Unless he can get one for free or very low cost, such as through a legal aid society, that $15K + the value of the bike is going to disappear pretty quickly. A better approach might be to see what the "small claims court" jurisdictional limit is. If damages are below that limit, it might be worth pursing the claim on his own after giving the insurance company an ultimatum.


Many years ago I got hit by a cab while commuting. I am a lawyer. When the cab's insurance company tried to dick me around over the repairs to my bike (only a few hundred dollars), I told them they had better deliver the check within X number of days or I would take them to small claims court. I also told them that they better hope I don't develop some soft tissue pain in my back. They put the check through my mail slot the next day with a release for me to sign, which I never did sign. The poetic justice of it all was that the check was delivered by...wait for it...a bike courier.