Accident Damages Claim Advice

It's too late for Bikeman01's prang but with incidents such as this call the Police. Cuts & bruises only? One can never be sure, concussion is a real problem please don't take the risk. And bystanders are more likely to provide names/address to the Police.

It is a tough one. If it was two cars with no injury, you swap insurances and you both make a claim with your own insurers, who then contact each other to recover costs from the "at fault" parties insurer. It is not usually you contacting another persons insurance company on their behalf so have they actually done that? If he hasn't, the delay could be Admiral trying to get details from the driver.

As far as I'm aware, CUK (and BC) are claiming for the injuries or legal protection for you if sued for injuries caused, I doubt they are involved for just property damage as that is what insurance companies are for.

If you haven't got bike insurance, the contact your home insurance as it might cover it. If not then sending a legal letter might get a faster response. 

But either way, any claims, especially if disputed may take several months to pay probably so bike wise, you might have to bite the bullet and by cheap replacement until money comes through.

I would suggest taking bike insurance out using the discounts provided seperately if the cost of the bike is more then you can easily replace, even if you have other legal cover. 

I'm surprised and a little shocked at the CUK reaction.

An expectation of legal support beyond my household policy is my main reason, other than supporting cycle campaiging, for being a member.

Do you have legal cover on your household insurance?

If yes, might be worth taking to them.

I have been in this situation before. Don't expect anyone to care or be in any sort of hurry to send you a cheque. Non injury incidents are beneath the radar of the Police and claims agents, just not worth their effort / time.

I don't think that threatening a personal injury claim if Admiral don't cough up pronto is a good idea. You are either injured or you are not, you cannot just decide later that you are and want compensation.

My suggestion would be to keep it simple, submit legitimate losses only with evidence. Bike, helmet, clothing etc. Be polite to anyone at Admiral you do get to correspond with. Be patient, but persistent. If you have camera footage this will really help prove fault by their insured.

HTH. Best of luck.

I hope you did report it online to the police. They might well say that it's not necessary as they're not going to do anything, but if collisions aren't reported, then it throws off the road safety stats. Also, the driver's insurance company would surely want to know about the collision so that they can adjust the driver's premiums (they're going to be far less interested in paying out money though). Additionally, incidents should be reported to avoid the "otherwise law abiding" defence used if the driver gets involved in another incident.

A reminder to all to take photos at the scene of the accident, in case the driver later changes their mind about admitting liability. The bike lying in the main road broken with the car directly in front of it (having clearly crossed give way lines) will likely rebut any dubious claims about a different course of events.

Pretty shitty response from all organisations, almost makes a case for calling an ambulance after any collision between car and bike (who knows what hidden injuries may have occurred), to make sure everything is recorded properly. 

A a Cycling UK Member, you should have free access to Cycle SOS, who are a firm of personal injury lawyers as you require (strictly speaking a trading name of Fletchers Solicitors). I would try the Cycling UK Incident Line again, or else try contacting Cycle SOS directly and informing them that you are a Cycling UK Member (https://www.cycle-sos.co.uk/)

Note that legal cover is separate to Cycling UK's third party insurance provider.

This should be cheaper than instructing your own, although if you do wish to then prior to Cycle SOS, legal cover to Cycling UK was provided by Leigh Day, and British Cycling members get access to Slater & Gordon, so those two firms are presumably also reputable and well versed in dealing with cycling incidents. 

Insurance companies are notoriously slow to reply, I should give them at least 10 days before going to the expense of employing a lawyer (as others have stated, no-win no fee is for really for personal injuries, if you get the driver to pay for a new bike how is the legal firm going to take their percentage out of that?).

I could be wrong, but I think as David says that the no win no fee deals are for personal injury claims. I doubt anyone will do it on a property damage only claim, and you can't recover your legal costs from the other party in a small claim. However, worth talking to one of those firms to check

Although this isnt going to be personal injury claim bear in mind photo graphs of the scrapes and emerging bruises would be additional evidence that something happened.

It would do no harm to photograph them now and again in a couple of days.

Its a timely warning that the CUK insurance cover is essentially only the equivalent of motor 3rd party, and that leaves you with contesting with the insurance company.

Slater & Gordon - seem to be the best option. 

if you read the Cycle magazine, it's full of firms advertising and there is meant to be an CUK Incident Line: 

https://www.cyclinguk.org/member-benefit/cycling-uk-incident-line

I found a law firm through a no win / no fee referral service - you may have this bundled with other insurance policies.

Of course you must claim - but this is a lousy game all about money, as you're already finding, that you're going to be engaged in: Don't die of fright if the driver claims off you and/or "witnesses" appear out of the woodwork. You should get a crime number from the police. 

Are you sure you're unhurt yourself? The system seems more geared up to bodily injury - the cost of replacing your bike is small beer in the injury scheme of things.

Without some independent verification you could be on to a loser here  - a witness, CCTV, or just a driver with a conscience (). 

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23683050.inquest-cyclist-died-hit-vauxh...

Don't do with I did and contact the driver direct. I took my father's bad advice, and got a 'phone call from the police saying not to do that again.  That would be the same police that the driver lied her head off to about what happened.