Insurance Claim

[shakawe]

Took delivery of mint AT with 4000 km in Germany on Sunday. Absolute beauty. Coming back got shunted from the back and ended up hitting the barrier . No structural damage, but a lot of plastic broken including headlights and instrument cluster, exhaust dented etc. Have had a quote from local Honda people - £3800. The problem is that the Dutch Insurance company is probably going to want to write the bike off because of the repair cost vs book value. I paid well above the book value because of condition etc and it seems that I may be onto a big loser. I was able to complete the trip and the bike is now in Scotland. Seeing that the damage is not serious(nothing structural), is there any way that I can insist on a repair being carried out. It may be relevant that I am claiming from the other person's insurance.
Help!!!!!!!!!

[magwa]

British insurance companies will just settle as per usual.
At that value the bike is a WRITE OFF no matter what you argue or who's fault.
You could buy the salvage and rebuild it yourself!

But then you will not get insurance ( fully comp) as it will have a write off marker against it perminently.

Any bike that has been in an accident/ written off if pretty worthless afterwards.( unless its for spares )

Its just the way it is.
From a man who it happend to as well.
mine was a mint 1200cc Triumph Trophy.
I accepted the money and bought another one.
It wasn't my fault either.
I saw the Triumph at a salvage yard ( on e bay) listed and sold for more than I paid for it when it was mint!!!!!
Spares value will exceed the actual value with the advent of e bay!!!!

Good luck

Magwa

[shakawe]

Surely at some point the market value should come into the equation. Market value being what bikes in that condition are changing hands for ,as opposed to what Parkers etc. say. I do not think that too many AT 's change hands at Parkers prices, or am I dreaming.

[Whealie]

have PM'd you. I am writing an article about motorbike claims and this might make an interesting one. me onto the insurer may put them on the spotlight too.

[Shep]

If they write it off, get the highest value you can. Give them adverts etc of similar bikes in similar condition.

Buy the salvage from them and break for spares (profitable) or do a rebuild job

[magwa]

Well you would like to think so but NO
Insurance companies are in the market to make money ( yours)
They do not want to pay out.
Thats business for you
If they do pay out they will only ever offer botton market value.
at a push ( you reject the offer) you get lower middle value.
Thats it !

Having said all that in my particular instance I was insured with Carol NASH
Classic/ modern policy.
This was 2001.
My bike was inspected within a week
was offered a 'fair price' in the circ's
I accepted and was paid out within a month and replaced the Triumph with another ( privately sourced) which as chance turned out was better than the original bike.
my personal injuries took 18mths
my replacement kit 6 months
In all fairly painless ( except for my marrage tackle taking a crunch before I parted with the bike in the RTA!!!!)and the personal injuries assisted with the next classic bike/ car replacement.
If you really want the AT buy it back and then buy another with the settlement.
You then have an AT and a life time of essential spares.
Sell the difference and you will be seriously IN POCKET

Good luck

magwa

[BobA]

I'm sorry to say, the sad truth is that the insurance company won't give a damm about you as the owner. (although I am speaking about English one's as opposed to your Dutch one)

A mate of mine was T boned on his mint GS1150 Adventure, and although there was a lot of minor cosmetic damage to the bike, it was perfectly rideable, and could have been put back on the road with ease, at reasonable cost.

The bike remained in storage at BMW (who recovered it) for over 6 months, because the insurance company (who wrote it off) refused to pay storage charges. My mate offered to pay the storage charge (£2000 +) in exchange, or towards the salvage costs of the vehicle, however the insurance company was not interested in the slightest.

The bike remained in storage (at monumental costs) until the insurance company and salvage company finally settled who was going to pay the costs, and then the bike was taken away to be dismantled as spares.

A shameful end for what was a mint, perfectly repairable, bike with full BMW service history.

It's a tragic end to what should have been a brilliant end to your AT story.

Just be thankful you're not deqaling with HASTINGS INSURANCE!!!!


Regards


Bob

[shakawe]

Here's my argument - If someone crashes into my house he is responsible to get the house into the same condition as before. My insurance does not come into it as I was insured 3rd Party only and I am therefore not tied down by any of their terms and conditions. I would have a claim against the other driver/vehicle, who may or may not have agreed to all sorts of onerous conditions with his insurance company. Belgian law is based on Roman Dutch law. A basic tenet is that an innocent party should be made "whole" in the event of a wrongful action. It is my view, that regardless of Insurance diktats, I have an inalienable right to be placed in exactly the same position as I was prior to the damage to my vehicle due to the negligence of someone else. Quite right that they(Insurances Companies) are there to take my money. In this case I have not agreed to any of their small orint conditions and the must make their money from their insured. I suppose that in the final analysis I have an action against the driver of the other vehicle for full compensation. How he resolves the problem is a matter for him. Thats my view and I'm going to stick to it. Watch this space!!!!!!!!

[harrisphil]

After any acident all ways get the bike back to your home address and in your possesion that way you have control over your bike

As the accident happened he same day you purchased the bike then isnt that the value of the bike? Even the menest insurance company cant devalue it much in one day!

Negotiate a settlement figure with the insurance company then offer to buy the salvage back

Keep watching FleeBay and you will find all the bitsyou need
or turn it into a project bike

Keep us updated to your sucess with the insurance co

[shakawe]

Bike is at my home. Will keep you posted.