Itty Bitty Bicycle Accident - Advice?

turbo6bar · 10-13-2003, 07:36 PM

A fellow in a Ford Taurus pulled across my lane, and I couldn't stop or evade. I hit the rear quarter panel, flew across the trunk, and hit head and shoulder first. I'm bruised and sore, but no broken bones.

My bike is pretty beat up, and I expect a huge bill from the hospital. Tomorrow, I'm going to get a copy of the police report. I did not have the chance to get the driver's info (I was strapped down to a stretcher), but I think the guy will take responsibility.

Any advice from those who've been in this situation, bike or not? I plan to haul the bike to my local shop for evaluation and also contact the driver about expenses/insurance. Anything I should or should not say or do?

Silly me, while leaving the hospital, I was thinking about cleaning up the mountain bike to ride tomorrow.

I have nasty lascerations on my left cheek. Doc says I shouldn't shave for a couple weeks. Oh, boy. This is gonna be interesting as I have never gone unshaven any longer than 48 hours.

Jürgen

HarryD · 10-13-2003, 07:46 PM

Glad to hear you appear to not be seriously hurt. Alot of the muscle pains can take a few days to rear their ugly head (I did not really start hurting until a day after my 912 got rear ended by a bus). Be sure to find the driver and get his insurance company to be on the hook for you. Based on what you are saying, they should cover all your medical and out of pocket losses.

Besides the e-room docs, go see a good orthopod and have him look you over.

Good luck.

As far as the bike, figure you will need to replace the bike and ask for that from the other guys insurance.

turbo6bar · 10-13-2003, 08:52 PM

Outside of sore muscles and headaches, is there any injury that might pop up a few days later? My gut is telling me the insurance co. will want a signed release of liability, and I'm reluctant to sign until I know I'm back to 100%.

Of course I will be totally honest throughtout, but I don't want to be slapped around by the insurance company. I just want things to be back to normal.

Jürgen

HarryD · 10-13-2003, 09:19 PM

Yes. It is possible for dleayed reactions. See a good orthopedaedic doctor. Discuss your concerns with him. The other guy's insurance should be happy to pay.

LeeH · 10-13-2003, 09:34 PM

A friend's mom was in a minor traffic accident where she banged her hand on the steering wheel - other driver at fault. The other guy's insurance company quickly offered her $500 for her pain and suffering, but she forfeited any future claims. In her case she wasn't hurt bad and gladly took the money, but beware of such tactics if you haven't fully assessed your injuries.

911pcars · 10-13-2003, 11:25 PM

Jurgen,
Glad to hear it wasn't any worse. Bike against car is usually pretty one-sided. I've had a few close calls with those damn cars myself.

Earlier this year, I was riding with some friends when a car sideswiped him and broke his hip after the fall. He's back in the saddle, but went through a lot of pain and rehab. If I was in better shape that day, I could have taken his place.

The police report should go to your insurance company. Hopefully, the driver has insurance too. His insurance should cover your costs. If none, your insurance company will try to collect from him.

He got a new bike out of it though, a beautiful 17 lb. Cannondale with full DuraAce. You should too.

Take care. You'll be back on the road fairly soon.

Regards,
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

tabs · 10-14-2003, 02:27 AM

I have an Arraya Aero with full Dura Ace AX components...that bike always did whisper in my ear go faster...go faster....

turbo6bar · 10-14-2003, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tabs
I have an Arraya Aero with full Dura Ace AX components...that bike always did whisper in my ear go faster...go faster....

Thanks for the advice. My muscles ache a lot more today, but I think that's the worst. I'll call my physician today for a referral to a good orthopedic doc.

My bike always whispers go faster every day. I have been riding faster every day, and enjoying it 100%. The problem is yesterday I was not riding fast enough. I took a different route, because I felt 'off' and that's what got me in trouble.

2 strange premonitions:
1) Just 20 minutes before the wreck I was telling myself how much I loved my jersey. It fits, or shall I say did fit me so well.
2) The second reason I took a different route was to save time so I could have the wheels trued at the local bike shop.

