Pummeled by a Car Door

[laupsi]

Coming back from a training ride yesterday I crashed head on into a swung open car door. According to the bike computer I was at nearly 20 mph when the accident occurred.

Took the bike, custom for me Ottrott, to my local shop and had them do a one over. Premliminary findings show no bent or cracked steerer tube, just a toasted front wheel and handle bar. According to them not even the head set was damaged.

Bike couldn't be ridden after the accident due to the front wheel but the head set was very loose. Any experts out there think I should get a second opinion before moving forward on a claim repair?

[Seramount]

your first priority should be to establish any medical claims. property damages come second.

[Mr. Pink]

Wait. So how are you feeling?

[MattTuck]

Very sorry to hear this.

On the topic of the bike, you know you should get a second opinion. crashing at 20 mph is no joke.

I agree though, you should be more concerned with medical issues than the bike at this point. Any witnesses? did you get the driver's info? police report?

hope you and the bike are ok! but make sure to protect yourself.

[kramnnim]

How did the headset get loose without the stem sliding up the steerer tube?

[laupsi]

Thanks very much for all's concern. A bit bruised & battered, actually had my incisor on right side penetrate my lip, but no broken bones & all joints are working as expected. Had a police report taken & EMT did a thorough check up, I'm in good shape despite everything. Driver has good insurance, already spoke to them.

So yes moving beyond me I am now concerned about the bike. Any method to analyzing the head tube, head set & steerer tube oter than simply putting a visual on it?

Again, many thanks!

[eddief]

a crash like that with a carbon fork would nullify the fork for further use. Lots of questions about being able to "certify" integrity by visual inspection. I am mostly not in that camp, but your crash and damage cause me to pause. If an insurance company got involved I bet they'd not allow the fork back on the road...maybe the frame too.

A few years ago I went over the hood of a left turning car on my carbon Giant OCR. The front wheel was a taco, but there no visual indication of damage to frame or fork. Insurance made local bike shop use a hack saw to cut the frame in half.

[rwsaunders]

Maybe shipping it off to folks like Calfee or Ruckus for a look would give you some peace of mind. Maybe your insurance will cover it as well.

http://calfeedesign.com/repair

http://www.ruckuscomp.com/services/repair

[laupsi]

Maybe shipping it off to folks like Calfee or Ruckus for a look would give you some peace of mind. Maybe your insurance will cover it as well.

http://calfeedesign.com/repair

http://www.ruckuscomp.com/services/repair

I think your advice is solid, thanks!

[druptight]

Maybe shipping it off to folks like Calfee or Ruckus for a look would give you some peace of mind. Maybe your insurance will cover it as well.

http://calfeedesign.com/repair

http://www.ruckuscomp.com/services/repair

2nd-ed, I would certainly have this looked over by a framebuilder who is knowledgeable w/r/t to the material the frame is made of.

[dbh]

Definitely get a second opinion. Consider the fork junked and make a claim on the OP's insurance for a new one (painted to match). Anything with the faintest scratch should be replaced and paid for by the driver's insurance. Also, did you get a police report from the accident? Hugely helpful with the claim process.

[thwart]

Good to hear only relatively minor injuries.

20 mph impact with car door… I don't think I could trust that fork on a twisty 40 mph descent.

[bcroslin]

Unless you absolutely love the bike and can't ride another I would total the bike out. File an insurance claim and buy a new bike. It's just not worth finding out at 25 mph that something in the front end has been compromised.

[djg21]

Unless you absolutely love the bike and can't ride another I would total the bike out. File an insurance claim and buy a new bike. It's just not worth finding out at 25 mph that something in the front end has been compromised.

Have the insurer buy you a new bike.

[John H.]

Do a web search for hit by car threads.
Follow all steps.
1.) Police report
2.) See a doc. Pain and injuries can pop up after a violent impact like this. Don't assume you are ok.
3.) Get estimates for repair/replacement of everything. Technically anything carbon is out of warranty after an impact like that.
4.) Follow protocol with insurance company. Don't make a statement over the phone (they may record it and use it against you later). Keep records.

