MIB claim and bike repairs, bikelessness, what would you do?

[c_dug]

Morning All,

Following my crash at the end of October I am currently bikeless. My arm is now getting to a stage where I could start riding again and the train is full of the scummers of this fine city so I'm pretty desperate to get back on two wheels of any size as soon as possible.

My divvy has been sitting out in front of my flat since the crash untouched. It is ride-able but needs a few things done to it to make it usable for the journey to work and back. If I repaired all of the damage it would no doubt be a write off but I think I could probably get away with just replacing the indicators and headrace for the time being.

I have a solicitor dealing with my claim (rather than a claims management company) and they have asked me to organise a valuation for repairs through a Yamaha dealer and not to make any repairs myself. They have also advised me that as it is a claim through the MIB it could take up to 18 months before any payout is made. This essentially leaves me bike-less for a year and a half if I go by what they would like me to do!

I'm not really sure what the best option is, I don't have the money to outright by another bike, even the likes of cg125's and H100's are over what I have to hand. If I repair the bike myself I am ignoring my solicitors advice which I assume they have given for a reason. But I really really do not want to be without a bike for 18 months.

What would you do?
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[arry]

Get the bike inspected and damage documented first - then effect repairs. Tell your solicitors that's what you intend to do because of your circumstances

Why through mib? Didn't stop?

[c_dug]

Yeah fled the scene, no third party to claim from.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[arry]

What a bastard

[Kickstart]

Hi

Good luck with this. As Arry says, get some independent quotes for the repairs. I would be tempted to suggest getting at least 2 quotes.

All the best

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

[lihp]

Mrs had an accident but was being dragged out, so I repaired the car myself, took photos, and forwarded all receipts for parts and the photos on to the solicitors who claimed for it back.

Admittedly, we was claiming from a third party not MIB, but still your solicitors dealing with it should be working FOR YOU, and be organising the best outcome for you, and if you can't be without transport for 18months, then they need to find away to be able to reclaim any money that is lost through the claim.

The Mrs car was most definitely a write off, but was never written off as it was never visited by an assessor, they was more than happy to pay for our parts on the repair cost rather than an overpriced bodyshop.
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[c_dug]

Following on from this, I've still heard very little from my solicitor regarding the progress of the claim. I've chased them up a couple of times but I'm not really getting anywhere.

I understand that the injury side of things can take a while, but all I want is an answer from them regarding whether there will be a claim or not on the bike so that I can repair the divvy. I am at least on two wheels at the moment, but the SV I am riding has a few niggles and I'd far rather be back on the diversion.

I'm considering changing solicitor but I am all signed up with this one, does anybody know what the ins and outs of changing are? If I am changing because I am frustrated with the lack of communication am I still going to be liable to pay for any work they have done thus far?

Edit: just to clarify, my solicitor despite supposedly being a specialist in MIB claims (or so I was told), doesn't know whether I can claim for the damages to the bike in an untraced driver claim. I won't pay out for the assessment until I know that I can make a claim as I am fairly certain I cannot. About 3 weeks ago I was told they would look into whether I can claim for the bike or not, but I have not heard back since.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Benjums]

If I was you mate I would be on the phone to the solicitors every day chasing this up, they will soon get fed up of dealing with all your calls.
And pull their finger out when they realize they may have to actually work for their money otherwise they will just let it run and run.
Good luck with your claim.

[Ste]

Where did you find these solicitors?

Is your claim being dealt with by one of the partners of the firm or by someone less experienced?

In regards to changing solicitors, your best bet on that one would be to speak with solicitors that you would like to change to and see what they have to say.

If you want to change solicitors then the Law Society and Legal 500 would be where I'd start looking.

Nothing is ever straight forward.

[P.]

[c_dug]

The solicitor is from the same firm that a member of ours* works for, I won't name them for now. They are supposedly quite reputable, though I may have fallen for our members sales pitch for all I know.

My particular solicitor is not a partner of the firm, though he does I believe charge their top rate which from memory means he has been qualified for over 7 years or something along those lines.

I will be paying for the solicitor directly from any winnings but only if I win the claim. I'm worried that if I change solicitor I will be charged for any work they have done so far as it is not the cheapest firm!

*I don't think said member posts any more due to a flounce at the end of last year.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[P.]

[c_dug]

No can do. The way it works it this:

If I loose I pay nothing at all.

If I win I pay all of their costs, but up to a maximum of 25% of my winnings.

I'm basically taking it as if I win anything I will loose 25% of it. In my mind 75% of something is better than 100% of nothing!




I've also not been given an answer on how the bike damages claim is paid for yet either. I believe that because of the MIB rules it will be put through as a separate claim to injury (If I can claim for it at all!), but I don't know whether I will then receive the bike money or whether they will hold it and pay it along with injury money. I also don't know whether they will take 25% off of the bike money initially.

In the end I could have waited the best part of 4 months to be told I either can not claim for the bike at all, or that if I do claim I will have to pay £120 for the assessment, and then loose 25% of the cost of the bike too.

I think basically if you get hit and run you continue to get shafted in every way!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[woo]

Call rider support services on 02082464900 and get them to take over your claim it should cost you nothing or in any case speak to them and get their advice.
I have used them numerous times and so have my friends and people from this forum!

Your solictors sound stupid and don’t waste anymore of your time with them change now make that call!
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[iooi]

[c_dug]

Yep I've read what the site says a hundred times over, the thing is the solicitor was sure I could claim, all the way up until I copied the text right from the MIB website.

I've also spoken to the MIB on the phone who said in certain circumstances it is possible to claim for possessions in the case of an untraced driver.

What nobody seems to be able to tell me is which cases they are and whether or not I am eligible.




I've decided I'm just going to get the divvy roadworthy anyway, all it should take is a set of indicators and some new headrace bearings. Plus a rebuild of the front brakes from it sitting through the winter.

I'm not going to touch the cosmetic side of the damage, which is more than enough to write the bike off anyway if it comes to an assessment, I figure anything on top of that makes little difference anyway once they decide they are claiming for the value of the bike!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Rogerborg]

[c_dug]

I understand the wait on the injury claim, I broke the arm in a minimum of three places, they need to wait and see how it heals/repairs.

The property side of it makes less sense, and in fact there is an 8 month limitation on property claims so I'm nearly half way through that limit already.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

[hellkat]

Conan, I have an old GPZ500 sitting down in my country mansion.

Its been sat for the best part of 2 years, so not sure if it will start. Should do. It had an MOT when I bought it, so will prolly go thru another one, and the girl I bought it from has had it garaged the whole time.

Thing is that we brought it down from there just after Xmas (I think) and parked it up in our yard in Kent. It fell over on one side into the mud and we hadn't picked it up for a fortnight till we next went down there, so its a bit muddy ... but if you want to come down and have a look to see if you can get it going, you are very welcome to use it to get you back on the road for a bit.

I have an old Beemer that I plan to ride instead, so the GPZ is just sitting gathering dust.

A bit small, I know, but if you can get it going, and want to borrow it ... might get you back on the road till things sort themselves out.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[mentalboy]

Does Fully Comprehensive insurance not cover you for losses to the bike? (Or are you TPFT only?)
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Make mine a Corona.

[c_dug]

Hi Jen,

Thanks for the offer but I've just got myself back on the road on an SV650 in almost the same circumstances, as it goes I think I would have rather been on a GPZ than this bloody pesky bike, but I've paid the money to get the SV on the road now!

Thanks again though.

Conan
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[hellkat]

Glad to hear it, matey
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Ste]