Insurance Claim or Settle directly with other driver?

[Falco]

Just back from the trip home, which proved more exciting than expected. At a roundabout, I saw a gap and set off, but not as quick as the guy behind me who "thought I had already gone" and went straight into the back of me.

Police AND ambulance happend to be waiting to enter roundabout at the next exit to the right and came right over. No damage to me but a bit of oil leaked from bike while it was down (is that normal?). Also knocked the repair off my exhaust and dented the end so its making a real racket now and (I could be imagining, but the ticking noise seems noisier.

The meat of the question however is: got a text from the guy asking to pay for the damage himself rather go through insurance (he's young, doesn't want to loose NCB ect ect). Should I accept? The bike is an old banger (51K) and I suspect will be written off, so while I don't want to screw him, I also don't want to try and repair it just to have it die a few thousand miles later from whatever that noise is. Should I take the offer?

Otherwise bike is fine, rode it home after checking it over, apart from needing a bit of throttle to start and a very slight stumble every so often on idle.

TL:DR - rear ended at roundabout, guy offering to pay repairs, bike is very old and may not be worth repairing leaving me with dead bike and no compo. What I do Please?

[MarJay]

Always go through insurance. The repair bill might well be greater than he can afford, and it'll end up going through them anyway.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Baffler186]

Yes claim for the bike and whatever else puts you out of pocket. This is why we pay insurance. You won't be screwing him over directly, his future insurers will. But that's his fault for not looking and not paying attention. You'll actually be doing him a favour, as I doubt he'll be so careless in future.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[arry]

Then you'd be declaring a non fault accident on your own insurance for 5 years..... that sometimes has its own cost implications.

What was / is the bike worth?

[Beehive Bedlam]

Take the cash and go through insurance anyway.

[Andy_Pagin]

Go through insurance, else next thing you'll know is he's claiming you reversed into him. Also I believe you're legally required to report it to your insurers, and seeing as Plod are already aware...
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the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Falco]

[arry]

I'd knock him for £700 and if he doesn't pay up, insurance is the way.

Can't see how it can cost you more than that unless you've actually got a Pol shaped spinal injury that you just don't know about yet

[Pete.]

I'd take the cash if the bike's an old knacker. Find a can on eBay first so you know what to charge him.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Nope.]

Yeah if theres no major damage (check rear wheel, swing arm, swing arm bearings etc.) then take the cash. He'd probably rather give you the £700 then go through insurance as if he's under 25 his next years quote will probably go up that much and every subsequent year afterwards just for the fault claim!
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Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[linuxyeti]

Last time I had an accident, I let the other driver pay, without going through insurance, result, all paid up far quicker than dealing with insurance, and I don't have to claim a nonfault accident.

Also, I like to treat people as I'd like to be treated, and hope,that should the tables be turned 1 day, and it's me at fault, I too would like to be able to bypass the insurance and pay myself.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

If someone you find trustworthy then I would very much consider having them pay directly.

Quite a few years ago my step mother had a minor accident where a young driver pulled out in front of her at the last moment. Other drivers fault and they admitted it. They paid outright without claiming. Reason they wanted to do this is that they had bought a car with 3 years insurance included, but in the event of a claim the policy would be terminated. Hence a claim would have cost him at least £6k in lost insurance.

All the best

Katy
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Kentol750]

If you're really on a hack, look for a replacement and get him to buy it. Keep yours for spares. No insurance, no hassle.
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Some bikes.

[Ste]

Settle directly if possible.

You'll have your money so much faster and with much less hassle than you would by going through their insurance.

But if you've already reported it to your own insurance company then that complicates things slightly because now you'll have to declare the non fault accident for the next five years.

[M.C]

People normally offer to pay for the damage right up until they see the bill.

[MahatmaAndhi]

Sell him the bike for £700, so he can recoup some of his losses.
If I made a bit of a dent on someone's bike, then they asked me to give them the full value of it, I'd be a bit put-off. You'd get the full value and get to keep the bike, repair it and get it back on the road.
If he disagrees, then go through the insurance company.
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[Rogerborg]

[Fizzoid]

[Wonko The Sane]

Any injury I would go through insurance.

I got nudged from behind a few years back, needed a courtesy vehicle and had injury so went insurance.

if other driver paying directly get things in writing including a few quotes for repair so that he's seen actual figures and not just your estimates.
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[P.]