Road crash-Liability and insurance

I haven't been on the mtb for a while due to personal reasons but have been getting out on the road for a few spins in between things to try to keep the fitness up.

Anyway I got cleaned out of it by some bird in an SUV on Sunday who was in a hurry to get into the Supermarket. She was turning right and I was motoring from the opposite direction. I saw her waiting to turn as clear as day from some distance off -then at the last minute she goes for it and I slam on but there was no way I'd have missed her-nice mixture of mixture of anger terror and inevitability packeded into a couple of milliseconds.

Plenty of people round witnessed it but I din't go looking for details I was on me back arse on the ground out of it-cops ambulance an firebrigade before I knew it.-I got a fast trip to hospital a but thankfully just a few stitches and bruising and mild whiplash which seems to have settled. She got a decent me-sized dent in her SUV Right above the front passenger wheel arch.

I'm not arsed about personal injury but I want here insurance to cough up for a new bike-even if it doesn't look cracked I don't fancy riding it donhill again having slammed into a solid object at 30+.

Has anyone been through this before? what's the dealio? I hardly have to get on to a solicitor just to claim for a bike, or do I? Maybe get the bike looked at by a shop or an opinion to say that a crash at that speed would make it unsafe to ride again?

Any ideas
Ta
Dave

Jeesus Dave, sorry to hear that. Speedy recovery chum. I would imagine it is much the same with a car crash, get the damage to your bike assessed, I am sure Al could help you there, and submit a replacement cost her insurance company. However, despite your good intentions not to go legal do not discount personal injury, if your claim is genuine and you do end up with a residual injury, and your work suffers you deserve no less.

Here's the skinny.

1. Go to shop get them to provide a quote for a new bike.
2. Ring SUV lady and tell her you need new bike or you are going directly to her insurers

If you get no joy.

3. Send letter to SUV lady with copy of quote.
3. Copy letter at 2 above to her insurance company (including quote).
4. Stick a reminder in your calender for 1 month later.
5. Send further letter to insurance company asking when you will receive your new bike.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until you get success.

simple.

By the way you can only claim your loss. The old bike should be given to the insurance company and they may well expect you to provide it.

i had the same thing happen on my way to work a couple of years back. Was a bit out of it after landing on my head (had a helmet on thankfully) so didn't get the witness details or really anything other than the drivers number and where she worked (was right outside her shop/office thing that it happened).

Luckily though she admitted liability and her insurance company were great to deal with, never had to ring them once, always them calling me to let me know the progress etc (prob due to fear of me suing them)

PM me if you want any further details on the whole process, medical exams etc. I will say beware of what the hospital initially diagnosed you with though as decent medical care costs a fortune. It took them 3 weeks, and about 7 sets of xrays to finally decide i hadn't broken any bones, and another month or two to decide i had permanent nerve damage in my hand (suprisingly was actually the insurance companys medics, VHI swiftcare, who made that call)

That's poxy Dave, get well soon.


Bleed the beast

Thanks for the advice lads-On the positive side the Asian/italian lady doctor in A& E was very nice and had the perkiest pair I've seen in a long time, which almost made up for the Borat cracks I got from some smart arses as I walked theough the casualty ward in just bib shorts. (top was cut off)
The oxygen they give you in the 'bulance is also deadly-talk about chilling you out, the paramedic told me it clears out a hangover staight away too; where can I get me some..
After 4 days I'm sure I'll be fine medically (famous last words, what is that stuff oozing out of my arm.

Classic! Careful, those Asian lady doctors are not always what they seem, ESPECIALLY the perky ones.

I think I "met" that doctor too... was it in St. Vincents ?

No she was in Beaumont but if you think she might hang out in Vincents I'll ask to be brought there next time.