Can I rant for a minute?

[TxDoc]

Yesterday evening I picked up a new bicycle (Bianchi L'Una) from the shop. It took a loooooong time to find the frame in my size because Bianchi USA ran out of them a while ago - and of course it took a few more weeks to order all the right components and build it.
Well, as I said, yesteday evening I finally got to bring it home. Well, this afternoon a woman on a truck decided to run a stop sign right when I was in the middle of the intersection, and just hit me cold turkey. Apparently she did not see me (seriously, that is what she said to me and to the police officers that came by).
So now I'm here with a leg turned blue and purple all over, some road rash, but luckily nothing broken.
Thanks God the frameset is not damaged - but we have to replace a bunch of parts, including a wheel, part of the crankset, the saddle, cages, pedals... not even ONE FULL DAY out of the shop!!!
I am so mad I cannot even believe it!
Well, sorry ladies but I guess I just needed to vent out 'cos I am really ticked off!

[madscot13]

that sounds like an insurance claim and she is at fault. sorry. but you know the best things are worth the wait.

[Eden]

Please tell me she was ticketed! Talk about utterly ridiculous, whether she saw someone or no one in the intersection - SHE RAN THE STOP SIGN.... had she just stopped at it no one would have been harmed.

I had some yo-yo try to do the same to me in an intersection today (I was going straight he was turning left - I had arrived at the stop before him and was proceeding through when he decided to turn nearly into me). I yelled and had to swerve and told him to watch it... he said he was watching... I missed my opportunity to ask him if that was an admission to attempting to assault me with his car...

[TxDoc]

Thanks ladies, sometimes a good rant makes you feel better...

Please tell me she was ticketed!

Of course not - if you or I had ran a stop sign we would have, but the lucky woman works for the police department... so as soon as she admitted fault and agreed to covering all bills the officers were more than satisfied and suggested resolving everything with insurance. Not that I care about people getting tickets, really - but I do care about someone learning the lesson. And I think she has: she got so scared that I'm quite sure next time she will look back and forth a few times before driving off a stop sign.

The frame is carbon, right? Please get it inspected very well & have your shop see if they can get a new one--from Italy if need by. And I'd frankly just want everything new if it can be done.

Yep, everything carbon, frame, fork, post, bars, stem, cages... I had two bike mechanics (the ones that work on my bikes all the time) inspected frame, fork, and all the parts for hours. They inspectd and tested the frame and then the frameset alone, and then they placed some different components on it to make sure that everything was in perfect working order.
Their conclusion is that the frame did not report any damage mainly because it was (I'm serious) "protected" by my legs. So basically my legs and one wheel took most of the hit from the truck and the ground - instead of the frame. How nice...
So, the evidence does not support a new frame - but definitely a bunch of new parts. They are putting them on order today, and honestly suggested to replace everything that was even just scratched with a new part. Not my intention to rip people off or anything, but a deep scratch in a small carbon part can mean a broken part very soon - and I am not going to take chances.
Oh well, it could have ended up worse!

[KnottedYet]

((((TxDoc))))

((((Bianchi L'Una))))

[arielmoon]

(((TxDoc)))

I am glad you are ok.... you are not replaceable!

GORGEOUS bike!!

[Ann G]

TxDoc, I'd be swearing if I were you. You deserve to do more than rant. I hope that her insurance covers everything and her rates go up.

[ibcycling]

Not my intention to rip people off or anything, but a deep scratch in a small carbon part can mean a broken part very soon - and I am not going to take chances.
Oh well, it could have ended up worse!

I would happily nail her for every little scratch! You're not ripping her off, the bike was less than 24hrs old. It's not like you have an older bike with previous scratches or damage. I would be furious!

Hope you heal fully and quickly and are back to riding your beautiful Bianchi soon.

Lora

[Grog]

Wow! Sorry about that, but really glad you're okay.

[uforgot]

Ditto on the "glad you're okay". Your description of the accident makes it seem like a miracle that you escaped with bruises. Whew! Too many stories on TE that didn't end so well. Go ahead and rant away.

[Wahine]

Wow that's really crappy!! I can understand your frustration. I'm gald you're OK tho.

[ilima]

That deserves way more than a minute of ranting. Seriously. I hope your leg & you are feeling better soon.

Make sure you get some insurance money for pain & suffering. Be nice to the claims adjuster & they'll work with you. You and your bike deserve to be made whole. Did she seem to think it's okay to run a stop sign if a quick glance indicates the intersection is clear? She does realize she's supposed to always stop, doesn't she. What an idiot.

The frame is carbon, right? Please get it inspected very well & have your shop see if they can get a new one--from Italy if need by. And I'd frankly just want everything new if it can be done.

I'm so sorry this happened and I know you must feel horrible. And just plain disgusted.

[NbyNW]

Sounds like you might be sore for a while but glad you're otherwise okay.

I think truck-driving lady needs to get her vision checked AND buy you a new bike.

[Duck on Wheels]

YIKES! I'm glad you're raging and ranting rather than quaking from shock. And I'm even more glad you weren't more badly hurt!! Now that you're done checking for broken bones and concussions and such, and also have an overview over the bike damage (and yes, with a carbon frame I would be wary after a collision even if it looks ok) ... I say go get her in the wallet where it hurts! Get your LBS to write up a letter stating the obvious damage and the possibility of hidden damage, recommending new parts for now and a new frame as soon as it can be shipped over. Also take photos of the bruises at their most colorful. Add on ... what? Lost work time? ER visit? PT follow-ups? And don't forget to mention pain, shock, lost sleep. Submit all this to her insurer, and if they dither about paying then sic a lawyer on 'em. And don't forget to follow up with the cops too. Ask if she's been cited. Ask if they need you to witness. If this lady can't see the stop sign and can't see a cyclist right in front of her on a shiny new Bianchi, then what the H€ll is she doing at the wheel of a truck???

[teigyr]

Yeah you can rant. At least you're ok but I understand the frustration...that and it's scary.

If there's any good side to this (and there really isn't), at least she was honest. I bet that is the last time she makes that mistake.

Please continue to make sure that you had no further damage and I second the fact your bike should be inspected. I hope she at least got a ticket but her insurance should be paying for your medical costs and bike replacement/repairs.