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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 May 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 21:56 - 15 Aug 2018 Post subject: Post-crash insurance/recovery advice? |
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So I was repatriated to the UK last night with a mashed collarbone after my BMW 1200RS and I ended up bouncing separately down the road in France at the weekend. Gutted (but actually pretty damned lucky too).
I now need to work out what to do with the bike, which is with the recovery company in France. Evidently my breakdown company or the bike insurers will both in principle recover the bike home to the UK, but only if it's repairable, otherwise it will be written off. I don't know which of the two companies it's in my best interests to be pushing towards this? But furthermore I don't actually know whether it's best for me personally for the bike to get fixed, or to have it written off and just get a cash payment, however much that might be. Apparently my bike insurers wouldn't even be inspecting the bike; all they want is my own description of the damage which they will "plug into a matrix" and use that to decide whether it's a total loss or not. "But I didn't even see the bike post-accident - I was either unconscious or immobilised on a spinal board!" "Whatever"
From what witnesses said I think the bike may have high-sided - I gather it's damaged on both sides so sounds expensive. There was some fork damage; but it had engine bars.
I bought the bike (3 years old) just 7 weeks previously from a non-BMW dealership at a good price, so hopefully its valuation really shouldn't be much less than the purchase price?
One issue for me to consider is that the previous owner fitted quite a lot of accessories which I didn't actually realise weren't OEM at the time I bought the bike and so are not itemised on the insurance policy; like the engine bars; fusebox, bar risers, various guards, daytime running lights. Stebel horn, etc. So none of those bits - all useful to me - would actually be covered in the event of total loss, so I'm thinking maybe if the breakdown folk got the bike back to my home I could just retrieve these items before the insurers valued the wreck, to fit on my next RS?
This is all completely new territory to me so any thoughts are most welcome. Primarily:
(a) am I better off having the breakdown company or my insurers deal with the damaged bike overseas in the first instance?
(b) is it in my interest for the bike to be written off or repaired? ____________________ KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS |
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piazza |
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piazza Brolly Dolly
Joined: 23 Aug 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 22:30 - 15 Aug 2018 Post subject: |
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Paint diagram of crash etc
Sounds like it'd be better to get the breakdown company to bring it back then consider the optons from there. I suspect you wont see it again.
On the plus side, if they do go on your description and scrap it you won't be held accountable for that undeclared aftermarket exhaust/fairing/ engine bars that caused your crash
Gws |
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Hahadumball |
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Hahadumball World Chat Champion
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Loui5D |
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Loui5D Brolly Dolly
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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Polarbear |
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Polarbear Super Spammer
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 16:42 - 16 Aug 2018 Post subject: |
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I wonder how many accessories will have fallen off your bike by the time you get it back. |
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 May 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 20:49 - 17 Aug 2018 Post subject: |
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Another thing.
My bike insurance policy includes cover my helmet and bike clothing, and I have been advised I must obtain: "Confirmation from a reputable company that your motorcycle clothing can either be repaired and a quote for the repair or if it cannot be repaired confirmation of this together with an estimate for the replacement on a like for like basis"
My jacket and trousers are textile (total replacement cost about £250), and both have rips. I can't imagine that either would be half-way repairable, and it seems bizarre to me even to consider trying. Any ideas as to a 'reputable company' to provide the necessary quote or confirmation, ie for a cheap textile suit rather than expensive leathers?
Also, my boots and gloves - both two years old - suffered some scuffing to the toes and palms, which wasn't there before the smash but which I expect a lot of riders would have routinely experienced in everyday use and thought not much more about it. Do I include a claim for this stuff? I mean, they certainly look less pretty than before the incident and I expect (eg) their waterproofness will also be reduced.
This is all new to me... ____________________ KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS |
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 12:12 - 18 Aug 2018 Post subject: |
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Reputable company? Where would you go to buy new kit from? I think your insurance company just need something which ticks the boxes for the kit not being repairable.
So something on a piece of headed paper from a bricks and mortar shop saying that your textiles can't be repaired and an estimate for replacement like for like kit. They're going to want to get a sale out of this so they're not going to care what they write.
For your boots and gloves I'd take the same approach as with your textiles. Any good salesman will have a million different reasons for why someone should upgrade their kit that's a couple of years old and has slight crash damage.
The insurance company aren't going to care, they just need something vaguely official that says your kit isn't repairable.
(This is all new to me as well, I'm no expert in any of this so proceed with caution if following any of my advice which was provided for entertainment purposes only ) |
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 13:38 - 18 Aug 2018 Post subject: |
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I'd be surprised if they're very interested in the finer details of why your kit isn't repairable or the credentials of the reputable company who've said your kit isn't repairable.
