The accident:
14 months ago, when I was riding my bike, a driver hooked right just in front of me and my bike/body slammed into the back of her car. I can provide more details if necessary.
The consequences:
Bike damage=$ 200 repairs. My back was in pain for a couple of weeks. Nothing debilitating, but notable. A few months later, I reinjured my back playing golf (I don't usually play), Which causes me to wonder whether I will continue to suffer from minor or major back issues as a result of this accident.
The verdict:
I was shocked when Progressive decided that it was shared negligence. The driver lied about how this happened. And my witness fell off the face of the earth... But why would I have ridden into a car?
My question:
Out of principle, I didn't settle the claim at first. Now, there's a new adjuster who wants to settle the case.
He's willing to take care of my bike expenses and my medical expenses. He also seems to be feeling me out for what kind of other cash settlement I want.
I just wanted to wait and see whether my back got worse. But, since I probably can't find my witness again... and the statute of limitations is ending in 9 months... ... I guess I should just settle.
Can anyone suggest whether I have any alternative to settling now? If not, any suggestions on what to ask for?
I want to be clear that I am not trying to steal from an insurance company. (In fact, I think that it's robbery on their part that they let a driver with a history of accidents lie about causing an accident with a biker).Instead, I am trying to figure out the best course of action, since I can't leave the claim open much longer, but I DON'T KNOW whether my back is fully healed or not. Do I have to settle? If I must, how I can best protect myself given I don't KNOW if my back has latent issue?
BTW, to the first respondent, why shouldn't I be able to play golf with my dad once without injuring my back? I'm otherwise healthy.
Also, keep in mind that I've paid auto insurance premiums for years and I've never cost an insurance company a dime. I'd imagine you'd feel differently if you were laying in the street with a crumpled bike because a bad driver thought that she could "get around you".
I <3 my Suby.
So you don't usually play golf but one day decided to and hurt your back? I don't see why you think you are entitled to money for that. If you want to be compensated for any long term pain, you need to have been seeing a doctor from the time of the accident and having record of the pain from the time of the incident. You didn't do that and can't prove the accident caused the injury at this point so should get nothing. Stop raising every ones premiums to make a few bucks. Lot's of people get hurt playing golf.
You have every right to play golf but to have no pain till now and suddenly 14 months later get hurt playing golf doesn't mean it is from the accident. Plus youare only tellung your side of the story so there is no way for anyone here to say one way or another. I drive around in a city with more cyclists than most. Most do not know the rules and 90% of incidents are the cyclists fault.
Rocco B
you might to look at this
Orignal From: Help with Bike/Car Accident Insurance Claim?
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