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02-02-05, 09:36 AM
The recent thread on advice after an accident made me wonder about other cyclists' experience with insurance adjustors. Someone mentioned a common ploy is for adjustors to offer 50% of damaged equipment, eg. ripped jacket, helmet. I think this sort of info would be helpful for those of us who choose to deal with adjustors directly, rather than hire legal representation. I think this whole thread has to be prefaced with the disclaimer that none of us our lawyers and no one's experience should be construed as giving legal advice (I seem to remember it is illegal to offer legal advice or some liability concerns there). If there are any personal injury lawyers out there, of course, I'd be interested to hear your opinion as well.
I only have one experience with insurance adjustors and I'm glad to share it. I was hit by a jeep in front of a fire station so paramedics were on the scene within the minute and someone called the police, a report was filed, the driver was charged with failure to yield. I got her insurance info, State Farm, and did a recorded deposition over the phone with the adjustor. I also went to my doctor the day of the accident to document a sore shoulder. State Farm paid for a week of bicycle rental, full replacement of jacket, helmet, and bicycle trailer, that were damaged in the collision, all of which came to about $1K. I received an equivalent amount in "pain and suffering". This amount was offered by the adjuster who said they usually offer half as much if I had been in a vehicle but because I took a "scrape across the pavement", they doubled it.
I only have one experience with insurance adjustors and I'm glad to share it. I was hit by a jeep in front of a fire station so paramedics were on the scene within the minute and someone called the police, a report was filed, the driver was charged with failure to yield. I got her insurance info, State Farm, and did a recorded deposition over the phone with the adjustor. I also went to my doctor the day of the accident to document a sore shoulder. State Farm paid for a week of bicycle rental, full replacement of jacket, helmet, and bicycle trailer, that were damaged in the collision, all of which came to about $1K. I received an equivalent amount in "pain and suffering". This amount was offered by the adjuster who said they usually offer half as much if I had been in a vehicle but because I took a "scrape across the pavement", they doubled it.