change

My brand new Trek Pilot 5.0, picked it up on Friday, riding it for the thrid time. He was speeding up as he passed me on the left in his attempt to make the right turn before I got to intersection. I was going straight. He didn't even apply his brakes until he began to turn. Once in the turn he realized he was cutting it to short, and he began screeching to a halt right in front of me. For a split second I contemplated swerving to his right, but I was uncertain at that point if he was going to continue to turn right because he hadn't yet come to a complete stop. If I had swerved to his right and he had continued his turn, I would have been broadsided by him, which would have been way worse. Instead, I did my best to slow my 215lb with those Cane Creek brakes, but it wasn't enough. I hit his right rear bumber, almost on the corner, and fell to my left side.

I get up, checking the bike before myself. 20 year old dufus comes bounding out of his white VW jetta, "Woah, dude! Are you ok?" All I could say was, "This is a 3 day old, $2,000 bike. WTF were you thinking driving like that?" He was apologetic, saying it was all his fault. I didn't give a crap. Look at my bike.

Left Ultegra brifter bent 45 degrees inward towards the stem and scratched all to hell. Left side of the handlebar bent severly inward. Bar tape destroyed. Left rear skewer handle scratched and bent. This bike has a carbon frame and fork, so I guess I need to have the LBS do a full inspection of the major components.

Some peds on the sidewalk near the accident saw everything and were giving the kid a tounge-lashing. All I could do was look at my bike despite the blood dripping from my elbow and knee. Other than that, I came away without bodily injury. Now that I'm thinking about it, it could have been way worse. I guess all my motocross and motorcycle crashes have taught me how to fall, because by my left hip took the brunt of the fall, destroying my shorts in the process.

GET THIS: While waiting for the cops to come and do their police report, the kid mentions that he rides road bikes! WTF?!?! That's when I let him have it. I started yelling at him because I couldn't believe that a fellow rider would drive that way around a bicycle. I was floored!!! A fellow rider. I still can't get over it.

Question for those of you that have been through this before: how hard is it to collect from his insurance? I'm taking the bike to the LBS in the morning because I want to ride again as soon as this thing is like new again. I have all his info: ins, the car is registered to his father. Liberty Mutual is the ins company. Any tips you guys can give will help tremendously. Anything I should ask the LBS to do since they are doing the repair? Thanks, guys.

jkizzle

Id imagine have them assess the damage (the LBS) and prepare a cost sheet for you. I'd nudge them towards needing a new bike, if you know what I mean....

Cnumb

People make mistakes, I don't think you should have chewed him out after he said he rides road bikes.

Zinn-X

Wow, what an ass. I'm glad you're okay, but it really sucks about your bike. Don't let his insurance company jerk you around, if they don't give you what you want, hire a lawyer.

Man, stuff like this just pisses me off. If that happened to me I would have been absolutely livid.

But please be more careful on your bike! You may have been in the right, but being right doesn't change anything when your body and bike get smashed up. It really pays to be defensive in traffic.

I'll be watching this thread to see how it turns out. Good luck, and I hope you're back on the road before too long!

UmneyDurak

So this is my experience take it for what it's worth.
I was hit by a clueless lady making a left turn. Report put her 100% at fault for failure to yield to on coming traffic. The bike was 5-7 month old. Fork was broken, front wheel was toast, crank was bent. I wrote the whole bike off, and LBS where I bought it from said as much to insurance. I was re-imbursed full value of the bike, plus all the upgrades I put on it. All my medical bills were payed. The lady had Farmers insurance.
I realize you just want to ride again, but take it slow. Actually I wouldn't really ride a bike, or have it fixed until you talk to insurance. Talk to the bike shop if the impact was bad enough, maybe it's worth writing the whole bike off and just getting a new one. Going the lawyer route might be worth it if you have tons of bills. For a 2k bike it might not be worth it to the lawyer or to you to take the case. You might end up with less then if you just talked to insurance yourself.
Actually since this is a carbon frame I would lean towards replacing the whole bike and making insurance pay for it. Remember once you settle thats it, end of story. So if frame detonates under you few month later, because of some internal crack, and you end up in a hospital it would be out of your and your health insurance pocket. Not the drivers insurance.

ridethecliche

I hope everything turns out alright for you. I'm still surprised at how many people are completely clueless at how to pass a cyclist by giving 3 feet of room instead of looking pissy and driving on the incoming traffic lane.

