Bicycle Accident

deed02392

Hey,

I got hit by a taxi last thursday, causing damage to my bike, bag, and the portable hard drive in my bag.

I got the bike fixed for just £35. The HDD was worth £80 (2.5" 1 TB I just bought!!) and the bag cost £50 but quite a while ago.

I just got called by the taxi company now I'm trying to sort insurance out and they said they'd like to sort it privately. I said not to worry about the bag so that's £115 I would like to replace my posessions.

A friend of mine was recently in an accident too and said she got a payout of compensation.

Should I settle privately or could I get the chance to get some compensation as well as settle the value of my broken goods?

Thanks for any advice.

Quentin

You need a reason to be compensated (injury/loss of earnings/inconvenience/loss of use of bike/out of pocket expenses whilst bike being repaired etc)

If you have a reason, then you can ask and get compensated, though you may need to go to their insurer, so be careful what you sign in relation to the compensation you already agreed.

McKneff

Dont be daft, you are being too soft. claim for your bag if it was damaged.

Did you have any injuries yourself.

They will be afraid you will go to a claims company wihich will cost them a lot more than they are going to give you.

It is a requirement of the taxi company to inform their insurance company of any incidents anyway.

Claim what you are owed, you have done nothing wrong.
If you have any injuries, claim for those too. If they dont play ball ask for their insurance company details and watch the colour drain from their faces.

Like I say, don't be soft.

McKneff

I wonder why post no. 3 disappeared

It said 'I have PMd you ?????

deed02392

Hi guys thanks for the replies so far. Well I was quite lucky, I wasn't even wearing a helmet and I was OK apart from some bruising on my abdomen (I kind of fell onto my chest) and cuts on my knees. And the driver was nice about it. Maybe that is why I'm feeling soft. But that's also why I've come here, to try and get some objective thoughts on the matter.

Two people have written to me and told me they got payouts of over £1,000 but I think their accidents were more severe (although it was pure luck it wasn't more severe for me).

Any ideas on how to go about quantifying compensation in terms of the inconvenience caused getting into work etc.? My thoughts so far is just let them pay for repairs and a new hard drive. That is what I said on the phone to the company, they said they'd talk to their manager and call me back.

Now I'm thinking I want a new bag anyway because it bothers me when I see the markings as it reminds me of the accident.

McKneff

I would suggest you deal with them in writing, it's crucial, even if it is by emai.

Tell them you have been approached by No Win, No Fee people and you really dont want to go down that route.

You are rescinding your earlier conversation to them.

Outline what you have lost, include everything, even if you have had to take the bus/taxi anywhere, include that too and ask them what level of compensation they will offer for injury (take a photo of your bruising if you still have it)

You have done nothing wrong and you should at least be put back into the position you were in before all this happened.

If they dont play ball, ask them for their insurance details. That;ll teach 'em.

chris-j

I dislike ambulance chasers but seriously here claim for the damage - harddrive, bike repair and bag + consider your time and any additional costs while bike being repaired. You also say you bruised abdomen, get this checked that it is just superficial.
Agree though that you correspond in writing as verbal communications are nothing more than heresay and people can quickly change tune especially if insurers get involved because they are protective of their client and their standard instructions is to claim no liability.