My new Madone - you will NOT believe what happened to me!

[KnottedYet]

How did you escape injury if the bike hit hard enough to snap in 4 places? Someone was looking out for you. I bet that young driver learned a lesson she'll carry with her forever.

Carbon fiber. It absorbed the impact by breaking spectacularly. Goooooood bike! Extra love in that bike's direction!

ETA: be sure to replace your helmet, too. Another designed-to-be-disposable item which sacrifices itself on impact.

[divingbiker]

oh, my.

[Kelly728]

Wow, glad you are ok and that her insurance will cover that bike.
Poor bike...At least you can say you got 2 new bikes in one week?

[OakLeaf]

Oh, man, that stinks.

So glad you're okay!

[Aggie_Ama]

Glad you are ok! The bike is replaceable but you aren't. It is still a beautiful machine.

[GulfCoastAmy]

How awful! Thank God you are ok.

[deeaimond]

thank goodness you're safe!

ps, would you keep your 1.6mile old bike? I would, just to show it for generations to come...

[kenyonchris]

So sorry, I know firsthand (having recently destroyed my new bike) that it SUCKS....but you can replace it and make it even better!!
Good for the cop to cite the driver, lots of times on accidents they don't (for a bike v. car accident I will cite either party that is at obvious fault....that is just way too close to a fatality for me)....
Make sure you get a copy of the CFS (probably no official report, but there will be officer notes on the call sheet)...he probably gave you a "report" or "call" number. It just says he was there and an accident involving you did occur.
GLAD YOU ARE OK!!

[Mr. Bloom]

As a fellow Madone owner...I still say - I'm glad it was the bike and not you!

Wow!

[MtnBikerChk]

Thanks everyone - I still choke up when I talk about it and it helps so much to have so many good vibes coming from all directions

Your questions - let's see:
1. I picked up a copy of the police report today and he got it SPOT on. I sent that along with the receipt for the bike and computer today.

2. how did I escape injury? LUCK! I remember grabbing the rear brake as hard as I could - I don't remember if I hit the front at all but I'm sure the rear skidded around in front of me as it locked out and hit the car first - that explains the impact to the rear triangle. Then my shins hit the car and or bike. I have no road rash and no bruises that would indicate I hit the ground. It's very odd - I wish I could remember but it all happened so fast. I have a nasty bruise behind my left leg (I'm guessing from the seat or top tube) and my right knee has a big bruise and a few cuts on my right shin and my right elbow is bruised - not sure if you can picture that impact. I never hit my head or my neck. My clothing isn't ripped and my shoes are ok. WEIRD!

3. I think my next madone will be a different color - I start to tear up when I look at the pieces in the back of my car (it folds up very small now LOL)

4. I've already spoken to the shop (several times). At the first sign of low balling I'm calling an attorney - I'm not in the mood to mess around

[OakLeaf]

I remember grabbing the rear brake as hard as I could - I don't remember if I hit the front at all but I'm sure the rear skidded around in front of me as it locked out and hit the car first

Some panic braking practice is in order, whenever you get your new frame and feel good enough to try it.

Remember that 70-75% of your braking power comes from your front brake.

[redrhodie]

You must have been so mad! I would have had to be restrained!

I'm sure you're devastated, but you really are lucky.

[MtnBikerChk]

Some panic braking practice is in order, whenever you get your new frame and feel good enough to try it.

Remember that 70-75% of your braking power comes from your front brake.

I wanna say that I just couldn't get my left hand to the brake fast enough - but I don't really remember. Either way, I was headed for impact!

[smilingcat]

4. I've already spoken to the shop (several times). At the first sign of low balling I'm calling an attorney - I'm not in the mood to mess around

I think that is a wonderful approach. Be nice but firm at first; but, if they start the non-sense immediatly have a lawyer intervene. you may want to drop some suttle hints that you can play hardball. Afterall, it was a brand new purchase that you were looking forward to and enjoying. Only to have it ruined is more than enough for anyone to have a BAADDDD MONTH or more. Emotionally I would be so angry if that happened to me.

Even though you claim no injury, you should be careful. Sometimes injuries from wrecks don't show up for few days.

And like everyone else said, Really happy for you that you came out without too much injury.

smilingcat

[Mr. Bloom]

I think that is a wonderful approach. Be nice but firm at first; but, if they start the non-sense immediatly have a lawyer intervene. you may want to drop some suttle hints that you can play hardball. Afterall, it was a brand new purchase that you were looking forward to and enjoying. Only to have it ruined is more than enough for anyone to have a BAADDDD MONTH or more. Emotionally I would be so angry if that happened to me.

Even though you claim no injury, you should be careful. Sometimes injuries from wrecks don't show up for few days.

And like everyone else said, Really happy for you that you came out without too much injury.

smilingcat

+1 If the insurance company has enough knowledge to just replace the frame and selected components, I'd personally say "no deal". This was not a "used" bike...you deserve a new replacement. While you're being nice but firm, don't assume that the insurance company means to do what they say. Choose your words carefully coax them to the right conclusion. For instance, I think it's better to say something like "please don't make me feel like I need to get an attorney to protect my interests" rather than "do this or else I'm getting an attorney".

Remember that if you get an attorney involved, it's unlikely that you'll recoup that cost. The other driver was cited, so you should be OK.