Insurance - claiming for riding gear.

[Matt_TG]

IAbout the receipts, by law every business in NZ has to keep copies for 7 years, so if they say "We don't have.." it means "We can't be arsed.."

Oh really? I think you are referring to documents to support tax records, not cash sale receipts.

Any receipts that are being talked about would be the ones you as a buyer would keep to prove how much it cost you and when you bought it, not a record of sale from the retailer. Most clothing would be rung up as a cash sale anyway so identifying who bought what would be impossible I'd imagine.

Regardless too of what you think your gear is worth, with clothing all anyone would be liable to pay (either an insurer or at fault third party) would be the value of that item at the time (or immediately before) the accident, not it's replacement value. Think along the lines of what you would pay for a secondhand jacket / helmet etc .. even if only worn occasionally. Look at it this way, would you buy a used jacket off TradeMe for the price of a new one?

There's nothing to stop you claiming (and your insurer's supporting your claim) against the other party for its replacement value though. Maybe they will suprise you with the offer.

[MSTRS:Me]

I think you will find that clothing is generally replacement value of an equivalent item.
Why wasn't this added the the other party's insurance since they were at fault?

[discotex]

Ok Grahameeboy, thanks for your advice.

I'll ring my insurance co in the morning and get my claim rolling.
I have all the at fault drivers details from the police crash report. I'll pass that info on to them.

I owe you a beer.

His advice is pretty much spot on.

I've just got settlement from my smash that happened the week before yours.

Contents insurance has paid out all bar the $100 excess and I'm expecting that in a week or two once they have contacted the other parties insurance company. Already got the bike policy settlement and excess.

I found I really had to make the point that the police have found the other driver at fault. The usual story they give is assuming you are at fault (hence the threat of losing your no-claim bonus etc).

They will ask for a quote for the exact gear (or equivilant if old enough you can't find a dealer with that gear anymore) and the age and condition at the time of the accident. From that they will calculate a depreciation factor - mine was the minimum 10%.

PM me if you need any help mate.