Post Crash engineer query

[SuperMike]

Hi all,

So, I lost a fight with a Renault earlier this week. Low speed filtering sort of crash which saw me in A&E but discharged about 8 hours later with a variety of injuries and the bike is in a bit of a state. Called insurance in the morning once with it enough and was put through to what I now know is one of those credit hire firms. Declined their services as I know how it works - send me a hire bike for £300 a day, take an age to do anything with mine, profit ++ leaving me with as little as possible.

So, all that said and done, I am going to try and sort this out myself. The broken fairings and bits are about a grand from main dealer, but upon having a bit of a play around tonight I've noticed that the cat (or whatever that box is attached to the exhaust) has a hole in it and is pissing ? petrol / water / whatever all over the place when engine running. I will need to get an engineers report both for the insurers and for my peace of mind if I decide to fix her up, but don't know where to start. The Honda dealer today surpisingly were quite cheap - half an hours labour (£52) to give an inspection, but don't think that gives a formal report. Who do I contact to get something that will be recognised by the insurers in the future when they are no doubt going back and forth about liability and losses? Can I have any mechanic do an inspection and write a report, or do they need to be affiliated with someone / have some letters after their name for the report to be valid?

[P.]

Just let insurer assess, they'll write it off, give you a wedge and you keep the bike. Or they write it off completely and its removed from the road and you get a wedge.

Wouldn't be bothering to fix myself personally, you pay for insurance for a reason. Other people would be happy to take the opposing insurers to the cleaners, myself included.

[jeffyjeff]

I wouldn't worry too much about the water pissing from the cat. It is likely condensation that will completely evaporate and blow out once you get out on the road and the engine up to normal operating temperature. I've seen this a number of times, notably on BMW boxer engines, and usually when the bike has been run in the garage or taken out on short trips that do not generate enough heat for the catalytic converter to blow out the condensation.
____________________
History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[SuperMike]

[Easy-X]

If the other side is paying they'd be a bit dumb to not send round their own assessors. If you had to commission your own assessment your mechanic could be overly generous!
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[P.]

[Ayrton]

You've called your insurers and started a claim right? Surely they will just take it from there and tell you what to do.

[Easy-X]

Correct me if I'm wrong here but full comp you have the choice of your own insurer paying out for the work and then you leave them to claw back the monies from the other side or skipping your own insurance and going straight to the third party. The former means technically you've made a claim even if your insurer gets paid. Future premiums go up and you join the long list of those who feel the whole insurance game is a scam.

Third party insurance though your insurer wouldn't normally get involved. What's in it for them? Hence putting you onto a credit hire company that chase the other side for both repair costs and their exorbitant hire rates. Nice work if you can get it as they say.

I count myself as one of the few that did quite well out of the credit hire cowboys. Thinking back on it though, probably more by luck than anything else.
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[SuperMike]

[SuperMike]

[Cheeseybeaner]

I always went direct to a bike accident claim solicitor in the past, the last time they asked me to simply get a report done by a motorcycle dealer. Bypass whatever the insurer wants you to do as its your choice who you use and legal expenses cover lets you choose although realistically if you weren't at fault the 3rd party will be paying.
That damage report was maybe £50 and just had a breakdown of the accident damage as seen and cost of new parts. The solicitor will usually invite them to make their own inspection of the bike, if they don't want to they have to just accept the report details.
____________________
My bikes: 2003 KAWASAKI ZRX1200R, 1996 YAMAHA DIVERSION XJ900S

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[Ayrton]

This is what you pay the insurance company for Just call them up and make sure a claim has been started and then get them to sort it all. You shouldn't have to be talking to the other insurer yourself or sorting out an evaluation.
Also if they are accepting liability then no reason to to get a hire bike either if you need it imo, the other insurer will be the one footing the bill.

[DJP]

[Capt Sisko]

Well worth watching this before you get a Claims Management company involved. They're sharks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryHPJPlA-q8