Never Enough Money wrote:

I had a little accident and was hit by a car at slow speed. I'm bruised
and scraped but will heal. (My thumb and forefinger are still numb
after 3 days - yes, I am receiving medical attention.) My bike is in
bad shape but possibly could be repaired -- need a bike shop to help
assess that.

The driver's insurance company told me they only pay for the
depreciated value of the bike. I paid $1900.00 for it in 1990. They
depreciate it 10% per year. I also put a high end Look carbon fork on
it and had it repainted.

My question to this group: should I expect to be paid replacement costs
or the depreciated costs?

Thanks!

Two years ago, my spouse was broadsided by a car that ran a 4-way stop
sign. He was three days in ICU with his injuries. We contracted an
attorney to have our interests covered. It took about 1.5 years for us
and the insurance company to final settle. The least worry of the
insurance company was replacing his bike and equipment.

Stick by your guns and insist you get fully recompensed for your bike's
replacement value. The insured should have minimum liability at the
least, and that's still not an insignificant sum, unless great bodily
harm has been done. I'm sure the insurance company can afford to pay
that value.

You could always say something to the tune of "hm.., perhaps I should
hire a lawyer to protect my interests" to the insurance company's
adjuster VBEG.

Skyhooks
h m a r d i s "aahtt" u i u c "ddoott" e d u

P.S. If you paid $1900 in 1990, then I wonder what the same or similar
bike would cost today! That's what you should demand from the insurance
company.