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Old 01-10-08 | 03:12 PM
  #9  
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John E
feros ferio
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Joined: Jul 2000
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From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us

Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;

Some BF members have read about my sole experience in this arena:
1) date: 30 years ago (therefore, you may want to triple all of my Nov. 1976 dollar amounts, for inflation);
2) fault: 100% motorist (left turn across my path, into a driveway);
3) bicycle damages: bent top tube & downtube on db Reynolds 531 frame -- $200;
4) injuries: moderate concussion, two facial lacerations, clavicle fracture;
5) total medical expenses: $600 for ER visit, to x-ray and set clavicle, suture cuts on chin and cheekbone, and for overnight observation at UCLA Medical Center;
6) final settlement: $2700 with no "future contingency medical" rights. (I don't think they offered those back then, because I recall thinking how appropriate that should be, in case my concussion caused any future problems.)

I was advised that a customary pain-and-suffering settlement runs about 3 to 4 times total medical costs, and I was also advised that I probably settled somewhat too cheaply. However, if I had gone through an attorney who would have kept 40% of my total settlement, I would have had to get close to $4500 just to break even.

Interpret and extrapolate from my data with caution. This was California in 1976, i.e., no stupid "no fault" insurance laws. Your location may differ. Your time of occurrence obviously differs.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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