Well, I no longer have that jersey and the front wheel is toast. The wheel had a Mavic CXP-33 rim with 32 spokes built to withstand a beating. After 2800 miles it was still true. Rim was still round, but it's crazy warped now.

C'est la vie.

J

HarryD · 10-14-2003, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by turbo6bar
Thanks for the advice. My muscles ache a lot more today, but I think that's the worst. I'll call my physician today for a referral to a good orthopedic doc.

My bike always whispers go faster every day. I have been riding faster every day, and enjoying it 100%. The problem is yesterday I was not riding fast enough. I took a different route, because I felt 'off' and that's what got me in trouble.

2 strange premonitions:
1) Just 20 minutes before the wreck I was telling myself how much I loved my jersey. It fits, or shall I say did fit me so well.
2) The second reason I took a different route was to save time so I could have the wheels trued at the local bike shop.

Well, I no longer have that jersey and the front wheel is toast. The wheel had a Mavic CXP-33 rim with 32 spokes built to withstand a beating. After 2800 miles it was still true. Rim was still round, but it's crazy warped now.

C'est la vie.

J

Take your time to settle. You should be as close to 100% as possible before you agree to a final settlement. They can wait and you need to decide what is acceptable to you. Time is on your side.

Here's to a speedy and full recovery!

andrewgoh · 10-14-2003, 09:03 PM

turbo6bar,

Sorry to hear about your mishap, and hope you are recovering well.

Quote:

Originally posted by tabs
I have an Arraya Aero with full Dura Ace AX components...that bike always did whisper in my ear go faster...go faster....

Tabs,

I remember the Araya Aeros with the oval tubes...and the DuraAce AX aero brakes....used to race with them when I was living in Singapore....ah...the memories

911pcars · 10-15-2003, 12:02 AM

"Rim was still round, but it's crazy warped now."

Good time to get those Velomax rims.

Sherwood

turbo6bar · 10-15-2003, 07:50 AM

Looks like I am going to do fine. My arm is really sore. A physician checked it out and said it is soft tissue damage. The rest of my body is AOK.

I do have a question regarding the bike. I took the bike to 2 shops for an assessment. They were pretty lax, and they would not recommend repairs unless I egged them on it. As I mentioned before, the front wheel is gone. No dispute about the need for a rebuild. My brother helped me install an old front wheel. When I got it in the dropouts and clamped down, I noticed the wheel was cocked towards the right slightly. It is not centered in the brake caliper. I measured with a dial caliper, and the wheel is cambered to the right about 3/16". This was not the case before the accident. The guy at the second shop downplayed it saying if the fork isn't bent backwards, not to worry. If I had a car accident, any little dent would be fixed. Am I expected to accept minor 'adjustments' to my fork, tweaked brake levers, and torqued handlebars? According to the shops I visited, the answer is YES. I think my body and bike should be restored back to pre-accident condition, within reason. I don't expect a paintjob on the frame just to touch up one nick, but I did not ask to be involved in this accident. It wasn't my fault.

Still waiting for a copy of the police report so I can contact the automobile driver.

Sherwood, the rim was a Mavic CXP-33. I thought it was the strongest road rim you can buy. Are the Velomax the strongest?

Jürgen

911pcars · 10-15-2003, 09:23 AM

Jurgen,
If the bike is even slightly tweaked, I'd ask for a replacement. Surely, other parts of the bike are scratched, yes (handlebar, deralliers, crank arm, brake/shifter handle? If it's just the fork, I'd ask for a new fork. It doesn't sound like the shops you visited are on your side. What are they, affiliated with your insurance company? Would this happen if you drove your car into an automotive body shop with a tweaked front end? "Sir, the right front strut is bent and the closest we can get the camber is +2º, but it'll be fine, tires are cheap. And the scratch on the fender? It's an old car. What do you expect? Don't worry, be happy."

