Is there a leash law where you were riding? Filing a police report at the time of the accident would have been a really good thing to do, and I am not sure how much luck you'll have now "proving" what happened, but it may still be possible.

I have posted here so many times about my accident in 2005 that I am sure the regulars are sick of it (they can skip the rest of this! ), but here's a quick recap for you and other newer forum members: Two dogs ran out at me on the road when I was riding at speed along a rural road. There is a leash law in this area. I sped up to get away (purely on instinct as they came out from behind some trees very suddenly, startling me) and clipped my DH's rearl wheel. I went down hard on my hip, fracturing my pelvis in three places. The most serious fracture reached from my ilium to my sacrum and required orthopedic surgery to install a metal plate and pins. A highway patrol officer was called to the scene when my DH called 911, and I gave my report while lying on the road, waiting for the ambulance. The dog owners came out and indicated they would help out with expenses. Fortunately I had good medical insurance, but after I "recovered" enough and was back at work, I filed a claim with their homeowner's insurance for the uncovered portion (approx. 10% of the total cost, with insurance picking up 90%). I didn't lose any pay from work as I was on short-term disability. The insurance company paid me the amount I asked for (slightly over $4K), but I had to sign a waiver saying I absolved them of all future charges.

And there were some. I had to go back to PT and doctors a few times with pain even years after the accident. Even just this year I went to a pain doctor and ended up with a TENS unit that helps me ride with much less pain.

Before filing with the homeowner's insurance, I did consult a lawyer in our bike club about the possibility of suing for expenses and pain and suffering, but he wasn't too encouraging. He said I'd have a 50/50 chance at best to collect more than what the home owner's insurance would pay (i.e., pain and suffering, etc.) due to the attitude towards cyclists among rural dog owners, many of whom would probably end up on the jury, if it were to go to court. Unfortunate, but true. In the rural south, many people think that letting their dogs run free is a right, leash law or not, sadly. This may not be the case in some other parts of the country.

I am very sorry this happened to you, and you do deserve some form of compensation. However, for $200, I wouldn't spend too much to recoup my costs. Fighting this kind of thing has an emotional cost, not to mention the time involved, so you have to weigh that too.

You were very lucky not to be seriously injured! I would give anything to have walked away from my accident with just a few mechanical dents instead of a physical injury that changed my life, to some extent, forever.

bcipam gave you some excellent advice. I'd follow it. Good luck!