'Bird prang today. Advice needed

[Sled-driver]

There I was just poodling along within the speed limit, when, on a roundabout, a w@nker in a J reg hot hatch Golf GTI decides to come from behind me, overtake me on the left, then without any signal, attempt to turn right, straight across the front of me and leaving me nowhere to go. Wet road so not able to avoid him. Did avoid the t-bone and had more of a glancing blow.

Really pissed off as you might expect. I try to follow all the good advice about defensive riding and riding around the idiots, but when they come from nowhere on your left rear as this guy did, you have very little option.

I'd witnessed this pillock a couple of minutes previously overtaking people on the left and speeding, snorting his exhaust and generally being a prat. I was delighted by the number of motorists who stopped having witnessed the crash and who volunteered to be a witness for me. So I have lots of names and addresses.

Anyway, I'm fine as I was wearing all the recommended gear.

Damage report... Photos here: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/qk02ilhptcdnuyr/AACc_LaEJrdhIgrce6_1Qca6a

1. Fairing cone is partly broken where the left hand mirror affixes.
2. Both side panels are badly scratched and will either need replacing or some decent filling and paint.
3. Screen is broken, but I have a spare.
4. RHS exhaust can is scratched but not dented or holed. Will need replacing for cosmetic reasons. Left one slightly scratched too. PITA
5. Rear brake lever is badly bent.
6. LHS mirror is broken off - I think fairing frame is OK. Bolt snapped and mirror itself has broken/bent mount.
7. Slight scuff on rear fairing.
8. Generator cover holed I think - I hope this is where it dumped all the oil on the road.
9. LHS large JAWS handlebar weight snapped off.

So, not too bad overall. All bolt on stuff which needs fixing I think at this stage.

Now, the interesting bit is this. I've just had the other party on the phone offering to pay cash for the repair - I doubt he can afford to reinsure his car if he has a claim as guilty. I reckon he was around 25, and with a hot hatch.

But I have no idea as to the cost of the repair. It will depend if the fairing side panels can be repaired. I think the nose cone will need replacing due to the shattered bit near the LH mirror mount.

I did phone the insurance company after the event to request a recovery, but never ended up calling them out as a mate was able to help.

So I'm now left wondering what to do. Should I go with the insurance company, or do the cash thing? The other party is entirely at fault, but I don't expect that will stop them loading my insurance premium...

I'd like to get some idea of the cost of repair as I decide on the best way to progress, so if anyone had some guide figures for the repair, that would be great - especially the fairing replace/repaint bit of it.

Thanks.

 

[ianrobbo1]

The insurance will likely write off your bike, but I doubt if said scrote can afford to buy a new nose cone let alone pay for the rest of the damage, he, like most tossers think that bike stuff is only a couple of quid, I'd go insurance route and buy it back, then fix it myself, or send it to Taffy!! :dunno:

 

[Sled-driver]

Just added photos link to the original post.

 

[Centaur]

Ask him for ?2k up front to get on with the repair and see what he says. I would not trust him as far as I can throw Lumpy. :-0)

 

[Sled-driver]

Sure. It would be cash up front, in my account if I went that way.

 

[Lee337]

Go through insurance, let them sort it out (assuming he's insured that is). He's unlikely to be able to afford the repairs & when he finds out how much it'll cost, you'll end up claiming of insurance anyway.

Why delay the inevitable?

 

[ianrobbo1]

Yep!! a right off, price the panels at Silvers and work out how much, plus much labour and there's your answer, 2K would be a good start but a buy back from the insurance may make it a viable repair!! :dunno:

 

[Squag1]

That's too bad.
Sh#$t happens

 

[MAcBETH]

You will need the top fairing bracket. If its bent just a little it will crack the nose cone.

It cost me about 1k to sort out the same damage. But I called in a lot of favours.

I did a quote with insurance company's online and it would of been better and cheaper to claim. But as its not your fault just claim against them.

 

[John Mack.]

Don't forget the damage to the gear you were wearing?
Good to hear you have plenty people who witnessed it.
I'd be pissed too.
Good luck.

 

[bluebirdphil]

Remember that theres two insurance companies involved and its his you need to be speaking to for the claim. Notify your own but dont make a claim or you'll be paying loaded premiums for years to come through no fault of your own.

Personally I'd find a minor injury or two so you've got reason to report the accident to the police and get the scrote on the police radar.

As you've got willing witnesses, make sure you get fully paid out for all damage to clothing, helmet and a proper valuation for your bike and bike hire if you need to hire one.

 

[hatty64]

Sorry to read about your misfortune.

My Bird was knocked over at work. Side panel, mirror pod, exhaust can, bar was bent. Parts alone from David Silver came to nearly ?900.

Went through firms insurance who originally put it through to an assessor. I spoke to them who were going to recommend at Cat D write off. This means the bike is road worthy and there's no mechanical or structural damage however its not economical to repair. You may be offered to buy the bike back after accepting an offer on the bike but thats not a given.

Cat D doesn't show on your log book. However if a HPi report is done it will show and the vehicle is usually worth 40% or 50% of its value.

I spoke to the insurance company and I was happy to accept the the amount for the parts only and they sent a cheque. The bike hasn't got a marker against it.

I can recommend a faring repair / respray chap near Dudley West Mids. ARNOLD FAIRINGS. He's done a little job on my Ducati when it fell off it's side stand and has got my Bird at the moment which is having a full paint job to my own spec. I know quite a few people who have gone to him and their isn't much he can't fix.

Taffy found a bar for me. The exhaust had a bit of gravel rash on the weld area and I've had the pair polished and they're like new.

Hope it works out ok for you.