Go elsewhere for your damage estimate. I would even suggest making the damage a little more apparent if the "slight camber" doesn't do it for them. In addition, reinstall the bent wheel back for better visual effect.

The Velomax road wheels probably lean more toward lightweight and aero rather than strong (and heavy). How strong do you want the wheel or are you thinking instead - stiff? Contemplating future collisions?

(sorry). If you want strong, you could go to a heavier road wheel. Real strong? Try a mountain bike wheel.

Sherwood

RickM · RickM's Garage

Jurgen, Glad to hear you're OK.

turbo6bar · 10-20-2003, 07:26 PM

Itching to ride, and I think I would be much better off buying another bike rather than waiting for insurance to resolve this.

I bought a 1995 Trek 2300 last October for $500. I then spent another $300 on a new wheelset. Then, another $300 on Campy levers, 10 spd conversion cassette, and other upgrades. Then, another $80 on saddle (worth the money), and $60 for the Thomson seatpost. Well, I rode 2800 miles in 6 months, and I'm addicted. I am now smarter. It would be better to spend $1500 now, rather than $500 now, and another $1000 in upgrades.

I am purely riding for recreational, stress relief, and to have fun. However, I do like to push myself. I am a speed junkie.

What do you guys think of these bikes on Ebay:

Daccordi Fibra 1 w/ Dura Ace 9 spd
Unique and up-to-date. I would get rid of the tubulars, though.

Litespeed Antares w/ Campy 10
Colorado Cyclist has this bike for $1900 on sale. The starting bid is less than dealer cost, they claim. I like the Campy drivetrain. I like the Campy Ergo shifters better than Shimano STI. Dunno about durability of the frame.

Litespeed Arenberg Titanium
Best frame of the bunch. 105 components are so-so, but more than adequate for my needs. At $1499, it is pushing my budget.

Colnago Master Olympic Competition
This bike is just cool. Updated Campy drivetrain with old school character. I don't know whether I'll go with something like this bike, or something 'NEW & IMPROVED.'

I looked at the very small selection of road bikes at two local bike shops, and well, I was very disappointed. $900-1100 road bikes are adorned with cheap Taiwanese seat binders and mediocre components. Judging by the spectrum of bikes in these shops, the owners are trying to appeal to the casual person making an impulse purchase.

Recommendations? Would love Ti, but it'd have to be used. Fuji Team and Giant TCR were recommended, and they are superlight and have great bang for the buck, but I think they might be too hardcore for me. Budget $900-1500. Would prefer Campy drivetrain, but I'd settle for Shimano. Old school is definitely cool by me, but I do not want an old bike with worn out drivetrain (i.e. upcoming money dumps). Size:56-58cm. I'm 6' even, 155 lbs.

Goal: the Porsche 911SC of road bikes. Durable, great performance, and oozes character like no tomorrow.

Jürgen

911pcars · 10-20-2003, 09:00 PM

Jurgen,
All the rides you picked are very nice. Each has their own ride characteristics (aluminum, ti, and steel). However, you must decide what frame will be most comfortable for you. In addition, the frame sizes are from 56 to 59 cm. What size fits you best?

I have an older Litespeed Catalyst, but the "I ride this bike" answers don't/shouldn't mean much to you unless you've ridden and like the ride quality. Too bad you can't test drive. Like cars, bikes take quite a hit on resale, so you could look around for a low-mileage bike for about half the price of a new one. The current prices are good, less so at their "buy it now" price.

To state the obvious:
In terms of ultimate life span (but how long are you going to keep it?), it goes like this: carbon fiber, aluminum, steel and ti (shortest to longest).

For ride quality: aluminum, steel, ti and carbon fiber (stiffest to most flexible).

All of the above are generalities. You can always find exceptions to the rule.
Geez, there are so many bikes on the market, it's hard to make a decision.

