Insurance woes...

[Mully]

Heh - you sprained your butt.

Did you have to have your butt in a sling?

[2wheelsofjustice]

Hey all, thanks for the posts!

An update..

I rang the insurance company and told them to cancel my claim and forget I ever contacted them. I told them the only reason I called them in the first place was because I thought their role would be to help me deal with the at-fault party's insurer. Not to start haggling nickle and dime over the costs of my claim and using the write-off/repair balance as some kind of leverage. I said that I'd rather take my chances with a straight-out damages claim against the lady, and her insurance company. I told them I refuse to give them permission to discuss my insurance with the other insurance party if they came a-calling.

So the call taker said she wasn't sure I could do this, thought it was all highly unorthodox... and wanted me to speak to her supervisor first. So I did, and she was much more helpful. She said I was entitled to follow PLAN B but that she really thought I'd have better luck sticking with them, under my own policy. She said the other insurer would only be liable for the lesser of 1) the repair cost or 2) the pre-accident market value. And they would fight like a wolverine to make sure 2) was as little as possible. She said she'd take over my claim so I wouldnt keep getting put in the phone lottery every time I called, and would make some inquiries on my behalf. Which she did and I got a call back saying they have agreed to increase the value of the exhaust replacement (which were noted on the policy btw) from $1,200 to $1,800. Enough to get carbon I should think

So it seems to be close to a happy ending. I still think I will raise the idea of claiming a reasonable amount of $$ for loss of use/enjoyment of the bike, and my time dealing with it. Why not? Don't ask don't get. It's what the americans would do... along with $37,000,000 for the humiliation of a butt sprain (and no Mully -thankfully it wasn't bad enough to require a sling... or worse.. a donut).

The alternative is that they pay me the repair cost (around 5k) and then give me the bike in its current sorry state to do with what I will. The repairs are mostly superficial (other than a leaking tank). Oh, btw its a ducati 750 sport.

My only other concern though is the effect the bike being hit by a car might have on selling the bike next year sometime if I want to go overseas... ah well.

[Owl]

or worse.. a donut).

Glad it's all working out in your favour.

[YellowDog]

The loss assessor is usually independent so if they say that to get the bike fixed to 'as before' condition would make it a write-off, then this is probably an opportunity for you to max the writeoff payment in your favour and then to buy it back for peanuts to repair it yourself.

BUT as your Plan B seems to be moving in the right direction.........................

[p.dath]

I rang the insurance company and told them to cancel my claim and forget I ever contacted them....

That's really good news! The persistance was worth it. And I think the lady is right. You could spend 6 months trying to settle with the other insurancde company.

So it seems to be close to a happy ending. I still think I will raise the idea of claiming a reasonable amount of $$ for loss of use/enjoyment of the bike, and my time dealing with it. Why not? Don't ask don't get.

Haha. Don't even think aout it. You can reasonably expect to spend $25k going to the District/High court.

Best you count yourself very lucky and walk away with a smile.

[jim.cox]

The alternative is that they pay me the repair cost (around 5k) and then give me the bike in its current sorry state to do with what I will.

This can be a good option - I've done it a couple of times - you end up with what you want and it usually comes out about even re the costs

Oh, btw its a ducati 750 sport.

Ever wanted to a custom? or a street fighter? or even just a different colour - now's your chance

[SPman]

i dont think insurance companies will pay out for items that are after-market like your carbon exhausts. If it was still the original exhaust, yes. Have you at least priced up a standard exhaust for the repair? (you need one for legal purposes).

Will probably find the originals are more expensive than the c/f's.....