Insuracne Claims !!!!!!!!!!!

[peteS4]

ok, the worst happened, someone had me off.............. thisis my first in 10 years and i've never made a claim against anyone before so not sure how it works,................ due to the way i hit her, she pulled out infront of me........ police seem to be on my side at the roadside........... i would like my bike jigged up as woried about forks yokes headstock all still in line......... i know when its just parts like madhatters, you claim and they pay up.............. but i need a duke engineer to check her oover.......... do i have to pay out of my pocket first for this sort of claim then get it back from her or just put in for a big claim and get it looked at after i get the money.......... also, i want to claim for a new leather jacket, sidi race boots and a shoie lid as all hit the floor and damaged........................ but if it works how i hope it does........ here comes my yoke converstion and renthals !!!!!!!!!!!

[madhatter]

Pete,

Assume that your insurance company will be liaising direct with her insurance company. Firstly, make sure that they understand this is an Italian specialist bike, which needs to go to a specialist Ducati dealer, it can't just be taken to the local "Yamaha/Suzuki/Honda-we sell it all shop". Nearest one to you will probably be Riverside Motorcycles in Northampton. From memory they will charge you £17,50 for an insurance quotation, which is refunded once they get the order to do the repairs. Insurance company may waive two quotes when they realise this means they lose £17.50 at the outset! Don't know if Riverside can jig up the bike, you'd have to ask them. Is the bike rideable or is it in storage waiting for an insurance assessor?

Now be carefull!!! Some insurance companies may use the fact that your bike is modified and not reported as such to wriggle out of you being covered at al!! I also think that they will only replace damaged parts with standard Monster fittings (standard exhausts, no special carbon bits, no rearsets etc).

If the frame and forks are knackered, this could be an insurance write off (your tank also appears to have been creased in the accident), might be worth taking off trick bits and putting standard back on, then these could be sold later on the forum or reused.

Hope my bloody indicators weren't damaged!!!!

That's just my opinion anyway...come on you lot stop talking about bloody dream houses and fav music and give the lad some support and advice!

Wheres our legal chappie (Nik The Brief), he normally gives out some good advice, try sending him a PM!!

[peteS4]

the termigs were untouched so i may well take your advice and put the standard cans back on............. theres very little suface damage to look at but its the forks frame andd yokes i worry about............. but i deff think i should put old cans back on.......... she is ridable but after that, i wont push it till i know 100% it all lines up and not cracked........... and yes you are right, my tank does seem to be damaged in the crash............. DAM IT !!!!!!!! baines are at silverstone i think and as they do racing, they may well have a jig........................ now to answer the other stupid questions knocking around.......... my fav house location is in.................. GET A LIFE......... I NEARLY WENT THROUGH A WINDSCREEN.............. ANYWHERE IS FECKING GREAT AS LONG AS IT HAS 4 WALLS A ROOF AND I'M BREATHING........................ GOT IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and why stop at my fav albums............ would you like to know my fav sexual position.................

[Julie]

Pete,

I have only ever made one insurance clame. A car crash last year...a man pulled out in front of us and we went straight in the side of him. Anyway that was on the monday and the car got taken away and we swapped insurance details with each other addresses and phone numbers. I had a digi camera on me at the time so i took loads of photos before and after the police arrived. I think this scared the other person.
They addmitted it was there fault and i got a courtisy car on the tuesday, insurance company wrote the car off on wednesday and made an offer for it (we were very happy with the price) and by the saturday we had a cheque for the car. I could not belive how easy it was! That was direct line...I know its not a bike story but a simlar crash and not your fault.

I kept phoning the insurance companys both mine and his and kept nagging. but it paid off.

I hope you get sorted mate.

Take care

julie
x

[madhatter]

Pete,

Send a PM through to Nik The Brief, ask him to have a look through what we are saying about insurance and modifications and see what he thinks.

Real Monster Riders give their advice and don't just boost up the Viewed Thread figures (thanks so far Julie & Ruth x).

[peteS4]

well thats the phone calls made........... better start taking me termigs off........ the insurance company say if we can get het to admit blame............. well, she did pull out of a minor side road into my path on the main A road through the town............... we could have some money very soon.............. also, will be claiming for new sidis, new jacket and shoie.......... plus 3 days off work.................

[joness7]

Join Rider Support (http://www.ridersupport.co.uk) ASAP.

It's free and they will get you more compensation/repair money than you will manage on your own, plus it takes some of the stress away.

Hopefully you will be monstering again soon.

Steve J

[peteS4]

do it,.. just joined rider support............. now just wait and see how things go

[nik_the_brief]

... a lawyer appears.