BTW, nothing wrong with the Trek 2300 CF bike. It was the same frame as the top of the line 2500 but with Ultegra instead of DuraAce hardware. Was it this bike that ate it?

Sorry I couldn't help more.

Sherwood

turbo6bar · 10-21-2003, 05:43 AM

That's the problem with buying mail order: it's a crapshoot unless I know exactly what I need/want. On the other hand, the local bike shop pushes me into whatever inventory they have on hand. "I recommend these Large winter gloves, since you hands will sweat and expand into the larger gloves." I wear a medium glove. The shop only has size Large.

The 2300 I have is CF with aluminum lugs and rear triangle. Great bike.

I never really thought about how long I want the bike to last. 5 years? If CF is the shortest lived, and I have an 8 year old CF frame, then I think any material will be fine.

56cm fits with long stem. 58cm fits with a shorter stem. The 59cm bike was c-t. When I was younger, I road a 62cm bike with no major problems. It was too big, without a doubt.

Jürgen

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Jürgen,

I would not buy a bike without riding it first - but at the same time would not buy a new bike either. There's too many good deals on used pro level equipment for the rec user. Where are you located? Checkout Cycling Forums, a great site similar to this one but geared for cyclists.

I just sold my 2300 ($250 - Dura Ace upgraded but lots of miles) on Craigs List, maybe you can find a bike local to you there. Also checkout the local cycling clubs - their racers are usually upgrading their gear every couple of years.

turbo6bar · 10-29-2003, 04:10 PM

Update for anyone who has a bicycling accident:
I was finally able to get in contact with the driver at fault. He gave me his insurance information. I called his agent, but no return call. I think this is called the "Shooo Fly" response. Unfortunately, they aren't getting off so easy.

My shoulder is still quite sore. Being so stubborn, I have still not seen a specialist. The family physician gave me anti-inflammatory drugs, but the joint is still swollen after just over 2 weeks. Tomorrow, I'm calling a local orthopedic/sports medicine specialist for an appointment. It looks like this injury is not going away anytime soon.

2 local bike shops urge me to write off the frameset after this accident. The experts state there is no way to be sure the carbon frameset is still safe to ride barring destructive testing. So, I'm reluctantly shopping for a new bike, after pounding out a lot of miles on ye ole Trek, and finally getting the bike set up just right. The downside is Memphis, TN is an abysmal place for bicycling. The bikes comparible to my Trek are not on the floor, so more than likely the replacement bicycle will be purchased sight unseen and never test ridden. The upside is I will strengthen a relationship with a local bike shop.

The past 2 weeks I have been patient. I want to be a nice guy, but I now realize no one is watching out for my best interests. The responsible driver is no longer the apologetic gentlemen seen at the accident scene, and I venture to guess his insurance company will be just as complacent and indifferent. The lack of empathy is disappointing. With each passing day, the damages only grow. Each day is another day without a bike. Each day is another day of working at sixty or seventy percent, instead of my usual 110%. At this point, reasonable money cannot compensate what I've been through. No, I'm not disabled and in a wheelchair, but this accident has dominated my waking hours. Sure wish many times this had never happened.

I think my best course of action is to get help with my shoulder. Then, I will pay all medical bills and buy a new bike from my own savings. Getting my life back in order is very important, and I shall take the quickest and easiest path. Then, I'll worry about settling with the insurance co., either personally or through an attorney(last resort).

Moral: Sometimes being a nice guy means you get sucker punched anyway.

C'est la vie.

Jürgen

911pcars · 10-29-2003, 04:30 PM

Sorry to hear the other party has their feet dragging on this.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't your auto insurance be your advocate in this situation? There was both personal and property damage caused by the other party, so I think your insurance company should be involved with this.

Don't let them off the hook. Just think, the other party's insurance company will have paid less if they had decided to take care of this claim earlier. Contact your insurance company, see an orthopedic/sports medicine specialist ASAP and get the required treatment, then start shopping around for new bike. The Colorado bike catalog is a good start.

Just my $.02
Sherwood