Sorry about your bike, I really hope that you heal up and the insurance issues get sorted out.

avmanansala

Two words: "Pain" and "$uffering"

If the PD (or community officer or volunteer or whoever) took an actual report, they should have documented (1) that he hit you and (2) that you had injuries. It should also list any witnesses. GET A COPY OF THE REPORT! It will be beneficial when you file your claim.

Glad you are all right. Good luck! Get yourself checked out with your doctor. Keep us informed.

change

Bulls**t. OF ALL PEOPLE, a roadie should know how to drive his car around a road bike. He intentionally sped over the 25mph speed limit to pass me, just to try to turn right before I got to the intersection. Someone who doesn't ride is usually oblivious to the fact that a bicycle may be in the vicinity of their car. Someone who rides should be completely aware. Whenever I ride in a car with my riding buddies and whenever I drive, we make sure to give the bike full use of the road and a very wide area to ride in. He deserved it.

change

Got the report. He told the officer that he was completely at fault.

mcoomer

Absolutely right...I would have been chewing his ass from the first second. And yeah, if you work with insurance for a damage estimate I'd push for a new bike. Also, don't rush to settle any insurance claim that may arise until you're sure that you're not injured.

change

I'm really concerned about the bike being carbon. I feel that this accident is going to constantly be in the back of my mind, making me wonder if there is a crack or flaw in some of the major components that may come back to haunt me later on - possibly causing further injury. I just want piece of mind. Is there a way for the LBS to say 100% for certain that there is NO, NONE, ZERO damage to the carbon?

For those saying to push for a new bike... any hints on how to get the LBS to "cooperate"? Is it possible to just get a check for the amount I paid for the bike (considering it's brand spanking new)? How much more of a process is that going to be than just getting what's broke repaired?

Geoff326

just cause he said he rides road bikes doesn't mean ****. if anything, he should've been more aware of a fellow cyclist if he's a supposed rider.

Zinn-X

exactly. the rare occasions when i drive my car, i go way the hell out of my way to avoid cyclists. if that means going over the center line to give them plenty of room, slowing down to let them take the lane, or waiting an extra 5 seconds when i want to make a turn, so be it.

gcl8a

Newsflash! Some cyclists are idiots, too!

Glad you're ok. Glad you know where your priorities are (checking over bike while blood drips from elbow ).

I doubt you'll have much trouble with insurance, since you have police report and witnesses.

good luck

Edonis13

i hope youre kidding.

to the OP, the kid is lucky you didnt beat the crap outa him. looks like you are going through all the proper channels to get yourself taken care of. good luck and keep us posted.

v1k1ng1001

botto 

and if you don't believe that, read bikeforums.

botto 

i rest my case.

rollin

I can't see how they could do this. You also need to be clear that if there is a faliure later then Trek will honour the original warranty without questioning the accident. I guess I'm paranoid but I would want a new frame.

I would be tempted to drop the frame a couple of times against a kerb side before I took it to the lbs for an assesment (accidentally of course)

At least you walked away, good luck!

bmclaughlin807

You're really going to go on an open forum and suggest that someone commit insurance fraud??? People go to prison for that, you know....

To the OP: If it were my bike, and I really wanted to make sure, I'd send the frame back to the manufacturer and have them check it out.

rollin

^^ I wasn't suggesting anyone do anything, I was merely saying "I would be tempted...."I forgot some people use the interwebs as their moral compass....

bmclaughlin807

Gotcha. I didn't really think you were actually suggesting it, but.... well... you never know.

maddyfish

Because people are stupid, is no reason not to admonish them. when somebody does something stupid, tell them or they may never know.

jrobe

Imagine after going through this that there are idiots on this forum wearing Ipods while riding so they are even less aware of the cars coming up behind them. I hope it works out all well for you.

Bontrager

The kid knew what he was doing. It wasn't a mistake. He almost killed someone. I'm sure you'd think differently if it was your wife or kid. People like that kid should not be driving.