Minor accident last night: typical Berkeley driver turns right without signaling, or even looking. Hit the left side of my bike, and I went over the bars and landed on my right side. Just a couple of scrapes, nothing too serious. He apologized and gave me his contact and insurance info.

So, my question is, what's the best way to collect on the damages? I could a) call the driver or b) go directly to his insurance company (AAA - which I hear is kind of a PITA). What have you done in similar circumstances?

FWIW, I'm estimating the damages at less than $200. My helmet may have hit the ground, so I should probably replace it to be safe ($100). Rear wheel was knocked out of true ($15), and the bar tape is a little torn ($25). Once I get the wheel back from the shop later today, I'll see if there's any other mechanical trouble. Probably should have the frame checked for cracks, too.

Anything else I should consider? TIA for your advice.

i'd give the guy a chance to pay you before going to the insurance company.
ride the bike for a day or two, maybe go to a doctor tomorrow, and then, once you're sure you're ok, and the bike is too, give the guy a call and let him know what everything cost.

Without proof of the accident- good luck.

When I got hit most recently I called the cops and made sure they ticketed the guy that way I had proof he was at fault.

I gave him the options of either paying it himself or letting insurance take care of it. His insurance company called me the next day and cut me a check a week later.

I also got $250 for saying that I was not hurt and not planning to sue for my scratches and bruises. Since most states don't have any policy for rental car bike equivallents, that's how I spent it.

yeah i'm in a similar situation. no police report was filed because at the time (just being hit by a car and all) i didnt realize how badly i was hurt or that i would miss a day of work, and since he (the kid who hit me, we were friends in highschool) drove me home i didnt notice that my wheels were untrued. so that sucks alot

but i'm trying to get an incident report tomorrow with the cops name and everything.

between the scraped fork, ripped saddle, ER visit + meds, and missed day of work. i'm really hoping he'll pay so i dont have to go through his insurance

besides, what happens if i give him the option of paying or giving me his insurance, and he does neither?

Yea. the cops should have been called. Its really hard to do anything if there was no report of a hit. Being that you were on a bike(and got hit with no police report), the insurance co. will prob. do nothing. Id say call the guy up and pull a few bluffs

always call the cops when there's an accident.

if you didn't call the cops however, there's still a chance you can file a report. go to the precinct and ask for the form to file for an accident. i know in NYC you can do this, and actually have to if it's a car on car accident or you get your license suspended.

dude that hit my girlfriend in August gave the cops fake insurance info. ****ty.

Is it worth all the trouble for $200? What maters is that you are alive. At least that is how i look at it... and i recently got hit also.

When I got hit in July, my front wheel got knocked waayy out of true, almost tacoed. My bell on my handlebars was shattered, and the rear rack that was on my bike was bent down an inch on one side. I think I also tweaked the fork and/or rear dropout.

For the most part, I was ok, a scraped knee, elbow, palm, and chin, no real serious injuries.

I got up, and rode the rest of the way to work. I didn't even bother with insurance or anything.

I should probably check the alignment of the frame/frok with the proper tools soon. I was able to beat the wheel back into decent trueness.

all the answers seem to assume the guys not cool....and is going to screw you.. you sound honest about the assesment...just give him a chance...that amount is under most peopes deductable so im sure he'd rather pay out of pocket then pay out of pocket and have his rates go up.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. The guy did seem ok -- showed me his policy card as he wrote down his contact info, encouraged me to call, etc. So I'll try working with him directly, otherwise go through AAA if he prefers it or flakes.

I encourage everyone to always call the police with anything more than the most minor accident. (this is especially true for sbornia in Berkeley, since I ride professionally there!)
1) you get an official record of the accident on the spot, rather than having to deal with insurance companies that have little or no knowledge of bike law/costs
2) for minor accidents, this is even more important than #1: you get included in accident statistics. Cities use these in establishing bike lanes, right-of-ways, and protected access, etc. sbornia-Accident statistics are why there is now a protected lane around the 14th st side of Lake Merrit. If cities think we don't get hit by cars, they won't work to protect us.

Get a lawyer. You ever try to deal with ins. co's on your own? I actually did, after a motorcycle accident where I broke three ribs and my bike was wrecked, spent overnight in the hosp. etc. There I am "dialing for dollars" and getting no where because the ins. co's love making mincemeat of people who try to take them on alone. Well, needless to say I've got a few days off of work to heal up and there's all this awful daytime TV on, with plenty of "ambulance chaser" lawyer commercials. A lightbulb goes off over my pointy little head, and I realize that's just what i need. Open the yello pages and look up a motorcycle lawyer, a couple of weeks later my medial bills are all paid, and I get enough to get a new bike. So, get a bicycle lawyer.

OK.

If it's only 200 bucks, I'd just call him. Did the car look nice? If so, then the person probably has 200 bucks to give you and probably would prefer not to get embroiled in any kind of legal battle.