Haven't been invloved in insurance claims for years but the law doesn't really change.

First of all the termis have to go (temporarily). As someone has already pointed out if the insurance company can wriggle out of it they will. If they can say that you didn't disclose your modifications then the policy is voidable (on the grounds of your failure to disclose).

You can claim for your leathers, lid, out of pocket expenses etc. These are known as uninsured losses but you can claim from a driver if they can be proven to be at fault. Make sure you keep all receipts and proof of expenditure as the insurance company will want to see them.

Look into whether or not the police are considering prosecuting the driver. If they do, and do so successfully, then it has been proven beyond all reasonable doubt that the driver is at fault and you'll have no claim getting the drivers insurers to cough up the cash.

Don't accept the first offer of settlement (you can normally push them for more than they initially offer).

Most of all be thankful that you're alright and that you survived the off. Your health is irreplaceable, your bike is (love it though I'm sure you do) just a piece of metal, plastic and rubber which can be replaced.

If you have any specific queries please PM me as suggested (although I live a sad virtual life here most days anyway). I would have responded sooner but had a punter in the office with me.

Good luck mate.

Nik :D

[peteS4]

thanks nik.............. thanks for all your advice.. i have joined rider support as advisied......... i have also pm'ed you nik but only to ask ir you were as we thought and you have amswered that............. i am glad to be ok......... no doubt about that, but also not letting her get away with nearly killing me lightly......... i am worried my frame could be out of line which will mean a write off......... i do have a car so its not all bad.............. termis coming off later tonight if my legs not to bad........................ police are involved and saw how it had happened........... i may even push them into charging her as people need to learn to use their eyes more than they do............. also will help with claim if she is taken that way

[Ade]

Sorry about your accident,
what sort of insurance do you have most fully comprehensive have, a solicitor type backing for the uninsured losses,
can you go to the bike shop where you got your gear and get a written estimate from them- and signed if possible.
Did you use the bike for work, as a means of transport
how much time will be spent toing and froing to get the bike there and back. Do you have any obvious to the eye injuries, if so take them to the docs and get them logged for personnal damages, you may well have to do another trip to the docs chosen by the insurerrs, all these are trips out of your time and should be noted.
Anything that takes up your time to sort out is a result of this accident,they are liable.
Speak to your insurer and ask what you are entitelled to under your policy.
Did you get the police details, who attended and where from.

ps im NFA so any 4 feckin walls are good to me

[peteS4]

going down to the hospital soon........... bruise on inner thigh is really a large pool of blood that stings when i walk........... phoned docs, thet said best go there as they would only send me on anyway......... will also be needed for insurance claim.............. boy oh boy she is gona pay...............

[nik_the_brief]

Get a cab to the hospital, ask for and keep the receipt. Add it to your list of out of pocket expenses. Make sure that you get receipts for all your prescription charges too as they'll form part of the claim.

Sadly though it'll be her insurance company that'll pay - although her premiums will probably rocket (quite rightly). The good news is that they can afford to pay and usually settle with little fuss once liability has been determined.

[peteS4]

i'm really not making this up, but due to the fact i'm a well built stocky lad its taken a while for the aches to come through........... as i'm sat here my necks starting to feel an ache.............. will get it looked at, think its only muscle but will have it all noted. off to hossie in a min................. back on tonight. thanks all

[Runningman]

Pete
Sorry to learn about the off. I came a cropper in October last year, the liability is still in dispute and I had a writ served on me by the third party seeking their moment in court.

You seem to have all the advice you need a the moment, but from my own recent experience I would say; stay calm, prepare not to see your bike again for at least two months, and keep records of everything concerning your big day.

As Nic said the main thing is you are OK. You will ride another day.
Good luck.

[Runningman]

Forgot to add; I am fully comp with Ducati insurance, they sorted the bike out no probs, replaced one of the high level cans and all the carbon bits without hesitation.

They also put me in touch with a legal firm for those all important non insured bits, lid, leathers etc.

Finally, on the health front I was incredibly sore for a fortnight, and had a relapse after a month which the medics put down to delayed shock.

Take it easy mate.

[A Yerbury]

Oh dear, insurance wise at least you were in a shoei and not a blue visored simpson. As regards the potential bends would it need to be a ducati place for an assesment? MCN classified has plenty of frame/ fork specialists.
good luck.

[slug]

Pete
Sorry to hear about the collision.
Hopefully the police will take action and the errant driver will get points and a fine.

Over the years I have had many off's (fortunately only on pushbikes). You should not underestimate the extent of the physical and psychological damage that you have suffered and how it may affect you in the future. If you havent already done it contact a good personal injury lawyer.

