Been in a crash: Insurance advice?

**Glowerss** · 4th September 2013, 15:37

For the first time in me life, I've been in an a bit of a biff. Lady pulled out of a side driveway in front of me in the rain today, no where near enough time to stop, and down we went. Damage on the bike isn't bad, fairings are a bit cracked, bit of road rash, bars a bit bent, the right mirror is cracked. Bike won't fire though, has a FI light on. Not sure what that's about.

Anyway, the lady admitted she was at fault, and no less than 6-8 childcare workers (she hit me right in front of the daycare center) saw what happened. She's fully insured, and I've got what I thought at the time was all the relevent details (name, address, drivers license number, checked it against her actual drivers license).

I don't have insurance on the bike yet, as I've only had it a little while, and I haven't had time to insure it (

stupid I know. Busy life yadda yadda shoulda done it).

My question is, before I start paying any money for anything ( I haven't talked to the lady either) is there something I should know or do/not do? The lady seemed fairly upstanding, but I've heard enough stories of people running into trouble, I'd rather avoid that bit.

So, those who have had the experience before, any pearls of wisdom before I engage on this wondrous voyage of fixing my baby?

**5150** · 4th September 2013, 15:42

Does the other party have insurance? If so, then you need to find out who it is, ring them and tell them that one of their clients hit you and admited fault, and you want to claim for the damage to your bike. Has police been notified? As in, do you have crash report? Take photos of the damage to support your case, witness statments, and contact numbers will also help. Either way, if she hit you and it was her fault then she or her insurance should pay.
Don't let her walk all over you. Be polite but firm in asking for compensation.

**peril 787b** · 4th September 2013, 15:44

First off, contact her insurance company to make sure she exists in their books, if not - contact the police to report the incident at the very least.
Secondly, make sure her insurance company also pays for your new helmet that is no longer in a sufficient manner to protect your head should you be in a second accident. They will attempt to avoid doing this, but push your case - a damaged helmet is not a safe helmet and their client was the person who damaged it.
Make sure you keep a record of all details.
Insist that your bike is repaired by your choice of repairer.

At the end of all this, it's your bike that was damaged by their client - so you want it fixed in a manner that you want it to be.

**T.W.R** · 4th September 2013, 15:52

Bugger about the prang, lol though my 1st ever on the road was the same scenario

2 nurses heading of to work...sheez nearly 30yrs ago

Originally Posted by Glowerss

I don't have insurance on the bike yet, as I've only had it a little while, and I haven't had time to insure it (

stupid I know. Busy life yadda yadda shoulda done it).

only takes a phone call

Originally Posted by Glowerss

My question is, before I start paying any money for anything ( I haven't talked to the lady either) is there something I should know or do/not do? The lady seemed fairly upstanding, but I've heard enough stories of people running into trouble, I'd rather avoid that bit.

So, those who have had the experience before, any pearls of wisdom before I engage on this wondrous voyage of fixing my baby?

Get it into a friendly bikeshop and get them to do a price-up on repairs (for your own good before the woman's insurance company wave figures of cost) and it'll have to be somewhere for her insurance company's assessor to check it over, be prepared for them to take the write-off route too.

**Glowerss** · 4th September 2013, 15:56

Originally Posted by T.W.R

Bugger about the prang, lol though my 1st ever on the road was the same scenario

2 nurses heading of to work...sheez nearly 30yrs ago

only takes a phone call

Get it into a friendly bikeshop and get them to do a price-up on repairs (for your own good before the woman's insurance company wave figures of cost) and it'll have to be somewhere for her insurance company's assessor to check it over, be prepared for them to take the write-off route too.

Her insurance can write it off?

It's a 99 VFR800FI with 68,000km on the cloak. She's as good as toast

**T.W.R** · 4th September 2013, 16:02

Originally Posted by Glowerss

Her insurance can write it off?

It's a 99 VFR800FI with 68,000km on the cloak. She's as good as toast

If you're going to try for her to pay for repairs they can & will

**Drew** · 4th September 2013, 16:27

Originally Posted by Glowerss

Her insurance can write it off?

It's a 99 VFR800FI with 68,000km on the cloak. She's as good as toast

Have you called her insurance company yet?

The only info you need at teh scene if no one is hurt, is their name (Write down their drivers license number), reg, and insurer.

Then you should never have occasion to talk to them directly again.

Oh yeah, you're never gonna see the bike again when it goes in for assessment I bet. So take off any goodies you put on it before hand, and chuck the standard shit back on.

**skippa1** · 4th September 2013, 16:40

Originally Posted by 5150

Does the other party have insurance?

Did you read the op?

**Maha** · 4th September 2013, 16:55

Did you have insurance on your previous bike? if so, then why was it not just rolled over onto the next one? That's what I do with mine.
I wouldn't ride my new bike from the shop until I had cover for it.

**Gremlin** · 4th September 2013, 17:04

Originally Posted by Maha

I wouldn't ride my new bike from the shop until I had cover for it.

Yeah, I've always had it covered since the day I take possession...

The guys are on the right track, need to speak to her insurance, start the claims process. Do you have a dealer you use? Take it to them for assessment. Insurer may want to send their own assessor and also inspect, or if they know the shop they may accept the estimate.

As for repair, you want them to pay for repairs, then they will assess and deem whether it is repairable. A cracked fairing means new fairing. A scratch on a part means new part. You watch the bill climb fast. Blackbird top fairing was over $2000 from memory, for example. Scratched or dented the frame? You won't get that bike back...

If you're really attached to it, one option is to buy it back from insurance and repair yourself.

**Maha** · 4th September 2013, 17:10

When it's one Insurance company involved, it basically comes down what ever their assessor says...goes. The non insured party seeking damages may strike it lucky and get a fair deal, but the way insurance companies are today, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Moral=Have Insurance.

**skippa1** · 4th September 2013, 18:04

Originally Posted by Maha

I wouldn't ride my new bike from the shop until I had cover for it.

Same. Can all be done over the phone in no time

**DMNTD:Me** · 4th September 2013, 18:11

If you haven't contacted the Police yet, do so and create a report.

**Mom** · 4th September 2013, 18:53

Glad you are not injured. Bummer about insurance, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. You wont make that mistake again I am picking. Good luck getting things sorted. Some good advice in here.