 

[andyBeaker]

Remember that theres two insurance companies involved and its his you need to be speaking to for the claim. Notify your own but dont make a claim or you'll be paying loaded premiums for years to come through no fault of your own.

I disagree. I had similar a good few years back when I had a slow speed interface with a car turning right across traffic against a no right turn sign. Couldn't be arsed with a load of grief so decided to get on with my life and deal with the minor repairs myself. However, felt it prudent to advise the insurance company who significantly increased the premium at renewal as I had had an accident.

As soon as you advise your insurers your premium is loaded whether you make a claim or not. There is a difference between 'no claims bonus' being left untouched and the premium charged.

Everything about the driver in the incident described in the first post suggests he is a tosser and I would strongly recommend you let the insurers sort it out. Why is he to be trusted?

Not the best news but I would judge that your bike will be written off by the insurance company. However better that then to end up with a bike still in need of repair and Chummy not having stumped up the cash?

 

[Sled-driver]

Sorry to read about your misfortune.

My Bird was knocked over at work. Side panel, mirror pod, exhaust can, bar was bent. Parts alone from David Silver came to nearly ?900.

Went through firms insurance who originally put it through to an assessor. I spoke to them who were going to recommend at Cat D write off. This means the bike is road worthy and there's no mechanical or structural damage however its not economical to repair. You may be offered to buy the bike back after accepting an offer on the bike but thats not a given.

Cat D doesn't show on your log book. However if a HPi report is done it will show and the vehicle is usually worth 40% or 50% of its value.

I spoke to the insurance company and I was happy to accept the the amount for the parts only and they sent a cheque. The bike hasn't got a marker against it.

I can recommend a faring repair / respray chap near Dudley West Mids. ARNOLD FAIRINGS. He's done a little job on my Ducati when it fell off it's side stand and has got my Bird at the moment which is having a full paint job to my own spec. I know quite a few people who have gone to him and their isn't much he can't fix.

Taffy found a bar for me. The exhaust had a bit of gravel rash on the weld area and I've had the pair polished and they're like new.

Hope it works out ok for you.

Are you saying that because you offered to accept parts only that your bike isn't cat D?

At what stage did you offer to go parts only?

 

[Sled-driver]

Remember that theres two insurance companies involved and its his you need to be speaking to for the claim. Notify your own but dont make a claim or you'll be paying loaded premiums for years to come through no fault of your own.

Personally I'd find a minor injury or two so you've got reason to report the accident to the police and get the scrote on the police radar.

As you've got willing witnesses, make sure you get fully paid out for all damage to clothing, helmet and a proper valuation for your bike and bike hire if you need to hire one.

Is that right? I can claim direct to his insurance? Are there any legal downsides to this, say if things get tricky? I'm inexperienced at this. It's only my second off in 35 years of riding!

 

[ScottyUK]

I've had a couple of no fault claims. Passed to my insurers to deal with. They like this as they make money out of dealing with the claim from the 3rd party, supply a loan bike which they charge to the 3rd party etc.

I'd always pass a case to my insurer to deal with an there's no reason it should impact your premium. If you didn't deal with them they could see if on the insurers database and then you get into whether you're being honest with them.

 

[lumpy]

record it with your insurers no matter what. You are looking at over ?2k for new prices even for a red one. Always get a NEW fairing bracket, they don't straighten at all well and it throws everything out of line. Taffy can put it right for much less

 

[Vinterceptor]

As Scotty UK said

I made my first insurance claim last year. Then a couple of months later my car insurance came up for renewal (before the verdict of fault for my bike accident).
As usual I went through the go-compare routine and found a better price with a known company.
I Phoned my own car insurers back and haggled a bit resulting in a big reduction on the original renewal notice.
At that stage I made mention of my bike accident and explained it wasn't my fault.
Due to the claim still ongoing they loaded my new car policy by an additional ?30-00 and explained that if I got a letter of proof of it being a none fault accident from the bike insurer they would refund me the ?30-00 loading.

@tu* that's exactly what happened, money refunded no prob and since then I have re insured my bike too with no (noticable) loading either as the price was very comparable with others I had looked at.

As said above, I would def go through the insurance.

 

[bluebirdphil]

Is that right? I can claim direct to his insurance? Are there any legal downsides to this, say if things get tricky? I'm inexperienced at this. It's only my second off in 35 years of riding!

Your claim is against the other driver. One of the conditions of his contract with his insurer is that he lets them deal with any claims, so he should pass you his insurers details and you'll deal with them acting on his behalf.

If the circumstances of the accident and the witnesses opinion were that the other driver is at fault then ask a solicitor to deal with it on your behalf. The solicitor will recover all losses for you including his fees. Just make sure that whatever settlement you get for the bike will fully cover you getting a like for like replacement if its written off or will fully cover all the parts and labour to replace ALL the damaged parts. Same for all the damaged clothing and helmet.

 

[hatty64]

Hi Sled-Driver
Are you saying that because you offered to accept parts only that your bike isn't cat D?

At what stage did you offer to go parts only?

It's all a matter of opinion to what a bike is worth and what it's going to cost to repair. Firstly new for old or having parts repaired. Labour costs. Some places charge ?60 per hr or ?10 per hr this all adds to the cost of repair and soon your love is written off because of a few scratches

I spoke directly to the insurance company. I was happy to accept parts only and cover the labour charges (i.e. put the parts back onto the bike) myself. I made the offer to accept payment for parts and cover labour charges myself.

Yes, my bike isn't Cat D. It doesn't matter whether or not I accepted an offer for parts. Nothing has been registered against it.

I simply sent a few photos to the insurance assessor and the payment for repair was made.

I have decided to get the bike resprayed as it was only scratches to the fairing and indicator. The handle bar was bent and can scratched