[bikingshearer]

Do a web search for hit by car threads.
Follow all steps.
1.) Police report
2.) See a doc. Pain and injuries can pop up after a violent impact like this. Don't assume you are ok.
3.) Get estimates for repair/replacement of everything. Technically anything carbon is out of warranty after an impact like that.
4.) Follow protocol with insurance company. Don't make a statement over the phone (they may record it and use it against you later). Keep records.

+ a bunch. Excellent advice.

[shovelhd]

5. Delete this thread.

[oldpotatoe]

How did the headset get loose without the stem sliding up the steerer tube?

I'm thinking the lower cup got pulled some out if the frame, I'd check that.

[oldpotatoe]

Do a web search for hit by car threads.
Follow all steps.
1.) Police report
2.) See a doc. Pain and injuries can pop up after a violent impact like this. Don't assume you are ok.
3.) Get estimates for repair/replacement of everything. Technically anything carbon is out of warranty after an impact like that.
4.) Follow protocol with insurance company. Don't make a statement over the phone (they may record it and use it against you later). Keep records.

5.) Talk to a lawyer

Fify

[hockeybike]

Maybe shipping it off to folks like Calfee or Ruckus for a look would give you some peace of mind. Maybe your insurance will cover it as well.

http://calfeedesign.com/repair

http://www.ruckuscomp.com/services/repair

First deal with your insurance company and see what they allow you to do. If you put the frame/fork in the mail, you may nullify your insurance claim.

[laupsi]

Okay so I spoke to a lawyer, told me to see my primary physician and have him go over everything. Luck has it I am scheduled for my annual physical this Friday. Yes, Halloween, very fitting! I

feel okay, really. Other than the obvious; cuts, scrapes, bruises, hole in my lip, etc..., there is no reason for me to see anyone else at this time. By seeing my physician I am covering myself in case something does come up. Again, according to this lawyer; I am showing concern, enough to see a physician, if nothing shows now it does not mean I wasn't injured long term and I have a recored of that concern going forward. I have a police report and all insurance info on the driver, again, it bodes well for me. BTW, not trying to show age prejudice but have to mention the driver of the vehicle is 84 years old.

Was advised to contact the insurance company at once to open a file and start a claim. This I have done.

He also told me to do whatever I need to get the bike repaired/replaced, keep records, all costs will be covered. In his opinion in the state of MD it is a slam dunk; driver opens door, something runs into that door, driver is at fault. Due to the nature of this accident the insurance company is not going to play games just as long as I have detailed back-up of all costs and the cost of the original, all of which I have.

I am sending the bike to Signature Cycles, they in turn are going to contact "an expert" to go over the frame/fork, end to end to verify if all is okay. I have explained the obvious damage to them and taken photos.

I need to add, the folks on this forum are a swell group. I have been contact personally and there is real concern for my well being, that despite I've never personally met most of you. I want to thank everyone for your concern, it's moments of realization like this that even out all the crap we must deal with.

Thanks everyone, I'm a fortunate man :)

[Hank Scorpio]

Slam dunk and defendant's insurance company should never occupy the same sentence. Probably not even the same paragraph.

[makoti]

Send it to a frame repair specialist, for sure. Even then, do you trust the bike any longer? Even if given a thumbs-up once over? Will you be comfortable on it knowing it took quite a shot?
If not, it's done & needs to be replaced. I'd total any & all carbon. Remember to include any clothing damaged in the crash - your helmet, shoes, shorts, sunglasses if damaged, etc.
Lawyer handles medical claims, you handle property. Don't want them taking 1/3 of your bike replacement funds.

[Joachim]

Send it to a frame repair specialist, for sure. Even then, do you trust the bike any longer? Even if given a thumbs-up once over? Will you be comfortable on it knowing it took quite a shot?
If not, it's done & needs to be replaced. I'd total any & all carbon. Remember to include any clothing damaged in the crash - your helmet, shoes, shorts, sunglasses if damaged, etc.
Lawyer handles medical claims, you handle property. Don't want them taking 1/3 of your bike replacement funds.