My definition of reputable company is one who'll say what you want them to say. If your insurer has a different definition then they'll tell you what companies they're wanting to look at your kit. |
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T.C |
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T.C World Chat Champion
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 14:31 - 18 Aug 2018 Post subject: |
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And there we have it, with much better phrasing than my suggestion of finding a shop who'll say what you want them to say. |
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Val |
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Val World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Nov 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 20:08 - 23 Aug 2018 Post subject: Re: Post-crash insurance/recovery advice? |
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Sorry to hear that and get well soon!
Freddyfruitbat wrote: |
One issue for me to consider is that the previous owner fitted quite a lot of accessories which I didn't actually realise weren't OEM at the time I bought the bike and so are not itemised on the insurance policy; like the engine bars; fusebox, bar risers, various guards, daytime running lights. Stebel horn, etc. So none of those bits - all useful to me - would actually be covered in the event of total loss, so I'm thinking maybe if the breakdown folk got the bike back to my home I could just retrieve these items before the insurers valued the wreck, to fit on my next RS? |
That is good idea only if your recovery covers bike repatriation obviously you don't want to pay for the recovery.
Whatever you do when asked by insurers don't mention any non-OEM parts fitted. Most likely you have not declared them in first place and you really don't want to give your insurer the point to invalidate your insurance!
The point is they will take your word for that, just make sure don't tell them when asked the question: Have you got any non-OEM bits fitted? No.
Because you have removed them yourself remember when the bike is recovered
For your boots and textile gear - my insurers asked for receipt and because the gear was slightly then 1 year old I have got nothing. Apparently they pay only for gear only if its less then 1 year old, you have receipt with new price and they do some depreciation based on how old gear is too. Basically I've got nothing for literally new boots and textiles
Your insurer may have different gear policy. Good luck ____________________ Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900 |
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 May 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 18:45 - 30 Aug 2018 Post subject: |
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Update.
The bike has just been delivered to mine by the recovery company so I now need to tell my insurers so they can come and inspect it. Am still fretting a bit about the accessories issue though. I've removed the bar risers, which are the only item which the insurers could even conceivably (surely?) try to use as justification for prejudicing my claim ("lost control due to non-standard handlebars", maybe?
That leaves the following in place: OEM crash bars, radiator guard, crud catcher, Extenda fenda, daytime running lights, horn, fusebox, Mudsling shock protector, and 2 power sockets; total retail cost about £700. All these were in place when I bought the bike.
Seems to me this all depends on how likely it is the bike will be written off, which I think could go either way really. If it was a def write-off I would certainly spend the time removing all the bits now, especially as I'd def be replacing the bike with an identical model and they'd be useful to me. On the other hand of the bike is repaired it would really be a huge ballache to remove everything and have to refit it later, especially the electrical stuff.
Damage is mostly front end; a lot of broken stuff there; forks skew-wiff but can't tell whether bent or just need unbolting and refastening (all a bit of a mess up there). I'm guessing that may determine
the outcome. There's virtually nothing wrong on either side of the machine (even on the crash bars); the panniers took the brunt of it. The engine fires up fine. I have no memory of the actual impact but my guess is that the wheels went off the side of the tarmac on the corner and the front dug in hard, causing the bike and me to cartwheel. Kind of glad it didn't land on me.
So wut do? Do I take everything off now before calling the insurance or leave it be? ____________________ KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS |
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talkToTheHat |
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talkToTheHat World Chat Champion
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Val |
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Val World Chat Champion
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BusterGonads |
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BusterGonads Trackday Trickster
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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P. Red Rocket
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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Posted: 12:33 - 24 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
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Had a call from the insurer today to officially tell me the bike is dedded, and to explain the next steps. As part of this the agent called DVLA in a three-way conversation to establish that that I did indeed have a license and that I'd declared any offences.
After I'd got through the security info etc, he asked the DVLA guy to confirm whether I had a 'full licence' and whether it was for 'automatic' or 'manual'(!), followed by the convictions stuff. Had to laugh though - at no stage did he actually ask what vehicles I was actually licensed to drive. As in, a "category A" motorcycle?!
(the rejected offer has just magically been increased from "derisorily low" to just "low"; am still hanging on!) ____________________ KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS |
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guitarcarfana... |
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guitarcarfana... Two Stroke Sniffer
Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 15:39 - 24 Sep 2018 Post subject: |
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Offer should equal what you paid. 2 months since purchase shows the bikes market value. Just refuse all offers until they meet you at purchase price. Complain to insurer (presumably dealing with a claims company), threaten FOS etc.
Insurers also have a responsibility to settle claims quickly and pay the cash ASAP. The Insurance Act overhauled a lot of these.
Hold out - be strong! |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 5 years, 217 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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