Originally Posted by
GGDaddy
I think this is the best advice in the thread.
If you got hit by someone and their insurance company is involved, don't waste time quibbling over whether your bike's "fair market value" should be $700 or $900.
Find a good attorney who will talk to them for you about "pain and suffering" and "punitive damages." It will take a lot more time, but you will get paid your due. If this happened to insurance companies more often, then like I said above, perhaps they'll start funding bicycle awareness campaigns.
This is nonsense. If the guy in the car was drunk or hit the guy intentionally, then maybe punitive damages, but otherwise, no.
Pain and suffering requires an injury to the body. Damage to a bike does not result in pain and suffering damages.
Unless there is bodily injury, good luck getting an attorney. There is not enough money involved to warrant taking such a case on a contingent fee, and hourly fees would render the claim meaningless.
I just love internet legal advice. Nothing good ever comes of it.