant]

TBH the driver's reaction is to be expected. Most folk don't have a clue how much bikes can cost, then you say it's £xxx for a new helmet, £xxx for wheels, they fall over.

If he is going to mess, say you want his insurance details. He's lucky you haven't been injured.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Really? I had to take them to the Small Claims Court, after months of simply ignoring me, for £300. They settled a couple of days before the hearing date but it must have cost them thousands in legal fees. I had witness statements taken by the police on my side plus loads of other evidence.

Fair enough - guess it can go either way then. My colleague got knocked off his bike, which was then written off, however he had no injuries other than a grazed elbow that he wasn't bothered about. The driver admitted liability and tried to settle for 300 which was probably an accurate reflection of the true value of the used bike, but my colleague saw no reason why he shouldn't buy the same model new off the shelf, for 499. He went to the insurers, and they sent him the settlement for 500 within a month!

Guess its like everything else, depends on various factors as to whether you'll get a quick result or a lengthy one. Either way, I wouldn't settle for less than the full cost.