Insurance Question

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

Hi all,

I am hoping you may be able to help me with an insurance problem.

Somebody ran into my bike this morning when it was parked outside my flat. They have completely knackered the steering and I suspect it is a write-off.

The bike was chained to railings in a private car park and the person who hit it was a non-resident.

I have a witness and my neighbour has admitted it was girlfriend's friend so I shouldn't have too many problems tracking her down.

The issue I have though is that my bike insurance (Third Party Fire and Theft) is due to expire tomorrow at midnight.

Will I still be able to claim against her insurance if I don't have any insurance myself?

Can my insurers (or any other insurers) refuse to insure me if there is an ongoing problem with the bike?

I was going to renew my insurance today, but now I don't want to as I could basically be spending a load of money insuring a bike I may never ride again.

Any help greatly appreciated.
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2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

Alexio · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Karma :

My advice is that you call the insurance company IMMEDIATELY Thumbs Up

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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

The Shaggy D.A. · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :

I'd call the police too, just to get a crime reference number, as she failed to report and left the scene of the accident.

I had a dumb bitch reverse over my bike and drive off, a couple of years ago. She was completely at fault, so her insurance took care of the lot. Carol Nash did try and ignore my NCB when I came to renew saying that I'd had a claim, but they soon backed down on that one.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

Thanks for your help.

I've spoken to my insurers who've logged it and say they will assist with the claim even if I move to a different insurer (I was going to switch as my premium's gone up by £30!).

I've also had a call from the girl's boyfriend who told me it was a hire car and has given me the registration number, make and model and the name of the rental company.

I can see months of bureaucracy coming my way...

If you can hit a stationery vehicle in a car park you really should have your licence taken away!!! Confused

____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

UPDATE

I have now spoken to my insurers and also to the car rental company.

The rental company has confirmed that the incident has been reported to them.

My insurers are running with it and are getting the Bikers Defence Legal Team and 4th Dimension to sort out the problem.

Apparently I'll have a courtesy bike on Wednesday and they should pick up the bike and take it for an assessment too.

Having said that I spoke to my usual garage earlier and they reckon there's a good chance it'll be a write off (I've only got it insured for £950, I can't imagine a new set of front forks, new plastics and mudguard and - possible - new front tyre) will come in for much less than that once labour's been factored in.
____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

Alexio · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Karma :

I'm under the impression that it's a write off if the damage is assessed to be worth more than two thirds of the value of the bike. So unless the damage comes to £633.33 you should be ok?
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

forks are where the price is at...quoted £550 for my old 125 forks...so i think you may well have a write off...

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

I've had another look at it and not sure whether they'll be able to bend the forks back.

With the bars facing forward, the front wheel is tracking ~30 degrees to the left.

Clearly they could bend them back but not sure what damage it would do to the structural integrity of the forks let alone the seals, springs etc.

I'm also guessing they have to give the bike a once over to check for other damage.

I've switched the engine on and the exhaust doesn't appear to be cracked (this was the brunt of the impact), so that'll keep the cost down.

Either way, I'm just glad it's being dealt with.
____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

are you wanting it to be written off?
if so.. a block of wood will bend the forks.. but that could suck getting caught out Sad

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

With regard to it being written off, I'm not bothered either way. It'll be a bit of a hassle having to replace it and I'm sure I'll end up spending more than I get from the insurance. On the other hand, I don't think I'm ever gonna fully trust a bike when I know it's had it's forks bent back into shape.

Having spoken to (and now met) the boyfriend, she comes across as a bit of a primadonna. The handyman in my apartment complex said she also backed into a Nissan 350Z after she'd hit the bike, apparently he tried to flag her down but she just drove off!!!

She's clearly one of these typical 'daddy's girls' who doesn't have to take responsibility for her actions.

I've informed her hire company that she left the scene of the accident and I've still got half a mind to report her to the police.

I honestly don't think anyone who can hit a stationary vehicle should be allowed behind the wheel.
____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

Unfortunately while it's a private car park it is not secure so anyone can park here (and occasionally get a £200 ticket).

But, yes, I suspect there may've been a bit of residual alcohol doing the rounds if she managed to hit two vehicles in two manoeuvres - either that or she recently had a frontal lobotomy - as she was too rude to ring on my doorbell and tell me what she'd done, I suspect I'll never find out.

Her hire company called me today asking me for my side of the story - I told them what I could but clearly I only have a sketchy version of the events, it seems that what I was telling them may not have tallied with her version though...

On a lighter note, it seems I am getting a 'Something' 650 delivered on Thursday, so at least I'll have a new bike to play with for a while.

Anyone got any idea what the standard 650 courtesy bike is these days?
____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

SV 650 maybe Thumbs Up

Wonder if her story was that she swerved to avoid this speeding biker, but in doing so hit a car which spun her round and then reversed over the bike Laughing

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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

She can tell them what she likes, I've got a witness and I can still have her done for leaving the scene of an accident - she hasn't got a leg to stand on.

I'm reckoning an SV650 or and ER6, either way it's gonna be difficult getting used to having a 500 again after a bit of time on something like that Sad

____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

evoboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Karma :

Bandit?

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

Is the right answer.

I've asked for the S version as I've never ridden a faired bike before.
____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

I received a phone call from 4th Dimension today and they confirmed what I suspected: my CB500 is a write off.

I was surprised at how much it upset me, after all the bike was an old work horse for hacking around town, but I loved riding it, I knew all its foibles and it never gave me any nasty surprises.

I'd owned for four years almost to the day when the dumb tart crashed into it! Sad

They've said that the 3rd party's insurers will have to confirm the write off (which I'm assuming they will do) and then BLD will get in touch again.

Anyway, as I've never been through this process before, I was hoping you may be able to help me with some more questions:

How much am I likely to get for the bike? Will it simply be based on the Glass Guide price, or will they take into account the condition of the bike prior to the incident?

Is the offer negotiable?

If so, what can I negotiate on?

The last thing I want to end up with is less money than I need to buy a new bike!

As before, any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

GH.
____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

Bishbash · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Karma :

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Glory Hunter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

Thanks for the update, if I get the current market value, I may even make money on the deal...!

Oh well, here's hoping...
____________________
2003 Suzuki VanVan - Sold
2000 Honda CB500 - written off by a spoilt brat with no manners Sad

2005 Yamaha XT660 - I'm in lurve.... Smile

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

well put it this way..
i paid £600 for a CLR125, 2001 model, it got written off 6 months later.. valued at 1095 Smile

obviously differs from bike to bike...but defiantely got my money back + bonuses