[peteS4]

well as it turns out.. i took ou that legal cover bit when i got insurance, it seems i am entitled to a hire car......... it will cost me but only £1.50 a day !!!!!! plus they will take up the claim for loss of earnings, lid leathers and sidis...............and to anyone wanting new boots.......... the sidi vert is excellent............. the side spine saved my ankle.......... boots a mess but my ankle is not even bruised............. great boot................ so i seem to be covered at moment............. but thanks to all............. just a waiting game now............... and at the wrong fecking time of year

[Albie]

HI Pete
Sorry about your news. I responded in disbelief last nite but maybe you were busy. Hope your ok and it seems you got it all in hand. Take care my friend and have a rest. :D

[peteS4]

thanks albie........... i start stripping her down tomorrow.......... dont think it will go in my favour it the insurance man see's my carbon termigs............. also taking all fancy trick race or carbon bits off incase the frames bent and its a write off.............. cos i'll never see it again and lose them all.............. lucky for me i have the standard parts to

[pete]

i'm really not making this up, but due to the fact i'm a well built stocky lad its taken a while for the aches to come through........... as i'm sat here my necks starting to feel an ache.............. will get it looked at, think its only muscle but will have it all noted. off to hossie in a min................. back on tonight. thanks all

Pete,
real sorry to hear about the off - and very glad you don't appear to be too
badly hurt...

Re the aches taking time to come through - sounds normal. While I thankfully havn't had any offs of any note (since my MX days anyway) I've had a couple of big crunches in cars.... In both cases, on the day of the event I just felt a bit knocked about. The next day things got much, much worse, and I suddenly realised how banged up I was. The same was true of my wife who was with me in the second crunch...

As a result of the second crunch I got some compensation for neck injuries -
needed a trip to the hospital for an examination (paid for by the third party
insurers I guess ?) but it was worth it. If you got a neck injury it can give
you grief for a long time - I had neck ache for probably a year after no 2 !

Another point, which doesn't seem to be the norm, but you never know...
When my bike got knocked over in a car park last year the third party admitted liability, phoned his insurance company (saga) and they sent me a
letter saying that as their driver had admitted it was his fault, I could deal
directly with them. They supplied a hire bike, and to be perfectly honest couldn't have done any more, and paid up direct to the dealer who repaired
the bike (I insisted on an authorised Ducati dealer (specialised bike and all that) and also that I would not accept repaired items like the tank - only a
new one).

Good luck, and hope both you and your bike are 100% real soon !

Cheers,

Pete

[Little Monster]

Hey poorly man. get well soon. can only second what everyone else has said.

never heard of paying for the hire car cover you already paid for but there you go?!

have you asked your insurance company if you have legal expenses insurance to run your claim? not sure what this rider support thing is - sounds like a legal expenses type scheme for free. if they cover you AND you have LEI then you have options to choose from. I would think rider support may be better if they claim to be bike specialists.

lawyers will want to run your case for you - driver coming out from minor onto major road - nice case. you might get accused of overtaking at the junction (big no no) or speeding or indicating to turn in but accident damage to the car and decent oral evidence from you and any witnesses will avoid any of that with any luck.

As Nik said, don't take first offer. Gather your own evidence as to the value of the bike if it's a write off and don't accept trade value - it's what it would cost you to replace. Quite commonplace nowadays for the defendants isnurance company to offer physio, hire car etc to minimise the claim against their policy. See how you go but i'd seriously recommend some physio in a few weeks. you'll be mitigating your loss so it'll help your claim (albeit it may reduce the award in hte future, believe me, 3 years of whiplash is no fun - get rid asap.)

Give me a pm if you are concerned at all with any of the advice you are getting or if you are getting charged for anything. I'm a solicitor for a Personal Injury firm in Manchester. I specialise in funding and insurance aspects but what i don't know about running your claim, is only sitting in the office next door.

mention 'diminution of value' as a question mark for your bike. it's included in claims for high value cars - eg, porsche or something like that - the reduction in value due to it having been in a crash. it's not included in lower value or older vehicles. I would think it is relevant to older bikes compared to cars cos it would be more of a concern to a buyer if a 2 wheeled vehicle has had a run in with a car.

hope you heal soon :bunny:

[Little Monster]

by the way - anyone else get hit by anyone any time soon and can get up afterwards to ask questions. if they stop, try and SEE some id cos people give fake info. GET WITNESSES cos they disappear quick and you never know if it'll be disputed, even if hte other side admit fault at the time. and the classic tip (which i am currently not following -oops) is to have a throwaway camera in the car at all times. of course, on the bike you'll have your david bailey digicam for shots of scenery and other bikes.