The lawyer I worked with did not take any cut from the property damages claim. He was instrumental in the whole process. plus....the bike is a Serotta Ottrott, can't be replaced. A lawyer will come in handy with such a property damage claim (ie irreplaceable property).

[atanz]

sorry to hear about your accident and I'm glad you weren't injured.

I just got hit head on by a car turning left in front of me. luckily i wasn't injured seriously either, just bruised a bit. the driver wanted to pay for the damages to my bike himself until I told him how much the bike cost. now i'm dealing with his insurance and hope they pull through.

good advice in this thread though, let us know how it all ends up.

[Tim Porter]

Ouch, Laupsi. You ride all over Europe : ) and get slammed near home. Glad you're doing okay. The bike may be a bummer but you're taking the right course. Feel better, hope to see you in the spring in SPAIN!!!! Tim

[velomonkey]

Your bike is done - at the very very least the fork, headset, stem,bars and front wheels are done. Totaled. The frame too. That stuff gets replaced and insurance ows you the full retail price down to the nipples - trust me it's what I'd did with my ten year old merckx.

As for medical - no joke - you need a lawyer - do not talk to drivers insurance about medical - have your lawyer do that - property - you can handle it.

Bro, you got taken out for absolutely no fault of your own - driver needs to get you a new bike and other stuff..

[OtayBW]

... feel okay, really. Other than the obvious; cuts, scrapes, bruises, hole in my lip, etc..., there is no reason for me to see anyone else at this time. By seeing my physician I am covering myself in case something does come up.Actually, I think your neck hurts....

[dnc]

Coming back from a training ride yesterday I crashed head on into a swung open car door. According to the bike computer I was at nearly 20 mph when the accident occurred.

Took the bike, custom for me Ottrott, to my local shop and had them do a one over. Premliminary findings show no bent or cracked steerer tube, just a toasted front wheel and handle bar. According to them not even the head set was damaged.

Bike couldn't be ridden after the accident due to the front wheel but the head set was very loose. Any experts out there think I should get a second opinion before moving forward on a claim repair?


http://think.direct.gov.uk/cycling.html

[RonW87]

Only the people on this board would divide bike up into wheel, fork, headset, etc. I'm thinking normal people see a broken bike, period. Bike is broken. Bike needs to be replaced. That is what I would say to the insurance company.

[Peter P.]

All the information presented so far is spot on; there's nothing I can add, and I've been hit and dealt with insurance companies 3 times!

I'm baffled how the headset came loose. Both cups are under compression from either the locknut (threaded) or the compression plug (Aheadset). Despite the frontal impact I wouldn't expect the headset to loosen. That suspicion would lead me to inspect the frame including the headtube, fork, and headset more closely.

Report back the the outcome of your claim.

[sailorboy]

Maybe send the fork to Rivendell for some extensive and highly scientific testing of it's structural integrity??

[laupsi]

Ouch, Laupsi. You ride all over Europe : ) and get slammed near home. Glad you're doing okay. The bike may be a bummer but you're taking the right course. Feel better, hope to see you in the spring in SPAIN!!!! Tim

cheers Timmy and thank you. really hope we meet again in beautiful Spain!

[happycampyer]

Yikes, laup, hope you're ok! From what I've heard from folks at the old factory, the carbon/ti bonds are incredibly strong, so there's a possibility the frame is ok. If it is (although I'm not sure how they'd tell), I think you will definitely need to replace the fork. Let me know if you need one.

Feel better!

[laupsi]

Yikes, laup, hope you're ok! From what I've heard from folks at the old factory, the carbon/ti bonds are incredibly strong, so there's a possibility the frame is ok. If it is (although I'm not sure how they'd tell), I think you will definitely need to replace the fork. Let me know if you need one.

Feel better!

thanks happy, really appreciate your post. upon a thorough "visual" inspection, by eight sets of eyes, from the top of the steerer down to the dropouts, the fork does appear to be in flawless condition. again, something has to account for the loose headset and that's where our focus is moving forward. regardless, shipping to Signature, Blake is arranging for frame builder to test and double check before making any further decisions.