hmarks

Last night my friend got hit by a car. He was riding straight through an intersection and a guy turning left failed to yield. My friend hit the side of his car and toppled over it. He's fine, just a little banged up. The driver admitted to being at fault.

The problem is that my friend was riding his '88 Centurion Dave Scott Master. Both wheels are bent, the fork is bent, and he just noticed that the top tube bubbled where it meets the head tube, so the frame is not salvageable either.

I'm wondering what the best way to go about things is. It's not just like he can go out and find another Master in the same size, color, and condition. The guy driving the car said he would pay up to $500 out of pocket, anything more he would go through his insurance.

Is it worth it to go through insurance? How does the insurance company figure out the value of a vintage bike? My friend would like to get $1k so he can cover the cost of getting a new Master, time lost finding a new one, healing, et cetera.

Ex Pres 

Is he absolutely, positively, 120% sure he's not more than just a little banged up? If not, you don't want to forfeit his option of ever going back to get compensation. File a report. Get a bike shop to quote a replacement bike with similar construction (lugged steel) & component group, and in writing.

hmarks

The problem with getting a quote from a bike shop is that most of the shops in LA don't know anything about vintage bikes.

eschlwc

he should get x-rays at the least. you have to potect yourself legally.

ColonelJLloyd 

Absolutely.

It doesn't have anything to do with vintage bikes. It has to do with a replacement of a lugged steel bicycle with the frame features like the one destroyed.

When a friend of mine was hit and his 80s Lotus sport tourer destroyed he had his bike shop prepare an estimate for replacement with the same features (he may have had several estimates prepared, I don't recall). It had to be custom as there are no production bikes like that today. The insurance company never batted an eye. So, he rides a new, custom Mercian Vincitore. It's a nice bike, but it didn't cure the tinnitus or heal his bruises any faster. The medical damages were a separate matter to be dealt with.

+1
A report should be filed and the driver's insurance company involved. Regarding the bicycle, it's about the replacement cost, not the value of the bike now or in 1988.

KvltBryce

That guy's deductible is probably only $500, I would file a report.
It's not like the insurance company is going to run out of money or anything.

You may be able to get a legitimate quote from someone on here, through their businesses, in writing.

mainstreetexile 

I can't add advice to the other points, but for this one at least, I know that this bike shop deals with a lot of refurbished vintage bikes and may be able to give you a better estimate of your friend's bike: https://www.cocosvariety.com/

KonAaron Snake 

Some quick thoughts...

As others said, see a doctor.
The replacement value on a similar bike (used) is less than $500. I'd take the money and leave it be. It's a relatively common, mid-level Japanese bike.
He can admit fault on scene as much as he wants, unless you have a police report, it's pretty much meaningless. The girl who hit me admitted fault on scene. She told her insurance company a different story...fortunately her new story didn't jibe with the police report. Insurance companies encourage certain responses so as to avoid pay out.
If he doesn't have photos of damage to the car, he needs to get that now.

Without a police report you're at a serious disadvantage. I was right hooked by a teen brat several years back - no serious damage. I got her info, rode away. She was crying on scene, apologizing, etc. Later - it was a different story. I was going to let it go - her dad called and said I owed them money for their door. I told him where to stick it, called the police, filed a report (they had beat me to the punch) and it was a he said/she said. What i learned - get a police report. Try to gather witnesses, if possible. TAKE PHOTOS of EVERYTHING...bike placement, car damage, etc. Don't trust ANYONE.

repechage

https://tedsmanhattancycles.com/

Ask for Ted, he is not there all the time, but he KNOWS. Do not expect an appraisal for free, but any appraisal worth anything will not be.

Wes, at Soundcycles on Pico.

There, that is two.

