preferred-google-button
log in
register

Carbon Frame mangled under car- Insurance advice

  • Creator
    Topic
  • May 14, 2015 at 6:03 pm #24001
    Chez_worldwide

    Hi folks,

    Someone in a Fiesta just ran into the back of me at a set of traffic lights. Thankfully I unclipped (not sure if was luck or reflex action) so I stood watching as he dragged my bike down the road for 5 metres.

    Thankfully I am unscathed (but livid). My Planet X pro carbon however is done for- back wheel shagged, seat stay and chainstay clearly knackered, front hood/ lever and handlebars deeply scratched.

    Unbelievably, the driver tried to blame me and was not in the least apologetic.

    Lots of lovely witnesses, all supporting me, so I have names/ addresses, as well as his reg, name, address, telephone number and his insurance company. I’ve reported it to the police who said that as I wasn’t injured it’s just a matter of an insurance claim and they won’t take it further.

    I’m waiting for British Cycling to call me back for legal advice on claiming.

    Here’s my question- Clearly the frame is no more and can’t be repaired, but will I need to get a ‘professional’ opinion on this in writing to support the claim, or will his insurance company take it as read that any sort of damage to a carbon frame is irrepairable and pay out (eventually)? Like for like I assume?

    Also, will I have to surrender the knackered bike, or can I try and salvage some bits off it (the non-carbon bits that is)?

    Sorry for length but the adrenaline is flowing. Cheers for any advice.

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • June 8, 2015 at 11:37 am #846121
    0
    Iamnot Wiggins

    Alex Mills; I absolutely love
    Alex Mills; I absolutely love how your website says it’ll never charge “over the odds” for a dedicated cycle policy yet offers a premium of £815 to cover an exposure of £9,500 across 2 bikes :)) :)) :)) :)) :)) :)) :)) :)) :)) :))

    What a joke.

    June 3, 2015 at 2:04 pm #846119
    0
    Alex Mills

    Hi Chez,
    Late reading this so
    Hi Chez,

    Late reading this so I do apologise in advance, Hope everything is being sorted but if you are still having problems I can recommend you to our ‘Professional Witness’ company who assess all our losses with accidents from our customers.

    Depending on the value of the bike: the car insurer could dispute the value and refuse to pay. We’re currently dealing with a similar situation where a car T-Boned one of our customers, and Aviva is refusing to pay out the £7k value of the bike. We’ll win the case, but we have to go to court first and this could happen with yourselves.

    If they do threaten court just go along with it, the process could take a while but you may have to do it in order to recover the full amount. For future reference; if you do have dedicated cycling insurance for your bike usually your insurance company would pay out straight away so you can get riding, and then they’ll recover the costs from the car insurer.

    May 22, 2015 at 4:33 pm #846117
    0
    Merchant of Cool

    Speak to BC first and they
    Speak to BC first and they then refer you to Leigh Day.

    Incident helpline

    If you have been involved in an incident whilst riding or wheeling your bike please call the Incident Helpline

    T: 0161 274 2015
    E: incident@britishcycling.org.uk

    Leigh Day Central Park, Northampton Road, Manchester M40 5BP.
    Tel: 0161 393 3538 Fax: 020 7253 4433 DX 53326 Clerkenwell

    Using them myself. First class…and they do not take any of your compensation like the Ambulance chasers you see advertised on the Telly……They are British cyclings recommendation…..Don’t go anywhere else.

    You will get to keep your bike as they will not want to dispose of it.

    May 20, 2015 at 7:00 pm #846115
    0
    Fish_n_Chips

    I sent the written assessment
    I sent the written assessment to the third party and had a cheque within 3 weeks.

    What you are doing is normal routine.

    Glad you were not dragged by the car.

    Idiot driver.

    May 15, 2015 at 5:19 pm #846113
    0
    Chez_worldwide

    Thanks for the advice so
    Thanks for the advice so far.

    Still waiting for BC to call, but I’m off to PX tomorrow who said they’d give me a written assessment of damage/ repair costs and how much to replace with a similar spec.

    Now to look at pictures of shiny new bikes on the internet…

    May 15, 2015 at 4:14 pm #846111
    0
    Iamnot Wiggins

    A 6 month wait for
    A 6 month wait for settlement?! Dealing with insurers direct in the past has had my claims paid in full & closed within 3 weeks. In fact, Aviva settled a £5,500 damage claim within a week last year! The personal injury side was much longer but that’s not surprising.

    May 15, 2015 at 10:48 am #846109
    0
    SPAM Naval

    Hi, i had a very similar
    Hi, i had a very similar experience last July when a driver rode into the back of me while stopped at traffic lights. He wiped out my carbon wheel and cracked chainstay on my carbon bike. Luckily I was a BC member and they were quick to start the claim process with their appointed legal reps.
    It wasn’t a quick process to resolve with the drivers insurers but six months later i did get a cheque in the post which allowed me to replace my bike (with a nice Canyon!)
    Suggest you get a written feedback from your LBS on the extent of damage and cost to replace for a similar specced biken and include that on the documentation you send back to the legal advisor. Don’t expect that they’ll cough up for a new replacement, more the current value of the bike that was damaged.
    I included pictures of damaged wheel and frame in the documents i submitted. There was no request from the legal advisors or insurance company to view the damage directly.
    Good luck!

    May 15, 2015 at 7:53 am #846107
    0
    londoncommute

    Personally I wouldn’t deal
    Personally I wouldn’t deal directly with their insurer and would go through whichever firm BC recommend to you.

    Keep receipts for absolutely everything e.g. travel costs if you’re off your bike.

    You will need an estimate and I would think it quite likely a friendly LBS will agree the bike is a write off. I doubt you’ll have to surrender it.

    May 14, 2015 at 7:52 pm #846105
    0
    Iamnot Wiggins

    1. If you have the drivers
    1. If you have the drivers insurance details then make sure you report the accident to them and advise that you will be pursuing them for the cost of damages, you’ve reported the incident to the police and that you have scene witnesses who are prepared to give statements.
    2. Take photos of the damage and be prepared to submit them
    3. Obtain a damage estimate from your LBS and ask them to outline EVERYTHING that’s damaged and why it needs replacing along with the costings
    4. Be prepared for a lengthy delay if the driver is denying liability and has yet to admit any

    May 14, 2015 at 7:19 pm #846103
    0
    ianrobo

    “I’ve reported it to the
    “I’ve reported it to the police who said that as I wasn’t injured it’s just a matter of an insurance claim and they won’t take it further.”

    Again the police washing their hands of what should be a clear case of careless driving. Who cares if you was injured or not, that is totally irrelevant to what the driver did ….

    May 14, 2015 at 6:09 pm #846101
    0
    CXR94Di2

    Take photos. You might need
    Take photos. You might need a letter from reputable cycle shop confirming situation I doubt insurance would bother with keeping a bike. Hardly worth the hassle stripping

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.