That's what they've decided, but that doesn't mean you have to agree. What is stopping you from calling their insurance company, anyway? They think they're going to get out of this without paying their whole deductible or something? I don't get it. If their deductible is $700, then what difference does it make to them if their insurance pays the rest? I'm curious to know how they came to the $700 figure.

You do have another choice besides settling or small claims court. If you know a friendly attorney, you can ask him/her to write a demand letter which basically threatens a lawsuit without actually filing one. But first I would just tell them that $700 is just not good enough. You have no obligation to save these people any money. They're getting it good just because the bike shop is helping you out.

The other thing that occurs to me is that you don't know if you're going to be completely healed or whether the effects of therapy are going to last. You have a right to all the therapy that is needed to get you back as right as possible, and you don't have an obligation to pay for it out of your pocket, since they have admitted fault.

Don't just give in. Hold out for all that you're entitled to--even if it means you have to demand more than that to get it. They should at least be coerced into filing with their insurance company.

Good luck,
Karen