Originally Posted by
BikeArkansas
I am a marine surveyor, which means I inspect boats. Most of my work is for insurance companies and I deal with the very same issues as this bicycle case, only with boats. Sometimes I actually work for the insured, but not often, even though insureds would be much better off if they hired surveyors instead of threatening law suits.
Facts presented to the insurance companies by "experts" in the field carry the most weight. Have a quality bicycle shop prepare an honest cost to put you back to the same level bicycle you had at the time of the accident and most insurance companies will work with you at once.
Good luck.
I agree the OP should submit a detailed invoice from his lbs, but I can't approach the level of confidence you have that the insurance adjuster will immediately begin to work with you. Adjusters are paid to yank you around as long as possible before paying anything. These people are MUCH better at yanking you around than you probably are at intimidating them! My money will be on the adjuster every single time. I'm for submitting the invoice in a friendly yet firm manner by certified mail with a 30 day cutoff, at which time I would turn it over to an attorney. Otherwise they will drag it out, wearing OP down bit by bit, until he finally settles for peanuts, and the adjuster will get an "Attaboy" in December of 2010 when they finally mail the paltry payoff check.