4Rings6Stars

I don't understand about these stories people getting (or wanting) $1K to replace an 80's sport tourer because that's what a new one would cost. If I was riding my motorcycle in the situation described by the OP, wouldn't I just get the depreciated book / market value of the motorcycle? Could I say to the insurance company "Yeah, but Yamaha doesn't make a 1992 FZR 600 any more, so I'm going to need $11K for a new R6".

rootboy 

A fool might give you that, but not an insurance adjuster. Operable word here: adjuster.

clubman 

The exact same accident happened to to me in 1998. Police were called, insurance company was notified, I went to the doctors for a once over. The insurance company referred me to a reputable bike shop where I took the bike and they declared that it was bent and beyond repair. The bike an 80's Norco, mid level road bike. The bike shop informed the insurance company that a similar quality bike in todays ('98) money was about $800. I bought my Lemond Tourmalet from them, new off the floor of the shop by adding another c-note. I then paid a $50 salvage fee to the insurance company for the dead Norco and kept the useable components. The Norco originally cost me $75 in a garage sale but that's not the point. The guy could have killed me and buying me a decent bike was the least they could do since I didn't try fake an injury or make some stoopid claim and try to bilk them out of some big dough!

KonAaron Snake 

And how much work and aggravation did you go through for a relatively low amount of money? Everyone is different, but if I wasn't hurt, I'd take the $500 and be done.

I'm also confused about how you deserved it for not committing insurance fraud. Don't get me wrong, I think what you did was reasonable, but deserved it?

dbakl

Get a doctor for a complete exam. Get treatment for any ailments or injury. Get an acceptable replacement bicycle. Get a lawyer to handle your case on contigency. Don't be in a rush to accept anything until you know exactly where you stand.

lostforawhile

it doesn't matter what you paid, it's what the actual value is worth, hypothetical situation, some one sold you a Ferrari for 1000 dollars, then someone totaled it, is the car only worth a thousand because that's what you paid? it;s worth what the book value or a similar replacement would cost, it's not like you are saying you don't have the bike, thats not a question, you own the bike and the market value is such and such a dollar amount, it;s also completely legal to buy back the damaged bike for salvage

clubman 

Cmon, I winked. Last time I checked I had no insurance claims nor had I sued anyone over the last 54 years. That gives me a little good Karma, wot?

IMO there should be no issues getting a new and comparable bike in return for the one that you t-boned into the side of some blind arsepicks van.

It wasn't a lot of hassle but everyones insurance is different so YMMV.

RobbieTunes

It's common sense vs. attitude of entitlement.

KonAaron Snake 

There's nothing wrong with it at all and the insurance company was happy to end the claim cheap. :wink: the wording confused me and I missed the wink.

roadrunner2012

How does one know they aren't hurt? A seemingly minor injury at age 25 can be a career ending injury at age 55, no matter your profession.

RobbieTunes

Well, legally, it is about the value of the bike at the time of the accident. In every state except the state of entitlement.

To the OP, good luck. The people offering you advice would probably never give your friend $500 for any Ironman, but will be glad to tell you it's worth more. PM me if you want any info on evaluating an Ironman. I think I know their values fairly well, and how to present them.

Delmarva

A deductible would only apply to the comp/collision coverage for the insureds property. The bodily injury and property damage coverage we as motor vehicle operators are all required to have covers the injured bicyclist and his bike and has no deductible. It does have dollar limits. And yes he should definitely file a claim for both bodily injury and property damage asap. He should see a doctor for an evluation and not guess at his physical condition. He should get back replacement cost of the bike if he can document the value of the bike and any improvements he made. He should be prepared to argue some with the claims adjuster but ultimately he will prevail for all costs if he pushes a bit.

Force 

What he said.

vjp

If you are hit and knocked off your bicycle the VERY FIRST THING you should do (if able) is call the police and have them come to the scene. It is not like you bumped bumpers in two vehicles you were sent over the hood of the car.

Get the police report and call a lawyer. Let them handle it for you.

RobbieTunes

Total BS.

RobbieTunes

Absolutely. The lawyer needs the money more than you do. Be sure to ask the lawyer about the discount the doctor or chiro will be giving him on your medical bills, and at the end of the claim, find out exactly how much each of them pocketed from your claim.